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Mon Jan 21 7:22pm ET
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) makes a catch against Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Daniel Sorensen (49) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates during the trophy presentation after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick holds the AFC Championship trophy as he talks with Jim Nantz after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Tom Brady smiled his way through the week leading up to Sunday's AFC championship game, mostly brushing aside questions about being an underdog for one of the few times during the Patriots' unprecedented run of titles.
But when Rex Burkhead crossed the goal line for a 2-yard touchdown to give New England a 37-31 overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady let joy alter his usual coy demeanor.
He ripped off his helmet and leapt wildly in the air as his teammates rushed the field around him. The Patriots were heading back to another Super Bowl.
It will mark their third straight appearance for the Patriots and ninth overall for Brady, who again will be chasing a record sixth ring.
A victory over the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams would also put an emphatic stamp on what may have been the Patriots' toughest road to a Super Bowl since Brady and Bill Belichick earned their first ring together in 2001.
''The odds were stacked against us. It hasn't been that way in a while and it certainly was this year,'' Brady said.
The obstacles that Brady referred to occurred both on and off the field for this latest incarnation of the Patriots.
The offseason saw the departure of several key players from last year's team that came up short in a Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia. Receiver Brandin Cooks was traded to the Rams and cornerback Malcolm Butler, running back Dion Lewis, receiver Danny Amendola, and offensive linemen Nate Solder and Cam Fleming all left in free agency.
Then came news that stalwart receiver Julian Edelman would be suspended for the first four games of the regular season for violating the league's policy on performance enhancers.
It helped contribute to a surprise 1-2 start and the first - albeit small - signs of age for the 41-year-old Brady.
New England took a chance and traded for receiver Josh Gordon after Cleveland decided it was time to part ways with him. His arrival helped calm things and contributed to six consecutive victories.
But questions returned after a lopsided Week 10 loss at Tennessee that exposed vulnerabilities on both sides of the ball. The Patriots won their next two, but then suffered a fluky last-second loss at Miami.
That was followed by a loss at Pittsburgh and the abrupt loss of Gordon when he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating an agreement that allowed him to play after multiple drug suspensions.
Still, despite facing the prospect of not having their usual home-field advantage in the postseason, the Patriots rediscovered their run game and offensive efficiency during wins over the Bills and Jets to close the regular season.
Brady threw for four touchdowns and had his highest quarterback rating of the season in the 38-3 victory over the Jets. It set the stage for a vintage performance by Brady in their divisional-round playoff win over the Chargers. And on Sunday against Kansas City, he had 348 yards passing despite throwing two interceptions.
He also got support from a resurgent defense and revamped rushing attack on offense. The latter has gotten back-to-back 100-yard rushing games from rookie Sony Michel, who set a rookie NFL playoff record with five touchdowns in his first two postseason games.
Also making huge contributions in the fourth quarter and OT against the Chiefs were both Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Gronk's regular season was mostly underwhelming as he dealt with nagging injuries, but he was surehanded at the perfect time against Kansas City, catching six passes for 79 yards. Edelman had seven catches for 96 yards as both came through with huge third-down catches late in the game.
Gronk said he took his cues from Brady.
''You're always comfortable with Tom going down on drives,'' said Gronkowski, who is the first tight end with 1,000 postseason receiving yards. ''He's always ready for these moments. And that's why he's the best quarterback - hands down.
''It was one of the sweeter victories definitely of my career.''
The Patriots will have a chance to top it in two weeks in Atlanta.
Safety Devin McCourty said it's a position they always thought they'd be in.
''We're not worried about stats. We're not worried about Pro Bowls, All-Pros,'' he said. ''When we come back in April each year, it's about getting to this game no matter what it takes.
''This year was a tough one. We battled some things. We've been questioned and doubted by a lot of people. But I think the great thing is we trust in what we believe. Our faith never wavered inside the locker room.''
The Detroit Lions released wide receiver Bruce Ellington, safety Glover Quinn and linebacker Nicholas Grigsby on Friday. Ellington signed with the Lions after they traded Golden Tate to the Eagles and became their slot receiver until he landed on Injured Reserve on Dec. 22. He had 23 catches for 132 yards in four games for Detroit. Ellington's best year came in 2017 with the Texans when he had 29 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Wherever he signs, he'll battle for a roster spot in training camp.
The Buffalo Bills released tight end Charles Clay on Friday. Clay provided only 21 catches (36 targets) for 184 yards (career-low 8.8 yards per catch) and no touchdowns in 13 games for Buffalo in 2018. He was rarely in the game plan for the Bills the last two seasons and won't be a very popular target on the free-agent market. His best season came in 2013 with the Dolphins when he had 69 receptions (103 targets) for 759 yards and six scores over a full season. The days of Clay being on fantasy rosters is over.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles would "probably" be interested in playing for the New York Giants if they decide to move on from Eli Manning, according to one person with knowledge of Foles' thinking. Foles landing with the Giants would be less likely if the Eagles place the franchise tag on him, which is unlikely. The Jaguars are another team to watch out for, and there is mutual interest between them and Foles. After winning Super Bowl MVP two years ago and playing well as a starter again in 2018 when Carson Wentz was injured, Foles should earn a starting gig on the open market with several teams looking for a signal caller. While Foles has QB1 upside in the right matchups, his 2019 fantasy value will ultimately depend on where he winds up.
All indications are that the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to use the transition tag on running back Le'Veon Bell by the deadline on March 5. It's expected to have a value of $9.5 million to $14.5 million for one season and gives the Steelers a chance to match any offer he'd receive on the open market. Pittsburgh doesn't plan on matching any offer to retain Bell, but only to trade him. However, even if the Steelers find a taker in a trade, they'd need Bell to sign the transition tag first, which is highly unlikely. This situation continues to get uglier, but Bell won't be playing in Pittsburgh in 2019 no matter what. Despite having 1,229 rushing attempts in five seasons, Bell is in the prime of his career and has reached the 1,000-yard mark three times. He's one of the more versatile backs in the NFL and should remain an RB1 in his next home.
Arizona Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson will return to shadowing the top opposing wide receivers in 2019, according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Free-agent RB Mike Gillislee (Saints) worked out for the Detroit Lions Thursday, Feb. 14.
Miami Dolphins WR Danny Amendola could fill the slot receiver role for the Detroit Lions in 2019 because of his connection to head coach Matt Patricia, in the opinion of Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com.
Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders (Achilles') said he is no longer wearing a walking boot but still has a 'slight limp' when walking around.
Fantasy Spin: After suffering an Achilles' injury late in the year, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Sanders miss time in 2019. He showed last year that he can be a WR2 as the top option in Denver's passing attack, but fantasy owners will need to be patient as he returns to form.
Arizona Cardinals WR Chad Williams caught 37 percent of the passes thrown his way in 2018 and had two catches or less in all but two games.
Minnesota Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell averaged 5.7 yards per target last year, the fourth-worst mark among receivers with at least 50 targets, and Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com expects Treadwell's fifth-year option to be declined.
Fantasy Spin: The former first-round pick has been a bust, and he didn't show any signs of righting the ship despite a bigger role in 2018. Even in dynasty formats, it may be time to give up on Treadwell.
Philadelphia Eagles impending free-agent WR Golden Tate and Washington Redskins impending free-agent WR Jamison Crowder are options to fill the need the Green Bay Packers have at slot receiver, according to Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com.
Fantasy Spin: The Packers need a dependable option to support Davante Adams, and both Tate and Crowder would quickly become potential WR3 options if Aaron Rodgers is throwing them the ball.
Atlanta Falcons SS Keanu Neal (knee) posted a video of himself going through agility drills without a brace on his injured left knee.
Washington Redskins QB Colt McCoy (leg) was seen without any braces or supports for his injured leg.
Los Angeles Chargers impending free-agent LB Denzel Perryman will be re-signed this offseason if the Chargers have their way, according to a source.
Updating a previous report, free-agent QB Colin Kaepernick (49ers) desired at least $20 million to play in the Alliance of American Football, according to a source.
Free-agent QB Nick Foles (Eagles) is expected to 'keep tabs on' the New York Giants this offseason, according to NJ.com's Zack Rosenblatt. A source with knowledge of Foles' thinking said the former Super Bowl MVP would 'probably' be interested in starting for the Giants if they were to release QB Eli Manning.
Fantasy Spin: There are many pieces that must fall in order for Foles to the Giants to work out. It's a sensible destination, though, with Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley leading one of the most talented offenses in the NFL. Foles could be the piece that makes them take a forward step. Were this signing to come to fruition, Foles would demand QB1 consideration given the pieces that would be around him.
Free-agent QB Nick Foles (Eagles) is not expected to return to the Philadelphia Eagles as the backup to Carson Wentz.
Fantasy Spin: Foles deserves a starting job. He won't want to play as a backup and make less money when there are teams willing to pay him to be their starter. He can be a part of the QB1 conversation if he lands in the right spot. Of course, when Wentz is healthy he too has QB1 appeal.
Free-agent QB Colin Kaepernick (49ers) and former NFL QB Tim Tebow were asked if they wanted to join the Alliance of American Football, according to league co-founder Bill Polian. Polian said he doesn't know what transpired with Kaepernick, but added that he spoke personally with Tebow, who declined.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown and Steelers impending free-agent RB Le'Veon Bell are not expected to be intensely pursued by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. The Colts will have the most salary cap space in the league this offseason and will do their due diligence, but Brown's off-field drama and Bell's asking price may be too much for the Colts.
Fantasy Spin: The Colts did just fine last year without the services of Brown or Bell. Brown seems like more of an immediate need, but general manager Chris Ballard wants a cohesive and cooperative locker room. While the fantasy marriage of Brown and/or Bell with the Colts might be ideal, don't get your hopes up.
Dallas Cowboys LB Sean Lee is considered a strong candidate to be cut this offseason, in the opinion of NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal. Lee's extensive injury history, $10 million cap hit and the presence of fellow LBs Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith don't bode well for a possible return.


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Anne Mary was yet another child born under the threat of the French Revolution a very tragic and blood thirsty time for the Catholics of war ravaged France.
Anne Marie Javouhey was born in the year 1779 to a wealthy farming family her parents were Balthazar and Claudine, who were both devout Catholics and so raised their children to be equally devout.
During the revolution Anne Marie's parents would hide the Priests who refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the State. So Anne Marie grew up used to the fact that it was quite unsafe to be Catholic and wealthy during this time.
The Javouhey family showed particular courage as they hid the Priest who were then able to have Mass at their family home. It was at these times that the young Anne Marie would keep watch as the family worshipped at Mass in case the authorities did a random search so Anne Marie learnt that at times faith came at a price and that it was a price worth paying.
Perhaps it was here that the first longing to become a Religious began to stir in the inner depths of Anne Marie's heart as she also watched in horror the terrible toll the revolution was taking on the poor. The young Anne Marie longed to help these poor souls not only with food but also with food for the soul that food which leads a soul to Heaven.
So it was that upon the ending of the French revolution Anne Marie took the veil. It was also in the year 1800 that Sister Anne Marie had a vision of poor negro children who were starving which wrenched at the heart of this young woman of immense compassion.
Anne Marie's entry into the Religious life was not without its flaw's so after several attempts to enter the Religious life and also leaving particular Orders, Anne Marie upon much prayer decided to begin one of her own. Anne Marie would be joined in this endeavor by eight companions so began the Order of Saint Joseph of Cluny in 1805. It was in 1807 that the sisters under the Guidance of their Mother Anne Marie were able to buy a friary and then from this base the Sisters of St. Joseph began their teaching Order.
Mother Anne Marie never forgot the misery she saw when her fellow Frenchmen suffered under the misery of the revolution. This fired her heart with a zeal to help these very people not only rise above their circumstances but to educate them in the Faith, for Mother Anne Marie knew that money was not the answer to their problems, it would be faith that gave people back their hope.
In the year 1819 Mother Anne Marie's vision of seeing the poor suffering Negro children would come back to her and through this vision Anne Marie would extend her Religious Order to the mission fields. This meant sending Sisters to the countries of West Africa, Gambia and French Guiana where Mother Anne Marie set off with 36 fellow Sisters in 1828, she soon established a self supporting system which helped educate those who were most in need.
During these missionary missions Mother Anne Marie Javouhey also met up with obstacles and adversities not of which stopped her religious zeal and also her compassion towards those who were being so mistreated because of the colour of their skin. Mother Anne Marie's influence upon the white population was so great and she was so admired that when emancipation came to the Negroes there was no severe violence which had happened in other regions by the colonists.
Mother Anne Marie Javouhey did not stop there as she also opened missions for the lepers near Accarouary. As we see from the heat of the revolution came this woman of amazing stamina who inspired by the missionary zeal and love of God she sought to spread this love to as many people as she could. Mother Anne Marie Javouhey succeeded.
Mother Anne Marie Jovouhey died in the year 1851.
Blessed Anne Marie Jovouhey was beatified in the year 1950 by Pope Pius XII.
Peace of Christ to ALL
Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

domain: history


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Welcome to G·Bar and Lounge
The G·Bar and Lounge, at 575 Grand Concourse, is the place to be when a relaxing gathering with your family, friends, or colleagues is needed. Smooth and inviting, the elegantly urban décor, with a classic bar set amidst exposed brick walls and polished hardwood floors is the perfect setting for a light lunch of Italian specialties, a dinner over perfectly prepared pasta dishes with family or friends, cocktails by the bar, or a late night meal of assorted appetizers, pizzas or delicious entrees while watching your favorite sport. Much awaits you at our family of eateries here in the Bronx. Let us treat you to the delights of our foods—we welcome you.

domain: food


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Celebrating Croatia's Dimensions Festival in good ole Blighty, this launch event at Leeds' Vox on April 20 is looking to be a corker.
Heading up the festivities is Detroit underground legend Om [...]
Lauren Martin 12th February 2013
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Levon Vincent’s Six Springtime Picks
Levon Vincent is about to release his eagerly awaited Fabric mix - on April 23, to be precise.
Fabric 63 is a showcase of the raw, relentlessly driving house sound that the New York producer ha [...]
Levon Vincent – Fabric 63
Levon Vincent's Fabric mix has been a while in the making, but it's now finally available to hear in full.
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The tracklist for Levon Vincent's Fabric 63 has been revealed.
We've known that Vincent was compiling Fabric's latest mix CD for some time - it is, in fact, the first commercial mix of the New [...]

domain: entertainment


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Question : Are you paying the cheapest or highest price for your ticket to Houston?
Answer : Ranging from $1,318 to $1,621, prices for LCY to IAH fluctuate less than most routes from the United Kingdom. However, the sooner you book, the better price you tend to get.
Question : Is price more important than specific travel days for you?
Answer : In July, Tuesday is your lowest-cost day to fly. Flexibility is paramount when booking travel plans in order to keep travel costs down.
Question : Interested in traveling in the next 30 days and want to get the lowest fare?
Answer : As of Jun 26th, the best day for booking to Houston (IAH) is Jul 25th. It costs $1,318, which is 10% below the average price to book the same route.
Question : How long do most people stay in Houston?
Answer : Of course you're not most people, but if you were, you'd stay roughly 13 days.

domain: travel


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The Biden administration is proposing a massive expansion of the federal government the likes of which Americans have not seen in our lifetimes. Bill Clinton once declared that “the era of big government is over.” Through his policies Joe Biden replies, “Big government is back, baby!” They’re both Democrats, and Biden used to cast himself as a moderate.
Biden’s policies — jettisoning his longtime support for the Hyde amendment, his new stance on hardline gun control, his failure to back up law enforcement, and politicizing the U.S. military — indicate that he has cast all moderation aside.
Joe Biden’s voters are starting to see that they will pay a high price, literally, for their vote. Inflation is back and will disproportionately hit the middle- and lower-income brackets. The Biden administration is proposing to make $6 trillion budgets the baseline for federal spending going forward. Many are now clutching their wallets and regretting their vote.
Call it “Biden remorse.” Americans are still wary of big government, though not as much as they were a few years ago. We probably have Obama and COVID to thank for that. Many of Biden’s voters wanted him to be a moderate salve after the Trump years. He’s not that, not even close. Biden often cites President Franklin Roosevelt but he’s more in the mold of Woodrow Wilson, governing as a hard-edged progressive ideologue who seeks and brooks no compromise with the half the country that did not vote for him.
Just look at spending. The Biden spending plan will make $1 to $2 trillion federal deficits the norm, not the exception. Justin Haskins of the Heartland Institute wrote at Fox Business on June 12, 2021, that “as expected, Biden’s budget includes many of the large government spending programs the White House has been pushing for months, including $115 billion for roads and bridges, $225 billion for child care subsidies, $174 billion for electric vehicles and $109 billion for ‘free’ community college, among many other items.” Haskins points out that this proposal would lead to record debt, higher taxes, inflation, a devaluation of the American dollar, and high interest rates. Haskins worries that these policies would be “absolutely catastrophic for the economy”–and he’s right. We’re already seeing the inevitable inflation and even the Fed is getting jittery. Biden’s spending of other people’s money on this scale is neither responsible nor sustainable.
Biden’s federal spending spree is not the only place where the expansion of federal power is problematic. The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards writes about how the Biden administration’s proposals are likely to fail, because they are encroaching on the traditional policy territory of state and local governments in addition to the private sector. Edwards wrote on April 30, 2021:
“Biden’s plans would impose large budget costs, but perhaps a larger problem is that the federal government is the worst institution to tackle the issues the president is focused on. Decades of experience with federal spending programs show that the government suffers from severe political, bureaucratic, and knowledge shortcomings that often make its actions inefficient, harmful, and sometimes disastrous. While federal programs help some people, they usually create costs and negative side effects that outweigh the benefits.”
The costs to the economy as a whole will be devastating while benefiting just a few.
Edwards points out a number of reasons why the federal government tends to do more harm than good over the long term. One reason is that “legislators often act counter to the broad public interest. While America is a democracy, logrolling in Congress allows frequent enactment of programs that do not have majority support in the legislature or in the nation. Once programs become law, they get entrenched and difficult to reform or repeal.”
So many programs on the books become zombie programs with no end in sight because once a government program is established, it never dies or goes away absent specific sunset provisions. Some federal programs appear designed to outlive the republic itself. Unlike a private entity, cost-effective management and spending are not a priority of the federal government–and when it comes to federal contracting, there is an incentive to keep bloated projects on autopilot with spending growth baked in. In federal budget language, even a reduction of a program’s spending growth rate is often characterized as a “cut.”
A great example of a big-spending program that has proven impossible to remove from the books is the overly expensive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The F-35 is expected to chew up $1.7 trillion over the program’s lifetime and it has been plagued by missed deadlines and design flaws. The cost of this program is unprecedented, yet there is no indication that the Biden administration is looking for any cuts to offset new spending. They seem to be relying on an overheated printing press churning out enough pallets of dollars to fill the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark and higher taxes to make up some of the difference between massive new spending programs and revenues.
Related: Why the F-35 Just Isn’t Good Enough
A smart federal government would innovate and move towards the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program as a way to save money and modernize the military. But is the federal government smart? Has it ever really been? Ask anyone who’s suffering from “Biden remorse” right now, or anyone who just wants the federal government to leave them alone.

domain: news


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Ixorapeptide I and ixorapeptide II, bioactive peptides isolated from Ixora coccinea.
Summary of "Ixorapeptide I and ixorapeptide II, bioactive peptides isolated from Ixora coccinea."
Two novel derivatized peptides, designated as ixorapeptide I (1) and ixorapeptide II (2), in addition to 28 other known compounds, were isolated from the MeOH extract of Ixora coccinea using bioassay-guided fractionation. The structures of metabolites 1 and 2 were determined by interpretation of the spectroscopic data and Marfey's method. Compound 1 exhibited selective potency against Hep3B liver cancer cell line with an IC(50) value of 3.36 μg/mL, and compound 2 did not show notable cytotoxicity toward cancer cell lines but could inhibit superoxide anion generation and elastase release with IC(50) values of 0.21 and 0.27 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, kaempferol and luteolin from this plant showed inhibition with IC(50) values of 3.55 and 2.56 μg/mL, respectively on platelet aggregation induced by collagen.
Graduate Institute of Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21106454
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.10.058
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
The common precursor polypeptide of pancreatic GLUCAGON and intestinal GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDES. Proglucagon is the 158-amino acid segment of preproglucagon without the N-terminal signal sequence. Proglucagon is expressed in the PANCREAS; INTESTINES; and the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Posttranslational processing of proglucagon is tissue-specific yielding numerous bioactive peptides.
A ZINC-containing exopeptidase primarily found in SECRETORY VESICLES of endocrine and neuroendocrine cells. It catalyzes the cleavage of C-terminal ARGININE or LYSINE residues from polypeptides and is active in processing precursors of PEPTIDE HORMONES and other bioactive peptides.
Prolactin Release-inhibiting Factors
A number of peptides with inhibitory activities on PROLACTIN release have been isolated from the HYPOTHALAMUS, the peripheral nervous system, and the gut. These include SOMATOSTATIN, and peptides derived from POMC and precursor for VASOPRESSIN-ASSOCIATED NEUROPHYSIN. Biogenic amine DOPAMINE is also a potent PIF.
One of the three major groups of endogenous opioid peptides. They are large peptides derived from the PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN precursor. The known members of this group are alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphin. The term endorphin is also sometimes used to refer to all opioid peptides, but the narrower sense is used here; OPIOID PEPTIDES is used for the broader group.
Peptides generated from AMYLOID BETA-PEPTIDES PRECURSOR. An amyloid fibrillar form of these peptides is the major component of amyloid plaques found in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and in aged individuals with trisomy 21 (DOWN SYNDROME). The peptide is found predominantly in the nervous system, but there have been reports of its presence in non-neural tissue.
Objective: To investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of Ixora coccinea L. (Rubiaceae) flower, leaf and stem. Materials and methods: The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)...
Ixora coccinea Linn., (Rubiaceae) commonly known as jungle of geranium and red ixora, is an evergreen shrub found throughout India. Depending on the medical condition, the flowers, leaves, roots, and...
Phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract of the leaves of Ixora coccinea led to the isolation and identification of an A-type trimeric proanthocyanidin epicate...
An investigation of EtOAc extracts of Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith, has led to the isolation of two new compounds characterized as 3-hydroxy-12-hydroxyl coccinic acid (1) and 3-hydroxy-neokadsu...
Rather than simply being protein degradation products, peptides have proven to be important bioactive molecules. Bioactive peptides act as hormones, neurotransmitters, and antimicrobial agents in vivo...
The objective of the study is collect data on the GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin Bioactive Surface in the treatment of chronic Superficial Femoral Artery disease. Device patency...
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of administering WT1 cancer peptides. Cancer peptides are short pieces of protein that are made in a laboratory to b...
Open-label single center study. Patients will be divided in four groups of 7. Group 1: 8 melanoma-specific peptides in saline; Group 2: same mix of peptides + Montanide ISA51; Group 3: sam...
This study is designed to perform a head-to-head comparison of two synthetic ceramic bone graft substitutes, bioactive glass (BAG) and beeta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), in filling of conta...
The purposes of this study are to describe the immune response to individual peptides after immunization with a combination of 8 peptides and Montanide ISA-51; to determine the safety of t...

domain: chemistry


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I am constantly humbled by what I see through the camera lens. I am kind of a dinosaur, if I had the space I would have my own darkroom. My user name of Flickr is Bottleredhead. Stop by sometime
-Ciao for Niao
Find me at: http://fletcherandfleenorroots.shutterfly.com
14 Nov 2008 — 42 views
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Sign up for JPG+ to start using collections now!
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Q: making frame for pictures.
A: Do you know?

domain: artistic


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Trading could be volatile as traders roll over positions in the F&O segment from the near month November 2019 series to December 2019 series. The November 2019 F&O contracts expire today, 28 November 2019.
Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 10 points at the opening bell.
On the political front, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will take oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra today at Shivaji Park. While the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will reportedly get deputy chief minister's post in the new Sena-led Maharashtra government, the Congress is likely to get Assembly Speaker's post.
Overseas, Asian stocks are trading mixed on Thursday as bills backing protesters in Hong Kong were signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Trump reportedly signed into law two bills backing protesters in Hong Kong. That move came despite past objections by China amid ongoing trade negotiations between Beijing and Washington for an anticipated phase one deal. Hong Kong's government on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the move, saying it will send the wrong signal to protesters.
US stocks edged up for a fourth straight day to score another round of records Wednesday, supported by rosier U.S. economic data and ongoing hopes for a U.S. - China trade deal.
U.S. financial markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving Day and will have an abbreviated trading schedule on Friday.
In US economic data, a revised estimate of third-quarter GDP that showed the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.1% annual pace versus a previous estimate of 1.9%. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book reported U.S. businesses have seen continued growth in economic activity, wages and prices during recent weeks, and they maintain a generally positive outlook.
Back home,the Sensex and the Nifty scaled record closing peaks on Wednesday as investors tracked positive mood around US-China trade talks. The barometer index, the BSE Sensex, rose 199.31 points or 0.49% to 41,020.61, its record closing high. The Nifty 50 index rose 63 points or 0.52% to 12,100.70, its record closing high.
The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 42.93 crore yesterday, 27 November 2019, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 439.51 crore yesterday, 27 November 2019, as per provisional data.
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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The New Zealand Dollar depreciated about 33 base points against the US Dollar on Friday. The currency pair tested the 0.6520 mark during Friday’s trading session.
Everything being equal, it is likely that the Kiwi will continue to strengthen against the Greenback during the following trading session. The potential upside targets will be near the 200-hour simple moving average at 0.6570.
However, technical indicators demonstrate that the currency exchange rate could continue its decline in the short-term.
The important resistance level to watch will be at the weekly pivot point at 0.6547. If the pair breaks that resistance line, a surge is imminent today.

domain: economics


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Please note: this blog post contains affiliate links, however all opinions are my own and I only link to products that I personally recommend.
Cut a strip of red paper that is the same height as the toilet roll tube. cover the paper in glue and wrap around the tube. This will form the body of the space rocket.
Cut a large semi circle out of the yellow paper. Fold the semi circle into a cone and glue in place. Then stick it to the top of the rocket.
Cut three rocket 'leg' shapes out of the blue foam sheet and stick to the bottom of the rocket - it should now stand up on it's own! Make a window out of yellow and white paper and stick to the front of the toilet roll tube.
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domain: hobby


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The Untold Story of Mount St. HelensBook - 2016
For months in early 1980, scientists, journalists, sightseers, and nearby residents listened anxiously to rumblings in Mount St. Helens, part of the chain of western volcanoes fueled by the 700-mile-long Cascadia fault. Still, no one was prepared when an immense eruption took the top off of the mountain and laid waste to hundreds of square miles of verdant forests in southwestern Washington State. The eruption was one of the largest in human history, deposited ash in eleven U.S. states and five Canadian providences, and caused more than one billion dollars in damage. It killed fifty-seven people, some as far as thirteen miles away from the volcano's summit. Shedding new light on the cataclysm, author Steve Olson interweaves the history and science behind this event with page-turning accounts of what happened to those who lived and those who died.
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : W.W. Norton & Company,
Edition: First edition
Copyright Date: ©2016
Branch Call Number: 363.3495 OLSON
Characteristics: xvii, 300 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps, portraits ; 25 cm

domain: library


File(s) under permanent embargo
Biodiversity losses and conservation responses in the Anthropocene
journal contributionposted on 2023-05-19, 13:08 authored by Christopher JohnsonChristopher Johnson, Balmford, A, Barry BrookBarry Brook, Jessie BuettelJessie Buettel, Galetti, M, Guangchun, L, Wilmshurst, JM
Biodiversity is essential to human well-being, but people have been reducing biodiversity throughout human history. Loss of species and degradation of ecosystems are likely to further accelerate in the coming years. Our understanding of this crisis is now clear, and world leaders have pledged to avert it. Nonetheless, global goals to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss have mostly not been achieved. However, many examples of conservation success show that losses can be halted and even reversed. Building on these lessons to turn the tide of biodiversity loss will require bold and innovative action to transform historical relationships between human populations and nature.
Department/SchoolSchool of Natural Sciences
PublisherAmer Assoc Advancement Science
Place of publication1200 New York Ave, Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20005
Rights statementCopyright 2017 American Association for the Advancement of Science


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Councilors have heard that the return of the 20-per-week Universal Credit Uplift will force many families in Bari to choose between ‘heating or eating’.
The Beverly Hills Council discussed a motion by the council’s labor group to “stop the universal credit cut”. This will affect 15,300 people in the borough, many of whom are at work.
The motion suggested that the authority write a letter to the prime minister and chancellor urging them to stop the ڈالر 20 deduction on universal credit, and to ask two members of parliament to oppose the cut and oppose it in parliament. Vote
The temporary increase was introduced during an epidemic last year and extended in March, but is due to end in early October.
During the debate, Labor Councilor Lucy Smith said: “The fact that the Conservatives are doing this is a mental disorder. I don’t understand how they can put thousands of children in poverty and endanger thousands of homes. Are
“A charity in my ward provides food for 70 families. Why? Because there is not enough money at home.
“The Tories say they will help people at work. They don’t even understand their system.
Universal Credit is a ‘work-in-progress’ benefit and there are approximately 7,7000 people at work and who rely on it.
“They’ve got a job and they’re working hard but they still need help because the work doesn’t pay anymore. What are these people doing?”
“The caretakers, the shop workers and the cleaners are the main workers who saw us in this epidemic and a lot of Tories pretended to clap. And now you get سے 1 a year from their homes,” he said. 000 and tax them.
The movement said the Child Poverty Action Group said the ترقی 20 development was necessary to ensure that “low-income families have access to child support.”
The Joseph Rowntry Foundation warns that the cuts could push 200,000 more children into poverty in the UK.
Coun Gavin McGill said: “For many people there is a difference between heating 20 pounds a week or eating.
“I have heard arguments from conservatives and they are very similar to those who feed our borough children out of time.
“It doesn’t need to be,” he says. “It was a temporary measure. People should get a job that pays better.”
“All of these arguments blame the person on universal credit.
“As they are saying, people are claiming state benefits through elections rather than necessity.
“It says more about the person who is cutting the lifeline than the people who are clinging to the life they love.
“Like many people, I had to claim the benefits of unemployment and it wasn’t pleasant, but it’s not about my story, it’s about the stories of 15,300 people.
“They don’t want to claim universal credit, but they have to.”
Conservative councilor Russell Bernstein told councilors that the £ 20 withdrawal was not a cut and that his group would vote against the motion.
He said: “There is a difference between what is being considered as temporary growth and what is being considered as a cut in the last 18 months.
“The Conservative group will vote against this move because we believe that the 7 407 billion package, which includes injecting ڈالر 9 billion into our welfare system to help low-income families, helps families in difficult times. Was correct.
“Now that we are moving to the next stage of our rehabilitation, we are convinced that the government is right to start bringing more people back to work.
“Universal Credit will continue to provide a secure security net.
“But as our economy grows with record job vacancies, it’s important to focus on helping people work and keeping them out of the ترقی 20 temporary growth.”
Conservative leader Count Nick Jones said massive work has been done to help people, with living wages rising to 9 8.91.
A significant increase in the lowest paid workers.
He added: “It was a temporary development.
“The government has stepped forward and done a lot to help the very weak.”
A majority of councilors supported the motion, which was voted against by Conservative councilors.


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Tina O'Brien's return to Coronation Street could also bring an on-screen reconciliation with her ex
When Sarah-Lou comes back to the cobbles she will reportedly enjoy a fling with her ex Jason Grimshaw – who happens to be played by Tina‘s real life former boyfriend Ryan Thomas. Er, awkward.
‘Jason and Sarah-Lou are set to have a one-night stand when she returns to Weatherfield,’ a source says.
‘It will really mix things up because Jason is in a relationship and Sarah-Lou will also meet a new fella.’
Sarah-Lou was previously married to Jason before making her exit from the soap in 2007 when she jetted off to Milan with her daughter Bethany.
In real life Tina, 31, and Ryan, 30, started dating in 2003. They became parents to their little girl Scarlett in 2008, shortly after Tina had left Corrie, but went on to split the following year.
Needless to say hooking up again on screen could be slightly uncomfortable for the former couple and they’re reportedly not too happy about the storyline.
‘A passionate kiss is the last thing either of them want,’ the insider tells the Sunday People.
‘But they are great actors and at the end of the day they are both professionals.’
Tina and Ryan have both found love again since their break-up. Just four months ago Tina welcomed baby son Beau with her partner of three years, Adam Crofts, whilst Ryan recently dated Bollywood star Amy Jackson, though they are believed to have split in November.
Given that they have Scarlett together, Tina and Ryan have remained on pretty good terms and Tina recently claimed that her Corrie comeback didn’t bother her former boyfriend.
‘He’s been fantastic about it,’ she says. ‘He knows it’s something I really want to do so he’s been great.’
We think Sarah-Lou‘s return will definitely be worth a watch!

domain: celebrity


I can't blame Republican officials for being upset with the ruling from Judge Sparks yesterday, but some of them are in need of a serious reality check. Look at what is being said by some of them:
Republican lawyer James Bopp Jr. described Sparks' ruling as a disaster for democracy. Bopp said it will cause election "chaos" if political parties have to wait until Election Day to determine whether a candidate is eligible to run.
"That would mean frivolous candidates, anybody could get on the federal ballot and then we just sort it out after the election, which would make Bush v. Gore look like a summer picnic," Bopp said, referring to the disputed 2000 presidential election.
[State GOP Chair Tina] Benkiser said the voters of the 22nd District deserve to have a "choice of candidates" on the ballot who are ready to serve them in Congress. She said the Democrats filed the lawsuit as part of a "desperate plan" to help Lampson win and to raise money from "Hollywood liberals."
"Democrats have had to turn to election by litigation because they know that as long as there is a Republican on the ballot in CD 22, Republicans will keep the congressional seat," she said in a statement.
Robin Armstrong, a Dickinson resident and vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party, chastised Democrats for filing the lawsuit in the first place.
"Democrats are trying to win an election through litigation," he said. "It would be nice to have a candidate on the ballot and to have an election.
"The Democrats have not won elections in Texas so they are trying to win through the court system."
"I think it's a sad day for the voters of the 22nd district of Texas," said Gary Gillen, the chairman of the Republican Party of Fort Bend County, which is one of the four counties in that district. "I think [the ruling] denies the voters the opportunity to select the candidate they want to vote for."
It's really rich to see Gary Gillen complain about disenfranchising anyone. He's busy pushing his candidate in the Gang of Four selection process, and back in April when a special election to fill the remainder of DeLay's term was being pushed by Nick Lampson, Gillen called the idea "a circus because a special election is open to everyone." That's some kind of respect for the wishes of the voters you've got there, Gary. Same for James Bopp, who's quaking with fear over the prospect of "frivolous candidates". Does that mean you'd oppose any effort to redraw CD22 as part of the SCOTUS-ordered fix to CD23, which would allow DeLay to drop off with no fuss, James? If so, please state that for the record.
It's simple, folks. The person who has done the most, really, all, to make a mockery of the electoral process is Tom DeLay. The Chron's editorial sums it up perfectly.
Judge Sparks' ruling is also well-grounded in the law and upholds good public policy. DeLay waged a vigorous primary campaign, crushing three Republican challengers. If he was not committed to the race, he should have allowed voters to make another choice.
This case was decided on a constitutional question: Was DeLay ineligible to run for Congress because he had moved his official residence to Virginia? The judge said no. He noted that DeLay's wife still lives in the couple's Sugar Land home and that DeLay testified he had moved no personal effects from his old residence to his new residence. Nothing, in other words, had changed.
In fact, a Chronicle reporter found DeLay at home in Sugar Land Thursday. DeLay said he didn't grant interviews "at my house."
Apart from the residency requirements of the U.S. Constitution, Texas has a good law that prevents parties from pressuring weak primary winners to withdraw in favor of a stronger candidate. If parties could do that, there would be little point in troubling the voters with primary elections.
"We're not going to stop campaigning because Republicans can't get their act together," said Lampson campaign manger Mike Malaise. "Tom DeLay is their curse, not ours. The people of this district have been put in this position because Tom DeLay has tried to dupe and evade them all."
Enough of this. On other matters, Mark looks at the makeup of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which will surely get this case next, and Greg has some YouTube video of Lampson campaign ads. Finally, there's still time to plan a trip to Fort Bend to celebrate the great cosmic karma of this case. I'll see you there tonight.Posted by Charles Kuffner on July 07, 2006 to Election 2006 | TrackBack


Director David Cronenberg places the physicality of the human being at the center of his films. Where he got the inspiration for his latest film, what fascinates him about the human body – and why he recycled a film title.
In his films, David Cronenberg repeatedly focuses on human physicality in all its extremes. The recently released dystopian Crimes of the Future is no exception. We caught up with the 79-year-old director at the world premiere.
Your current film is about people whose organs are changing and about artists who radically use their own bodies for their performances. What was your inspiration for this?
David Cronenberg: Among other things, contemporary body artists have influenced me. For example the French Orlan, who has strange cosmetic procedures done on her. Or Stelarc from Australia, who, among other things, has entered a robot body. I find this unusual use of one’s own body in art fascinating, so I wanted to come up with something similar.
Your films have always expressed a special fascination with the human body. Where does it come from?


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Here's a better representation of what I'm going for with Pippi's house.
Photoshop madness go! Click for more detail.
I'm having a lot of fun experimenting with doing renderings with photoshop. It's easier for me to use pen and paper when it's just for me. But when I'm trying to convey something photoshop has a lot more variety than me scribbling with a pen.

domain: design


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01 Jun Emma Housley – Interview
Emma Housley lives in Street with her partner and children and is one of the Core Artists here at Heart of The Tribe. She is receiving much recognition within the local art community for her unique, vibrant, abstract style and has a strong social media following. Here Emma is interviewed by Vicki Steward of Normal For Glastonbury
Were you able to be creative during lockdown?
Before Covid I was just starting to be able to make a living, call it a job. I had real momentum going, I got a painting into Bristol’s RWA Open Show, there was lots going on, then Covid came along and everything was cancelled. I think artists have been finding it hard in lockdown, time became elastic.
During the lockdown everyone has had such a different experience, as a woman with kids you have no mental space, everything you do is domestic. When the kids can’t go outside and play you have to channel their energy. I did carry on painting, on the dining room table, but I couldn’t go to the studio and that was the space where it was just me and my painting.
(Emma wrote a piece on this and the difficulty of doing domestic work and art https://www.emmahousleyartist.com/articles.html) “Feeling invisible is also one of the perils of the Covid Lockdown. We need to be seen, to be heard.“
When did you become an artist?
I think, like most artists, there’s always been that seed. I’ve always had the drive to create art and I’ve been doing it for years, but then there’s a moment when you can say ‘other people can see that too’. It’s about being visible. (In 2018) I was part of ‘Create Space’ in Street, when they took over an empty supermarket as a gallery open to all artists. I put my work in and people really liked it. It was the first time I dared to do exactly the kind of work I wanted to do and dared to show it to someone else. That was a really important moment. I have masses of self doubt, so I had to go through the pain of being visible, and survive it, and keep on wanting to do it.
Art is visual communication, I do it for my own satisfaction, but it’s also my way of putting myself out in the world. I decided I wanted it to be my job and my livelihood. That’s very risky. It’s almost like having an alter-ego, there’s me in everyday life and there’s Emma Housley The Artist, out there, doing all this stuff. I was starting just to inhabit that space before lockdown came in, now I’m getting back to it.
Were you encouraged to create when you were younger?
My Mum was an artist too, though she’d call herself an amateur. I was quite academic at school, so I was steered into that sort of route. I ended up doing an English degree, then an art foundation course, then I went to Cyprus College of Art for a year. It was an amazing formative year, but then art went back to being a ‘hobby’ for a very long time afterwards. I just did random jobs.
I feel like I always did almost what I wanted to do, but not quite. I’ve done lots of interesting things, quite a lot of travelling, taught English in Madrid for a while. Before I was doing art I was sewing, making bags, doing creative things and selling at markets, being a maker. Through that I learnt to run a business and do social media.
Then I realised I had to focus right down, not just do something a bit like what I wanted to do. I’ve always wanted to paint abstract art, now I’ve honed it, taught myself the skill of getting it out. It’s taken me a long time to get to the point where I’m happy with what I do. I’m never completely satisfied, I don’t think you ever get there. But it’s authentic, that’s what is important to me. It’s good when you realise that even people you look up who are really successful also have self doubt.
What medium do you work in?
Acrylics and a mixture of whatever I can find, sometimes kids pencils and crayons. It’s very fluid. It’s got to be playful. I think that’s the reason my paintings work, I don’t get too precious about them, I do a lot of scratching and rubbing things out. If I try and plan a painting I can’t, it has to be a reactive process or it doesn’t work. It’s got to be spontaneous.
I start with a colour, I can’t really explain why I choose a particular colour on a particular day, but I start by mixing a colour that I find really exciting, then I start working with it and thinking about contrast and texture. Usually, as the painting develops, a theme will come through. A lot of them are about water, I think that’s because for me swimming is quite an ecstatic experience, a quite overwhelming sensory experience. That comes out in the painting.
(I ask Emma if she has particular associations with water) Swimming has very happy associations: holidays, being by the sea. In Cyprus I had amazing experiences of the bluest skies, swimming in the sea everyday, it was idyllic. I think I see colour in a strange way, not synesthesia as such, but I do see certain emotions or states as a colour.
I find painting immensely therapeutic. It’s strange to me that the thing I do is not only therapeutic and enjoyable for me, but it also creates this thing that other people can find enjoyable. I feel very lucky that that’s what I want to do and other people like it, but I would still paint even if no one else ever looked at my work. There’s a lot of finalising at the end, things that were random and uncontrolled become more defined, so that’s a sort of working through.
I feel like I never quite say what i want to say, except in my paintings, that’s my authentic voice. I got a bursary from Somerset Art Works which meant I got to go to Clayhill Arts for studio space and mentoring. I went there initially for six months but I’ve never quite left, it’s an amazing place. They gave me opportunities to do things I’d never expected to do, that initially I found quite terrifying. I did a private view with two other artists and gave a talk to 40 or 50 people. I really surprised myself – I felt quite at ease because I’ve got more confident in myself as a painter, I think I’ve realised I do have something to say. I’ve done a podcast ‘In the Studio’ with Clayhill too.
There’s quite a lot of ‘overcoming’ as an artist, learning to overcome my own insecurities, to learn to live with them and do it anyway. Otherwise you run out of time. You can spend forever hiding in a cupboard thinking you’re awful, but eventually you have to come out and say ”this is me”, so you can reach your potential. Every time I paint there is a bit in the middle where I think ‘this is shit, I’m shit, I’m not a painter’. But you have to push through.
I was having trouble with a drawing once and my tutor told me “You’ve got to keep going with that drawing, otherwise every drawing you do you’ll come to the same point and you’ll stop”. Doing art is a strange compulsion, you have to suffer it being awful before it gets good. You do reach these moments where you feel like you’ve got to the end, but then you have to keep going, it’s the same for relationships, if you don’t go through it the first time you get stuck in the loop.
How do you feel about Heart of the Tribe?
I think it’s brilliant that Glastonbury has got something like Heart of the Tribe, it’s curated, it’s really high quality and it’s full of people who genuinely, passionately, love art. Kim really wanted my work in it which was really nice. I think as we’re allowed to meet up it will become a really good community that will become really important to me.
I feel quite conflicted living in Somerset, I do miss living in the city (Bristol). That feeling of being somewhere I don’t necessarily feel at home in, it’s maybe given me a bit of a spark. I’ve found it much easier to paint since I’ve lived here. There’s been a tension that I’ve had to resolve and I think that’s made me work a bit harder. I’ve also got more space here. In Clayhill I had a massive barn to paint in, which enabled me to paint bigger than I’ve ever painted before. There is a feeling of space in Somerset that you don’t get in the city.
Where would you like to be with your art in the future? How do you see success?
I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’ve made it, as you go on you keep changing your own goal posts. Five years ago I thought being successful was selling one painting. Now I regularly sell work, I’m in the RWDA, I’ve been interviewed for Evolver, I’ve been chosen for things, I’ve had my work accepted. That’s what I dreamt of, I’ve got it now. I think I’ll always keep looking for the next thing. I would love to do some more residencies. I did one at Strode Theatre a couple of years ago, I just went and painted and people came and talked to me, I loved talking to loads of different people. That’s what I’ll be looking for when the world opens up again. All I really want is to keep on making paintings that I find satisfying.
Emma will be doing an art residency / open studio in the workshop space at the end of the Heart of The Tribe Garden during Somerset Art Works Open Studios event from 18th September – 3rd October.
Her Solo exhibition is from September 23rd – October 18th at Heart of The Tribe Gallery.
https://www.emmahousleyartist.com/ and https://www.clayhillarts.co.uk/the-unseen-artist/


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On Tuesday, a senior Justice Department official admitted that the NSA “probably” spies on Members of Congress. The admission came during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, where the official took hard questions from Congress. This is probably the first admission from the administration that Congressional Members may be involved in being spied on through the phone tapping program.
The National Security Agency “probably” collects phone records of members of Congress and their staffs, a senior Justice Department official conceded Tuesday.
Deputy Attorney General James Cole buckled under questioning from multiple lawmakers during a House Judiciary Committee hearing reviewing proposals to reform the NSA’s surveillance activity.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, began by asking Peter Swire, a member of the president’s handpicked surveillance review board, whether lawmakers’ numbers are included in the agency’s phone-records sweeps. Swire protested that he was not a government official and couldn’t best answer the question, but said he was unaware of any mechanism that “scrubbed out” member phone numbers from the agency’s data haul.
Lofgren’s time expired and Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, then put the question to Cole.


(Pictured: Zack Domingues)
Mazza Makes Home Debut
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After only completing three and a half innings last night, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (14-26, 2-3) will be eager to get out there again tonight as they take on the rival Madison Mallards (23-17, 5-2). The Rafters were ahead 5-1 over the Thunder Bay Border Cats last night, but then the rain started to fall and the game will now be picked up when the Rafters head to Canada. The Mallards are coming off of a 7-4 victory over the Kalamazoo Growlers and currently sit a half game back in the South Division standings.
Making his home debut for the Rafters tonight will be the south paw Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara, 0-0). Mazza will be making his third start of the season for the Rafters and in his first two outings he has impressed to say the least. He comes into tonight with an ERA of 1.63 in 11 innings pitched with only seven walks compared to his 15 strikeouts. Mazza looks to keep down a Madison Mallards squad that is 15th in the Northwoods League in batting average and 16th in overall hits.
The Rafters will be facing Tyler Buffett (Oklahoma State, 1-0) in tonight’s ballgame. Buffett is making his fifth appearance overall for the Mallards and this will be his fourth start. He has an ERA of 4.15 in his 13 innings pitched and has actually given up more hits than innings pitched with 16 hits against him.
Tonight the Mallards will have to contend with arguably the best hitter in all of the Northwoods League, Zack Domingues (Long Beach State). Domingues is batting .385 this season and has an on base percentage of .508, both of which lead the league. In addition to Domingues, Keelin Rasch (Louisiana Monroe) has been on a tear of late. In his last four games he is batting .429 with five doubles and five runs batted in. Rasch has also been playing solid defensively at third base lately and has really secured the hot corner for the Rafters.
Tonight’s game is at 7:05pm and the gates to Witter Field will be opening at 6:05pm. Since the weather prevented Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey from performing last night, he will instead show his stuff at Witter Field tonight. Additionally, there will be a Quality Feed and Seed Dog Frisbee giveaway as it is Bark in the Park Night. Fans will be allowed to bring their dogs with them to the game.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.