abakus

Running a business can be challenging at the best of times, without the added hassle of having to chase up invoices and payments, so here are a few tips that should help ensure that you get paid on time.

1. Create payment terms and stick to them, make sure everyone you deal with adheres to these terms be it 30 days, or 90 days, have it in writing and give it to anyone you do business with, so they have it there in front of them in black and white.

2. Have in place a letter of credit (Documentary credit).

3. Communicate with both your staff and your customers. Keeping in contact with customers and staff will allow you to be the first to know what goes on, for example if a customer is a week late paying you will know why because you would have contacted them well before this date.

5. Why not have a reward system in place for those customers or clients that pay you early. It could be something like a discount off the next order, or perhaps even a longer credit term – choose something to suit you and the needs of your business.

6. Draft up and get written out terms and conditions of payment, and make sure you give a copy of these to everyone you deal with. In these terms and conditions include information about charging interest on overdue payments, taking legal action if no payment is received within a certain period of time and so on.

7. Ensure your customers and clients know how to pay you. Make it as easy and as hassle free for them as possible. Set out your payment methods on your website, in any communication you make and make sure it is written into your credit/payment terms and conditions.

8. Only deal with reputable businesses/customers/clients. If you know someone you are doing business with is in financial trouble then its best to avoid them as and where possible, or they could end up taking your business down with them.

9. Keep accurate records of who you deal with and who owes you what and when, send them a courtesy letter or reminder in advance/before the payment is due.

10. Always check your clients and customers credit rating or similar before handing them credit.

I hope you have found this article useful and helpful, and I hope it helps you to get paid on time.

Front Royal isn't exactly a hotbed of activity as far as nightlife is concerned, but it's a great place for history buffs and there's always plenty of stuff going on for families, particularly around the holidays.  Here's an overview of some of the events in the upcoming months.

Bluegrass Party

Every other Friday (the second and fourth of the month), Front Royal holds a good old-fashioned hoe-down/shindig/jam session in the bluegrass vein.  Featuring gospel and old-time music played acoustically, at the Browntown Community Center, anybody is welcome to listen as well as join in, since all levels of musicians are welcome.  There's plenty of food concessions at reasonable prices, and from 7pm to 10pm, it's a decent evening that's late enough for the party crowd but not too late for families with young children.

Contact (540)778-4777 or (540)636-3588 for more information. 

Christmas Celebration and Parade

During the first weekend of December, Front Royal has its annual “Old Time Christmas Celebration” downtown at the town square and gazebo.  As well as live music, there will be authentically dressed Victorian carolers and horse-drawn carriages.  They're working on renovating the downtown/old town area, so plenty of new shops will be open to showcase their wares.  The parade starts around 4pm, and the holiday lighting will be turned on for the first time.   

Contact (540)631-0099 or www.downtownfrontroyal.com for more information.

Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Front Royal

As long as you're in downtown looking at the decorations and window shopping, go by the Visitor's Center (next to the Mill Street restaurant) and get a “Walking Tour of Front Royal” guide.  You'll be right there on Chester Street anyway, where the tour begins, and your tour will take you by the Warren Rifles Confederate Museum (closed this time of year except by appointment, but do call for the appointment – it's worth it),  the Belle Boyd House (home of famous Confederate spy Belle Boyd) and Soldiers Circle, where the remains lay of 276 Confederate soldiers representing each of the 13 states of the Confederacy.   Also, a lot of people don't know that Warren Beatty and Shirley Maclaine grew up here in Front Royal, but their summer home is on the walking tour as well, for all you celebrity hounds.  Many of these historical sites have special holiday hours and events and are tastefully decorated for the holidays.

If the weather holds and the roads aren't yet frozen, the biggest attraction in Front Royal, aside from the Civil War battlefields, is Skyline Drive.  Front Royal is the entrance of Skyline Drive, and you can take this route all the way down to Charlottesville, VA where it becomes the Blue Ridge Parkway as it goes further south.  In this area, however, it's gorgeous this time of year when the leaves are changing, and wintertime scenic vistas on the Drive are breathtaking.  Admission to this portion of the Parkway is $15 per vehicle, but it's totally worth it.

http://www.warrenhs.org/
http://www.frontroyalchamber.com/

Shenandoah River Estates Holidays-A-Go-Go

I have to tell you that this last holiday activity is definitely the best one.  From I-66, take the Linden exit to Dismal Hollow Road, turn left on Happy Creek Road, and turn right across the railroad tracks to Shenandoah River Estates.  Here is Front Royal's true holiday bonanza, for here is where the author of this piece resides (along with Mr. Timbers).  You'll be able to spot our house very easily, because it will be the one with no decorations.  Or maybe it will be the one with Easter or July 4th decorations.  We're very weird.  And if you're lucky, you'll come by on one of our bonfire nights.  Around the holidays, if you knock on the door and know the password to enter (“Bruce Willis”), we'll let you in, give you a cookie, and let you take a whack at the pinata we have as our sole living room decoration.  It's not Christmas without some whacking.  And you can quote me on that.

So, in conclusion, I'd just like to say that Front Royal might be a bit of a backwater and kind of slow, but holidays in a little burg, especially one as steeped in history as this one, are pretty cool.  I've lived in big cities, and while they have their own Christmas festivity and New Year's crazy parties, they don't have the peaceful, quiet, cozy charm of a down home Christmas in a small town.

Small backyards, especially small city yards, can be completely lacking in any privacy. In my last home I had the world's smallest backyard and neighbors that were a whopping three to four feet away!

There are some awesome and cheap options fo creating privacy in a small backyard though. Even large backyards in the suburb can use some of these ideas for creating privacy in the back yard.

Bamboo Sheeting

Bamboo sheeting is so inexpensive and the absolutely perfect way to cover a cheap see through chain link fence in a small back yard (or even large one for that matter). You can buy rolls of bamboo at the local hardware store and add tons fo privacy in your tiny back yard.

TO attach rolls of bamboo sheeting to a chain link fence you will also need some plastic garbage ties. Hold the bamboo sheeting up to your chain link fence and then use the rip ties to attach it to the fence. The bamboo sheeting is super light and made for outdoor elements.

You can not beat the great look of this awesome product that can add so much privacy, yet look so great. It also looks the same on both sides, so your neighbors will love it as well.

Bushes and Trees

Ok, shrubbery is one of the best ways to add permanent privacy in a small back yard. Keep in mind how small your yard is and how much light it gets when choosing your scrubs.

You can use tall thin trees for a small yard that needs privacy from a neighbor's two story window.

You can also buy shrubbery that spreads wide and tall and grows fast to cover something like a chain link fence. Check with yoru local nursery or online nurseries. Look for terms like privacy shrubs or fast growing privacy shrubs. These are plants can tress that grow wide and tall fast.

Fabric

Fabric can add instance privacy in a small yard for very little money. Look for fabrics like outdoor grade canvas or sheer fabrics. These can be hung to frame in a small porch and add blocks of privacy in minutes. Best of all they can be taken with you when you move to a more private home.

Use a simple staple gun to attach outdoor fabric to the posts on an outdoor deck or the columns on a back porch. You can also simply hang curtain rods attached ot the deck and hanging yoru privacy fabric as curtains!

When President Bush declared, in January of 2002, that 'no child will be left behind', it was my understanding, that he meant that every child in America would be given the chance to receive a decent education. Imagine my joy when I pictured in my mind an America where every child would be taught to read, write, and do math. Children who wouldn't need a calculator to give someone their change, an America where children could write an intelligible sentence, an America where the most commonly spoken word was not 'huh'. Well I suppose it's my fault. I set myself up for a major disappointment.

It seems what our Commander in Grief was really trying to say was that no matter how miserably our children failed, they would not be held back, i.e. no child was left behind. They would, however, be educated for twelve years on how to take a test.

I have more than one personal experience concerning this matter. Just a few years ago my son Peter was in the eighth grade at a TUSD public school. He tried real hard, however he had problems in the reading and writing arena. At the end of the year, after many attempts to get him extra help so he would do better, he had below average grades. With three Fs, 2Ds, and an A, in Math, I was certain that he would be required to repeat the grade before moving on to High School. However, to my surprise the school councilor suggested that he be promoted to the 9th grade, the first year of High School here.

Needless to say, my response was not very enthusiastic. How could a school councilor suggest that a child with a grade average below a D move onto the next grade? When I was a kid one needed at least a high D average to move onto the next grade, and even then it was suggested that the child be held behind until he or she was ready to move onto the next grade level. So I brought this question to the councilor. The response was almost as ridiculous as the original notion. He said that it was essential to the social development of the child to be educated with other children of the same age.

Well this made perfect sense to me. Of course it was more important that my child make lasting relation ships with people of his own age, than it was for him to be proficient in the subjects that he was there to study. What was I thinking? A child couldn't possibly make it in this world if he didn't go to school with children his own age. After this shocking revelation, that the public school my child went to was run by complete idiots, I decided to look at some of my alternatives.

In the city of Tucson there are several magnet schools which are funded by the school system, however, are designed to be more geared toward students who may not fit into the proverbial box. After talking to some of the other parents in my area, and doing some searching on my own, I decided to enroll my son into one of the local magnet schools. Well, wasn't I proud of myself? I achieved the impossible and found a 'public school' that would do their best to cater to my individual students needs. Finally my son would be taught to read, and write with some proficiency. Something I would have liked to have time to do myself, however, in a two income family who was still below the poverty line, time was sparse indeed.

So, now my child was enrolled into a magnet school where he would be given individual attention so that he could begin to achieve what I already knew he was capable of. Or, was he? Well, apparently not. It seems that instead of individualized attention, and extra help, all he received was much easier work to do, and therefore got better grades. Now I am all for getting good grades, as long as a child is getting them for work that actually challenges him, not work he was taught in previous years. Is an A in fourth grade material really helping an eighth grade student? I think not. So what to do next?

Well then I decided to move out of the city into a smaller town. Fewer students, less competition for individualized attention, right? Apparently, this is not so. The school in the small town was a little better than the schools in the city I had moved from, and my child was getting better grades; in High School. So you would think I would be happy. Not quite. My son turned 16 halfway through the school year. Naturally being a teenager, and with money as a motivation, my son took a job at a local fast food joint. Great! However, due to long hours at work he began to miss some of his classes. After a few weeks like this, the school notified him that he had missed too many classes and was in danger of not getting credit for the year. What to do?

He talked to his boss at work about his hours but had little luck there as well. Basically he was told that if he couldn't work the hours required, he would be no longer needed at that job. So now what? The decision was painful but easy to come by. He decided, along with his mother and I, that school would just have to wait. Sounds silly but when you don't come from money you realize that a jump on the job market and building experience is much more important than graduating High School. In current times, a GED is all but equal to a High School diploma; at least in the poor persons' job market.

The sad truth is this. There are two basic types of young people in this country, no small thanks to our current Commander in Grief. There are the upper middle class and higher who can afford to graduate High School, and go to college with some help of the family in some way financially. Then there are the ones who hope to someday work full time, sometimes more than one job, and go to school. However for those of us who have tried it, it becomes clear that it is hard enough to get through college without working full time. It also becomes clear that it is hard enough to work a full time job and pay all your bills when one is not shelling out thousands of dollars a year to go to college. So how many actually succeed in doing both? Not many.

Let's say for argument sake that you are able to accomplish these super feats, and get your degree. Now, your in your twenties, you have little job experience, and your trying to get a good paying job using your degree. Well, you have to make twice as much as before because to get through college while working full time and paying all your bills you had to take out student loans. Now you have a degree but your also thousands of dollars in debt; to the government. So, you try to break into your field making say $30,000 a year to cover all your bills and not have to work two jobs.

Now, you have no experience in your field, however to get a job, you have to have experience; to accomplish this you must first work as an intern, for no money. Ok, you just have to work one paying job, still close to minimum wage to pay your bills, than also work as an intern, for free, for someone else.

Let's take stock. You went to college while working to get your degree. Now you have to work a paying job, and a free one, to get job experience. Now it's say four years later, two to get your associates, and two as an intern working for free. Now you can get a good enough job to pay your bills without working two jobs. Or do you?

While you were going to college, and working as an intern, and working paying jobs to get by for four years, you apply for that good paying job.

Sorry, no openings! Why? Because six years ago your class mate dropped out of school to get a job to help his family. In that six years he worked very hard for the same company and got raises and promotions, now he is the general manager of a John in the Cube, and makes $48,000 a year. The same management position you applied for sighting your associates' degree in business management, and your two years of intern experience.

See, while you were out there working yourself to an early grave, the other guy was working his way to the top. Why is this the best way for us poor people to make it? Simple; we can only make it if we are there when that once in a life time opportunity comes up. When your shift leader leaves to take a job elsewhere as a manager, you have to be there to fill the spot. Then, when suddenly your shift manager gets caught stealing money, you have to be there once again to fill the spot. Likewise when your general manager gets killed in a robbery, again, you have to be there to fill the spot. See we don't have rich dads' or connections from our frat school buddies to help us get in; we have to work our arses off and hope for those types of opportunities. Otherwise, we will get no where.

How is this possible in a democratic society where capitalism rules and everyone has equal opportunities? Simply put, there is no such thing. People who come from money have more opportunities, and the system is designed to perpetuate this reality.

How do the well off get it done? Easy; first it helps if your family can pay for you to go to college as well as all your room and board. Now you can concentrate on your studies, plus you have a little extra cash in case you need it to buy a test, or thesis, or professor. Then you have time as well to make connections. One of the ways the rich stay rich is by giving opportunities to other rich people. Family members, friends, or friends of the family, are your most likely first employer. It helps too if your family has given a similar opportunity to the family member of your employers. It really is a social world, if you come from money. In this world it is your social contacts that give you a leg up.

So why would there be a system designed this way? It is this way simply to help the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Our system, in the disguise of democracy and equality, is designed to be a feudal system, therefore creating two castes of people, the super rich imperialists, and the below poverty worker bee slaves.

Thanks again President Bush for implementing another one of your fiendish plans to keep people down.

White or black?  Which is the color of chic?  Perhaps it all depends on the wearing-who, what, when, and where.  Maybe it depends on whose fashion rulebook you are using.

Whatever it is, sporting white can make a big statement.  Wearing white is no longer seen as boring.  Rather, it is sexy, demure, or sophisticated depending on the where and how.  You can personalize an outfit of white to give it a personality that will stick out in anyone’s memory.

If you decide to wear something with volume, try to pair it with a slimmer item to avoid the totally sloppy look.  After all, once you get the attention that you are craving, you want to be able to maintain it- e.g. a fitted jacket or top and sleek boots –especially, to the knee style boots, with a full skirt.

A slightly oversized bag makes more sense than a large satchel that’s big enough to hold half a dinner set of dishes.  If it’s easy to clean, so much the better.  White accessories, while blending in, can add a sparkle and shimmer that can liven up an outfit.  Embellishments from beads and tassels to ribbons and lace can add an exciting dimension to the already perfect outfit. 

Instead of worrying about white becoming dirty quickly, purchase something that’s easy to clean such as cotton or stretch cotton.  Or simply be bold and wear your whites with zest and the confidence that at the moment, the outfit looks fabulous.  After all, we love to add to our wardrobe constantly, and chances are, you will only have to replace part of an ensemble if the worst does happen.

Wearing white promotes a look that captivates the sightseer of fashion.  It almost mesmerizes to the point of distraction.  The fact, that many celebrities now choose to wear white all year long, adds to the glamour of the color.

Steer away from the typical “hot” colors of red and black for your lingerie.  The color white can inspire your mate and give you an almost untouchable look that will send him burning with desire straight into your arms.

The crisp and clean look of white can give an appearance of newness, of innocence, of simplicity.  Soft, sheer, and frilly can add a touch of romance.  Puffy sleeves, bits of ribbon, and trimmings of lace can lend themselves to the feminine side of your nature.   Fitted jackets and blouses add a sense of professionalism. Whatever you wear, make it white, and make it yours!

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton was born October 26, 1947. She was born at the Edgewater Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Her father is Hugh Ellsworth Rodham, who was a child of English and Welsh immigrants. Her father, was the manager of a small textile business. Her mother is Dorothy Emma Howell and she is of Welsh, English, Scottish, French, and French Canadian descent. Hillary has two brothers that are younger than her. Her brothers names are Hugh and Tony and they were all raised in a United Methodist family. When Hillary was three they lived in suburban Park Ridge, Illinois.

Hillary was a teacher's favorite at the public school she attended. At Park Ridge, she participated in baseball and swimming and other sports. She earned awards as a Girl Scout and as a Brownie. Later, she was enrolled at Maine East High School, where she became involved in the student council and the school newspaper. She was also selected for the National Honor Society. Her senior year saw took her to Maine South High School, where she was redistricted. She was a National Merit Finalist there and graduated in 1965. Her parent's wanted her to have an independent and professional career, one where her opportunities would not be limited by gender.

She was brought up in a politically conservative household. She was only thirteen when she helped canvass South Side Chicago following the end of the 1960 United States presidential election. She even found proof of electoral fraud against Republican candidate Richard Nixon. After that she volunteered to campaign for Barry Goldwater in the United States presidential election of 1964. Hillary's early political endeavors were shaped most by her high school teacher, who also introduced her to Goldwater's classic The Conscience of a Conservative. She was also inspired politically by her Methodist youth minister, with whom she met civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. She saw and met Martin Luither King, Jr. in Chicago, in 1962.

Hillary registered at Wellesley College, in 1965. She majored in political science. She was president of the Wellesley young republicans during her freshman year. She also supported the elections of both Edward Brooke and John Lindsay. Later, she stepped down from this position, as she had changed her views regarding the American Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. In the 60s they believed that radical actions could change the political system, not Hillary. She sought to change the system from within. In her junior year, Hillary supported the anti-war presidential nomination campaign of Eugene McCarthy. After the assassignation of Martin Luther King, Jy., she worked and organized a two-day student strike and worked with black students to recruit more black students and faculty. She was also elected president of the Government Association and served until early 1969. Many of her fellow school mates thought that she might eventually become the first woman President of the United States. Her Professor assigned her to intern at the House Republican Conference, and she attended the summer program. She was invited by Representative Charles Goodell to help Governor Nelson Rockefeller's late-entry campaign for the Republican nomination. Soon after she left the Republican Party for good after becoming upset by Nixon's portrayal of Rockefeller and what she saw as the convention's “veiled” racist messages.

She graduated Wellesley in 1969, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also had departmental honors in political science. Her fellow students pressured her into becoming the first student in Wellesley College history to deliver a commencement address. After her speech she received a seven minute long standing ovation.

She also appeared in Life Magazine, and appeared on Irv Kupcinet's nationally syndicated talk show, and also in the Illinois and New England newspapers. The following summer she worked her way to Alaska, washing dishes in Mount McKinley National Park. That summer she spent time sliming salmon in a fish processing cannery in Valdez, where she was fired after complaining about unhealthy conditions. The cannery shut down overnight.

Hillary later entered Yale Law School and served on the editorial board of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action. Her second year at Yale saw her working at the Yale Child Study Center, where she learned about new research on early childhood development. She also worked as a research assistant on the seminal work, Beyond the Best Interests of the Child in 1973. She was a volunteer at New Haven Legal Services, where she provided legal advice to the poor. She also took child abuse cases at the New Haven Hospital at Yale. In 1970 she was awarded a grant to work at Marian Wright Edelman's Washington Research Project. There she was assigned to Senator Walter Mondale's Subcommittee on Migratory Labor. She did research on migrant workers' problems that included sanitation, housing, health, and education. Edelman later became an important mentor.

It was the spring of 1971 when Hillary began dating Bill Clinton, who was also a student at Yale. The next summer she interned at a law firm in Oakland, California, where she worked on child custody and other causes. Bill Clinton canceled his summer plans to live with her in California. When they returned to law school in New Haven, they continued living together. The very next summer they campaigned together in Texas for the unsuccessful 1972 presidential candidate George McGovern. In 1973, Hillary received a Juris Doctor degree from Yale. She stayed an extra year to be with Clinton. Clinton even proposed marriage to her after graduation, but she refused his offer. Instead she began a year of post-graduate study at the Yale Child Study Center, where she studied children and medicine. Her very first scholorary article was titled “Children Under the Law”, which was published late 1973, in the Harvard Educational Review.

Hillary Rodham was apparently a serious political candidate long before her recent campaign for President of the United States. She is a fine person to study as her accomplishments are abundant and her work as a leader in many fields has defined her character.

Sources Cited:

http://www.google.com/search?q=hillary+clinton&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7DKUS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Rodham_Clinton

Yoga practice consists of developing your mind, body, heart and soul. It forces you to sit still and pay attention to your body and mind. Your pranayama or breath requires you to empty your mind of all the unhealthy bombardments it faces daily and replace them with stillness and a focused awareness on the inhalations and exhalations moving through your body.

Even though I have practiced yoga on and off for the past five or so years, I had never made the connection between this quiet time and my spiritual connection with the lord. However, one day in Corpse (Savasana) pose, I quieted my mind and let go of my house had being foreclosed on; my car repossessed; the passing of my very best friend and soul mate; and that my current employer was not renewing my contract, and focused on the light that emanates from God's presence. I reflected on the various bible verses that refer to God as the light of the world and the peace that can be found within him.

As I inhaled I imagined myself breathing in God's energy and love and being bathed in the light of his countenance. As I exhaled I allowed all negative energy, thinking, and feelings to be released. Soon after entering this mind state, tears began to run down my face as I became acutely aware of the lords presence and his spirit speaking within my heart. A peace beyond understanding filled my spirit as the Lord ministered to me. The yogic accomplishment was that for the first time that I had been able to hold Corpse pose longer than 5 minutes and truly lose myself in the present moment. The spiritual accomplishment was that for the first time that I had truly spoken with the Lord and heard his reply. The two major accomplishments went hand in hand.

As Christians we are aware that the lord wants us to be still and spend time with him all the while maintaining an ever present faith that he will take care of all of our needs. Being present and connecting with the energy of the creator that radiates within every living organism, is an integral part of developing a true yoga practice. I also believe that it is an integral part of truly maintaining God's light within as we go thru our daily routines.

Although a lot of Christians have a daily prayer and bible study practice, they still struggle with truly understanding and following thru with the Lord's command to be still and wait upon him. True peace requires that you trust God enough to truly shed away the cares of this world, (bills, grief, hopeless situations), and focus solely on his light and the energy of his love. When we seek him in this state of worship and reverence, you can truly feel the peace and joy of being in his presence.

The principles involved in the Corpse pose allow just that. Embracing letting go of everything, concentrating on your breath and its movement thru your body all the while cultivating an awareness of what the means when it says “You are wonderfully made”, is key to truly relaxing in this position. When you have completed this asana (position) you will find that you are aware, alert, peaceful, and stress has melted away. All because you've taken some serious time with the vessel that the lord has blessed you with and tapped into its awesome power. Your mind is refreshed and focused on what is truly important in the Christian life: god and his divine will.

Namaste.

Now that the draft order has been determined, baring any trades, here is my take on the draft. These picks are based on what I know; I am unfamiliar with several International players, which may reflect their lowered position. This mock draft is also my assessment, not a prediction. This is what I would do if I was an NBA General Manager. I did not try and get into the head of any current GM’s. 1. Milwaukee: Marvin Williams, UNC The most potential in the draft and offers a more appealing incentive to hasten Michael Redd’s return. Milwaukee needs almost everything, but Desmon Mason performed better off the bench, and moving Williams into the starting line-up gives the Bucks another great option, along with the return of TJ Ford at the point. 2. Atlanta: Chris Paul, Wake Forest They are a team full of wings. However, with the current talent on the roster, a point guard who can score and dish will make more of a difference than a slender center. With Paul, Josh Smith and Josh Childress, backed up by Royal Ivey, Boris Diaw and Donta Smith, the Hawks can fly with a young, talented backcourt. With significant cap room, the Hawks can address their need for a big via free agency, most noticeably Samuel Delambert, Tyson Chandler or Kwame Brown. 3. Portland: Andrew Bogut, University of Utah Portland needs a shooting guard. Telfair is the PG of the present and future, Miles and Randolph are well-paid forwards and Pryzbilla and Ratliff are nice center options. However, Portland will not pass on Bogut, who many see as a younger Arvydas Sabonis. With Bogut on-board, the Trailblazers may be able to move Ratliff or Pryzbilla to find a shooting guard. 4. New Orleans: Raymond Felton, UNC New Orleans needs guard help. Byron Scott had Jason Kidd during his most successful seasons; Illinois’ Deron Williams draws the most comparisons to Kidd. However, Felton’s speed in the open floor most closely approximates Kidd’s, and Felton is the choice over Williams. 5. Charlotte: Danny Granger, New Mexico Charlotte needs everything except a power forward. While Deron Williams seems like a terrific fit, Granger gives the Bobcats a scoring punch on the wing. Bernie Bickerstaff succeeded with a proven college player last year, and will make a similar pick this year, drafting the NBA-ready Granger. 6. Utah: Deron Williams, Illinois No player more perfectly fits his potential coach than Williams. The Jazz struggled for consistency at the point past season, and Williams will add toughness, shooting and stability. 7. Toronto: Chris Taft, Pittsburgh The Raptors need a player who can contribute right away and they cannot gamble on a player who may struggle, as did Rafael Araujo. Taft certainly has the talent, and size to be a terrific complement to Chris Bosh in the paint. 8. New York: Gerald Green, HS Isaiah Thomas likes talent. And, New York actually needs a two-guard, meaning Green is a good fit in the Big Apple. 9. Golden State: Charlie Villanueva, UConn The Warriors are tough to decipher. They have an all-star caliber backcourt (Baron Davis and Jason Richardson) and expensive centers (Adonal Foyle and Troy Murphy). Last season they drafted a big European (Andris Biedrins) and may well do so again. They also have several small forwards, none of whom really seem like a fit. While Martell Webster makes sense, Villanueva gives the Warriors the athletic four they need to complement their backcourt; with Richardson and Davis, Villanueva can succeed by attacking the offensive glass and using his athleticism. 10. Los Angeles Lakers: Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech The Lakers need a pick who can step into the starting line-up, which means they need a center or a point guard. While Fran Vazquez or Tiago Splitter makes sense as a European-ready center, Jack makes more sense as a PG who can shoot and step-in alongside Bryant, Butler and Odom. 11. Orlando: Tiago Splitter, Brazil Splitter gives the Magic a center to play next to and protect Dwight Howard. He has experience playing in Spain and will give the Magic another post option next season. He fills the Magic’s biggest need, which is toughness, rebounding, and defense, especially in the post. 12. Los Angeles Clippers: Antoine Wright, Texas A&M Assuming Bobby Simmons is elsewhere next season, Wright is an able replacement on the wing. 13. Charlotte: Roko-Leni Ukic, Croatia After drafting Granger to play the wing, Ukic gives the Bobcats a young, experienced, athletic point guard to run the show. 14. Minnesota: Fran Vazquez, Spain The TWolves need another post presence and Vazquez can fill this position alongside KG. 15. New Jersey: Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga University The Nets need an athletic, strong power forward to replace Kmart. Turiaf may be a reach this early, but he has the size and athleticism to be an effective player for the Nets. A player like Johan Petro might make more “value” sense, but the Nets need a contributor now, as Kidd is getting no younger. 16. Toronto: Joey Graham, Oklahoma State After drafting Chris Taft to play alongside Bosh up front, Graham adds toughness and athleticism on the wing. 17. Indiana: Channing Frye, Arizona Frye complements Jermaine O’Neal well, adds shot blocking and a perimeter shooter if O’Neal or Artest is doubled in the post. 18. Boston: Hakim Warrick, Syracuse Ainge wants athletes and few are more athletic than Warrick. 19. Memphis: Johan Petro, France A seven-footer, Memphis needs another body in the paint, and Petro can be the guy next to Gasol. 20. Denver: Rudy Fernandez, Spain Denver needs a shooter at the two and Fernandez is athletic and can step in and fill the biggest need of the Nuggets. 21. Phoenix: Sean May, UNC Phoenix needs a center, but none are available. May has great hands to catch Nash’s passes and played an up-tempo style in college. He doesn’t add the size they need, but he adds some strength and punch inside. 22. Denver: Randolph Morris, Kentucky Denver can afford to allow Morris to develop, which gives the Nuggets more flexibility with Camby and Nene. 23. Sacramento: Martell Webster, HS He’s a shooter and the Kings like shooters. He also is NBA-ready and could fight last year’s pick Kevin Martin for a starting position, if Maurice Evans signs elsewhere. And, he has enough size that he gives Peja his first back-up since Hedo Turkoglu was traded. 24. Houston: Francisco Garcia, Louisville Garcia and TMac on the wings would give the Rockets tremendous length, quickness, shooting and passing. 25. Seattle: Kennedy Winston, Alabama So much depends on Ray Allen and his impending departure. Assuming Allen leaves, Seattle needs a shooting guard. Of course, they also need improved post play. Winston gives immediate help at the SG, while the Sonics will need to use free agency to find some help inside. 26. Detroit: Dijon Thompson, UCLA No team is in better position than the Pistons. They really don’t have any needs. Therefore, drafting and stashing a European or drafting a high school player makes sense as a rookie is going to be hard-pressed to find minutes on the Pistons. However, Thompson is a good mid-range shooter who can play back-up minutes at the 2 and 3 for Hamilton and Prince. 27. Utah: Mickaël Gelabale, International An athletic small forward who knows how to play the game, he will fit in nicely with the Jazz, pushing AK47 to the power forward to spell Carlos Boozer. 28. San Antonio: Angelo Gigli, International A power forward with size and experience playing in Europe, Gigli can battle Argentine Luis Scola for the inevitable position of Tim Duncan’s back-up, with the loser to take Sean Marks’ position as nice guy in cool shirts at the end of the bench. 29. Miami: Wayne Simien, Kansas They need a power forward, as Udonis Haslem is a free agent. Simien is strong inside. 30. New York: Andrew Bynum, HS New York has a lot of power forwards, but no real center. A true seven-footer might change that, though drafting two high school players may be too big a risk to take. However, with Trevor Ariza, Bynum and Green, the Knicks would have a blossoming u-20 team behind the veterans. The Knicks cannot go into a rebuilding period, and these talented youngsters could assure a nice foundation on which Thomas can build once Hardaway, Houston and Thomas’ contracts come off the books in 2006.

Jay McGwire is shopping a book to talk about Mark McGwire's steroid use. The news of Jay McGwire's book hit the internet by storm, as the tell-all about Mark McGwire using steroids could certainly be big news in the world of baseball. Jay McGwire is the younger brother of former baseball star Mark McGwire, and Deadspin.com has been reporting that the book will provide many revelations about Mark McGwire using steroids during his playing days for the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals.

The news that Mark McGwire may have used steroids isn't the biggest story here, but rather that his younger brother is taking the steps to rat him out in such an un-glorified manner. Writing a revealing book like this about his older brother seems not only like deception in its cruelest form, but a shocking turn of events in the seemingly never ending steroid drama surrounding Major League Baseball. While Mark McGwire has been retired from baseball since the 2001 season, the allegations that he took steroids during his playing days have followed him everywhere he goes.

Mark McGwire has remained extremely quiet during all of the accusations and allegations thrown his direction these past few years, and nobody has been able to publish the real story behind the McGwire saga. Mark McGwire has issued no statements about whether he did or did not take steroids since the controversial congressional hearings in 2005, and it has left many different questions about his affiliations with not only players that have admitted to taking steroids, but providers of the drug who had allegedly given it to McGwire during his playing days.

This is really shocking news to fans of Mark McGwire, who have long defended him against these allegations, and while it is common knowledge that McGwire used supplements, it has never been proven that he took steroids. The book from Jay McGwire is going to do nothing more than further tarnish the McGwire name and drag his family through the mud once again, even as he tries to make it into the Hall of Fame on the current ballot. The only thing that it seems Jay McGwire has to gain from this is money, and it is really a shame that he is going it at the expense of his own family.

Source: NY Daily News Announces Book Shopping

Description:

The Braque du Bourbonnais belongs to the large dog breed family. This breed is rather unique looking. It has a body of proportion, which means that its head, legs, torso, and tail are all in proper shape and size. Their chest is shaped like a barrel that evens out to a skinny yet strong body. The head of this breed is circular and it is accompanied by a rectangular muzzle. And its legs are long-slender limbs, its tail is short and stubby, and its ears are short and droopy.

The fur on this dog is extremely short. It is a grayish white that is accompanied by a ton of brown spots. The brown spots are normally located on the hide legs, back, stomach, and neck. It entire face and front legs are completely covered in short brown fur.

Height:

Height between the two genders will vary in this breed of dog. The male normally stand to be 20-22.5 inches (51-57 cm) tall, and the female normally stands to be 18.5-22 inches (47-56 cm) tall.

Weight:

Weight between the two genders will vary in this breed of dog. The male usually weighs in at 39.5-55 pounds (18-25 cm), and the female usually weighs in at 35-48.5 pounds (16-22 cm.) Do NOT allow yourBraque du Bourbonnais to weigh 7 pounds under its lowest weight, or weigh 10 pounds over its maximum weight limit.

Temperament:

This is a very affectionate dog. It is great with other animals and with humans. It is also a great hunting dog, very loyal, trustworthy, intelligent, well-mannered, and cooperative. This breed will do excellent with children of all ages. The Braque du Bourbonnais should not be left at home for a long period of by itself, because it grows to miss its family and will end up ripping, tarring, and shredding the house or yard to pieces.

Life span:

The Braque du Bourbonnais will average a life of 13-15 years with proper care.

Living conditions:

This breed is NOT recommended for living the apartment life since they are so energetic and lively. They require a large yard and desire to hunt and fish. This breed of dog would do great with hunters.

Health problems:

This breed has no known health problems that run throughout its blood. It sometimes experiences hip dysplacia. And occasionally will experience cataracts with old age.

Litter size:

The female Braque du Bourbonnais will average a litter of about 4 or 5 pups. All are normally born rather healthy. The mother will nurse them until about 7 weeks of age before she begins to wean them from her milk. The pups will be old enough to be separated from their mother at about 8 or 9 weeks of age. These pups are known to whine and cry for their mom and dad if taken away at a early age. This will normally pass in a couple weeks or less.