Dimanche 6 juillet 2008

Mercury 80 - Sparks 91

Parker to the max

Candace Parker fait du bien face aux championnes en titre ! 31 points, 10 rebonds, 4 passes et 3 contres ; soit une performance de choix pour remettre son équipe sur les rails de la victoire. Bien aidée par une Lisa Leslie des grands soirs (25 points, 15 rebonds et 8 passes), les Sparks ne font qu’une bouchée du Mercury de Phœnix au Staples Center, 91-80.

Shannon Bobbit inscrit son record en carrière (11), LAS (11-6), met fin à une série de 3 défaites consécutives. « Trouver des paniers faciles et mieux faire circuler le ballon m’a beaucoup excité » confie Parker aux micros des journalistes, « notre jeu de transition était meilleur. Nous sortions les rebonds très vite, lancions les contres attaques tout en assurant le repli défensif. »

Cappie Pondexter et Kelly Miller, auteurs de 14 points chacune, n’ont pu que constater les dégâts. Tangela Smith ajoute 12 unités mais Diana Taurasi, la meilleure marqueuse du championnat, n’a pas trouvé le cercle avant les 10 dernières minutes de la rencontre ! Elle termine le match avec 8 petits points. Le Mercury peine à se qualifier pour les Playoffs suite à un début de campagne 2008 catastrophique. 2 nouvelles défaites consécutives donnent suite à 4 victoires de rangs. Phœnix (8-9) a du souci à se faire.

Los Angeles menait tranquillement 77-57 lorsque Phœnix entame un run (15-2) pour revenir à 7 longueurs à 3’50 minutes du buzzer. Le Staples retient alors son souffle et prie pour que les angelines ne lâchent pas une fois encore. Mais Bobbitt et Sidney Spencer inscrivent un trois points chacune en 42 secondes pour faire respirer les Sparks (87-76) à moins de deux minutes de la fin.

Les visiteuses terminent la rencontre avec 18 pertes de balles qui ont donné 19 points faciles aux californiennes. Dans la même soirée Becky Hammon (28 points, 6 passes et 5 rebonds) donne la victoire à San Antonio. Les Silver Stars confirment leur bonne forme et leur première place à l’ouest devant les ors et pourpres.

Scoreboard à la fin du match

Média

Les vidéos du jour

※ Candace Parker Mix: The Greatest ※

Candace Parker Finishes the High-Low Zone Offense

Prochain rendez-vous Mercredi 9 juillet

Comets @ Sparks

Srces: CL/NBA/Espn/LAT

“Why can’t America realize that falling in love with Kobe doesn’t mean breaking up with Michael?” Rick Reilly

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"Love Phoenix or Leave Phoenix," it said.

I almost grabbed it to go with the gifts I was buying. But I didn't -- I was there because I'd just rather abruptly quit my job to move to Portland. I'm not a total asshole, and it seemed a little like pouring salt in a fresh wound.

Plus if you want to know the truth, that sticker made me sad.

Here's a secret I've kept for years: I loved Phoenix. I had a fantastic job, I had fantastic friends, I knew every good place to eat and drink and hike.

But I loved it in the same way I loved my gambling addicted, emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend.:Because it was comfortable, because it was easier than going out and finding some place new to belong.

This probably sounds overly sentimental, and, there was a lot I hated: my incestuous circle of frenemies, my own toxic behavior, the smothering racism, the god damn dry heat, the feeling that I was chasing myself in circles. I could go on, but I'll spare you.

Do you want to know how I realized I really, really needed to get out of town?

One night in March I went to a bar and within 10 minutes of being there I was standing literally in a circle of every guy I'd dated for the past two years. It was seriously alarming. Phoenix might be the 5th largest city in the country, but it's still a small town. No matter where I went I felt I was constantly confronted with some scrap of my past, with my failures, with my deferred dreams.

It's fair to say, I was going crazy. My breaking point had been reached and then crossed. Even my best friends told me, "You have to get out of here."

For years I talked about leaving, and I'm certain no one believed I was ever going to.

To be fair, my escape plans were pretty insane: English teacher in Costa Rica! Peace-Corps volunteer in Paraguay! (That one almost came to fruition, actually. I chickened out and quit before I even started.) Fulbright Fellow in Bangladesh... yes, I really applied for that. I can't blame anyone for rolling their eyes.

Earlier this year, I took a long car ride with my ex-boss, who I will probably always call, "my editor" even if she never touches another sentence of mine again. I told her: "My entire life is a series of things I almost did."

Which was true. Until now.

Until one day I got tired of talking about leaving, and I packed my Honda Civic with as much crap as it would hold, threw my little brother in the passenger seat and headed 1300 miles north west.

It took us two days: 14 hours the first, 7 the next. If you ever find yourself in Buttonwillow, California, I highly recommend stopping for Indian food at this place just off I-5. I forgot it's name, but you'll see the signs. (They love signs at this place. Inside gratuitous signs bossed me around at every turn: "Order only once!" "You must pay for whatever you order!" "To go boxes are for leftovers only!")

We got to Portland early in the evening on a Sunday. My new house is surrounded by rose bushes. It has a cherry tree and a compost pile that I'm still getting used to. It has seven roommates and two cats. Over homemade Japanese curry my "new life" began.

I have no idea what that means yet. Like I've said before, I can't tell if moving here saved my life or ruined it. I do know that I sleep better here. I worry less. The urge to crawl out of my own skin is gone and, along with it, the urge to sabotage myself. We'll see how long that lasts.

Last year I arrogantly told my most-recent ex ... whatever (one of the boys I found myself trapped next to at that bar in March actually) as I dropped him off at his house one morning: "Every decision I make is the right one."

I think I was being sarcastic, but I hope it's true.

Latin Rhythms Festival
Live music, wine tasting, food sampling at Kokopelli Winery & Bistro. Downtown Chandler.  July 18 - 20

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Free Concerts
July 6, 13 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in Scottsdale. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy a variety of music. Train and carousel rides are available throughout all concerts for a small charge.

Monsoon Madness
July 12 in Queen Creek. Inflatable bounce-houses, water slides, dunk tank, the Queen Creek Mud Pit, and more. 

Starry Safari Friday Nights at the Phoenix Zoo
Select zoo trails will be open as will gift shop and snack bar. Animal encounters, water play activities, carousel rides and more. Bikes and boats available to rent.

Summer Splash Festival
July 19 Family-friendly day of water-related activities, with water slides, dunk tanks and cyber maze water tag. Aqua-Tots will be on hand to give free tot swimming lessons. There will also be arcade games, food and entertainment. Free admission. Historic Downtown Chandler.

I'm surprised. I thought that Wolf and Crush would be the winners, maybe because they are my favorites. Why does Hurricane have so many votes? Have I missed something about him? I had no idea he was so popular. Can someone give me some info on this? I'm really curious.

Results so far: The male gladiators have 149 votes counted and Hurricane is in the lead with 72% of them.  The female gladiators have 123 votes total. Phoenix is in the lead with 57% of the votes and Crush is next with 27%.

Related:
Grandma Got Run Over By Crush
Hellboy and Wolf
Scoop on American Gladiator Panther
Favorite Gladiator Polls 

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The Fastest Way to Learn Portuguese!

THAIS VERDU

Brazilian Portuguese Trainer

thais.verdu@gmail.com

Private Portuguese Lessons:

* Affordable

* Fast and Effective

* Dynamic

* For Business, travel

* All Ages and Levels

* Online Classes also Available

* Business, travel or Specific Purposes

* Free Demo Class

Phone: (949)326.8723

Fax: (888)203.0258

Email: thais.verdu@gmail.com

Website: www.vipclasses.com

Teacher: Thais Verdu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Portuguese Language from Centro Universitario Ibero Americano, Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is a specialist in teaching Portuguese to foreigners. Her methodology is focused on conversation and leads the students to develop speaking, reading, listening and writing skills.

Call or e-mail me today. This is a wonderful time to start expanding your language skills and learn more about Brazil!

The Fastest Way to Learn Portuguese!

THAIS VERDU

Brazilian Portuguese Trainer

thais.verdu@gmail.com

Private Portuguese Lessons:

* Affordable

* Fast and Effective

* Dynamic

* For Business, travel

* All Ages and Levels

* Online Classes also Available

* Business, travel or Specific Purposes

* Free Demo Class

Phone: (949)326.8723

Fax: (888)203.0258

Email: thais.verdu@gmail.com

Website: www.vipclasses.com

Teacher: Thais Verdu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Portuguese Language from Centro Universitario Ibero Americano, Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is a specialist in teaching Portuguese to foreigners. Her methodology is focused on conversation and leads the students to develop speaking, reading, listening and writing skills.

Call or e-mail me today. This is a wonderful time to start expanding your language skills and learn more about Brazil!

we have identified an area [for landing] that is very flat and relatively free of large boulders

Soon after Phoenix's landing, news was published that NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's HiRISE had captured a picture of Phoenix and its lander during descent.  Pretty cool, I thought - the chute, the cords, and the lander were clearly visible in that picture.  Still, nothing in that news article made me question the "flat" assumption.

But this morning, when I was browsing the Phoenix page on Wikipedia, I realized that the full chute picture showed that the landing region was anything but boring:

Phoenix didn't land in "Heimdall" crater - it landed 20km away.  But since this crater is 10km wide, I think NASA would've been justified in hyping the context of the parachute shot.

Martians! lol they can't deny it. Footprints come from feet - it's not rocket science! And judging by the image, our friends from 'old red' are lanky folks with exceptionally flat feet.

www.spv.de/scripts/produktinfoseite_d.asp?Eingabe=90602

A free album ala Nine Inch Nails, a free mp3 single ala Coldplay, or a name-your-own-price release ala Radiohead would give the rock veteran some needed exposure in today's market. And perhaps new listeners of this generation of rock fans. A lot of kids should be turned onto Cooper's work, especially his old material which was performed as classic rock theater.

Either way, I hope AC the best on the new disc. Cooper is not only a legend but a classy guy. Possibly the nicest guy I've met in the rock industry ( I didn't like his Phoenix restaurant, Cooperstown, though).

Located in Phoenix, The Baker Law Firm defends clients throughout Arizona against criminal charges. Our experienced criminal defense attorney, Michael Baker, provides an aggressive defense against state and federal prosecutors.

Mr. Baker believes everyone's rights should be protected, and everyone deserves the best possible defense. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you need to know your rights. He can defend you against your criminal charges, including the following:

Drug Crimes - including possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, possession or distribution (drug trafficking) of drugs, including methamphetamines (meth), heroin, illegal prescription drugs, prescription fraud, and cultivating or manufacturing drugs
Drunk Driving (DUI-DWI) - including underage drinking and driving, refusing a breathalyzer test, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and other drug or alcohol related driving offenses
Assaults and Violent Crimes - including fighting, sexual assault, assault and battery, and other assault crimes
Theft Crimes - including shoplifting, robbery, burglary, car jacking or auto theft, fraud, bad checks, credit card fraud, identity theft, and other theft crimes
Domestic Violence - including seeking an order of protection (domestic restraining order) or an injunction against harassment for threats or violence against you, your spouse, or your children
Juvenile Crimes - including drug crimes, assaults, underage drinking, and theft crimes committed by a juvenile
Contact an Experienced Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorney

For more information about Arizona criminal law, Arizona criminal courts, the criminal process, or to discuss your criminal charges with an experienced criminal defense attorney, please call us at 602-889-6901, e-mail us, or fill out the intake form on our Contact Us page. The Baker Law Firm will fight to protect your rights!

De volgende dag waren we vroeg opgestaan en naar Venice beach gereden voor het ontbijt. Tegenover ons ontbijt tentje zat een man prachtig piano te spelen, echt goed en non-stop!!! Zo zit de boulevard vol met dat soort mensen, erg leuk om te zien. Vanaf daar weer in de auto gestapt richting Malibu, Bel-Air en Beverly Hills om een glimp op te vangen van de celebrities, maar helaas, zelfs een 'star map' hielp niet! We kwam Ruud Gullit overigens wel tegen op een terrasje in West-Hollywood... :)

Natuurlijk ook nog even over de Walk of Fame gelopen en daarna opzoek gegaan naar de perfecte lokatie voor een Hollywood sign foto. Dit keer hadden we een erg goede plek gevonden, maar de zon stond eigenlijk net te laag voor de perfecte foto. Voordat de zon onder ging hadden we nog tijd om naar de Griffith Observatory te rijden. Vanaf deze sterrenwacht heb je een prachtig uitzicht over Los Angeles en dus ook een mooie plek om even te chillen. Rond een uur of acht kwamen we op het briljante idee om nog even naar Disneyland te gaan...

Omdat we zo laat waren mochten we gratis parkeren, maar we zouden nog wel de volle mep moeten betalen om binnen te komen, hmmmmm, bummer. Even vragen aan de mensen die al weg gingen of we hun kaartje mochten hebben... en ja hoor 5 minuten later stonden we gratis en voor niets in Disneyland! We hadden 3 uur de tijd voordat het park sloot, dus als een speer alle toffe attracties af gegaan. Uiteindelijk hebben we Space Mountain (3x), Indiana Jones Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribbean en Star Tours gedaan! Ohja en het vuurwerk gezien :)

Die avond zijn we meteen doorgereden naar 'Six Flags Magic Mountain' en hebben daar een hotel gepakt. Six Flags is het rollercoaster paradijs van de westkust, totaal 14 coasters in alle soorten en maten! Vooral de X2, Superman the ride, Tatzu en de Goliath konden mij erg vermaken! Bij de X2 zit je in een stoel die los van het karretje draait, waardoor de rit erg onverwacht en extreem is! Bij Superman the ride wordt je afgeschoten, binnen 6 sec naar de 193 km/h en daarna recht omhoog, waarna je weer als een baksteen naar beneden dondert. Bij de Tatzu lig je op je buik waardoor je als het ware door de rollercoaster heen vliegt, vooral het eind was onverwacht...! De Goliath lijkt op die van Walibi World in Nederland, maar is sneller en langer!

Om 16.00 reden we terug naar Phoenix. Ook deze roadtrip was er een om niet te vergeten! Meer foto's zijn hier te vinden.

Track: Phoenix

Time: 3.20 min

Le phoenix est un vector fait à partir d'un dessin que j'ai fait il y a quelques années.

J'affectionne, également, beaucoup la couleur rouge. =)

And, from the edge of human exploration:

It's the USA's spirit of exploration and innovation that has gotten us to these distant places, and let's keep that spirit alive in the years to come!

Their differences will get a public airing Monday when Phoenix Counseling Center owner Keziah Hinchen will attempt to convince City Council members that they should put an end to Vinzant's outdoor pot crop.

Hinchen plans a presentation to the council outlining the difficulty of assisting people with substance abuse issues while a "fresh crop is growing right next door."

Vinzant said he moved to the property three years ago, at which time he began growing the state allowed crop of 12 mature plants and 36 immature plants.

Half of the plants are for Vinzant's mother, who suffers from chronic restless leg syndrome and the other half are for Vinzant, a Vietnam-era vet who said he suffers from post-traumatic stress, a bad back and arthritis.

During the past two growing seasons, Vinzant said, "no one squawked about anything."

Then the treatment center changed ownership, a client discovered the plants during last year's harvest and, Vinzant said, "totally freaked out."

Hinchen said the counseling center serves as an extended campus for local schools by providing services to adolescents with substance abuse issues "and something like 85 to 95 percent of them have issues with marijuana."

"So here's this guy and he's got this great big marijuana garden in his backyard," Hinchen said. "The plants are 20 feet away from the fence — 20 feet away from people who have addiction issues. When it starts getting ripe, you can smell it. So here we're saying, 'Stay away from marijuana' and here it is. They smell it, they see it . . . it's right there!"

Vinzant said he's "done everything humanly possible" to accommodate the center's concerns, including building an enclosure around the plants.

Hinchen will argue before the council that the marijuana plants represent an intrusion into what should be a drug-free zone for school areas. She said she wouldn't object if he grew the plants indoors and out of sight.

"All we're asking is for them to approve a 100-foot drug-free zone," she said. "I'm completely happy with 100 feet, which means he can't do it in his backyard. He could just do it indoors."

"Our position is, if you possess marijuana within a thousand miles of a school there are heavy penalties. We serve adolescents and are, essentially, a school."

She added, "Anybody who knows anything about working with addictive substances will know that half the trick is to stay away from it."

Jackson County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Rick Valentine said state laws regarding medical marijuana use are tricky to navigate.

"I don't know of anything in the statutes that prohibits having a medical marijuana grower next to a rehabilitation center," he said.

"We've had calls where people complained about their neighbor growing medical marijuana but they're within state law. From our standpoint, it's been a difficult law to enforce on both sides — for the folks that have legal prescriptions and the people that don't."

City Manager Jane Turner said council members would request legal advice from city attorney Kurt Knudsen on how to deal with the issue and likely would appoint a committee to research the issue.

"At least we can get it on the table and everybody can voice their opinions," Turner said.

The City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the city's public works annex, 1000 South B St.

Note: Owner of the Phoenix Counseling Center says a neighbor's medical marijuana patch is too strong a temptation for her clients.

Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford.

Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR)

Author: Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune

Website: http://www.mailtribune.com/

Marijuana Arrest Defense Lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona