Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Agent: Randy Moss retiring from NFL

FILE - This Oct. 31, 2010 file photo shows Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss waving to the fans after his former team, the New England Patriots, defeated the Vikings 28-18 in an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. Moss is calling it a career after 13 seasons in the NFL as one of the most dynamic and polarizing players the league has ever seen. Moss's agent, Joel Segal, said Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, that the receiver was considering offers from several teams, but made the decision to retire. (AP Photo/Winslow TownsonFile)

FILE - This Oct. 31, 2010 file photo shows Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss waving to the fans after his former team, the New England Patriots, defeated the Vikings 28-18 in an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. Moss is calling it a career after 13 seasons in the NFL as one of the most dynamic and polarizing players the league has ever seen. Moss's agent, Joel Segal, said Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, that the receiver was considering offers from several teams, but made the decision to retire. (AP Photo/Winslow TownsonFile)

FILE - This Nov. 10, 2010, file photo shows Tennessee Titans wide receiver Randy Moss during NFL football practice, in Nashville, Tenn. Moss is calling it a career after 13 seasons in the NFL as one of the most dynamic and polarizing players the league has ever seen. Moss's agent, Joel Segal, said Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, that the receiver was considering offers from several teams, but made the decision to retire. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

FILE - This Nov. 14, 2011 file photo shows Tennessee Titans wide receiver Randy Moss during warmups before an NFL football game, in Miami. Moss is calling it a career after 13 seasons in the NFL as one of the most dynamic and polarizing players the league has ever seen. Moss's agent, Joel Segal, said Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, that the receiver was considering offers from several teams, but made the decision to retire. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise, File)

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) ? Randy Moss dominated when he wanted to dominate.

He scored when he wanted to score, cooperated when he wanted to cooperate and acted out when he wanted to act out.

Moss spent 13 seasons doing things on his own terms, which is why perhaps the loudest career the NFL has ever seen ? both in terms of the roars he induced on the field and the aggravation he caused off it ? ended so quietly on Monday.

No farewell speech from maybe the most physically gifted receiver to don a helmet. No tearful goodbye from a record-setting performer who changed the way defense is played in the NFL. Just a one-sentence statement from his agent saying one of the most colorful careers in league history was over.

"Randy has weighed his options and considered the offers and has decided to retire," Joel Segal said on Monday.

It was vintage Moss, a revolutionary talent who was never very much interested in doing things the conventional way.

Fans were awed by his once-in-a-generation blend of size, speed and intelligence. Teammates were charmed by the charisma he showed behind closed doors and coaches were often infuriated by his boorish antics and lack of respect for authority.

"I don't know if anybody can totally pin down who Randy Moss is," said Tim DiPiero, one of Moss' first agents said last year.

If this indeed is the end for Moss, he leaves the game with some of the gaudiest statistics posted by a receiver. His 153 touchdowns are tied with Terrell Owens for second on the career list, and he's also fifth in yards (14,858) and tied with Hines Ward for eighth in receptions (954).

"In a lot of ways, he was the Michael Jordan of offenses in our league," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. "He was a special player for a long, long time."

Those numbers, and his status as perhaps the best deep threat in NFL history, will make him a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame. But voters will also be weighing those achievements and his six Pro Bowl seasons against a history of mailing in performances and a reputation as a coach killer.

As Moss himself famously said: "I play when I want to play."

And when he wanted to, there was no one better. And when he didn't, there was no one more destructive.

Trouble off the field in high school prevented Moss from attending Notre Dame or Florida State, so he landed at Marshall and scored 54 touchdowns in two electrifying seasons with the Thundering Herd.

The character questions hurt Moss in the 1998 draft. He fell to the Vikings at pick No. 21 and he spent the next seven years making every GM in the league who passed on him regret it. He scored 17 touchdowns to help the Vikings reach the NFC title game, a season so overpowering that the rival Packers used their first three picks in the following April's draft on cornerbacks to try to slow him down.

Didn't do much good. Moss scored at least 10 touchdowns in all but one season in his first tour with the Vikings.

"The things I've seen him do, I don't think I'll ever see another player do the things he did," Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser said. "Great career. Tough to see him not playing because I think he had a lot left out there that he could have done for somebody."

He also got into several controversies along the way, bumping a traffic cop in downtown Minneapolis, squirting a referee with a water bottle during a game and leaving the field early in a game against Washington, just to name a few.

Sensing a change of scenery was needed, the Vikings traded Moss to Oakland in 2005, where he spent two quiet seasons before his career was revived in New England. He re-emerged as a force with the Patriots, hauling in a single-season record 23 TD passes from Tom Brady to help the Patriots reach the Super Bowl.

Vikings fans were euphoric at the news of his return last season, but things soured in a hurry. He caught 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in four games back in purple, clashed with coach Brad Childress in the locker room and brought embarrassment to the organization when he berated a caterer at team headquarters.

He hugged former Patriots teammates after a Vikings loss, and then bizarrely stepped to a podium to fawn over the Patriots, criticize the Vikings for ignoring his strategic advice, and announce his plan to interview himself the rest of the season instead of letting reporters do it.

An enraged Childress unilaterally decided to cut Moss shortly after, a decision that helped seal his fate with Vikings ownership.

Moss finished the season with eight games in Tennessee, but only caught six passes. Segal said earlier this summer that the receiver was training hard and determined to prove to the doubters that he could still dominate the game like he had in the past.

The Jets were believed to have some interest in Moss, but Segal declined to elaborate on the options that were available.

"Randy has been a great player for a long time," said Bob Pruett, Moss' college coach at Marshall. "He's choosing this on his own terms and I think that's good. If that's what he wants to do, that's what he should do."

While many grapple with what Moss' legacy will be, there is no denying the impact he had on the game. The Cover 2 defense has become a fashionable scheme over the past 10 years, and it was designed in large part to prevent Moss from burning opposing defensive backs for long TDs.

"He's a guy who changed defenses," Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "You had to put two defenders on him to take him out of the game so it opened up the rest of the offense. Great guy, great teammate, I have a lot of respect for him, he's brought a lot to this game and I wish him well."

Whether the 34-year-old Moss is truly done is anyone's guess. That, of course, appears to be completely up to him.

"He's one of the best receivers of all time to play this game," Vikings receiver Percy Harvin said. "I'm sure he hung it up with no regrets, so I wish the best for him. He had a great career and did a lot of great things."

___

AP Sports Writer John Raby in Charleston, W. Va., contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-08-01-Moss%20Retires/id-5ed2e8dc2b834a559d61636a1398996d

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Where The Sweetly Inspired Purchase Candy Making Molds and Supplies

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Many home candy makers just love to make wonderful candy surprises for family and friends? Not only during the special times, but any time the sweetness bug rises. If you?re one of the ?sweetly? motivated individuals, it would be best if you have available all the tools and supplies of candy making.

There are many different supplies needed in making your own home-made candy?and to build a good collection of supplies, it's much better to buy your molds and kit in bulk from a wholesaler? especially if you find yourself in a position where you know that you will generally make lots of candy? For fun or to make profits. And remember that candy molds and hardware fit into the category of ?better having more than you need, than not having enough at the time of need? So don?t skimp on the quantity? Especially if you are fairly confident you'll stick with the candy making.

The question then becomes: Where best to obtain these supplies? For reasons of shipping cost and convenience, it?s best, if at all practical to buy all your items from one place rather than from 1 or 2 alternate sources.

If you are sufficiently fortunate to get have a cooking-supply store, or better yet a candy-supply store close by, you?ll have the advantage of being able to personally, and physically, select what you want. At the least, this gives you the opportunity to see and touch your selection before you purchase? Even if you end up purchasing on the internet. In all cases try to find a wholesaler that will give you all of your candy making wants.

Indeed, for most of us, the number one source for these supplies will be on the internet. Sometimes, you have more of a selection, and the price will most likely be lower than at a brick and mortar store. Be careful though, there?s a very real caution about price. Like in most things, if the deal appears too good to be true, it bears very tight scrutiny. If the price of their candy supplies seems too good to be true, and there is not that much info regarding what you are considering, probabilities are it?s not what you suspect it is. But, as long as there is enough information to verify that what you?ll receive is what you ordered, shopping with a reputable wholesale site is still more cost-effective and more time-saving than using local distributors offline.

Again the unit cost is vital and this is determined just by dividing the final cost of the lot by the number of items in the lot. This info is crucial in deciding the best bargain. Many wholesale outlets give a price break in increments of purchase. For those wishing to make a profit from their candy making skills, this is often a genuine bonus.

In the end, purchasing candy-making-supplies wholesale can be a gigantic cost savings for a home business owner, and for those who are wanting to make a massive amount of candies. Some candy makers have scoured the craft and hobby shops, as well as the big bargain stores, looking for the supplies they want. For most who choose to shop this way, it becomes a lengthy, unsatisfying trip because lots of the time they still come home empty handed. The great majority Most frequent buyers of candy-making supplies use the amenity of wholesale online shopping.

Rocky Sanders, often referred to as Rocky Sweet, has been making candy at home ever since they gave him the nickname, ?Hard Rock Candyman? in his 9th grade science class. Since then, he has gained a massive amount of knowledge of candy making, where it's possible to find supplies etc,, and has been sharing the marvels of that data with the planet. So he?d like to share his expertise and knowledge with you, free of charge. For more great information on making candy, visithttp://www.makingcandyathome.org

Source: http://www.simplearticles.net/food-drink/where-the-sweetly-inspired-purchase-candy-making-molds-and-supplies-wholesale/

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Holding Open Houses: Are you doing the best ... - Green Real Estate SD


When you, as the agent, hold an open house there are a couple of crucial things you can do to ensure high quality traffic during your showing. Here are some tips to increase your open house?s potential.

First: Most agents out there hold open house?s on the weekend to try and lure people who normally work during the week. This is normal practice and relatively effective. If you decide that the weekend is for you, first look at the neighborhood and find a time that suits everyones schedule. If its Sunday don?t hold the showing from 9-12 cause most people will be in church or just getting up. Instead maybe shoot for a 1-4 showing to catch the people after lunch while there out and about.

If you really want to get tricky think about holding a open house during the week at dusk say 6-8. This approach allows the home to glow in the night?s sky. Turn all the lights on and invest in exterior lights to help highlight exterior features like trees, exterior building accents or walkways. Most showings only focus on highlighting the interior of a home why not turn that model on its head and make the home stand out in the night time neighborhood.

Second: When showing a home always clean up first. The week leading up to the open house have the tenant, owner or current occupant clean the house of all personal items (ie: photos, dvd?s, any countertop items). The reason you do this is to allow any prospective buyers to mentally move into a home and make it their own. If they see family pictures, tooth brushes, shoes, etc. it ruins the illusion that this could be their home. Ideally you want to make the home look as though it is a furnished home but no one lives there.

Third: When it comes time for the showing, make sure to turn on all the lights in the home. Next open the windows, light a candle and turn on some light music. Make the environment seem inviting, well lit and clean. You want people to walk in and say wow I can see my self living here. When a home is closed up and dark it feels unwelcoming and smaller. You do not want people focusing on the pile of clothing in the corner or the dirty dishes in the sink instead of the amazing view and the huge backyard.

Fourth: Even though this is number 4 don?t think that this is the least important. During the first open house listen to the comments of people viewing the home. Find out what they like and dislike. A buyer who is turned off on the first go around is the best thing you could ask for. Take their gripes and dislikes and fix them! Don?t live in the disillusion that your home is perfect, in most cases it is not. Listen to what is bothering people when they view it and address those issues. This step will be one of the most costly steps, but sometimes the most important. Remember though, you are in the business of selling this home not remodeling it. Pick your battles and only fix what you think will help bring value to the home. Examples of these good fixes may be, paint, new appliances, re arranging furniture, adding extra lamps and lighting, new linens and window coverings and light landscaping etc. What not to fix unless you want to do a full remodel would include, full kitchen remodel, adding a pool, new windows, floors.

Hope this helps when you do your next open house. If you leave this blog with nothing else remember that when you are trying to sell a home first walk through as though you were the buyer and ask your self?.would I buy this place and if not why not.

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Source: http://greenrealestatesd.com/2011/08/01/holding-open-houses-are-you-doing-the-best-you-can/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=holding-open-houses-are-you-doing-the-best-you-can

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Monday, August 1, 2011

Portable Anthrax Detector Identifies Spores In Under An Hour [Science]

It's been almost 10 years since the anthrax attacks which killed five people and infected 17 others, but finally we have a legit way to detect the spores—and potentially dozens more pathogens like salmonella. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/oTBMKXWuukg/portable-anthrax-detector-identifies-spores-in-under-an-hour

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3 Top Essay Writing Tips | Articles Mesmeric

While writing an essay, it is always essential you do things the proper way. If you do not, the outcomes can be devastating. Likelihood is you will find yourself annoyed in school and not getting the grades you need or expect, and even getting failing your classes.

Listed here are three great pointers on how to guard against that from happening.

1. Organization

It's critical to be organised when essay writing because doing so helps forestall wasting time or getting off topic. Failing to get this done can certainly cause you frustration when trying to turn your concepts into a good essay. It is important to have a clear experience of what must be done and how you'll do it.

2. Concept generation

Nearly as urgent as organization any time you are writing essays, is idea generation. With an effective prewriting system, students can generate over 80 unique ideas covering a selection of main principles in just 5-10 minutes. It will also help get the creative juices flowing, and that is something anyone engaged in writing a good essay needs.

3. Essay Structure

Last although not least, when essay writing, you must be certain and have the proper essay structure. In simplest form, proper essay structure is: 1) Tell them what you're going to inform them; 2) Tell them; and 3) Tell them what you told them. More usually called the introduction, body and conclusion. Having the correct essay structure is an important component to writing a good essay.

As I discussed as the start , when writing an essay, you would like to ensure you don't make gaffes that will end in perplexity, disappointment, or perhaps poor grades. What you want is a system for writing good essays that's pleasurable and productive, and you'll achieve that by using the methods above.

Discover how to write and essay in just 30 minues or less including the outline.

Source: http://articlesmesmeric.com/writing-speaking/3-top-essay-writing-tips

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Memorabilia Autographed By Athletes: Hunting Authentic Bargains ...

If you are an avid sports fan, the chances are good that you collect something sports related, whether it be baseball cards programs or memorabilia autographed by your favorite team.

If you are able to get close to the field, such as during practice and warm ups, or the occasional fan club meet and greet, this is a great time to acquire some autographs in person. If you can't do this, however, or not as often as you would like, buying them online is an easy way to get them.

Signatures from baseball players who have gone on to become stars or even Hall of Famers, often have a higher value than players new to the game, both in terms of sentimental and monetary value. Time will only tell which of the newer players to the sport will go on to become champions and legends, making their autograph worth more.

Memorabilia autographed by star athletes will have higher value associated with it if it is kept in mint condition. Signed collectibles that have been framed make great gifts, and the protection helps to ensure that it retains its worth.

Signed photos and baseball cards with no creases or corner wear will keep their value over those that show wear from mishandling. Likewise, with autographed baseballs, those that have not been smeared and retain their bright, white color, will be more valuable than a baseball that looks like it was played with.

When buying online, look for a certificate of authenticity from a reputable company. Fraudulent signatures run rampant on the Internet, and you have to be careful. Always buy from a trusted dealer, and if possible, get a photo of the original buyer obtaining the autograph in person, although that's not always possible.

If you have kids and you're trying to get them into sports, nothing will spike their enthusiasm more than a fine piece of memorabilia from their favorite player. If cared for, it will become a thing to be treasured for a lifetime.

There are several new websites available online that take the guest work out of memorabilia autographed by athletes and famous coaches. Through a partnership with eBay, these sites grab all of the authenticated sports memorabilia listed on the auction giant and puts it in one central location. Each signed item listed carries the authentication from one of the hobby's top companies. It is a great way to learn more about collecting sports memorabilia.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/910621/memorabilia-autographed-by-athletes-hunting-authentic-bargains.htm

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