Joomla History

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In terms of website design, Joomla! has been one of the pioneering companies in the industry. The idea for Joomla! dates back as far as August of 2005, when the project broke off from another web design project. The idea was an open source community, where users could have the power. That has always been the design and intention of the Joomla! web design portal and it has most certainly taken hold with many online users in this day and age. Over the last four years, Joomla! has seem some changes, but the fundamentals have remained the same, for the most part.

Joomla! broke off from Mambo amid concerns over the open source nature of the project and then-CEO Peter Lamont took great care to get user feedback on how the project should be run going forward. Internet users at the OpenSourceMatters website offered support for the new project and in early September of 2005, Joomla! was born. The name itself came after the company asked for feedback from internet users on what the new project should be called. The name comes from the Arabic for "all together", which is an important idea for this web design project.

September 7, 2005 was the original release date of the first Joomla! interface and it was received with great reviews. Since then, it has been an absolute pioneer in the field of open source design, providing web designers with the opportunity to do things their way. Many companies have tried to follow the Joomla! blueprint, as more and more web users come to recognize the excellent potential that the company has brought to pass. Numerous updates to Joomla! have been released since 2005, with the most recent being July 22, 2009. According to reports, Joomla! is now the internet's most popular open source design portal.

Source: http://analogik.org

Johns Hopkins Medicine History

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Toward the end of the 19th century, American medical education was in chaos; most medical schools were little more than trade schools. Often, it was easier to gain admission to one of these than to a liberal arts college. With the opening of The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1889, followed four years later by The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins ushered in a new era marked by rigid entrance requirements for medical students, a vastly upgraded medical school curriculum with emphasis on the scientific method, the incorporation of bedside teaching and laboratory research as part of the instruction, and integration of the School of Medicine with the Hospital through joint appointments.

Hopkins medicine counts many "firsts" among its achievements during its early years: the first major medical school in the United States to admit women; the first to use rubber gloves during surgery; the first to develop renal dialysis and CPR.

Two of the most far-reaching advances in medicine during the last 25 years were made at Hopkins. The Nobel Prize-winning discovery of restriction enzymes gave birth to the genetic engineering industry and can be compared, some say, to the first splitting of an atom. Also, the discovery of the brain's natural opiates has triggered an explosion of interest in neurotransmitter pathways and functions. Other accomplishments include the identification of the three types of polio virus and the first "blue baby" operation, which opened the way to modern heart surgery. Hopkins also was the birthplace of many medical specialties, including neurosurgery, urology, endocrinology and pediatrics.

Source: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Indiana Pacers History

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With their establishment in 1967, as a member of the American Football Association, the Pacers became the reigning team of the association. They became the recipient of three ABA national championships and also reached the title round in the five playoffs before heading towards the National Basketball Association in 1976. Larry Staverman was the first Pacers coach and Roger Brown the first player. Brown led the Pacers in scoring with a 19.6 average in their first season playoffs. Unluckily his career came to an end due to his disreputable activities. He was expelled by the NBA. The other first season players were Bob Netolicky and Freddie Lewis. The Pacers first competed in the ABA Finals in the 1968-69 season under the command of Bob "Slick” Leonard.He led the Pacers towards a new horizon by leading the Pacers to seven consecutive winning seasons. In their first ABA championship

in 1970 against Los Angeles Stars, Brown hit 18-of-29 field-goal attempts and 14-of-16 foul shots, while adding 13 rebounds and six assists in the game four to mark the Pacers victory. He averaged 45.6 points in the final three games of the championship. The 1972 and 1973 ABA championships also belonged to the Pacers. This time George McGinnis took the hold of the game sending Brown to the defensive part of the court.

The 1975-76 season proved to be the last season of the ABA and the first failing season of the Pacers in the seven years with the ABA . In 1976 they coalesced with the NBA. Their coalition took its toll, apart from paying a lump some amount, the team was also banned from sharing in TV revenues for four years. Their economic condition broke down in 1977. The Pacers survived their collapse through a telethon. In 1980, Jack McKinney replaced Bob Leonard. Under his systematic management the Pacers experienced their first winning NBA season. McKinney earned NBA coach of the year in 1981. In the late 1980's the Pacers drafted Wayman Tisdale, Patrick Ewing , Chuck Person and Reggie Miller. Miller was the 11th overall pick of the 1987 NBA draft. He became the Pacers all-time career scoring leader and one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history. After playing the 1996-97 season, Brown declared his withdrawal. His exit was replaced by Larry Bird.

The Pacers were the victorious survivors of the liquidation of the ABA . They made it to the NBA finals in 1999-2000 for the first time but could not win the championship. The same year the Pacers played in their home stadium, Conseco Fieldhouse, their $183 million new home. The Pacers ended the 2003-2004 season by marking a franchise record of 61 wins.

Source: http://www.angelfire.com

Ibm History

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The History of IBM goes back further than the development of computers. It was originally a Tabulating Machine Company founded in 1896 by Herman Hollerith. It specialized in developing punched card data processing equipment. The patent for this technology was initially applied for in 1884. It began as a means for Hollerith to meet the demands in tabulating the 1890 Census. Punch cards introduced in 1896 laid the foundation for generations of equipment which would one day be known as IBM. The business was sold to Charles Flint in 1911 for 2.3 million dollars of which he received 1.2 million dollars to create Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation or CRT. Incorporation took place on June 16, 1911 in Endicott, New York.

There were three companies which merged. The computing Scale Corporation, the Time Recording Company and finally the Tabulating Machine Company. Flint was the key financier behind the merger and remained a member until 1930. In 1914 Thomas J. Watson Sr. became General Manager of CTR and in 1917 CTR entered the Canadian market using the name International Business Machines Co., Limited. Watson played an essential and key role in establishing what would later be known as IBM.

In 1928, IBM introduced a new 80 column rectangular-hole punched card, which became the standard IBM card used by tabulators and computers for many years to come. Later in the 1950’s IBM became the primary contractor in developing computers for the United States Air Force automated defense systems. While working on the SAGE interceptor control system IBM gained information critical to work being performed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This information spearheaded advancements for the company by learning information on digital data transition, algebraic computer language, light guns, integrated video display, analog to digital and digital to analog conversion. IMB built fifty six SAGE computers totaling thirty million dollars each and in its heyday employed more than seven thousand employees.

The 1980’s found IBM consolidating its mainframe business and expanding the breadth of mainframes with the ESA/390 and the S/390. To create the illusion that IBM’s revenues and profits were much stronger than they really were in the mid to latter part of the decade, IBM embarked upon the practice of converting its large rental base of mainframes to lease arrangements. This spending shift caused management to scramble, which threatened the monopoly which IBM had enjoyed in the technology business.

Don Estridge was hired in the IBM Entry Systems Division in Boca Raton Florida. It was at this point that he along with his team known as “Project Chess” developed the IBM PC which was then introduced to the world on August 12 1981. Initially these systems were not affordable to the average person for personal use. The hefty price tag of $1.565 left the equipment primarily in the business sector, although these were not seen as a viable computers by the corporate computer departments. Often the purchases were made by middle management as they could see the value these systems had in relation to business.

IBM operating systems have paralleled hardware development. On earlier systems, operating systems represented a modest level of investment, and were typically viewed as an addition to the hardware. By the time of the System/360, operating systems had assumed a much greater role, in terms of cost, complexity, value, and risk. IBM has widely been known for its dominant computer business. However, it has had major roles in many other industries. Today IBM enjoys continued success with systems easily applicable to businesses as well as personal use.

Source: http://www.webhostingreport.com

Holiday Inn History

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Holiday Inn hotels are well known from everybody in US. Even kids visiting Walt Disney World know that Holiday Inn's pool is waiting for them.

But I wonder if everybody knows how Holiday Inn brand was established. Now when Holiday Inn hotels chain celebrates its 52nd anniversary of its history and a year of Kemmons Wilson's dead I think it is important to say once again how it all started. From a family vacation and traveler's dream to the reality of more than 3000 Holiday Inns all over the world...

Holiday Inn began as the vision of Kemmons Wilson (1913-2003) in the early 50ties of the last century. In 1951 Wilson was on a family vacation to Washington. He became very unsatisfied by overpriced motels. (Wilsons were charged extra $2 for each of theirs five children.) Kemmons Wilson became unhappy with the lack of quality and comfort in the dusty hotels along the roadside, too. He was sure that after a long trip everybody will be pleased to find a good accommodation and have a rest.

His dream had started:"What about: - air-conditioned room with private bathroom and telephone where children under 19 can stay free together with the parents; - good food in the restaurant - free parking lot - swimming pool - free ice cubes - dog kennels?" All these amenities were then revolutionary for the hotel industry. Wilson did not stop dreaming: "What about if you can find such a room and accommodation advantages everywhere down your road and be at home away from home?"

One day Kemmons Wilson said to his wife:"I'm going to go in the business and build a chain of 400 hotels." And he did.

First Holiday Inn was opened on the 1st August 1952 on Summer Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. It was so successful that Wilson started building identical Holiday Inn hotels everywhere he found perfect locations. Millions travelers learned to organize their business trips or family vacations around the Holiday Inns, knowing that the same room, food and night-lit pool waited for them down the road. Holiday Inn hotels chain grew year after year. Every 2 1/2 days a new Holiday Inn was opening somewhere in the world.

By 1972 Kemmons Wilson company operated 1405 Holiday Inns in United States and around the world. Holiday Inn reservations were made through the Holidex - a computerized reservation system. The Wilson dream became a reality.

His autobiography "Half Luck and Half Brains" give us the whole story how Holiday Inn hotels chain was established. It provides hope to everyone that anything is possible through hard work. Those who wish to be successful can choose to follow Wilson's "20 Tips for Success".

Unfortunately it seems that this book can be rarely found. Amazon and Barnes & Noble offer only used (but in good condition) ones. May be the publishers will consider a new issue.

Source: http://chernevashowroom.1hwy.com

Expedia History

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In the year 1996, Microsoft launched an online travel booking site, called Expedia, which brought about a radical change in booking travel reservations. After three years, the online travel agency was released by Microsoft due to the fact that maintaining travel deals was not one of Microsoft's specialties. Other brand in the current day Expedia, Inc. portfolio has independently deepened their roots and began their respective courses of improvement.

It was during the onset of the new millennium that Expedia began its expansion to become and remain to be the world's leading online travel agency. In the year 2001, the company took possession of a number of other travel companies and expanded its scope of travel. The subsequent year, the IAC (InterActiveCorp) secured Expedia and ever since, has assisted it to grow as a travel company under it's' surveillance. During their time with IAC, Expedia has gained a valuable relationship with the parent company's travel partners. And in a good time of three years, IAC formally released its travel businesses under the name Expedia, Inc., which has become a parent company to a global portfolio of leading consumer brands.

Employing a mixture of 8,000 full-time and part-time employees across an international network of brands, Expedia also has an inclusion of 1,920 employees from eLong, Inc., which is their Chinese associate. In huge quantities, the responsibilities of these people all range from quality control and customer service, to securing the best selection of travel deals anywhere in the world. As a matter of fact, Expedia has deployed a number of their employees to the company's hotel and travel partners across the globe to ensure that the information they get is confirmed first hand and that the company's valued relationships with their associate dealers is maintained and strengthened.

The company website offers a variety of the best travel options and provides online coupons that give consumers the ability to get discounts on these deals. Whenever a customer applies for deals using an Expedia coupon, they can get a purchase fee discount that ranges from 20%, up to 50% off. Expedia's website also has a Last Minute Deals web page wherein travel deals that have almost reached their expiration date will be put up on sale with a 30% discount. Such deals are very suitable for individuals with a flexible schedule and those who are on a budget.

In addition, a page dedicated to help in the process of research, planning and booking travel deals is made available for consumers to use. For example, those interested in getting into a flight can read airline seat reviews about those that are available in that particular flight and pick one that would best suit them. The option to add activities in a booked trip is also available for customers that do not have an idea on what they could expect from their destination.

Coupons for Expedia are not easy to find though. Some customers have claimed to have bought these coupons from a different website. Find Savings, which is an online bargain-hunting website, gathers deals from products such as jewelry, electronics, food and drink, pets, office supplies, automotive, apparel, computer hardware and a host of other goods and services. The bottom point for this is that browsing search engines and websites connected with Expedia can be helpful in searching for discount coupons.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com

Dr Oetker History

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Dr. Oetker is a family owned food business that has been creating high quality foods since 1891 and is regarded as one of the leading companies in the German food industry and across the world.Now with its 4th generation of family ownership and based in Bielefeld in Northern Germany ,Dr. Oetker manufactures and distributes a diverse range of food stuffs to over 40 countries around the world.

The Dr. Oetker business was named after Dr. August Oetker. Originally a pharmacist Dr. August Oetker created Germany's first baking powder, known as Backin.This was seen as a true innovation for those who loved to bake because it delivered true convenience and guaranteed perfect results every time.

In 1899 the Dr. Oetker name was trade-marked leading to the creation of the Dr. Oetker brand.Built upon a reputation of innovators and high quality during the first part of the 20th Century the Dr. Oetker baking range was expanded both inside and outside of Germany leading to the opening in 1908 of an office in Baden near Vienna in Austria.

In 1918, Dr. August Oetker, the founder passed away leading to the succession of his son-in-law Dr. Richard Kaselowsky.Dr. Kaselowsky further expanded the business internationally establishing subsidiaries in France, Poland, Belgium, Denmark and Italy during 1920-1930.

The period of most rapid international expansion and diversification out of core baking products was initiated by the next generation of owner.Rudolf-August Oetker, grandson of the founder took over management of the company in 1944 and further expanded the business.More subsidiaries were established in Europe and overseas and new food areas were grown into built upon Dr. Oetker's reputation for quality and innovation.In 1970 the first frozen pizza was launched in Germany, in 1978 Crème Fraiche was launched.

From 1991, new organisations and subsidiaries were formed in Eastern Europe, including Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.In 2002, Dr. Oetker formed a subsidiary in the United Kingdom and in 2004 entered into the Republic of Ireland.

By the time Rudolf-August Oetker had passed over the running to the latest andcurrent head of the business Dr. August Oetker,his son and great grand-son of the original Dr. August Oetker , Dr. Oetker the business was operating in many food groups across frozen, chilled and dry grocery sectors. Recent acquisitions include the purchase of the Onken brand in 2004, the Unilever frozen pizza and snacks business across Europe and in 2006 the Supercook cake decorating business. In 2007 and 2008 Dr. Oetker opended offices in China, India, Argentinia and the USA.

Today the Dr. Oetker brand can be seen internationally within baking powders, baking mixes, dessert mixes, cereals, conserves, frozen pizza, frozen pizza snacks, yogurts and chilled desserts and in some countries with national specialities such as savoury snacks and teas.

Source: http://www.oetker.co.za/Company_History.asp

Infiniti History

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Infiniti cars is the luxury car division of Nissan. The division was launched in November 1989 and has changed the world of luxury cars since then. Initially, the Infinity car was introduced only to the American public. Today, however, it is sold in countless countries across the world and is a hot pick amidst various car lovers.

There is absolutely no doubting the popularity that Infiniti cars enjoy in the car market today. However, things were not the same always. Initially, Infiniti cars were received with quite a lackluster response in the US. The reason for the same is believed to be inappropriate advertising.

Initial advertisements of the Infiniti car rested on a Zen influenced advertising concept. The themes of the commercial revolved around picturesque landscaped and intended to promote tranquility. Of course, these commercials were quite relaxing to the eye but they failed to create etch sales for the company. Finally, these advertisements were withdrawn and new commercials were put in that focused more on the vehicle and it's feature. The result- Infiniti cars pulled up and marked their place on the global automobile scene.

Though the Infiniti car range came up with several models every now and then, it was the Infiniti Q45 that made it for the company. This car had one of the best engines at the time, which made it one of the hottest selling cars in time. To add on, the Infiniti Q 45 also had several other extraordinary features like a 278 hp V8 engine and a four wheel steering. Besides, it's luxurious interiors set it class apart from other cars in the same segment.

While the Infiniti Q45 took the Infiniti car range to the top of the success ladder, the Infiniti M30 brought it backwards. The M30 was a total failure and was unable to keep up with the standards set up by Infiniti. The car offered only one engine i.e. 162 horsepower Nissan VG30E V6 3000 and only one transmission, which was the Nissan RE 4R01A 4 speed automatic. Neither the engine nor the transmission worked for the audiences, who now wanted more. As a result, the Infiniti M30 was withdrawn within 3 years of being launched.

However, Infiniti bounced back again with the luxury SUV, the Infiniti QX4. The QX4 is one of the biggest hits in the history of luxury vehicles. The car offered all that was not offered by any other luxury vehicle in the segment. Even the top automakers like Acura were left to face the brunt of the competition with the launch of the Infiniti QX4.

While some models of the Infiniti car range clicked pretty well and created history, there were others that were a complete let down. With all this, it is needless to say that the history of Infiniti cars is rather interesting.


Source: http://www.cnyinfiniti.com

Hugo Boss History

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Hugo Boss is a fashion design business in Germany , which today designs casual menswear and womenswear designer clothing. The company is named after the founder, Hugo Boss. Hugo Boss was established in 1923 in Metzingen in Germany . This was just after the end of World War I when the country was recovering from the effects of war. Prior to and during World War II Hugo Boss specialised in designing army uniforms for the Nazi Army.

Hugo Boss death in ’47 resulted in the design company closing for a period of 5 years until 1953 when the company released their first suit for men. The first suit was a huge success and the company in the 60’s expended into causal menswear and womenswear. In 1993, Hugo Boss launched their fragrance division which has gone on to be a great success.

In 1999, Hugo Boss Clothing decided to separate the suits and casual part of the business and therefore Boss Orange and Boss Black were born. Additional Boss Green was developed specially for a sporty look. Today the Hugo Boss brands are available in 103 countries and more than 5,015 retail stores. In the UK the most popular Hugo Boss design are the Hugo Boss Jeans and also the Hugo Boss Shirts. These are available from all the UK Hugo Boss retail stores.

Source: http://dfreeman.wrytestuff.com

Survivor 23

Just like the changing of the leaves, the beginning of the NFL season, and high school soccer, the beginning of fall brings us a new season of Survivor. From what I remember, none of the fall seasons were All-Stars, so fall is always a fresh beginning. I'm not gonna lie, the last two seasons of Survivor were pretty weak. They do need some freshening up. And how will they do that? By bringing back Ozzy and Coach of course. I am on board with this. As I said last season, having a couple new people allows you to jump into the season right away. There is less of a feeling out period, but there is still the cool newness of all the other contestants. Neither Coach or Ozzy are my favorite players and they don't have a history together, but I like the choices. Coach is very entertaining and Ozzy a good physical player trying to become a good strategist as well.
Let's take an initial look at the cast.

Coach - 3rd time playing, definitely will give us lots of great sayings and stories and talks about honor and dignity. I like him.

Brandon - Russell's nephew. Coach really hit it on the head - "He's got demons". This guy is weird. He's only 19. I get the whole redeem the family name thing, but the whole not lusting after women is crazy. Did he not expect women in bikinis on Survivor? Is he going to rape someone? I don't get it. I cannot read this guy at all.

Mikayla - The object of Brandon's desire or anti-desire. I don't get it man. I mean she has a nice body, but isn't anything too ridiculous. Cover of Playboy? Lingerie football? Big ears.

Albert - The (token) black guy. He seems smart and looks strong, but might talk too much at tribal. I see him making the merge then going out as a threat, but redemption island may change that.

Christine - Hope she goes home soon. She really brings nothing positive to the table.

Edna - Coach's only friend for a while. She was quickly replaced when Coach settled in with some stronger players. Even with Coach's backing, I don't see her staying around too long.

Rick - The Cowboy. He played it really close to the vest by not saying a single word last episode. Nice one. I hope he sticks around for a while.

Sophie - Could play an interesting roll as the lone female in Upolu alliance. I see her being a strong player. She seems to have already read Brandon correctly, seems smart. We'll see how she fairs in challenges. Not attractive enough to create lust in Brandon.

Stacey - "Boom." She already has a catch phrase, so she has that going for her, but she is on the outside of her tribe and won't people around for long.
Ozzy - Dude is a beast out there in the challenges and actual surviving in the wild, but can his social game match?

Keith - I think I saw this guy last season when he was called Grant. Really, he will be Ozzy's best bud and then get back-stabbed. Bet.

Dawn - A bit emotional. I don't think she'll be around long.

Eylse - Hottest contestant this year? Maybe. I'm hoping to see more of her. I could see her playing the flirt card pretty good. I see a devious look in her eye too. I'm intrigued.

Jim - It's a shame players get the stigma of "playing too hard". See Jonathan Penner and Marty from two seasons ago. That shouldn't be a bad thing, but is. Looking at his team, I feel he'll be on the right side of the numbers and should stick around til the jury.

John (Cochrane) - Aah, a self given nickname, that is never a good start. He's funny, but will soon be seen as a liability and won't bond with Ozzy, Keith, and Jim.

Mark - See above about self imposed nicknames. Papa bear? C'mon man!

Semhar - Big tits. Horrible at basketball. And I never really liked spoken word. I think Christine will beat her tomorrow.

Whitney - The hot, silent type. I'm not sure if I've heard her utter a word. I wouldn't be surprised if she's actually a mermaid who made a deal with an evil sorceress octopus to gain legs. I will have to wait until a water challenge to confirm this. She's hot, and I could really see her coattail riding with the alpha male Savaii alliance.


There you go, I like to judge people. Mostly I'll be wrong, but with Coach, Ozzy, the weird Hantz kid, two self-given nicknames, and Boom, I see this being a good season.

Live at the US Open

So the title is a bit of a misnomer. I'm not currently Live at the US Open, but I was..........a week ago.
Anyways, I'd like to review my experience at one of the biggest sporting events in America.

Now, this was my first time at the Open. I spent 3 days at Wimbledon (days 2,3, and 10) in 2005, so I do have something to compare it to. Oh, and one of my life goals is to make it to all four Grand Slams. Half way there! And this is saying something, because I really only have 3 life goals. Big day!
I headed out to Flushing Meadows on Thursday, day 4, with 4 friends of mine. We had a the grounds pass - allowing us access to all courts but Ashe Stadium. After getting my bearings, we headed to the side courts. The side courts are truly the beauty of first week Grand Slam tennis. Many times you can sit in the first row. You instantly know these are professionals. The best is getting between two courts so you can move back and forth between the two. Let's take a quick look at the matches I saw.

Match 1 - Michael Llodra vs. Kevin Anderson - Court 6 - I wanted to see this match because Llodra is a serve and volleyer, but he was overmatched by Anderson, so we quickly turned around and walked about 5 feet to court 7.

Match 2 - Kaia Kanepi (23) vs. Silvia Soler-Espinosa - Court 7 - Kanepi made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the US Open last year. She is a large Estonia with some power, but inconsistency. I had never heard of Soler-Espinosa before, which is not surprising. It was a good match. There were probably only about 20 people watching when we got there and we took u seats in the 2nd row. It's one of those "Yes I am here" moments. You can isolate the player's coaches. You can hear the players and even better, they can here you. You see the power, the pace, the spin, the sweat, the difference between the 1st and 2nd serve. You can't get this stuff on TV. SS-E, as we'll call her from now on, is pretty fit, a nice looking young Spaniard and her guest was sitting next to us and she wears Joma, so we were in her corner. The first set was close, lots of good points. SS-E broke late in the set and was able to hold her final two service games. She won the match and made her furthest progression in a Grand Slam.

Match 3 - Carla Suarez Navarro (32) vs. Simona Halep - Court 4 - The best part of early round tennis at a Grand Slam is the court hopping. I thought I'd check out another match and walked to the next court over. This match probably had the best points we saw all day. Both players were fast, good recoverers, and had real clean groundstrokes. Lots of nice long, back and forth points. Halep was a grunter, pretty loud and long in fact. Navarro was stone cold silent. Halep, a nice looking young Romanian, beat 6-seed Na Li the previous match, took the 1st set, lost the 2nd in a very close set, and kind of lost it in the 3rd. Court 4 was kind of odd. It had a large section of bleachers on one side which were pretty empty. We could talk loudly, walk around, drink gin and also see the practice courts from our high vantage point. We saw Serena, Sharapova, Hantuchova, and Radwanska warming up.
Oh, one last note, apparently Halep is best known for getting breast reduction surgery. It kid you not. This comes straight from wikipedia - "In a bid to boost her game, Halep underwent breast reduction surgery in the summer of 2009, which reduced her cup size from 34DD to 34C". You can't make this stuff up! Google "Simona Halep before and after" if you don't believe me!

Match 4 - Tommy Haas vs. Alejandro Falla - Court 13 - By this time of the day it was getting busier and we had to wait a bit to get onto court 13. We were rewarded with Legend Tommy Haas. He was looking strong and fit, impressing the ladies with a few shirt changes. We got to see the second and third set and sit in the first row and it was pretty cool. First serves from these guys are huge. Tommy was on his game and won easily as the clear crowd favorite.

Match 5 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (17) vs. Petra Martic - Court 17 - We were able to catch the last half of the third set in this match. I was hoping for a 3rd set tiebreaker, but Martic could not break back. Pavly looked good from what I saw.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, this is actually the first year of court 17. It is a nice lowered court with a bowl of stands around it, seating 2,500 and eventually 3,000.

Match 6 - Marin Cilic (27) vs. Bernard Tomic - Court 17 - I was excited for this one, hearing good things for Tomic and Cilic, but it turned into a snoozer. Multiple people fell asleep. Tomic looked horrible, ill-prepared, even scared. Stayed for the first set which lasted 21 minutes. Boo.

Match 7 - Marty Fish (8) vs. Malek Jiziri - Louis Armstrong Stadium - Yes, we stepped are game up in the evening. I did not realize how much of Louis Armstrong is open for general admission, at least 4/5 of the stadium. So we got to see the American #1. It was cool being in the big stadium. There is a buzz about getting in there after queuing up for a while. Again, you feel like you are at a big event. Unfortunately, the match did not match the buzz. Easy 3 set win for Fish. Some nice cheers and some nice points. He was looking good.

Match 8 - Victoria Azarenka (4) vs. Gisela Dulko - Grandstand - Another unfortunate was that this match was moved from Armstrong to the Grandstand due to match times. By the time we got to the Grandstand it was already the 2nd set. This was the last match of the night, so lots of people were trying to get in. It's a cool atmosphere, especially at night. Azarenka won the first set and the crowd was totally behind Dulko, hoping to extend the tennis. She was up 0-40 midway through the set on serve until now, but could not get the break. You kind of knew it was over then, one of those tennis things, and on cue, Dulko was broken the next game. A few notes, Dulko is very hot. Vika isn't a bad drink of water either, but she has got to cool it with those screams.

Alright, there you go, a nice full day of tennis. A great time. I recommend it for everyone. I wish we would have been able to see a great match, but we saw a lot of very good tennis. The only player still alive that I saw is Pavlyuchenkova, so I got root for her now. But you don't get a ground pass to see the best of the best. You go to get close up views of great athletes. Best bang for your buck in sports. You see a few ranked players and some young potential. At Wimbledon I saw a young Ana Ivanovic and an unranked Gael Monfils. Who knows, maybe in 5 years we'll be talking about the time we saw Simona Halep and Silvia Soler-Espinosa?

English Premier League Fantasy Recap Part II

Check the post below for part I.



Now is the time where I get to praise and rib people for their picks. I'm pretty good at the ribbing part.



Good picks:

Martin Skrtel - 6th Round - A nice pick up here in the 6th. He is one of the most consistent defenders in the league and always gets the start for Liverpool.

Gabbi Agbonlahor - 8th Round - Not a top level striker, but this guy was a probably a 3rd round striker just a couple years ago, should continue to work well with Bent.

Dimitar Berbatov - 7th Round - Last years joint leading scorer in the 7th round. I don't expect another 20 goal season, but good value this late.

Seamus Coleman - 7th - Coleman would be a top class defender if not for his injury, still good value in the 7th round for an Everton that will start slow anyways.

Carlos Tevez - 8th - Similar to Berbatov, but much more uncertainty about his future. Still high reward pick for the 8th round even if he only stays until January

Mark Schwarzer - 10th - Last quality 'keeper on the board. A steal considering Given went in the 7th and Howard in the 4th.

Roman Pavlyuchenko - 10th - Tottenham's best striker right now, strong end to last season, finally in good graces at Spurs.

Stephane Sessegnon - 12th - Strong attacking midfield option at Sunderland

Ramires - 12th - Seems to be settling in the starting XI at Chelsea, especially with Essien injured.

Leon Osman - 13th - Great run at the end of last season, should get lots of starts as Everton are lacking wingers.

Alan Hutton - 13th - Should be the starter at right back for Spurs

Romelu Lukaku - 16th - Not sure how much PT he'll get, but a good shot with your final pick



Not so Clever Picks:

Malouda 1st Round, Kalou 4th Round - Good players, but drafted too high especially on a Chelsea team with loads of attacking options.

Bobby Zamora - 4th - He'll get lots of games, but too high at the 4th round

Scott Sinclair - 5th - This pick got a number of laughs, but no, it wasn't a joke. Maybe he thought it was the 15th round.

Alex - 5th Round - Didn't you learn from taking Alex too high before Junkie? He is not first choice at Chelsea and has been heavily linked to a move to Italy.

Gareth Barry - 9th - Gareth Barry used to be good. Then he moved to Man City.

Phil Neville - 15th - Listed as a midfielder, not a defender. Ouch.

Morten Gamst Pedersen - 8th - A bit high at the 8th round.

Grant Holt - 9th - Obviously early for a Norwich striker. Mort, did you know he is fat? Here are some of his facebook groups - "Grant Holt is a Fat Prick", "Get off the ground you fat cunt! Nan please, that's Grant Holt", "Grant Holt is a diving scum". Despite what it appears, I have nothing against Grant Holt. I hope he does well.





Teams

Carlo - 1. Rooney 2. Vidic 3. Cech

A strong start for Carlo. His first half of the draft was great, but then he started picking a slew of defensive midfielders - Gareth Barry, Lucas, Alex Song, Whitehead - spelling fantasy disaster.

Prediction - Strong foundation and good picks with Coleman and Taarabt in the 7th and 8th, but the second half of the draft will see Carlo languish in the mid table.



Andy - "TheWengerBoysAreComing" - 1. Van Persie 2. Baines 3. Yaya

Took Samba (4th) and Henderson (6th) too early. With defenders from Everton, Wigan, Newcastle, and Fulham, I'm not sure if his defense will be strong enough. Lots will depend on Van Persie's health.

Prediction - Should be a marked improvement from last year, but won't challenge for the top spots.



BJ - "There's something about Gabi's smelly cunt" - 1. Bent 2. Walcott 3. Dempsey

BJ sticks to his morals and does not select players from Chelsea, Man U, Man City, Liverpool, or Tottenham. Despite this hindrance, he finished second in the league last year. He got Dempsey and T. Cahill 3rd and 4th and Gibbs and Koscielny 6th and 7th.

Prediction - Despite his limitations, BJ should again challenge for the league. A lot will depend on Arsenal's defense, and how well Villa and Fulham perform this season.



Serg - 1. Malouda 2. A. Cole 3. Gyan

Serg left after round 10 of the draft. His team got better once he left.

Prediction - Relegation



Rory - "My dad wasn't really elected" - 1. Lampard 2. Chichirito 3. Gervinho

Rory had our first ever proxy drafting for him. He had a pretty detailed list, but I think his absence from the draft will hurt him early on.

Prediction - Overall his team is good, but not flashy - mid table



Junkie - " The fantasy team formerly Jobless for Life, formerly Down for Brown" 1. Drogba 2. Nasri 3. Evra

Good start to the draft for Junkie, then a quick decline - Alex, Chamakh, Riise, Gallas, David Dunn. He has a solid midfield, with the potential for more depending how Nasri settles in.

Prediction: Relegation battle



Jerry - 1. Suarez 2. Bale 3. Reina

Good draft for Jerry, but a lot will depend on who gets playing time. Jerry pick a lot of players who are not guaranteed starters - Lescott, Adam Johnson, Phil Jones, Tevez, K. Toure, Fabio, SWP

Prediction - Should challenge for a European spot, but not the title



Bryan - "Pippa Middleton XI" - 1. Van der Vaart, Kuyt, N'Zogbia

I don't see any of Pippa's first three picks performing as well as last season. Bryan does have a strong but not flashy squad, though, with stalwarts like Kenwyne Jones, Kevin Davies, Shay Given, Jamie Carragher and a couple nice later picks like Osman, Moses, and Enrique

Prediction - I see Bryan putting together a side that will see him achieve his best position ever. But that isn't really saying much.



Dustin - "I hate Eric Ellsworth for ruining our fantasy draft by running his restaurant into the ground and forcing us into Raubert's super sweaty living room Wanderers" (FC) - 1. Silva 2. Terry 3. Gerrard

Dustin is strong at all positions, with the exception of striker. Good value picks with Smalling and Brunt 8 and 9.

Prediction: Dustin is a proven EPL fantasy manager and should challenge for the title



Worth - "It takes a Man to Raise a Man" FC - 1. Carroll 2. A. Young 3. Modric

A very solid start for Worth, getting Dzeko in the 4th and Valencia in the 5th. He has a good squad. Some questions with Zabaleta, Richards, and Anelka and basically threw away his last 2 picks.

Prediction - Worth's best ever finish was 2nd two seasons ago. Can he best that? I don't think so, but he should finish near the top



Mort - 1. Aguero 2. Sniejder 3. Vermaelen

Some questionable picks by Mort as I mentioned earlier, but some nice ones too - Dawson, Adam, and Distin 6th-8th rounds. I see a very inconsistent season for the newcomer.

Prediction - It will be a rough first time out. Look for some good weeks and bad weeks. I see a low midtable finish - but not last place.



Raubert - "Cos's Cavernous Condoms" - 1. Nani 2. Hart 3. Ivanovic

Very strong D for Raubert. his mid is a bit lacking other than Nani. His strikers should be just good enough to allow him to challenge for a finish in the money.

Prediction - Near the top of the table



Tony - "Gia's Afterbirth Sack-lunch" - 1. Torres 2. Arshavin 3. Kompany

Prediction - I'm not as confident as last year. A repeat will be tough, but I should still finish in the top 3. I know fantasy soccer.



There you go kids. Feel to add to the fodder in the comments section below.

English Premiership Fantasy Draft Review 2011

Time for another English Premier League fantasy draft. As you EPL fans know, there are no good fantasy English leagues out there. They are all salary cap based as opposed draft based which we like here in America. Also, they have stupid scoring systems where you get points for starts, substitutions, shots and a different number of points for goals depending on what position you play. It doesn't take an expert to know that in soccer, all goals count for the same number of points.

To rectify this situation, my friends and I created our own draft league. We keep it simple - points for goals, assists, team of the week, negative points for own goals, goals against, and red cards. Each team drafts 16 players and starts a 4-4-2 every week with a captain having their points doubled. The draft totally changes strategy. Only one team gets Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and the like. There are a finite number of strong defenders and scoring midfielders. Do you go with offense or defense first? You also have all the transfer uncertainty before the season. Big decisions.



Let's take a look at this years EPL Fantasy Draft.



Round 1

1. Wayne Rooney - Striker - Manchester United - This was the right pick. I took Rooney first last year. He is the most reliable, most consistent player. He may not lead the league in goals, but he will get his points. There is no such certainty with any other player.

2. Robin Van Persie - Striker - Arsenal - Van Persie tore it up at the end of last season. He is a top striker, but can he stay healthy?

3. Fernando Torres - Striker - Chelsea - A bit of a risk here. Torres has not had a good year. He has shown the pedigree in the EPL and seemingly should turn things around at Chelsea.

4. Darren Bent - Striker - Aston Villa - This pick might be a bit of a surprise this soon, but if you look at the stats over the past few years, Bent is a top 3 Premier League striker. Also, due to moral reasons, the manager picking here does not take players from Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Man United, or Man City.

5. Florent Malouda - Midfielder - Chelsea - The first midfielder taken. I would not have expected Malouda to be the first taken. Malouda does get his points, but really tailed off during the second half of last season. I question this pick.

6. Frank Lampard - M - Chelsea - Lampard has been one of the best fantasy players over the course of the league. He didn't do as well last year. There is a lot of clamoring about him getting old, but if you look at the games he played, he put up high points.

7. Didiger Drogba - S - Chelsea - Drogba is another player who used to be a certain top 3 pick, but has a few question marks due to injuries and age.

8. Luiz Suarez - S - Liverpool - Interesting choice between Carroll and Suarez. Either could have a break out year or a disappointing year.

9. Rafael Van der Vaart - M - Tottenham - Van der Vaart was a revelation last year, full of goals and assists. He fell off a bit at the end of the year. Can he repeat?

10. David Silva - M - Man City - I like this pick. Silva came on strong last season and is the play maker on a talented city side. He'll have loads of assists and a few goals to match.

11. Andy Carroll - S - Liverpool - See pick #8

12. Sergio Aguero - S - Man City - New players to the EPL are always a risk, but I like this pick. Plug in Aguero for Tevez do you have 20 goals again? We shall see.

13. Nani - M - Man U - Nani I think was the second leading midfield scorer last season. He gets assists and goals. His benching by Sir Alex in the Champions League final does raise some questions.



Round 2

14. Joe Hart - Goalkeeper - Man City - With no Van der Sar and the lack of a true number 1 at Arsenal, 'keepers are at a premium. I think this is a bit early, but you can't really question it.

15. Wesley Sneijder - M - Inter - Wow. Earliest pick for a non-premier league player ever. Lots of rumors, but a HUGE risk this early in the draft. Wow.

16. Ashley Young - M - Man U - A perennial early round pick with Aston Villa. Now at Man U. That raises his value in my book. Nice pick.

17. John Terry - Defender - Chelsea - Terry is the only player to make the fantasy league team of the year all 4 years of the league. First defender taken and rightfully so.

18. Dirk Kuyt - M - Liverpool - Always under rated at midfielder. Kuyt will play as an attacking midfielder every game. Good pick.

19. Gareth Bale - M - Tottenham - Bale is a good player, but maybe not a top 20 fantasy player. He needs some consistency to become that. Maybe this will be another break-out season, with the stats to match the hype.

20. Samir Nasri - M - Arsenal - Time will tell on this one. If he stays and Fabregas goes, great value at 20, but if he goes to City, where does he fit in?

21. Chicirito - S - Man U - A bit early at 21. I'm not sure if he can match his success of the previous year.

22. Ashley Cole - D - Chelsea - Good pick - a certain starting defender for a top team and he gets forward.

23. Theo Walcott - M - Arsenal - With Walcott you can count on a few great games, frequent poor crosses, loads of speed, and a couple injuries each year.

24. Andrei Arshavin - M - Arsenal - See 23 but with less speed and less injuries

25. Leighton Baines - D - Everton - Baines gets forward, takes great free kicks, will get loads of assists and a few goals. But how many clean sheets can he get with Everton?

26. Nemanja Vidic - D - Man United - A rock in the Man U defense. He is a sure starter and throws in some set piece headers as well. Strong pick as the final one of the second round.



Ok, I'm only giving you the first two rounds. I can't have this blog be too epic. Now I'll take a look at my picks, followed by selected good and bad picks and a brief rating of each team.



My picks:

Round 1: Torres

Round 2: Arshavin

Round 3: Vincent Kompany - D - Man City - Like I mentioned earlier, there are only a handful of defenders you can pencil in every week for the Big 5 (Man City joins as well). I would put this list as Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Terry, Luiz, De Gea, Evra, Vidic, Reina, Skrtel, Johnson, Hart, and Kompany. This is a short list. These players should be at a premium. Last year, Man City and Chelsea were tied with the lowest goals against. And Kompany is the only sure starter on D for Man City. That's why I took him so early.

4. David Luiz - D - Chelsea - Very happy to get Luiz here. He was number 16 0n my big board and I got him with pick 50. Nice.

5. Mario Balotelli - S - Man City - Head case. High Risk, hopefully high reward.

6. Brad Friedel - GK - Tottenham - Maybe a bit early, but I needed a goalie, and it was him or Given.

7. Mikel Arteta - M - Everton - Good value at round 7 barring any more injury issues.

8. Rafael - D - Man U - If Rafael gets the majority of starts at right back, I'm feeling very good about my team.

9. Marouane Fellaini - M - Everton - Ready for a bounce-back year. Good value in round 9.

10. David "Junior" Hoilett - M - Blackburn - This was my sleeper pick. I probably took him a round or two early, but I did not want to lose him. He is listed as a mid and should start a lot of games as a striker. Break-out year baby.

11. Louis Saha - S - Everton - Getting a starting striker for a top 7 team in the 11th round is great. Injury issues, though.

12. Ryan Shawcross - D - Stoke

13. Youssouf Mulumbu - M - West Bromwich Albion- Good back-up midfielder, another break-out candidate.

14. Ryan Giggs - M - Man U - The old man still has it. But how do you know when he will start?

15. John O'Shea - D - Sunderland

16. Steven Taylor - D - Newcastle - If you can't get a top defender, differentiation in the back is key. This way, goals against are usually balanced out by clean sheets.



There we go, a strong team. A championship team? I am not as confident as last season, but I feel pretty good looking after looking at other teams. Things that will tell the tale are Rafael's starts and if Torres or Balotelli can find consistent form.

Stay tuned for more to come!

United Airlines History

Starting With U                  United Airlines Logo History                  United Airlines Recent Logo

logo history
company history
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United Airlines was one of the “Big Four” airlines in the United States that dominated commercial travel for much of the 20th century and has remained one of the major U.S. airlines. It was originally formed by United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, a partnership between Boeing Airplane Company and Pratt & Whitney. The larger corporation officially established an operating division known as United Air Lines on July 1, 1931. At the time, the company advertised United as the “World's Largest Air Transport System.”

In 1934, after the Air Mail Act of 1934 stipulated that all existing aviation holding companies had to break up, United Aircraft and Transport Corporation split into its three parts, Boeing, United Aircraft, and United Air Lines. By the time of this split, United Air Lines could boast complete coast-to-coast service across the country, from New York to San Francisco and Los Angeles (with major stops in Salt Lake City, Omaha, Chicago, and Cleveland). Soon after, on March 30, 1933, United took the lead in introducing what many consider the world's first modern civil airliner, the Boeing 247. In June 1933, United began flying coast-to-coast using this aircraft in a flight that lasted just under 20 hours. Within four months, United was operating as many as 11 round trips daily between New York and Chicago.

During World War II, United, like many other airlines, served the war effort. Beginning in May 1942, it began service to Alaska and across the Pacific Ocean. During the war, the airline transported almost 200,000 tons of men and materials over 21 million miles. At the time, United's fleet consisted of a mix of Douglas DC-3 and Boeing 247 aircraft.


The Boeing 247 is considered by many to be the first modern civil airliner

Like its competitors, American Airlines and Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA), in the post-war years, United Airlines set its sights on dominating the country's coast-to-coast routes. United and TWA both inaugurated their post-war transcontinental services on the same date, March 1, 1946, but while TWA did so with the sleek and modern Lockheed Constellation, United continued to use its old DC-4 aircraft. United was a year late in introducing pressurized cabin service using the DC-6; the airline inaugurated its ten-hour coast-to-coast flight (with a single stop at Lincoln, Nebraska) on April 27, 1947. Each of these DC-6 aircraft could carry as many as 52 passengers for daytime service or 24 sleeper-type passengers for night time operations.

United was dealt a temporary blow when all DC-6 aircraft had to be grounded as a result of a fatal crash in 1947, but business improved when an airline known as Western Airlines decided to sell a key route to United that allowed United to begin service on the important New York-Chicago-Los Angeles route on July 17, 1947. Into the 1950s, United used a mixed fleet of Douglas DC-6B, DC-7, and Convair CV-240 aircraft.

United made major investments into cargo service. On December 23, 1940, it began the first all-cargo service in American aviation history by flying freight between New York and Chicago. Over the years, United also attempted several acquisitions, not all of which were successful. In 1942, United merged with a Mexican airline known as Lineas Aereas Mineras S. A. (LAMSA), but in 1952, sold the airline to Mexican investors after incurring losses. United also acquired Catalina Air Transport in 1946, and in June 1961, it purchased Capital Airlines, a major airline that had tried unsuccessfully to break into the group of “Big Four” airlines in the United States. At the time this was the biggest merger in the American domestic aviation industry. As a result, United served 116 cities with a fleet of 267 aircraft.

United was less aggressive than the other major airlines in introducing jet service. United had pinned its hopes on the Douglas DC-8 instead of the Boeing 707, but United had to wait for the DC-8 to become available and ended up beginning its jet service on September 18, 1959, a full eight months after American Airlines. United was, however, one of the few U.S. companies to buy a foreign jet in large numbers—in this case the French Sud-Aviation SE.210 Caravelle, a jet designed for use on shorter routes. United also purchased Boeing's 720; it was in fact, the very first operator of the 720, first flying the jet on July 5, 1960, between Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. The similar Boeing 727 was put into operation by United four years later, on February 6, 1964.


United began jet service on September 18, 1959 using the DC-8

Through most of its early history, United Air Lines was led by Bill Patterson, a former accountant, who assumed presidency of the airline in 1933 and remained in that position until 1963. He remained chairman of the airline until 1966. By the time of his departure, he had left the airline in the enviable position of having the highest number of passenger-miles of any U.S. airline—beating out tough contenders such as American, Eastern, and TWA.

United remained the most powerful domestic airline in the United States through the 1970s. The Deregulation Act of 1978 had important implications for United. For example, the airline cut back on its operations where it was no longer profitable. United pulled out of cities such as Chattanooga, Tennessee and Bakersfield, California, that it had previously served. Instead, like the other major airlines, it focused its activities around several major hubs such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Tokyo. At the same time, like many other airlines, United also expanded into other areas such as computerized reservation systems, hotel chains, and rental car companies. United also entered new markets in the Pacific, Australia, and Europe using a fleet of Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets. The fall of Pan American offered new opportunities for United. In 1991, it was United that bought Pan Am's coveted Heathrow Airport hub in London. United also acquired Pan Am's Latin American routes later that same year, thus becoming one of the most important international airlines in North America.

But the news was not all good for United. By 1992, fuel costs, interest rates, and a recession forced United to sell some its travel subsidiaries and cancel orders for new aircraft. Ultimately, however, United did not suffer the fate of many of its competitors such as Pan Am, Eastern, and TWA, which either collapsed or declined in importance. After the catastrophic bankruptcies of the 1980s and early 1990s, United remained standing as one of the three airlines (along with Delta and American) that dominated the American airline industry. By 1991, the “Big Three” controlled over half the market in the United States.

United was the first airline to introduce Boeing's new 777 airliner, with a flight from Washington, D.C. to London on June 7, 1995. It has also been making major inroads in the international market. In 1997, for example, it partnered itself with Air Canada, Germany's Lufthansa, the Scandinavian Aircraft System (SAS), and Thai International (later joined by Varig of Brazil) to create the Star Alliance to provide a common network of world-spanning routes. United posted several years of profits in the late 1990s but, due to an economic recession in Asia, the airline's growth in profits has slowed. At the turn of the century, United continued to be one of the most important players in domestic commercial aviation.

Everton in DC

As I said for the US/Jamaica game, there are some perks due to living in DC. Ok, this perk -Everton vs. DC United - might not be too big of a perk for some people, but it does the job for me. I was pretty psyched when I found Everton was coming to my city. Here is a quick little review of their time here.

Practice - Everton had an open practice Friday morning, and of course, I went. It was 100 degrees and sunny, a bit different than Liverpool. There were only about 100 fans and it was kinda weird. Probably the weather, but most people were pretty subdued. I give a nice "Alright Timmy" as Tim Cahill came out and he sent over a brief salute, maybe more of a wave, or at least some sort of acknowledgment.
The practice was nothing too crazy. Warm-ups, one offense drill with a couple variations and a small sided game. Beckford was probably most impressive, but a small sided scrimmage is where he would thrive. Distin and a few others had trouble with the heat. Props go to Leighton Baines. If you didn't know any better you'd think he was a young kid trying to make an impression on the coaches. He went through every drill at full speed while a lot of the more veteran players took water and stretch breaks and did other stuff. He did not slow down despite the heat.
Oh, and Arteta came out in a walking boot and crutches, not looking good.
The best part about the practice was that all the players and Moyes came over to the fans and signed autographs and took pictures. It was definitely a great way to show thanks for all fans that braved the heat. I know the last thing you want to do after a hot practice is go talk to people you don't know. Much appreciated. Now I'm too mature for that fanboy autograph shit, but I did get some nice pictures. Check them out below with a few player observations.

Game - The game was fun. The upper bowl at RFK was not open. I'd say about 12,000 fans, but that might be generous. Both teams mixed their squads with reserves and starters. Everton scoring twice in the first 15 minutes really made things easy for Everton, but also lacking drama. Everton weren't great, but totally moved the ball better than DC. They had a lot of chances, but DC had some good outside shots too, but it's really hard to glean the big picture from this game. Instead, let's look at a few individual players performances.

Ross Barkley - I didn't know who this guy was at the practice. He is big, like Rodwell, not as strong yet, but tall, more like a defender than midfielder. He got the start on Saturday and looked good - not great, but good. Like most young guys, he worked hard and was trying to do all he could. Best part, only 17 years old. We got to keep this young Liverpool born talent.

Apostolos Vellios - This 19 year old Greek striker might be my new favorite player, mostly because the great picture above, but also due to his strong potential. He was the first player I got a picture with and seemed a nice humble guy, happy to be there. He too got the start Saturday and looked good. He seems to be the strong target man the Everton are lacking. He showed for the ball a lot, showed good control and touches and game IQ. I'd love to see him up top with Saha or Beckford. But will Moyes do that?

Victor Anichebe - Man, this guy is a BEAST in person. Ridiculously strong, maybe too strong for soccer. He scored a nice goal, but still has a few injuries. Pre-season will be big for him. Oh, and he much better at looking at the camera than me.

Conor McAleny - This was another guy I did not know before the weekend. He was probably the most eye-catching at the practice. He worked his ass off and was very crisp. Some are comparing him to Michael Owen. We'll see. Again, though very young and full of promise.

Tim Cahill - Timmy likes the heat. Oh yeah, Timmy's ready! Timmy's got some new moves. He's an Aussie. Tim played much deeper than he usually does, but he said the summer is all about fitness.

Magaye Gueye - Magaye was my new favorite player coming into the weekend, but that spot might be usurped by Vellios due to the pic. Magaye will soon be a stud, though. He has pace and skill. He can play as a second striker, on the left wing or the right wing, all spots we will need people this year. The heat looked a bit much for him, but he did get his 3rd goal in 3 games this summer, which is a huge positive. On the goal in the game, what was most impressive was his great pass to set up Beckford. Excited for more!

Sylvain Distin - A mountain of a man. He was not a fan of the heat, but a beast on the field against DC. Distin!

Jermaine Beckford - Strong in practice, but only got about 20 minutes in the game. I am not sold on this guy. At least twice he took a shot from outside the box when he had open players on his flanks. A nice setup for Magaye, though He is going to have to show better decision making if he is going to become a starter under Moyes.


There you go, just the mostly meaningless preseason, I hope Everton had as good a time in DC as I did. Let's hope it actually contributes to a strong start this season! C'mon you Boys!