Sunday, August 26, 2007

Playoff Showdown

The Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Tuesday for a three-game series against the Brewers. At this late point in the season, the outcome of this series will suggest who is serious about making it into the playoffs. If the Cubs don't at least win two games, you can kiss the season goodbye.

Today, Sunday, Jason Marquis leads the Cubs into the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the Cubs now holding a 1.5 game lead over the Brewers in the Central Division.

Jason Marquis has a record of 10-7 with an ERA of 4.12. For the Diamondbacks, Yusmeiro Petit has a record of 2-4 and an ERA of 5.14.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Simmons, Jannace & Stagg

No business person or individual ever wants to undergo litigation. But if that becomes necessary, the wise man or woman finds the best law firm available.

If your business is located in New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey, you would do well to seek the help of the firm of Simmons, Jannace & Stagg if you ever need legal representation. Simmons, Jannace & Stagg, LLP, is a full-service law firm that represents both large and small companies. It also serves the needs of cities and individuals.

If needed, this law firm handles litigation for its clients. But before that occurs, simmons jannace stagg tries to use alternatives such as negotiation and dispute resolution. Regardless of the techniques used, the firm attempts to solve the issue with the lowest costs possible.

Simmons, Jannace & Stagg handles a wide variety of legal issues. These include employment, securities, banking, real estate, zoning, and many others.

Lindsay Sentenced to Jail

Sad news for Lindsay Lohan fans. The rich and famous dumbbell has been sentenced to one day in jail. New Moon does not yet know where she will spend her incarceration.

In a plea bargain, LL pleaded guilty to use of cocaine and no contest to drunk driving and reckless driving. LL previously denied that she possessed or used cocaine after being arrested in July.

Nicole Richie Released from Jail

Nicole Richie fans will be elated to learn that the superstar has just completed the shortest 4-day jail sentence in history. She spent only 89 minutes in the Century Regional Detention Facility, allegedly because there was no space left in this southern California slammer in Lynwood.

Nicole was originally sentenced to four days after she drove the wrong way in LA while under the influence of something that wasn't an ice latte.

The same jail where Nicole spent her 82-minute lockup was previously occupied by superstar Paris Hilton.

No one knows who will become the next rich and famous bonehead to be jailed in Lynwood.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Appraisal360

Appraisal360.co.uk has found many uses for 360 degree feedback. One of these helps individual employees of businesses and organizations improve their professional development.

But now, together with Right Key Coaching, Appraisal360.co.uk has developed a new 360 degree feedback program for personal and lifestyle coaches. By using this new tool, these professionals can help their clients increase their self-confidence and self-esteem.

The problem that haunts many talented individuals is that they lack self-confidence. This, in turn, stunts their individual growth. They fail to achieve as much as they could, which is unfortunate for them and for those around them.

People trapped by low self-confidence tend to expect less of themselves than they should. Use of the new 360 degree feedback product can help these individuals understand that other people have much higher perceptions of them. This new understanding of how others see them can build their self-esteem and thereby increase their personal growth and achievements.

For more information about 360 degree feedback, logon to Appraisal360.co.uk.

Central Division

In case all you Cubs fans didn't notice, The Chicago Cubs have dropped back into a tie with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the Central Division of the National League. The St. Louis Cardinals are three games behind the leaders.

In order for the Cubs to make it into the playoffs, which I don't expect them to do, they're going to have to start winning game after game. The Brewers may play dead, but the Cardinals won't.

Houston and the others are no-shows, so don't worry about them. But the Cubs have plenty to worry about with the Cardinals.

Cubs Versus Giants

It's Rich Hill and the Chicago Cubs doing battle with the San Francisco Giants tonight. Hill usually pitches well against the Giants, even in San Francisco.

Hill will be looking to improve his 7-7 record for the year. His ERA is currently 3.73.

Lefty Barry Zito will bring his 9-11 record to the mound. Zito's ERA rests at 4.88.

Disney World Packages

Is anyone ignorant of the fact that Orlando, Florida, is a great place to go for a vacation? If so, let me give you the news.

Orlando has 52 theme parks, the most famous of which is Walt Disney World. But you can also find ocean beaches only 40 minutes away. If you don’t feel like getting wet at the time, you can find a great golf course just as close as the beaches. There’s always some new vacation attraction in Orlando. So don’t be afraid to go back if you’ve already been there.

To top all this off, Orlando has a host of resorts and vacation homes where you can unwind after a day of exploring.

In order to really enjoy your Orlando vacation, you’ll want to consider the money you can save if you look for Cheap Disney World Vacation Packages. If you do, you’ll find that the cost of your vacation can be far less than if you make all your reservations separately.

Welcome to Orlando. Have a great vacation.

O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson's book about the murders of his ex-wife and Ronald Goldman will not be available at a Barnes & Noble bookstore near you.

B&N says there isn’t enough interest in the book to warrant use of its bookshelves. It will, however, sell the book online.

Simpson was found not guilty of the double murder. Later, in a civil trial, he was found guilty of wrongful death.

The title of the book is If I Did It.

Foxy Brown Jailed!

Entertainer Foxy Brown now finds herself in jail. A judge has revoked her parole for an earlier conviction because she recently hit her neighbor with a cell phone.

Judge Melissa Jackson sent Brown back to jail until her upcoming hearing on September 7.

Brown had previously been jailed, and then paroled, after attacking two employees at a salon.

VoIP Phone Systems

No business, large or small, can afford to have an outmoded telephone system. Your firm’s telephones must work correctly and efficiently. A lost call can translate into a lost sale.

The phone systems provided by Xpander give your business total control of your telephones. Xpander’s VoIP phone systems are easy to use and flexible enough to fit into any business, regardless of your needs.

This kind of phone system eliminates the expense that goes with buying and servicing conventional PBX systems. VoIP phone systems work with any business that has the broadband needed for a web-based phone system. You control your phones and all their features.

The Nimbus VoIP system gives you unlimited calling within the United States. In addition, it gives you free calling to any other Nimbus VoIP phone anywhere.

If your telephone system is giving you headaches, look into VoIP phone systems from Xpander.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Britney Spears Has Problems

I have bad news for Britney Spears (BS) fans. BS and Kevin Federline (KF), her ex-husband, are quarreling about who gets custody of their two children.

Both mom and dad want the kids, and now KF wants the medical records for Britney's stay in a drug-treatment joint called "Promises" last March.

One assumes that KF and his lawyer want to show that BS is not fit to have custody. They hope to prove that BS still has a substance-abuse problem. The lawyer for KF could then argue in court that KF would be the most responsible of the two parents and should therefore get custody of the children.

Sorry, BS fans.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Cubs-Cardinals Rained Out

Carlos Zambrano threw forty-three pitches, but the Cubs Sunday-night game with the St. Louis Cardinals was called in the bottom of the third inning after a 48-minute rain delay.

After hitting a nice infield single, Matt Murton was left stranded on first base when the rain began to fall with Midwest seriousness.

In the three innings pitched, Zambrano gave up no hits and struck out three.

No date has yet been selected for the makeup game.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Find Baby Products

If you are a new parent or if you have a baby on the way, you are probably looking for a good way to find just the right baby products and services you want.

One place to start looking is at the Lilaguide.com website. This site has over 120,000 parent reviews of 32,000 baby-related businesses in more than 5,000 American communities. Lilaguide.com is your one-stop shopping guide for baby products.

Lilaguide.com is the Internet version of the neighborhood word-of-mouth network. Moms and dads from across the United States review all sorts of products and services for babies. At this one website, you can find advice about strollers, baby rings, diapers, and hundreds of other products and services. Need to find a good pediatrician? Look them up on Lilaguide.com. You can also find advice on nurses and nannies.

No matter what you need for your baby, you can find good advice from parents like you at Lilaguide.com.

Lily Allen

Some rich and famous woman named Lily Allen has been denied entry into the United States, apparently because she allegedly attacked a London photographer earlier this year.

I can see how someone could get annoyed at a photographer, but as a general rule, I oppose the use of violence and I understand why U.S. officials might want to deny entry to someone who goes around attacking people who carry cameras. I don't know why she attacked the photographer. Maybe she didn't like his or her lens or filter.

Rich and Famous

Life among the rich and famous is just one outrageous event after another.

And now singer Uncle Kracker has allegedly committed a sex act with a woman who says she did not want or need the act. In other words, she says he forced himself on her.

Uncle Kracker, whose real name is Matthew Shafer, is now free on $75,000 bail.

All these events took place in Raleigh, North Carolina.

One cannot help wondering why the rich and famous continue to get into trouble of this sort. Shafer may be innocent. If so, he needs to learn how to stay away from the sort of person who makes wild charges about the rich and famous.

Rent Orlando Villas

If you live in the UK and you are planning a vacation in Florida, Thinkflorida.co.uk was designed especially for you.

The office of Thinkflorida.co.uk is located near Walt Disney World and all the other vacation attractions in Orlando, Florida. This firm provides vacation accommodations for UK visitors and a great deal more. It is truly a one-stop source of vacation information.

Thinkflorida.co.uk can find just the right Orlando Villa for the UK visitor. But you will need much more than just a villa. Thinkflorida will also help you find the right car rental and airline tickets.

The Thinkflorida.co.uk website is arranged to provide all the information you need to choose your accommodations. You can choose from pool homes, condos, town houses, and villas. The website shows the floor plan and amenities for each rental property. You get exactly what you see. And here comes the really good part. Because you choose and rent the property directly, the cost is remarkably low.

Welcome to Florida. Enjoy your vacation.

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox continue to dominate the Eastern Division of the American League. The torrid pace of the New York Yankees has now cooled, and the Yankees trail the Red Sox by five games.

The Red Sox take on the Los Angeles Angels tonight at 7:05 at Fenway Park. Curt Schilling will be on the mound for Boston. He has a record of 6-5 and an ERA of 4.06.

Jered Weaver will pitch for the Angels. Weaver has a record of 8-5 and an ERA of 3.85.

Cardinals Again

The Cubs will take on the Cardinals again this afternoon at 2:55 at Wrigley Field. With a record of 58-61, the Cardinals now trail the division-leading Cubs by three games. The Cardinals have improved their win-loss record in August and are in a position to make a run for the playoffs.

Sean Marshall will be on the mound for the Cubs. Marshall has a record of 5-6 with an ERA of 4.25.

Anthony Reyes will lead Saint Louis into battle with a record of 2-11 and an ERA of 5.48.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Wedding Supplies Online

I’m well past the time when I’ll ever need to plan another wedding for myself, but I know plenty of young people who are just now reaching marriage age. Couples often forget one thing as they plan their weddings. Fortunately, I’m here to remind them.

Don’t forget the gifts you’ll need for bridesmaids and groomsmen. Then you’ll need gifts for the parents. I should know. I’m a parent. And don’t forget the flower girl and any other children involved. In case you didn't know, children are especially fond of presents.

While we’re making a list, you may have forgotten about all the stuff you’ll need for the ceremony and the reception. You’ll need candles, a ring pillow, and a guest book. What about place-card holders, cake toppers, and toasting glasses?

By now it may have dawned on the happy couple that all this stuff could add up to a tidy bundle of cash. What can you do? I’ll tell you. You can logon to Shop For Weddings, the online source for all your needs. Shop For Weddings has everything you want, and it provides everything at prices that are downright cheap.

You can buy thank-you notes, candle holders, wedding cameras, and a whole lot extra. You can find all these things online, and they won’t cost you a fortune. You have found the right place. Shop For Weddings is your Internet wedding superstore.

Hill Gets Win

Rich Hill got the win against the Cardinals Friday, raising his average to .500 with a record of 7-7.

Hill pitched seven innings, allowing one run and three hits. He struck out seven and gave up two walks.

Hill's record of seven wins edges out his six wins in 2006, his rookie season.

Hill's ERA now stands at 3.73.

Cubs Lead Central Division

Jacque Jones starred on both defense and offense Friday as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 2-1 and vaulted into first place in the Central Division, half a game ahead of the Brewers.

Jones made a leaping catch against the wall in center field in the fifth inning to rob Brendan Ryan of an extra-base hit.

In the sixth, after Ryan Theriot hit a single, Jones hit a two-run homer, giving the Cubs their only runs of the day, the only runs they needed.

Window Tinting

The sun is a beautiful provider. It is the source of all life on earth. It gives us warmth and brings us rain. And it can overheat every room of your home or office.

Yes, the sun is wonderful, but if it heats up your work or living space, it can also raise your air-conditioning costs, especially if you live in a sunny climate like that of southern California. The sun can also fade your carpets and upholstery, thereby creating more expense when you have to buy replacements.

Before you rush out to board up the windows, consider a less radical solution. The Encinitas Glass Company can provide san diego window tint that will reduce the problems caused by the sun as its rays pass through your windows. This company’s SunPro Glass Tinting, once applied to your windows, blocks as much as 70 percent of the sun’s heat and almost 100 percent of the rays that fade your carpets and upholstery.

SunPro Glass Tinting provides all these benefits without lowering the amount of available light in your home or office. Yes, the sun does wonderful things for us. For things that aren’t so wonderful, look into the advantages of glass tinting from the Encinitas Glass Company.

Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field in Chicago is America’s most beautiful major-league ballpark. Built in 1914, Wrigley is two years younger than Fenway Park in Boston, but age isn’t everything.

The beauty of Wrigley lies primarily in its interior. The walls are made entirely of brick, and the outfield wall is covered with ivy, which cushions somewhat the eager outfielders who crash into it.

The scoreboard at Wrigley is not electrified, except for the lights that indicate balls, strikes, and outs. The large centerfield scoreboard requires its keeper to replace numbers by hand.

Another aspect of Wrigley Field’s beauty can be found in its symmetry. The distance from home plate to the outfield wall is identical in both left and right fields.

From the left field grandstand, one can see Lake Michigan, although that view is increasingly blocked by new high-rise buildings along Lake Shore Drive.

Wrigley Field seats 41,160.

Lohan Parents Divorced!

What a load off my mind. I was worried sick about the divorce troubles of Lindsay Lohan's brainless parents.

One of New York's supreme court judges congratulated the couple for its "extraordinarily good judgment in resolving this matter." If these people had good judgement, I must be as smart as Galileo.

Miz Dina Lohan got custody of the two minor children. The big bucks part of the settlement is not yet a matter of public record.

Lindsay didn't figure into all this, since she is an adult, although only in a legal sense.

Wedding Plans

If you’re thinking about getting married, think again. It’s easier to get married than to get single.

Since you’re unlikely to follow this suggestion, let me help you find a way to plan your wedding. Planning a wedding can be very difficult. I know a way to make it much easier.

Logon to WeddingChannel.com. This firm has been helping couples plan their weddings since 1997. If you’re like me, you’re probably confused about all the details. WeddingChannel.com is in the business of helping you take care of the details.

WeddingChannel.com has all kinds of online aids to help you plan your wedding. These include such things as interactive planning tools, a vendor guide, and a registry system. If you would like to plan a perfect upscale wedding, WeddingChannel.com can give you all the help you need.

And by the way: Congratulations.

Cubs Versus Cardinals

In today's game with the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, the score is tied 0-0 in the fifth inning. Rich Hill is on the mound for the Cubs. Thus far, he has given up two hits.

I don't know how much Hill is getting paid, but I suspect it's less than what Carlos Zambrano is getting. Go get 'em Rich. Or put another way. Go get rich.

There was a time when the average working stiff got paid almost as much as a major-league baseball player. But I think that was before I was born.

Zambrano Stays with Cubs

Carlos Zambrano has signed a five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, with an option for a sixth year.

If you wish to compare your salary with Zambrano’s, note that he will receive a total of $91.5 million for the next five years.

Carlos could have gotten more from a different club, but he wants to stay in Chicago. I want to stay in Chicago, too, but I don’t have enough money to live in the same neighborhood with Zambrano.

Stock Option Investments

The wise investor does her homework before putting her money into an investment she is not familiar with. If you want to invest in stock options, make sure you understand this investment opportunity before you fork over your hard-earned money.

PowerOptions offers the background information you need to get started. It provides the instructional materials, data, and toll-free customer support to help you learn how to invest wisely in stock options.

This firm also offers the technology you need to find the best returns on option trades. By using this technology, you can analyze a massive amount of data to find just the right stock options. And all this is available online.

PowerOptions provides SmartSearchXL® technology, which is not available anywhere else. This tool allows the investor to find, compare, and select the stock options most likely to give the best returns.

SmartSearchXL® permits you to organize and analyze the thousands of stock options available in order for you to make the best investments to satisfy your needs.

Consider the services provided by PowerOptions, and then decide how to proceed. If you choose to give PowerOptions a try, keep in mind that the firm offers a 14-day free trial, a user guide, toll-free support, and a performance guarantee.

Amy Winehouse

All right fans, here's more news of the rich and famous. Amy Winehouse is going into retreat to deal with some "health issues."

Rumor mongers in London and elsewhere say Amy is addicted to certain controlled substances. Regarding these rumors, Amy's husband said, "I think 99 percent of it's not true."

Here at New Moon, we will continue to pass along to our readers all the latest truths and rumors about rich and famous boneheads.

Bomber Flights Resume

Just when you thought you had enough to worry about, disquieting news arrives from Russia.

President Vladimir Putin has announced the resumption of routine long-range bomber flights. Bombers of this type could attack or retaliate against distant countries such as the United States.

Long-range bombers are also less vulnerable in the air than on the ground, where potential enemies can attack and destroy them, as the Japanese did at Pearl Harbor.

Resumption of long-range bomber flights appears to be the Russian response to the U.S. unilateral invasion of strategic countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Buy Home Appliances

Prior to the widespread use of the Internet, people went from store to store to find the home appliances they wanted. They looked at advertisements, pondered their past experiences with appliances, and listened to the advice of other people.

Nowadays, according to consumer research, 75 percent of buyers begin by searching online. Subsequently, 90 percent make their appliance purchases at a local store.

The Krillion Localization Engine now searches the Web to find the most comprehensive results possible for the individual appliance buyer. This is a great improvement over the results provided by conventional search engines.

In over 40,000 American towns and cities, Krillion now ensures that when consumers have decided to purchase Whirlpool Ovens, the Krillion Localization Engine can direct them to the exact retailer they need.

The Krillion Localization Engine can provide search results for refrigerators, ovens, ranges, washers, dryers, and more. Very soon, Krillion will also have results for flat-panel TVs, lawn and garden accessories, seasonal appliances, and others.

Bonds v. Schilling

Barry Bonds has retained two lawyers, who may or may not sue Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling for statements he made about Bonds' possible use of steroids.

Rumors about the use of steroids by baseball players have made some fans question the validity of home-run records established by various major-league sluggers in recent years.

Some people have alleged that Bonds' use of steroids allowed him to break Hank Arron's lifetime home-run record. But Bonds is only one of many who have been criticized for alleged use of steroids.

A grand jury is presently considering the whole issue of steroid use by professional athletes.

Fenway Park

Fenway Park in Boston is the only major-league baseball field to rival Wrigley Field for beauty and history.

Fenway opened in 1912. Today it still looks much the same, except that fires occurred in 1926 and 1934. In both cases, the repairs left Fenway looking basically the same as before.

Modern innovations have made few changes in Fenway Park. The scoreboard is still operated by hand. In order to enter the results of games in other cities, the operator carries a stepladder onto the outfield between innings to post the scores.

The park still has the original brick exterior. Inside, the grandstand, bleachers, and the Green Monster in left field give Fenway the close, comfortable feeling of traditional ballparks.

Find a Radiator

If you own a car, you may know that relatively minor radiator problems can lead to other problems that are far more serious. If the coolant does not circulate properly throughout the engine, the heat that results can, in the worse cases, destroy your engine block.

I doubt that anything like this has gone wrong with your radiator. But if a problem does develop, remember the Integra Radiator. That’s only one of the many radiators available from Radiator.com.

Radiator.com sells the best radiators at the lowest prices possible. Its radiators also come with a lifetime warranty. Radiator.com can offer all this because it ignores the middlemen, makes its radiators available online, and sells directly to the customer.

Radiator.com is a family-owned business that uses a network of warehouses throughout the United States. It can find and deliver just the right radiator faster than you could imagine.

I hope your radiator doesn't go bad. But if it does, you’ll know where to start looking for a replacement.

Lindsay on the Loose

People in the know spotted Lindsay Lohan at Beaches Salon in Utah on Tuesday. She purchased some tanning preparations and apparently left without endangering or insulting anyone.

Reports state that LL then strolled about for a while before returning to a country-club Mormon rehab joint called Cirque Lodge.

On the downside for LL, the woman she chased around Malibu in her car has filed suit. New Moon doesn't know how much the woman is seeking, but it's bound to be more than spare change.

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have the appearance of an unstoppable baseball machine. Last Monday, the editorial staff of New Moon went to Fenway Park, where the Red Sox demolished Tampa Bay.

Admittedly, Tampa Bay doesn't really look like a major-league team, but it does win an occasional game.

Tim Wakefield held Tampa Bay hitless for six innings before giving up a ground-ball single to right. He pitched eight full innings, giving up two hits, two walks, and no runs. At forty years of age, Wakefield can still drive batters crazy with his knuckle ball.

Jonathan Papelbon closed the ninth inning. His typical fastball travels 97 miles per hour. Occasionally, it drops to 95.

The Yankees might catch the Red Sox, but don't bet your last dollar on it.

Date Russian Women

Various surveys have shown that men are happiest when married. Despite all the old jokes about husbands and wives, men actually like being married. Even divorced men want to remarry if they can find the right woman.

Although men enjoy the company of their male friends, they tend to agree that they find the most fulfillment in marriage. If you are one of those single men, you can do one of two things. You can sit around feeling sorry for yourself, or you can try to find a suitable partner.

That's when Lovers Planet can come to your aid. Lovers Planet is an online dating service that introduces Russian women to American men. In a great many cases, the Russian women eventually become Russian brides. A match like this doesn't happen overnight. Even with russian brides dating begins a period of courtship. It takes time for the relationship to mature.

The service begins by providing profiles and photos of Russian women, along with women from Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. These women are looking for relationships that will lead to marriage. They are attractive, intelligent, and well-educated.

Most of the women of Russia and Eastern Europe wish to start a family while they are still young. They prefer to put off a job and career until later. And once married, they wish to stay married.

The divorce rate among Russian women and American men is far lower than that among American women and American men. Even so, no one can promise that you will meet the bride of your dreams by using the services of Lovers Planet.

But many other men already have.

Cubs End Losing Streak

The Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-4 today, ending a four-game losing streak. The Cubs now trail the Milwaukee Brewers by half a game.

Pitcher Jason Marquis got the win.

The Cubs collected 20 hits in the game. Mark DeRosa gathered five hits and four RBIs. Aramis Ramirez collected four hits and two RBIs.

Foxy Brown

Rap star Foxy Brown is developing her throwing arm. Here at New Moon, where we take baseball seriously, we don't know if Foxy intends to try out as a pitcher for one of the major-league teams.

Roxy apparently got into an argument with Arlene Raymond, her Brooklyn, New York, neighbor. Two days later, according to Ms. Raymond, the two women saw each other on the street, and Roxy threw a cell phone at Raymond. News travels fast in Brooklyn.

The cell phone allegedly cut Ms. Raymond's lip and knocked one of her teeth loose. Earlier this year, Ms. Brown was charged with throwing a container of hair glue at an employee in a hair salon in Florida.

No one has reported if Roxy's pitches were as fast as Nolan Ryan's.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Weight Loss Surgery

Some people have tried in everyway possible to lose weight, and nothing has worked. I’m not talking about the man or woman who wants to shed a few extra pounds in order to impress the gang at the local swimming pool. I’m thinking about those unfortunate men and woman who are so overweight that their lives are at risk. These people are the ones who may need weight loss surgery.

Various doctors have practiced different forms of weight loss surgery in the past. Often, these procedures have been highly invasive and presented dangers that only added to the risk the overweight patient experienced. Fortunately, newer, less-invasive forms of weight loss surgery are now available.

Journey Lite maintains weight-loss surgical facilities in California, Florida, and Texas, and other facilities are now under development. At these locations, skilled surgeons practice a new noninvasive weight-loss procedure known as Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB). Using this procedure, a Journey Lite surgeon makes a small incision and places an adjustable gastric band around the upper part of the patient’s stomach. Once the band is in place, the patient eats less and no longer feels the constant hunger that leads to overeating and seriously overweight symptoms.

This procedure does not require the cutting, stapling, or rerouting of the stomach or intestines used in more primitive surgeries. LAGB is so simple that it can be performed on an out-patient basis, and the recovery period is shorter than with earlier surgical procedures. If it became necessary, the adjustable gastric band could be removed as easily as it was originally inserted.

If you are seriously overweight, ask your doctor about this new form of weight loss surgery.

Brooke Astor Dies

Brooke Astor died August 14 at the age of 105. As the heiress of the John Jacob Astor fortune, the only significant thing Mrs. Astor ever did was to contribute to various worthy causes in New York City.

As often happens when the rich die, Astor's relatives are now competing for her money. In this instance, her son and her grandson are going after each other for the big bucks. If either of them ever made any contribution to society, it remains a secret.

Brooke Astor once said that she regretted not seeing the men who used to "walk down Fifth Avenue in top hats." This regret was curiously self-serving, given that John Jacob Astor built his fortune buying and selling the beaver pelts that were used to make top hats.

Lindsay Lohan Cleans Her Toilet!

According to various sources, Lindsay Lohan has checked into a Mormon rehab center in Orem, Utah. The center, which is called the Cirque Lodge, gets big bucks from rich and famous drunks and addicts.

As part of her therapy, LL cleans her room. Her room contains a toilet, so she cleans that too. I clean my toilet, but I don't have to pay the Mormons before I do it. Lindsay also washes her clothes and dishes.

In order to receive all this high-powered therapy, LL, or somebody, is allegedly paying the Mormons $30,000 a day.

I have a big house. I'd rent LL a room where she could sleep, clean, and wash for half what the Cirque Lodge charges. I'd rent her the whole house for only $15,000 a day.

To make sure she has all the room she needs, I'll move to Rio until LL is cured of whatever disease she has.

Home Medical Supplies

If you or someone you know has a medical condition that requires the purchase of home medical supplies, you may find it baffling to search through all the businesses that offer such supplies to the public. One easy way to make comparisons would be to look at the firms that sell medical supplies online.

Allegro Medical is one of those firms. It was founded in 1996 as a new supplier of medical supplies. In 1998, the company began offering these supplies online at AllegroMedical.com. Today, Allegro Medical is one of the largest online providers of home medical supplies, with more than one million customers.

AllegroMedical.com provides over 55,000 products in 50 different categories. These include such items as baby products, diabetes test strips, carpal tunnel computer gloves, blood pressure monitors, shower chairs, polar heart monitors, and a great deal more. AllegroMedical.com also offers products for health and fitness. These include items such as nutritional dietary supplements, exercise and fitness equipment, and outdoor gear.

AllegroMedical.com offers a diverse range of home medical supplies. For a closer look at all the products available, this firm makes its Allegro eCatalog available at no charge for anyone who wishes to sign up for it. Take a look. You may find exactly the home medical supplies you need.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Road Trip Disaster

The latest Cub road trip wasn't a disappointment. Given what we've come to expect, it was a disaster.

Maybe we've come to expect too much.

The record for this out-of-town jaunt adds up to 2-5. You don't get into the playoffs with numbers like that.

Let's look on the bright side. No one died. The throw that hit Ryan Theriot in the back didn't hit him in the head. When the Cubs lose, so do the Brewers.

Can't think of anything else.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Lohan Parents Split

More news for Lindsay Lohan fans. Lindsay's parents have finally worked out the problems surrounding their divorce.

What do these problems involve? Moral issues? Religious matters? Of course not.

The problems involve what they always involve in these matters--money and custody of the children who are still minors.

It appears that dad will have to get a job in order to pay child support. What tragedy!

Dad may have trouble getting and holding a job. He was released from prison earlier this year after serving 25 months for attempted assault, drunk driving, and driving without a license.

Like father, like daughter.

Internet Yellow Pages

Have you ever used online yellow pages to look up the telephone number of a business? If you have, you may have learned that the number was bogus. Perhaps it was a fake number that led you to a business or website where you didn’t want to go.

These problems sometimes arise because the people who maintain the list of telephone numbers made little or no effort at the outset to verify that the listing was a valid U.S. telephone number for a real business.

Colizer Inc has announced the launch of its free Internet Yellow Pages . This service is located on the Web at Radiux.com. It already lists more than 14 Million U.S. businesses and is growing daily.

Two things make Radiux.com different from other free online yellow page services. The first is that Radiux.com goes to the trouble to confirm that each new entry is a valid U.S. telephone number.

The second difference between Radiux.com and other online yellow page services is that Radiux continually monitors and updates the telephone numbers in its database. With certain other online yellow page services, updates occur seldom or never.

Whether you own a business or you want to find the telephone number of a business, it would be worth your while to logon to Radiux.com.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Cubs Win

Howry was magnificent in relief.

Matt Murton's homer in the ninth was an act of the Gods of Baseball.

Closer Ryan Dempster made the Rockies look small.

Ronny Cedeno. You are the man.

Cubs still trail the Beer Boys by half a game.

Cubs Destroy Rockies

The Rockies are trembling tonight. The Cubs are pushing Colorado to the precipice.

In the eighth inning, the Cubs lead 5-1. The Rockies will crumble tonight.

It's justice at last, after what the miserable Astros did to our Midwest farm boys.

This is all a fantasy, except that Colorado now has two guys on, both from freak luck.

If needed, I'll report a Colorado come-from-behind win. Don't stay up waiting for me.

What will happen? I think I know.

Cubs and Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers play the Astros in Houston tonight. Maybe the weather will be so hot that the Brewers will forfeit the game.

Meanwhile, the Cubs play the Rockies in Denver tonight. Maybe the mountain air will be so salubrious that the Cubbies will reenact last night's hit fest and drive the Rockies out of the park.

I'll cool my heals in Chicago tonight. Maybe I'll win a lottery.

Which of these fantasies is likely to become true?

None of them. We still have a long hot summer ahead of us.

Executive Recruiters

If your firm is looking for the perfect candidate for a job opening in mid- to upper-level management, you obviously can’t just call the local newspaper and place a want ad. Want ads are fine if you want someone for yard and garden work. But if you’re looking for somebody to fill a position of high responsibility, you’ll have to try a different approach.

But before initiating your own search, regardless of the method, you might want to consult A.E. Feldman Associates, Inc. AEF has been finding the right person for the right job since 1967. Throughout the years, AEF has built a strong network of the best job candidates and the best industry-leading employers. For an introduction to AEF, take a look at the Executive Recruiting Firm Blog.

The recruiters at AEF have all completed successful careers in the fields for which they now find new employees for new jobs. These fields include legal and legal support services, communications and technology, financial and risk management services, human resources, and luxury products. AEF finds the right candidates for these jobs nationwide.

AEF can point to a long history of discrete recruiting and successful job placement. Its recruiters have the experience to make the best matches possible.

Cubs Demolish Rockies

Maybe it was the cool weather in Denver. Maybe it was the amount of oxygen in the air.

Whatever caused it, Chicago Cubs batters woke up last night and hammered the Colorado Rockies 10-2.

The Cubs gathered 16 hits along the route of the demolition derby.

Ted Lilly, now 13-5, got the win, giving up only two runs in six innings.

The Cubs now trail the Brewers by half a game.

Britney Spears Hits And Runs

Shocking news for Britney Spears fans. While pulling into a parking space, the 25-year-old singer smashed into a parked car.

Although all this was captured on film and video, Britney made no attempt to report the accident.

The car's owner, Kim Robard-Rifkin, a registered nurse, waited three days to allow time for Britney to contact her. Finally, she grew impatient and called the police.

"I'm not asking for money," Ms. Robard-Rifkin said. "I'm not asking for a new car. ... I simply want my car fixed, the same as I would fix somebody's car if I had done that."

Britney did not reply to repeated phone calls from New Moon.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Orlando Hotels

On behalf of Orlando.com, let me welcome you to the hotel orlando. Orlando.com offers you the greatest number of hotels at the best prices in Orlando, Florida.

We all know the many attractions in Orlando. There's Sea World, Walt Disney World, and many other vacation destinations, but all these aren't much fun if you don't have the accomodations you need.

Orlando.com can provide entre to Seralago Hotel & Suites, Clarion Hotel Universal, and a hundred other places to get a good night's sleep after enjoying the attractions of the area.

In addition to the best hotels at the best prices, Orlando.com can also get you the best deals in flights and car rentals. And you'll like the firm's travel guide, which tells you all you need to know about entertainment, dining, and nightlife in the Orlando area.

For the best vacation Orlando has to offer, log on to Orlando.com.

Homer in the Gloamin'

What was the most important home run ever hit by a member of the Chicago Cubs? According to an article by Marc Zarefsky, it may have been Gabby Hartnett's 1938 "Homer in the Gloamin.'"

The homer that Hartnett hit on that September day sent the ball over the outfield wall, and it sent the Cubs into the World Series.

Sports writer Earl Hilligan usually gets credit for coining the phrase "Homer in the Gloamin.'" He called it that because the flight of the ball carried it into the late-afternoon darkness of Wrigley Field, where it remained unseen until it landed in the left-center bleachers.

Click here to read the entire article.

The Latest From Lindsay

Lindsay Lohan fans are sick to death with worries about the drunken starlet. Worry, worry, worry. What will Lindsay do next?

According to the word on skid row, LL is either hiding at her mother's house, or she is doing rehab at an expensive private drunk tank in Utah.

LL is out on $25,000 bail after her latest OMVI charge. According to the last report, her next court appearance is still set for August 24.

Credit Card Applications

A good credit card is a great convenience. When you travel, it’s often essential to have one. But how do you find out which credit card is best for you? I receive offers for new credit cards almost every day. The offers always emphasize the best features of a particular card, but are those the best features for me? How can I make the comparisons I need in order to find the right card?

As it happens, CreditCardSearchEngine.com has provided online credit-card comparisons for years. It enables you to find, compare, and complete Credit Card Applications for cards of all sorts. These include cards with low interest, reward cards, and cards for folks who may have bad or average credit.

CreditCardSearchEngine.com can help you apply for cards offered by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. Find and compare cards issued by J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, and many others. Whether you are a student, a consumer, or a member of the business community, CreditCardSearchEngine.com can help you find the credit card that’s best for you.

Bad to Worse

First Soriano gets hurt. Now Ramirez has a sore wrist, which may or may not indicate a serious problem.

What will happen next? I'd like to predict that the remaining Cub batters will start hitting the ball. But it's bad luck to predict anything, especially anything related to baseball.

Carlos Zambrano had a bad night at the plate Wednesday against the Astros. With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Big Z struck out. Frustrated to the max, he broke the bat across his leg. If I tried that, I'd break my leg and not the bat.

And Zambrano didn't have much luck on the mound either. He gave up seven runs on eight hits.

In case you lost count, the Cubs have now lost four in a row.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Third Call For Felix Pie

Cubs management is pulling out all the stops to build a winning team.

Felix Pie is leaving Triple-A Iowa and returning to Wrigley Field for the third time.

In this instance, the motive is to fill in for the injured Angel Pagan.

But Pie brings plenty of good numbers with him. The 21-year-old outfielder is hitting .362 at Iowa, with 9 homers and 43 RBIs.

I hope the Cubs hold on to this young man. He's going to be quite a ballplayer someday soon.

Personal Injury Attorney

If you happen to suffer a personal injury, you don’t want to be in a position where you have to deal with insurance companies and the law system. You need to get well. Worries about this or that detail will only slow down your recovery. You need a competent attorney to do your worrying for you.

If you ever need such an attorney anywhere in the state of Texas, you can find the help you need with an austin personal injury attorney. The law firm of O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath has decades of experience in representing victims of car accidents, defective products, drunk drivers, workplace injuries, sexual abuse, and dozens of other areas. O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath can handle your case, regardless of how complex it may be. For personal injury issues, the first consultation costs you nothing.

The lawyers at O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath will respond quickly to your inquiry. The attorney handling your case will aggressively defend your rights and work to obtain the best possible outcome for you. However, you will remain in charge. You will decide when to accept a settlement or when to go to trial. If you or a member of your family has suffered a personal injury in Texas, an attorney at O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath can answer all your questions.

Three in a Row

As everyone knows, with Tuesday's loss to the Astros, the Cubs have lost three in a row.

The Cubs have plenty of relief pitchers to do the job. If Jim Hendry hires any more, he'll have to enlarge the bullpen.

Here's the problem. The Cubs are going to sleep in the batter's box. Alfonso Soriano went on the DL, and everyone else decided to take a vacation until he comes back.

Wake up and play ball. You can take a nap in November.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Cubs Recall Sean Gallagher

Right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher will be available to pitch in relief against the Astros at tonight's game in Houston.

The Cubs recalled him from Triple-A Iowa today. This will be Gallagher's third go with the Cubs this year.

In his last five relief efforts at Iowa, he had a record of 3-1 and an ERA of 2.16, with 22 strikeouts and 6 walks.

He's young, strong, and ready. Go to Wrigley Field and cheer him on. He'll only get better.

Monday, August 06, 2007

Win Without Soriano

Everyone knows how much we needed Alfonso Soriano in today's game with the Astros. But if this team is going to go anywhere, it has to be able to win games when one of its best players is disabled.

Ballplayers get injured. It's going to happen. They're not playing dominoes.

If this team wants anyone to remember it five years from now, it has to learn how to win without Soriano. Don't blame him for your troubles. His leg hurts. Don't give him a headache.

When you have a man in scoring position, hit a single if it kills you. You don't have to hit a home run. Hit a single. That's how you get into the playoffs.

Throw the steroids away and swing the bat.

Court Reporting Services

Regardless of what you may have seen on television, witnesses in court cases do not always appear in front of a judge and jury, with attractive actors presenting arguments for or against someone or something. In real life, witnesses may be instructed to give their testimony in a deposition, a written statement that serves as testimony. A deposition frees a witness from time and travel when a deposition is just as good as a personal appearance in a courtroom.

If you or a client ever needs a witness to give a deposition in support of a position in a court of law, you’ll need to provide more than a pencil and paper. You’ll need the help provided by a firm such as the Court Reporting Services in San Diego.

Todd Olivas and Associates can provide all the help you’ll ever want from a court reporting service. This firm takes depositions, provides certified interpreters for any language, and creates deposition transcripts that are easy to read and unbind. Todd Olivas and Associates can even produce video depositions if needed.

Olivas and Associates provides court reporting services at 115 sites in California, as well as various locations in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia—156 sites in all. This firm is also expanding into other cities throughout the United States. Visit the Todd Olivas and Associates website at toddolivas.com or call 1-888-566-0253.

Cub Attack Mode

Rich Hill and the Chicago Cubs will attack the worthless Houston Astros tonight at Minute Maid Park in the state of TX.

"Minute Maid Park" may be the most stupid name for a ballpark ever invented. It reveals the worst elements of major league baseball today.

The Cubs will have to do without the help of Alfonso Soriano, who was injured in Sunday's game with the Mets.

For a bit of good news, Kerry Wood pitched one inning of relief and made turkeys out of the batters.

Some guy named Glavine pitched for New York.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Big Z Tackles Mets

Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs are ready to destroy the worthless Mets in the first game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

The game, which starts at 1:20, is sold out.

Zambrano has a record of 14-7, has struck out 128 batters, and has an ERA of 3.47.

Since June 6, when Zambrano said he was starting his personal season over, he is 9-2 with an ERA of 1.41 and 77 strikeouts.

The Cubs and the Brewers are tied for the lead in the Central Division.

The Mets have a secure hold on first place in the Eastern Division, but that doesn't scare Carlos Zambrano.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Wood Returns

The Cubs will activate Kerry Wood prior to Friday's game with the Mets.

His fastballs are topping out at circa 95 miles per hour these days, but don't expect miracles.

If you think Wood can carry an entire baseball team into the playoffs, you probably also think he can walk on Lake Michigan.

The Cubs need a solid rotation of starting pitchers. They also need consistent base hits. Right now they have neither.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Don't Line Up For Playoff Tickets

OK, OK, the Cubs are tied for first place in the Central Division. But before you run out to buy tickets for the playoffs, let me give you a dose of reality therapy.

The Cubs won't get into the playoffs.

I liked it when Matt Murton scored the winning run tonight, but try to understand that we won't always be playing against a chump from Philadelphia who can't tell home plate from the backstop.

And we can't expect the Brewers to keep on losing just to accommodate the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers have a worthless team, but they aren't likely to lose every game by having the pitchers throw fastballs into the upper deck.

But most important of all, the Cubs won't appear in the playoffs because the Cubs are the Cubs.

If you don't know what that means, you must have just arrived from some Godforsaken place like Tampa Bay.

Buy Precious Metals

Given the many opportunities available to investors, it may be easy to forget that precious metals provide one of the oldest and safest ways of preserving wealth. Gold, silver, and other precious metals are just as desirable now as they were centuries ago.

For thousands of years, people have conserved their wealth by converting it to gold. In the present era, the Monex Deposit Company (MDC) makes it possible for the general public to buy gold bullion . Many investors like to purchase American eagle coins. One can also purchase gold ingots.

At present, silver may be especially attractive to investors. Yearly demand for silver now exceeds production. The world’s silver reserves are growing smaller and may soon drop to nothing. As is true with gold, silver is available in either coin or ingot form.

For over thirty years, MDC has made it convenient for investors to purchase precious metals in either coin or ingot form. Monex can provide safe delivery or arrange for secure storage in a bank or depository.

MDC's large professional staff can provide the best service possible to its customers. Regardless of the form the gold or silver takes or the type of storage desired, Monex offers both convenience and competitive prices to all investors.

Cubs Chase Brewers

The Chicago Cubs are hot on the heels of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. With a record of 56-49, the Cubs trail the Brewers by one game in the Central Division.

At tonight's game with the Philadelphia Phillies, Rich Hill will pitch opposite Jamie Moyer of the Phillies.

Southpaw Hill goes into the game with a 2007 record of 6-6 and an ERA of 3.59.

Game three of the four-game series with the Phillies starts at 7:05 PM at Wrigley Field.

DVD-Quality Downloads

To obtain the DVD Download you just can’t wait for, simply click here. Or go to the right sidebar and find the box labeled “DVD-Quality Downloads.” In either case, DVD-quality downloads for hundreds of movies await you. You can shop by category, by genre, or by movie studio. If you prefer a TV show instead of a movie, look at anything from A&E to VH1. Shop by channel or by genre. The prices vary. Why wait? See what you want, and see it now.