Thursday, August 30, 2012

Football and Leadership - Maggie's Farm

With the new football season only a week away, I started gearing up for my fantasy leagues.? I'm usually in at least one, sometimes two, because I love the science of football.? I love?any sport that is highly quantifiable, and football has recently begun to have more than its share of statisticians break it down. ?

To learn as much as I can and prepare, I've studied the game closely.? The best sites I've found are Football Outsiders and Advanced NFL Stats?(I'm open to more if anyone cares to share).? Call them sabremetricians for football, and as Bill James' work revived my love for baseball, these people keep my enjoyment of football very high.

The real value of fantasy leagues are the communication which takes place between the participants.? It tightens the bonds of friendship and improves the vibe in an office.? People who once had only work in common suddenly have much to talk about.

The old saw that you don't discuss religion or politics in polite company should probably be revised to include sports.? Specifically fantasy sports, but sports in general can be very messy.??Many of us have had?disagreements and arguments over sports.? Regardless of quantifiability, the question of who the greatest players are will always be fraught with emotion rather than pure reason.? Barstool logic tends to predominate these discussions.?

One could say barstool logic predominates most emotionally driven discussions.


"Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing-the result."

My favorite coach of all time (many peoples' favorite), Vince Lombardi, was often called upon?to share his?opinions on business, politics, and religion.? Vince was a devout Catholic, a very tough taskmaster, but he was known to have a heart of gold.? His views on the relationship between success and work for the achievement of victory continue to resonate through the years.? He was a man who took control and didn't place blame, he?inspired people to perform a job.

His final speech is one I believe should be taught to all seniors in High School.? You could build a class around this speech. It has various themes, but all tie back to the same main point.? Lombardi had a knack for making sure?there was?only one message, but he found a variety of ways to get that message across.? His message was never accept anything but the very best, and push yourself to achieve the very best.

He never belittled losing teams, never made fun of people who couldn't live up to his high expectations, but he used his toughness as well as his tenderness to motivate people to work harder and meet those expectations.? After losing the NFL Championship to my favorite team in 1960, he promised his players they would never again lose a championship game if he was coach.? They believed him, and lived up to that promise.

Vince Lombardi never had a losing season as a head coach.? He finished first in his division in six of his ten seasons as a head coach, and second in three others.? He recognized defeat was part of the game, but used it to motivate for victory.


"If you can't accept losing, you can't win."

What made Lombardi unique was the fact that he won with what was handed him.? He didn't blame his predecessor for problems, he took over a downtrodden Green Bay team, and making only a limited number of personnel changes, had them in a championship game in two years.? He didn't look at the team and say "we're going to overhaul this", he told the men they were winners and they could win with what they had if they took the right attitude into each game, and worked hard.? Despite a five game losing streak in his first season, Lombardi knew he had the core of a winning team.? He knew it was just a matter of finding the right individuals to play the key roles.? He found one in Bart Starr.


?Individual commitment to a group effort ? that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."

This is what politics is about.? Lombardi recognized something intrinsic in humans which most politicians do not, and certainly Obama cannot.? What he realized is the coach can't, and shouldn't, do the work of the individual parts of the team.? The best he can do is help them prepare themselves, and motivate them.? He realized that as much as this was a team game, it was a team game made up of individuals.? His job, as coach, was to get the individuals to focus on themselves and their jobs, so that each one could make the team, as a whole, better.?


?Leadership rests not only upon ability, not only upon capacity ? having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it. His leadership is then based on truth and character. There must be truth in the purpose and will power in the character.?

?The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.?

Our nation is a team of individuals.? It's a team that, regardless of our beliefs and differences, will still stand behind a person who is willing to lead with valor and a sense of conviction.? There is a reason why Democrats today may not like Ronald Reagan or his achievements, but have a deep sense of respect for what he did for the country.? They may not have supported him, but they know success when they see it, and it's very hard to reject how the country improved while he was president.

A good leader will?find a means to?inspire.? This is why great teams have coaches who are in demand.? Everybody wants to understand the nature of success.? Many people?try to provide shortcuts to success, but there are none.? Edison pointed out that he didn't find 700 ways to fail, but rather just 700 ways that didn't work.? Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt both have quotes pointing to hard work and perseverance as the means to attain goals.? So did Vince.


"Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority."

So as the football and political seasons progress,?it's worth looking?toward Lombardi as a guide for what to seek in a leader.? I hope someone will finally step up and grab the reins in a manner which is consistent with the values of this nation, and use the opportunity both inspire and guide us to a better place. ?

And I hope my Philadelphia Eagles finally put it all together.? I'm getting more than a little tired of underperformance in politics and football.



Source: http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/archives/20428-Football-and-Leadership.html

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers ? Articles. All day, every day.

Los Angeles is a city of enjoyable and dreams. It attracts thousands of the younger generation, as it is the center of amusement and also is an enterprise place for many pros. But it can become the nightmare if you are trapped doing a criminal act.

A crime is just about any act done in violation of public regulation. If you are facing any kind of criminal charges you?ll be able to get help from criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles. Criminal law will be branch of legislation that defines criminal offenses, establishes punishments, as well as regulates the investigation along with prosecution of people charged with committing crimes.

Criminal defense lawyers throughout Los Angeles are very famous for their intelligence and professionalism. There are thousands of criminal defense lawyers who may help you in your case. There are several lawyers who specialize in offender cases and also take cases of civil defense and other kind of laws. One has to locate a lawyer who focuses primarily on criminal law. There are lots of legal associations inside Los Angeles. One should aware about the different associations. The attorney at law should be a member this type of organization.

The need for a skilled, professional criminal legal professional is always there, due to the fact Los Angeles has the busiest court docket system in the United States. It indicates there is a huge group in the courts, and the judges and prosecutors will also be very busy. For that reason, a los angeles criminal defense attorney who?s experienced and respected simply by his peers inside the justice system is capable of greater results. In addition, criminal charges in Los Angeles have high fines and harsh punitive measures; therefore, one truly requires a professional criminal defense attorney.

Aside from providing his or her services to customers, they also have other pursuits for example performing workshops due to the members, increasing income and providing scholarship grants. Each organization will be ruled with a panel which usually plans the events for the yr that includes writing newsletters, formal and informal networking and steady legal training.

For individuals who are not yet associates, all they have to perform is complete a form. Legislation students may at the moment apply and following paying the regular membership payment, they should be able to access details about legal things that are purely offered to members. But how do you decide on a criminal defense lawyer? To the, you need to find someone who focuses on this field. Should you not know any, question your family or friends for assistance.

A technique they?re doing is by providing authorized services to those who can?t afford to use a highly rated lawyer. Many call them public defenders that will carry out their full ability to safeguard your protection under the law.
It?s also wise to learn how much they charge for their hips and if they will be the one who will personally deal with your case. When they?re requesting for a large amount of cash in advance, abandon the office and find another individual right away. These are crucial factors in deciding whether to be part of this specific organization or not.

For more information about los angeles criminal defense attorneys please visit the website.

Source: http://www.twenty4seven365.com/2012/08/28/los-angeles-criminal-defense-lawyers/

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Video: GOP National Convention chairman on Romney, Isaac (cbsnews)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/243800429?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Calgary Doors Installation | The Falls Tap Room Plumbing

If your budget will allow it, opt for real wood floors instead of laminate.  Although they will have the appearance of real wood, and may in fact be easier to care for and clean, they are not able to be refinished.  10 to 20 years down the road, yourself or a new owner will have to replace the floor instead of just having it refinished. Calgary Door  Don't throw out your bedroom doors just because they're dirty. Remove your door from the frame and sand it down until the bare wood is exposed. Then buy some oil based paint of your choice and paint your door with a paint roller. For a brand new feel, opt to change your doorknobs to a fancier design.  If you have hardwood floors and pets, you know that it is almost inevitable that a urinating accident will or already has taken place. There is a simple solution to saving your hardwood floor. Find the stain on your flooring and take a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Sit next to the stain and start pouring peroxide on the stain slowly. Make sure to exercise caution, because too much peroxide can damage your floors and have a negative effect. If used in the right doses, the peroxide will lighten the appearance of the stain.  Installing carpet can be a daunting task if done yourself, or an expensive task if you pay a professional to do it. Fortunately there is an alternative. Much like vinyl floor tiles, there are carpet tiles that exist. These too have adhesive backing that allows you to install them easily, and they look just like real sheet carpeting when installed.  Don't waste water due to leaky faucets or plumbing.  Check them regularly and have any issues addresses as soon as possible.  Along those same lines, use cold water to wash all your clothes.  It will reduce the strain on your hot water heater and add time to its lifespan.   Windows and doors make a perfect home improvement project.  You can add an indoor window box or change out your old patio doors for French doors.  It is often possible to find good deals on these types of materials at the home improvement store. You won't have to spend a lot of money to make a dramatic change.   For someone working on a limited budget, there are ways to give your living space a brand new look. It's simply a case of working with what you have. Move your existing furniture around, maybe using different pieces in different rooms. Replace any photos with updated ones. Spend a little money on a new shade for an existing lamp. It's the small touches that make the difference. Calgary Doors   Written by:  Hubbard Roofing & Exteriors Inc. 775 Lake Bonivista Drive Southeast Calgary, AB, T2J 7C9 (403)995-0677

Source: http://www.thefallstaproom.com/73-calgary-doors-installation

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Commercial Real Estate Made Easy With These Expert Tips | Tic ...

Note that commercial and industrial properties are always going on the market, yet you want to understand that these type of properties don?t get preferential listings as regular homes would. You must know where to look, and this article will give you some tips so that you know just the right places to find good commercial properties.

Commercial Property

Have clear-cut goals for any commercial property you are looking at. Decide if you are going to use the property for your business or lease it. As you prepare to seek out a new commercial property, you should first set very specific goals and requirements.

Learn the basics of feng shui, and apply it when investing in commercial property, and also apply it in your own office. Two primary fundamentals of feng shui are the concepts of open spaces and de-cluttering, and these are both attractive to certain buyers.

TIP! If you are investing in commercial real estate, be aware that dramatic inflation over time can have a negative impact on your results. The days when leases used regular adjustments to protect you against inflation are over.

If you are taking out a commercial loan, you must pay for the appraisal yourself. There is a good chance that the bank may not validate it otherwise. Spare yourself further hassle by initiating the request yourself.

Use your digital camera to take pictures of the property. Your pictures should portray any damage or defect in the property. Common things you should look for include any cracks or holes in walls, and damages to the carpeting.

If you want to sell a property, advertise it locally and on a wider level too. Many people target their advertising to local buyers only, thinking that those buyers are their market. There are many private investors who prefer to purchase reasonably-priced real estate that is not local to where they reside.

You need to understand that investing in smaller complexes means more hassle, and some experts recommend avoiding these properties to avoid the hassle. Instead, you should look for complexes that have more than 10 units. However, you need to research each property you?re interested in yourself, and determine what the best investment is for you.

TIP! Variable interest rates are one of the most dangerous threats to investors. The current economy makes rates fall and rise with unpredictability, and can leave investors susceptible to majorly increased interest rates.

Educate yourself on the meaning of net operating income (NOI), a term associated with commercial real estate used for investment purposes. To be a success, you need to be able to stay on the positive number side.

To find a honest real estate broker firm, ask them how they make most of their money. They should be up front about what their business model is and any interests that differ from yours. It is important that you understand the benefits the firm will receive as a result of completing a transaction for you.

Reach out to your investors and brokers through newsletters, or on social networking sites to show your continued thanks and interest in them. After completion of a transaction, you should work to cultivate an online presence.

When investing in commercial real estate, go bigger. If you want to get a building that has five units, you need to know that?s it?s no different to manage than 50. A five-unit building requires commercial financing just as the larger buildings do, and buying a larger building with more units costs less per unit.

TIP! Think about the environment around your property. You will have to clean up environmental wastes from your building.

There are ways to save on repair costs associated with property cleanup. You are responsible for of part of the the cleanup costs if you have an ownership interest in the property. It can cost your a lot of money to clean up and get rid of garbage. Try getting a report about the environment from one of the environmental assessment agencies. They cost a bit, but they can save you a lot.

Real Estate

Locating the right type of commercial real estate is only half the battle here. Arming yourself with some good information makes the whole real estate process so much

It is easy to get emotional when you are venturing into the commercial real estate market, but is is very important to stay patient and remain calm. You should never rush into a possible investment. You might find out that the property is not what you needed after all. It could take some months, possibly a year, for your dream investment to appear in the market.

TIP! If you are renting or leasing, pest control is important to look at. Talk about pest control with your agent if the area is known for rodents and bugs.

Source: http://tictracker.com/commercial-real-estate-made-easy-with-these-expert-tips-2/

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Circumcision pluses outweigh risks: Pediatricians

In this Aug. 23, 2012, photo, social worker Shannon Coyne poses for a portrait with her 11-month-old son in Philadelphia. Coyne and her husband decided against circumcision for their son. The nation's most influential pediatricians group says the health benefits of circumcision in newborn boys outweigh any risks and insurance companies should pay for it. In its latest policy statement on circumcision, a procedure that has been declining nationwide, the American Academy of Pediatrics moves closer to an endorsement but says the decision should be up to parents. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

In this Aug. 23, 2012, photo, social worker Shannon Coyne poses for a portrait with her 11-month-old son in Philadelphia. Coyne and her husband decided against circumcision for their son. The nation's most influential pediatricians group says the health benefits of circumcision in newborn boys outweigh any risks and insurance companies should pay for it. In its latest policy statement on circumcision, a procedure that has been declining nationwide, the American Academy of Pediatrics moves closer to an endorsement but says the decision should be up to parents. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

In this Aug. 23, 2012, photo, social worker Shannon Coyne poses for a portrait with her 11-month-old son in Philadelphia. Coyne and her husband decided against circumcision for their son. The nation's most influential pediatricians group says the health benefits of circumcision in newborn boys outweigh any risks and insurance companies should pay for it. In its latest policy statement on circumcision, a procedure that has been declining nationwide, the American Academy of Pediatrics moves closer to an endorsement but says the decision should be up to parents. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

(AP) ? The nation's most influential pediatricians group says the health benefits of circumcision in newborn boys outweigh any risks and insurance companies should pay for it.

In its latest policy statement on circumcision, a procedure that has been declining nationwide, the American Academy of Pediatrics moves closer to an endorsement but says the decision should be up to parents.

"It's not a verdict from on high," said policy co-author Dr. Andrew Freedman. "There's not a one-size-fits-all-answer." But from a medical standpoint, circumcision's benefits in reducing risk of disease outweigh its small risks, said Freedman, a pediatric urologist in Los Angeles.

Recent research bolstering evidence that circumcision reduces chances of infection with HIV and other sexually spread diseases, urinary tract infections and penis cancer influenced the academy to update their 13-year-old policy.

Their old stance said potential medical benefits were not sufficient to warrant recommending routinely circumcising newborn boys. The new one says, "The benefits of newborn male circumcision justify access to this procedure for those families who choose it." The academy also says pain relief stronger than a sugar-coated pacifier is essential, usually an injection to numb the area.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Convention has estimated circumcision costs range from about $200 to $600 nationwide. Coverage varies among insurers and several states have stopped Medicaid funding for circumcisions.

The new policy was published online Monday in Pediatrics. It comes amid ongoing debate over whether circumcision is medically necessary or a cosmetic procedure that critics say amounts to genital mutilation. Activists favoring a circumcision ban made headway in putting it to a vote last year in San Francisco but a judge later knocked the measure off the city ballot, ruling that regulating medical procedures is up to the state, not city officials.

In Germany, Jewish and Muslim leaders have protested a regional court ruling in June that said circumcision amounts to bodily harm.

Meantime, a recent study projected that declining U.S. circumcision rates could add more than $4 billion in health care costs in coming years because of increased illness and infections.

Circumcision involves removing foreskin at the tip of the penis. The procedure can reduce germs that can grow underneath the foreskin, and complications, including bleeding and infection, are rare, the academy says.

Despite the U.S. decline, about half of baby boys nationwide still undergo circumcision, or roughly 1 million each year. The country's overall rate is much higher than in other developed nations, but U.S. rates vary by region and are higher in areas where it is a cultural or religious tradition, including among Jews and Muslims.

Psychologist Ronald Goldman, director of an anti-circumcision group, the Circumcision Resource Center, said studies show circumcision causes loss of sexual satisfaction ? a claim the academy said is not supported by the research it reviewed ? and can be psychologically harming. Goldman contends medical studies showing benefits are flawed and that the academy's new position is "out of step" with medical groups in other developed countries.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists took part in the research review that led to the new policy and has endorsed it. Circumcisions in hospitals are typically performed by obstetricians or pediatricians.

The CDC also participated in the review, and will consider the academy's updated policy in preparing its own recommendations, a CDC spokesman said. The agency has a fact sheet summarizing circumcision's potential health benefits and risks but no formal guidelines.

The American Medical Association and American Academy of Family Physicians have neutral policies similar to the pediatrics academy's previous position.

Philadelphia social worker Shannon Coyne examined medical research on circumcision before her son was born last September and had a tough time making a decision. She learned that a relative's boy needed reconstructive surgery after a botched circumcision, and that another's son who wasn't circumcised developed urinary infections.

Coyne said she and her husband ultimately decided against circumcision, because she didn't want her baby to have what she considers cosmetic surgery without being able to consent.

Her advice to other parents is "just make an informed decision. Do your research, be open-minded."

Some 18 states have eliminated Medicaid coverage for circumcision, a trend that could contribute to rising health care costs to treat infections if circumcision rates continue to decline, according to a study published Aug. 20 in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Dr. Aaron Tobian, a Johns Hopkins University assistant professor who co-authored the study, said the academy's updated policy "is a very good step."

___

Online:

American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

CDC: http://1.usa.gov/hJiQj

___

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2012-08-27-Circumcision-Pediatricians/id-c974b653cefd49779734b2610875e1d7

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