Posts Tagged ‘Rates’

Look Out Sec – Alabama Rates No. 1 as Nick Saban Prepares to Go to War

August 2nd, 2011
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Look Out Sec – Alabama Rates No. 1 as Nick Saban Prepares to Go to War

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

If you think football in the Southeastern Conference is just a game that generates a ton of money for the schools and the NCAA that regulates it in a highly publicized environment, you do not understand what success is about in the SEC.

SEC games are not battles between teams, they are outright warfare with a fight to the last man standing won by heavy artillery (talent). That is why Wednesday’s (2-6-08) first day of signing letters of intent by high school seniors was so significant. According to several analysts, Nick Saban and Alabama ranked No. 1 with the nation’s best class of talent.

Among Rivals.com Top 50 prospects, Alabama picked up No. 4 Julio Jones, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound wide receiver from Foley (AL); No. 28 B. J. Scott, a 6-foot, 195-pound wide receiver-super athlete from Vigor (AL); No. 30 Tyler Love, a 6-foot-7, 290-pound offensive lineman from Mountain Brook (AL); No. 34 Jerrell Harris, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker from Gadsden (AL); and No. 35 Alonzo Lawrence, a 6-foot-1, 190 pound defensive back from George County (MS).

Add to that distinguished list No. 55 Mark Barron, a 6-foot-2, 202-pound athlete from Mobile (AL) and No. 60 Barrett Jones, a 6-foot-5, 271-pound offensive lineman from Memphis (TN), and no school in America had 7 of the Top 60 Rival.com prospects except Alabama.

Southern Cal had 6 in the Top 60, Ohio State had 5 and Notre Dame had 5. Notre Dame’s recuiting class was rated No. 2 by Rivals.com, Ohio State’s No. 8 and Southern California’s No. 10.

Nick Saban, the highest paid college coach at about million a year, earned his pay. Saban was able to sign 7 of the top 11 prospects in Alabama. Auburn did not have a single recruit among Rivals.com Top 100 prospects; the Tigers came up sucking pond water.

Look for Saban and the Crimson Tide to start a concerted march to a higher place as a current Division 1A powerhouse and national title contender. Should the Top 60 picks stay injury free and reach their potential on the college turf, they will most certainly be playing in the NFL on Sundays.

If you are not stoked about Alabama football you need to live in another state.

Three other schools catch my personal attention because I have ties to Washington, Arizona State and Michigan State.

Ty Willingham’s Washington Huskies had the highest Rivals.com pick among these 3 teams with No. 57 Kavario Middleton, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end from Lakewood (WA). Middleton was joined by his teammate, Jermaine Kearse, a 6-foot-2, 175 pound wide receiver.

Washington also signed Everrette Thompson, a 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end from Burien (WA); Alameda Ta’amu, a 6-foot-4, 330-pound (yes, 330 pounds!) offensive guard from Seattle; Allen Carroll, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound offensive guard from Oakland (CA); Chris Polk, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back with 4.5 speed from Redlands (CA); and Jordan Polk, 5-foot-10, 170-pound wide receiver with 4.46 speed from Portland (OR).

Washington’s catch is being called the best recruiting class since Reggie Williams and Charles Frederick in 2001.

The Huskies also picked up some speed with linebacker Kurt Mangum (4.59), cornerbacks Adam Long (4.45), Anthony Gobern (4.4) and Justin Glenn (4.5), safety Johri Fogerson (4.55), and running backs Demitrius Bronson (4.5) and David Freeman (4.4). Let me be the first to dub Kurt Magnum as Magnum P.I. (Personal Intimidator) and Demitrius Bronson as Death Wish Bronson.

All of this comes as a surprise as Ty Willingham, unlike Nick Saban, does not have a rep as a recruiter. The fact that redstart freshman quarterback Jake Locker started last year and impressed almost everyone with his agility, speed and savvy probably did not hurt a lick.

Scout.com rated Washington’s recruiting class as the 14th best among the NCAA’s 119 Division 1A schools. Look for the Huskies to finally win more games than they lose next year. If they do not, Willingham may be looking for another job.

Scout.com rated Dennis Erickson and his Arizona State Sun Devils class as the 17th best nationally. Among Erickson’s top prospects was Jack Elway, none other than the son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.

Jack Elway has his father’s arm but apparently not his speed. Nonetheless, he comes from an excellent gene pool. In addition to his dad, his mother Janet was an outstanding college athlete as a swimmer for Stanford University.

Here are two facts you may not know about John Elway. 1) He may have played football at Stanford University but he was born and raised in Port Angeles (WA). 2) He had 47 career game-winning or game-tying drives in the 4th quarter, an NFL record.

Mark Dantonio and his Michigan State Spartans (my alma mater, Class of 1966) did not fare as well as Washington or Arizona State. Other than any local coverage in Michigan and a little among Big Ten teams, the Spartans received zero national attention. That tells me they ended up with the short end of stick, and that is indeed bad news.

Dantonio knows that Jim Tressel and his Ohio State Buckeyes are only going to get better; Dantonio was the defensive coordinator for Ohio State’s undefeated (14-0) national championship team in 2002. Tressel also won 4 Division 1AA national championships at Youngstown State, and his won-loss record as head coach at Ohio State is a stunning 83% (73-15).

If Ohio State is not enough competition for Michigan State, Michigan will cause the Spartans headaches as well since Rich Rodriguez left West Virginia to coach the Wolverines next year.

Michigan has won more games than any other team in college football history, and now along comes Rodriguez, who spent 7 seasons at West Virginia compiling a 60-26 record (69%) with 4 Big East titles.

Rodriguez, 1 of only 2 Hispanic head coaches in Division IA football, went 32-5 (86%) his last 3 years at West Virginia. Rodriguez is great for Michigan; for Michigan State he is two legs and bad news. The Spartans may get the snot kicked out of them by Michigan for the next 5 years.

I am praying that Dantonio can find a couple of nuggets among the scrap heap of players that are left over after all of the good programs have used up their scholarship allotments. The Spartans need talent and speed immediately, they do not have nearly enough at the moment.

The justified enthusiasm among Crimson Tide fans at Alabama does need to be tempered by the knowledge that recruiting is not an exact science. While we know that the sun will come up tomorrow, we do not know how these recruits will play out.

What we do know is that coaching can make average players better; Rich Rodriguez is an example. His recent West Virginia recruiting classes were rated mid-30s to mid-50s yet he led the Mountaineers to 2 BCS bowl wins in the last 3 seasons, and he came within 1 win of playing for last year’s national title.

We also know that a position player like a quarterback, who touches the ball on every play, can make a team much better. An example this year was Todd Reesing of Kansas who led the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record and an Orange Bowl victory. Reesing was rated a 2-star to 3-star player by the rating services (5 stars is best) yet he became a 5-star player when given the opportunity to do so.

Since many of these kids will become redshirts (meaning they will not play their freshman year) and become redshirt freshman (like Jake Locker of Washington) when they start playing their sophomore year. It may take all of 5 years to determine who among the many players just signed will become tomorrow’s stars and NFL draftees.

In the meantime, I will be praying for Mark Dantonio and my Michigan State Spartans. I view myself as an important intercessor as the Spartans have continued to disappoint in recent years. Wherever they have been I do not want to go.

Ed Bagley’s Blog Publishes Original Articles with Analysis and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, Movie Reviews, Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing. Read my weekly 14-part series on the 2007 College Football Season. Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html


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Train Live at 930 Club in Washington, DC November 8, 2009
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Charleston, South Carolina rates five stars as a destination spot

May 4th, 2011
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Charleston, South Carolina rates five stars as a destination spot

Charleston, South Carolina rates five stars as a destination spot.  Beauty, friendliness, and historical significance make this city a great place to tour.

Fort Sumter is situated three and a half miles from Charleston in the harbor. The fort was erected as one of the coastal defenses after the War of 1812. A history of the Civil War’s beginnings can be found in any book. So we will bypass that information, although very interesting.

After the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederacy, the Union proceeded to make plans to retake the fort. When the fort was finally evacuated in 1865, it was virtually annihilated by the constant shelling. No one lost their life through all of the shelling. The only life lost was of Private Daniel Hough, while loading a cannon to give a hundred gun salute after the retaking of the fort. He lost his arm from a premature explosion and died from exsanguination. He was buried on the parade grounds, but his body was never found. On display is the American flag, which flew over the fort during the original bombardment. The fading of the flag reveal the features of a Union soldier and the initials DH. The story told is that it is the figure of Private Daniel Hough.

Another interesting fact is that Abner Doubleday was stationed at Fort Sumter for a time. The parade grounds are shaped like a baseball field.

Fort Wagner, of the movie “Glory” fame is approximately one mile from Fort Sumter. After the Union finally captured Fort Wagner, their artillery joined Forts Moutrie and Johnson in the constant bombardment of Fort Sumter. The city of Charleston was not adversely affected, except from a few Union shells as a form of target practice.

The trip to and from Fort Sumter takes about two and a quarter hours via boat. Along the way the porpoises put on a show for the tourists. I think that the porpoises get a kick out it as much as the people shipboard do. You can board the boat either from Charleston proper or from across the River at Mt Pleasant. We chose Mt Pleasant with its free parking.

At Patriots Point tours are available for visiting the Yorktown Aircraft Carrier, the Laffey Destroyer, the Ingham Coast Guard Cutter and the Clamagore Submarine. Starting with the claustrophobic submarine, we proceeded to visit the other ships. When we reached the Yorktown, we were amazed by her size. It is almost three football fields in length. It is truly a floating city. We spent more than three hours visiting the ships. We did not see everything.

Other exhibits include a Vietnam Naval Support Base, complete with a 31-foot river patrol boat, ammunition bunker, choppers, weaponry and an observation tower. Patriots Point, where these exhibits are is a step back in time.

Sunday is a great day to visit downtown Charleston. Very few parking spaces are available, because of the narrow streets and the residential only parking restrictions. We did find a space at Battery Park, at the bottom of Meeting Street, one of the primary streets in Charleston. This was something of a surprise, since “Boss” is not noted for her diminutive size.

The layout of the city is based on a V, due to the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Meeting Street is the dividing street from which all other streets radiate. The unique taxation laws of early Colonial Days dictate the way houses are constructed. A single house, a single family dwelling is narrow facing the street with most of the residence looking out on a formal garden. Many houses have metal rods between the floors, due to an 1886 earthquake, which help keep the homes intact.

The old cobblestone streets are so bumpy that when a woman was overdo to give birth, she was given a dose of whiskey and a carriage ride up and down the streets, until contractions occurred. Lucky lady?

Charleston is such a fascinating city. There are so many historical buildings. Here are some tidbits which are not on the grand tours:

1. Catfish Row from “Porgy and Bess” is really Cabbage Row. It is unlike the movie or opera. It is just two buildings separated by a narrow gangway. More than one family lived in the buildings, which displayed vegetables in the windows (ergo, Cabbage Row). The spacious courtyard visualized in the opera is nearby. Dubose Hayward, the author, lived just down the street.  He wrote the novel Porgy.

2. Hibernian Hall is one of the oldest Irish buildings in American. The centerpiece is a large dome, which was the model for the dome at the Capital Building in Washington DC both had the same architect). I can envision my great grandfather’s jaw dropping when he saw this Irish Building after he disembarked from the boat in Charleston from Ireland during the great famine. For many years the election ballots for the city of Charleston were counted in one of the rooms at the Hall. In the floor of the room, by the fireplace is a hiding place, which contained additional ballots for the proper candidate and where unsatisfactory ballots were stuffed. Nothing has changed throughout the years (think Chicago, Florida, etc)

3. Waterfront Park, on the shore of Cooper River, was the home of the docks and wharves. Looking across the river you see the USS Yorktown. At the entrance of the park is an unique sign, which tells the visitor what is not allowed. The first restriction is No Solo Bathing. Does this mean that you can bathe in the fountains in groups, with or with out clothes? Many young people do frolic in the fountains. About one hundred feet from the primary fountain is a rock. If you stand on it, directly in the center, and speak towards the water, your voice will come back to you, similar to an echo. Few people are aware of this phenomenon. I tried it, but wasn’t quite too sure if it worked. Some day I will have to try it again.

4. The Dock Street Theatre, founded in 1736, has been rebuilt frequently, due to fires. At one time, c. 1860, it was the Planters Hotel, the home of the drink Planters’ Punch. Today the Theater is once again a legitimate theater. The “welcoming arms” staircase of the Planters Hotel still dominates the lobby. Men, donning their dress swords went up one side, while the women in their hoop skirts ascended the other stairwell.

The only way to visit Charleston is by walking. Looking through and over the fences gives a wonderful glimpse at the beautiful gardens and courtyards. Most of the house is off of the main street. By taking your time, you can see more of the city.

Took a side trip to The Citadel. The original buildings were at Marion Square at Calhoun, between King and Meeting. The Citadel is one of the few State operated Military academies, the other one being VMI (Virginia Military Institute). The present day campus is about one mile from the old one. It consists of a large parade grounds surrounded by quadrangle dorms, classrooms, and other administrative buildings. The Citadel has a distinguished history of military service from the Civil War to the present day.  During Shermann’s March to the Sea, the faculty was afraid that he would torch Charleston.  So they moved all of the school’s records to Columbia, SC. Shermann torched that city instead.

John Pelley is a Geriatric Gypsy.  He is retired from the rat race of working.  He is a  full-time RVer, who ran away from home.  He began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons  He has discovered volunteering with the National Park System.  Hae has a CD he has recorded of Native American flute music., A Day with Kokopelli. For pictures, links, and more information visit http://www.jmpelley.org.


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California Drug Rehab Centers, Washington Drug Rehabs Present High Success Rates

December 6th, 2010
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California Drug Rehab Centers, Washington Drug Rehabs Present High Success Rates

With an ever-increasing number of drug treatment centers cropping up all over the nation, it can be a daunting task to determine which programs have the highest success rates.  There are several California drug rehab centers that have been able to establish an impressive success rate at providing individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addiction with a permanent solution.  Likewise, there are also several Washington drug rehab treatment centers that also provide exceptional care and long-term success.

In many ways, it is important to find out how the various treatment centers compare based on permanent solutions.  As a result, it is important to pay attention about how a particular drug rehab Washington or California measures success.  Clearly, it is important that an individual seeking drug and alcohol addiction treatment graduate the program.  However, it is far more beneficial to find out how many of the graduates of California drug rehab centers for example have been able to remain sober.

The most important measurement is arguably the numbers of individuals that make it through the program that remain permanently drug and alcohol free.  The great success of Washington drug rehab programs as well as those in California is really quite amazing in comparison with other treatment center programs.

It is important to consider how devastating drug and alcohol addiction can be for individuals, friends, families, and loved ones.  As a result of the success of California drug rehab centers, more and more individuals are arriving at a life-long solution to drug and alcohol dependency.  It is of considerable value to be able to enter into one of the inpatient California drug rehab centers and become successfully discharged with an incredible probability that the individual will be able to live drug free.  This is especially true with the large number of individuals that check into and out of various drug rehab centers only to check into and out of another one in a continual cycle of ineffectuality.

The Washington drug rehab programs and those in California are some of the strongest programs in the country.  In a concerted effort for successful drug rehab Washington has put together several programs that use holistic methodologies and somewhat nontraditional programs that are achieving great success.  There are over 300,000 people in the state of Washington that use marijuana, which is over half of the entire population of the state.

With the increase in demand for Washington and California drug rehab centers, many nontraditional treatment centers are finding incredible success over traditional methods.  The professionals at DrugRehab.net are dedicated to helping people find the right drug rehab center with the highest rates of success.

DrugRehab.net has partnered with thousands of drug treatment centers across the United States.  They have an extensive list of Washington drug rehab centers that are capable of helping individuals find the help they need for a wide range of addictive substances.  Drug rehab Washington has excellent facilities that are well equipped to help individuals attain permanent sobriety.

 


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How To Find The Best Rates On Automobile Insurance In Washington

March 18th, 2010
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Even though car thefts were down 11% in 2006 in Washington State, car insurance still comes at a premium price. Trying to wade through the maze that is automobile insurance rates to find the best deal can be challenging for anyone. It can feel as though you’re at the mercy of the car insurance companies and you have to take whatever they are offering. That’s not the case. There are ways you can get the upper hand and save at least a few dollars off the cost of premiums each year.

The first thing you need to arm yourself with when you journey into the world of automobile insurance is what coverage you are interested in. Many insurance companies have a wide range of policies and typically agents will begin by trying to sell you the most comprehensive one they offer. The reason is simple and it’s that they make money by selling these policies so it stands to reason that if they can lure you into buying a more expensive one; it means more money in their pocket.

You need to first think about what would happen should you be in an accident that is your fault. How much coverage would you need to adequately protect yourself, repair or replace your automobile and cover any medical expenses that may be related to an accident? All of this is dependent on several factors including your driving record, the vehicle you drive now and the area you typically drive in. If you have a baseline idea of what you should be paying, you can then negotiate with an insurance agent realizing the limitations of your situation. Obviously someone who drives in a major metropolitan area and has numerous speeding violations won’t enjoy the same low rates as someone who drives rurally and has never been ticketed. Be realistic in your goal and you’ll find a rate that fits.

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Drug Rehab Treatment Centers in California – Utah – Washington with the Highest Success rates

March 18th, 2010
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When someone is in need of a drug rehab treatment center, it can be difficult to choose among the wide variety of options. Oftentimes, for friends, family and an individual with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, there are great difficulties in trying to determine where to turn. There are many strong thoughts and emotions that tend to inhibit clear and rational decision making. As a result, many people turn to addiction treatment centers that sell them on comfort, emotional arguments and promises of short stays.

It is challenging if not nearly impossible to step back in this type of situation and make solid decisions. However, if one could step back from the immediacy of the situation, then the basis for decision making would become clearer and the resulting search criteria would take on a very different appearance. One would determine that success is defined by a permanent solution is of utmost importance. The drug rehab treatment centers could then be ranked based on their ability to get results and not just a brochure or website. Those with the highest success rates would rise to the top, while unsuccessful facilities would lose consideration.

Narconon Visa Bay has the highest success rates for permanent solutions to a drug and alcohol abuse problems. Based on studies their success rate is as high as 76%, which is an astounding number when compared to competitive drug rehab treatment centers. In school, we would consider 76% to be an average score warranting a “C” grade. Drug and alcohol addiction is not an academic assignment. When one compares the 76% success rate to traditional drug and alcohol treatment programs such as the 12-Step Program with a 2% success rate, the degree of excellence in this number becomes clear. The chance for a successful permanent solution to drug and alcohol abuse is over 35 times greater with Narconon Vista Bay, than with opposing programs.

Narconon Vista Bay is a non-profit drug and rehab treatment center with facilities in California, Utah and Washington that produce results. They take a holistic approach that has driven permanent results for 42 years. Outside of medically necessary prescriptions such as heart medication or insulin, Narconon Visa Bay is a completely drug-free treatment program.

As part of the treatment program, Narconon Vista Bay has a rigorous hot sauna program designed to aid the body in the detoxification process. In addition, there are life education courses, focused on ensuring that addicts have the proper set of skills to move forward and become functional and thriving members of society. The time it takes for a successful recovery depends on the individual. As a result, Narconon Vista Bay has a single fee and does not limit the stay such as a “30-day drug and alcohol rehabilitation program”. Through experience they have found that it normally takes about four to five months for individuals to become healthy again. At this point, a comprehensive and approved discharge plan is implemented to help the individual continue in the right direction once they leave the facility. The Narconon Vista Bay rehab centers include a Graduate Assurance Plan that grants individuals re-admittance back into the program, at no additional charge, for thirty days if they relapse while following their approved discharge plan over the next six months.

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How To Find The Best Rates On Health Insurance In Washington

March 11th, 2010
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When a resident of Washington State is deciding where to turn for health insurance coverage all the information out there can be confusing. Trying to find a plan that provides all the coverage needed at the best rate is challenging. If you are not one of the individuals who qualify for the Washington State Health Insurance Pool, you need to know a few basic facts to help you in your quest for affordable health care coverage:

? Many health insurance plans offer a discount if the individual seeking coverage has a gym membership or is active in exercise classes or regularly gets massages. Any of these can make a difference in the cost of premiums.

? Ask several different health care insurance companies for a quote on exactly the type of coverage you need. Once you have those quotes you can compare them with one another to see exactly which one really does offer the best rates. When you take this approach ensure that the quotes are reflective of the same coverage options.

? Certain pre-existing conditions can raise the cost of your health insurance premiums. These include being overweight, smoking and having high cholesterol. Being active in changing those things can really put a dent in the cost of premiums.

? Remove any children who have coverage at their own jobs or schools. Many college age students have health coverage either through school or a part-time job. If this is the case, have them taken off your policy. Your premiums will reflect this.

It’s imperative to have ample coverage to protect you in the event that someone in the family becomes ill. Although you’ll probably be tempted to cut corners when it comes to health insurance costs, don’t. You can find the coverage you need at a price you can afford. The trick is knowing what to look for.

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Washington D.c. Car Insurance – Where to Get the Best Rates

March 10th, 2010
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Have you compared prices on your Washington D.C. car insurance lately? If you haven’t, you’re probably not getting the best rate you can. With a little fast and easy research, you can get the best rates and save hundreds of dollars on your auto insurance.

Visit an Insurance Comparison Website

To find the best rates on your Washington D.C. auto insurance, begin by visiting an insurance comparison website on the Internet. An insurance comparison website lets you quickly and easily compare auto insurance quotes so you know you’re getting the best rate.

If you have any questions about your auto insurance, the best insurance comparison websites have an online chat feature so you can get your questions answered by insurance professionals.

Complete your Insurance Information

At the insurance comparison website you’ll complete a form with information about your:

* Driving habits, such as the number of miles you drive each year and any tickets or accidents you’ve had.

* Vehicles, such as the year, make, model, and safety features.

* Personal information, such as your name, address, and age.

* Coverage amounts you want. The higher you set your coverage limits, the higher your rate will be.

* Deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverage. The higher you set your deductibles, the lower your rate will be. If your auto is more than five years old, you may want to drop comprehensive and collision coverage altogether.

Compare Your Quotes and Choose the Best Rate

Once you’ve completed your form, you’ll soon have multiple auto insurance quotes from A-rated companies to choose from. You can then compare the quotes and choose the company with the best one.

By taking a few minutes to shop around and compare quotes, you’ll be able to find the best Washington D.C. car insurance rate.

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com or click on the following link to get Washington D.C car insurance quotes from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more car insurance tips in their Articles section.

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