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Visit our website at:
www.KBImplement.org


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Welcome to The Stadium
Come on down to The Stadium if you want to have a good time with friends and family and eat a great meal.
The workers here at The Stadium have decided to try out some new activities on Thursday and Friday nights.
On Thursday night starting at 7pm we are going to start a poker club with a maximum buy in of $100.  Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to come and play.
Every other Friday starting at 7pm we will be having a band until midnight. Come on out with your friends and have a night of fun. Free entry.
Football Sunday
For you men and women the love your football come on by for Sunday football and to enjoy great food and fun with family and friend. Bonus for you beer drinkers its 1/2 off.

About us:  My parents started this business in 1990 this business was doing good for the first couple years and then my parents were just getting too far in debt.  So I told them in 2010 I would take over and help them try getting out of debt so that they could have other jobs.

 

It wasn't looking the best right as I took over, so there was one person I had to call.  I don't know if you guys know who John Travolta is, he can change any bar around.  This bar is now looking better then ever. So everyone come in, I promise you will have a great time

Our employees have been well trained, John Travolta brought in 3 experts they have been so much help with everything.  They are still with us, one is a cook who has made my cooking staff better.  One is a bartender who went to bartending school, who is making all my younger staff better and faster at making drinks. The last one is a waitress who used to work at a fancy restaurant in Las Vegas, she helps my waiters/waitresses. 
So I promise that you will have the best service around.  This business has made a very big change ever since John Travolta came in. This place is always packed with people.
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Our menu is kind of on the smaller size, we don't have the most options.  I guarantee you we have the best food in the town.  Even if you are in a rush, stop on by our employees are super fast, you could even call  early  so its ready by the time you pick it up.
The things we have to drink: We have draft beer, bottles, red and white wine, we also have a bunch of cocktail.  We have a big variety of bottles, so you can make any kind of drink, or have whatever kinds of shots you would like.

Location - 123 Stadium Avenue Alexandria, MN 56308

 

Opening hours -

 

Thursday -Sunday: 11am- 11pm

Friday -Saturday: 10am - 2am

 

 

 

Phone Number - (320)  -776 -2536

 

Please call if you have any further questions, we are always willing to help!!!
Happy Hour
Happy hour is between 5pm - 7pm on the weekdays.  This is if you come in at this time beer and glasses of wine would be half price.  These are some great deals, so I hope to see more people come in. 
I hope adding these activities will get some of you to come down.  It is a very fun time and I think you guys will like it.  This is defiantly the bar you will want to go to. Great food, great prices and the fun never ends.


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DLB Industries

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At DLB Industries, we cover all aspects of mechanical engineering, design and fabrication.  We provide various services including car panel restoration, metal fabrication and welding services.  We pride ourselves on using quality materials that are sourced from Australia, North America and Europe which enables us to achieve highest quality and finish for our products.  Visit www.dlbindustries.com.au for more information on our services.


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| HI Guys ...........


fundanajum

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http://fundacion-cajm.pagina.gr/Bienvenidos Ante todo reciba nuestro saludo Revolucionario y Bolivariano. de los Fundación Socio Comunitaria Camarada Ana Julia Martínez “FUNDANAJUM” Justiciar social. Emisora Educativa Ahora Revista digital El Tupazo
Para nosotros, las y los socialistas que en cada país de nuestro continente, conformamos el Regional La tinoamerica de las organizaciones. Socialista del colectivo, lo que se encuentra
en juego hoy en Venezuela es de la mayor importancia. Ello exige una definición coherente con nuestra identidad bolivariana, socialista y latinoamericana, además del fortalecimiento
de las posiciones progresistas, alternativas al neoliberalismo, en América del Sur.


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NBA Is Back!

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NBA is back
You pumped? I definitely am! Hoops are back and my night's just got a lot more entertaining. No longer are we waiting and wishing for the season begin because it's finally here.. The dunks, the dimes, Detroit losing and Drake rapping, last night was jammed pack with awesomeness. I caught myself smiling as I posted up on my couch, flipping continuously through the numerous NBA games that were being played. Plenty of thoughts poured through my head, and as I tried to sort through the fog of overreaction I found myself intrigued with what's new. Realistically, everything about this NBA season is new. Every team and player on those teams have a fresh start, a new canvas in which they can make their mark as a professional basketball player. But to add onto that sentiment, there's also new hope. Team's such as the Minnesotta Timberwolves dealt with a brutal offseason where they ultimately traded their franchise player. They now have a clean slate, a young roster with more potential than a 13 year old Justin Beiber. They now have hope, and despite losing to the Grizzlies last night, they fought hard and the young guys showed that they'll be a fun team to watch over the next few years. There's many other examples of that same thing, and the greatest part about it all is that as an NBA fan we get to watch them all unfold.
If you stayed up late last night, you got to watch the second game of the double-header on ESPN which was the Thunder visiting the Trailblazers. What more could a fan want? Even without KD, the matchup featured battles between two elite point guards in Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard, and two top knotch power-forwards in Serge Ibaka and LaMarcus Aldridge. Westbrook and Aldridge each won their individual duels, but ultimately the Trailblazers proved to be too much on the offensive end for the Thunder to keep up with, winning 106-89. Westbrook completely dominated the first half with 26 points, and getting his total up to 36 points before Scott Brooks sat him down for rest with about 3 minutes left in the third quarter. That was the death token for the Thunder. With Russdiculous on the the sideline, OKC was unable to get in any offensive rhythm.  When Brooks FINALLY inserted Russ back into the lineup in the fourth frame it was already too late. Wes Matthews hit fire, and Lillard woke up from his three quarter nap to put the game away. In the end, this game showed the Thunder will have to find away to get points from someone not named Westbrook. The Thunder only had nine active guys last night, so I expect things to get better in OKC once Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb return from injury in about a week. They just need to keep their heads above water until the reigning MVP returns to save the day. 
The Bulls vs. Knicks game was all the hype of the week, and sure enough New York had to ruin it for everybody losing 104-80. Derek Fisher's team came out flat in his first game as coach, while the triangle offense looked as bad as it ever has. Way too many Knicks players standing around not knowing what to do. To make matters worse, they've announced that Jose Calderon will miss at least two weeks with a strained right calf. So that means more of Shane Larkin and way less productivity in the offense. The only bright spot was when Amare Stoudemire showed flashes of his old self. He only finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds, but he played well especially in the first half. For the Bulls, we saw them dominate through out while showing off their new toys in Mirotic, McDermott and Gasol. All three guys performed well in their Bulls debut, while Derrick Rose looked fine in his return with 13 points five assists. He only played a little over twenty minutes in the contest, so it was a small sample size. His explosiveness is still there, and that's the important thing even though he isn't finishing on all of his shots. Now unfortunately for the Knicks, they have to turn right around and play the other best team in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs. Good luck dudes! 
Photo cred: Jim McLsaac
Photo cred Steve Dykes/Getty Images
I caught a little bit of the other top Eastern Conference matchup in the Wizards/Heat game, and a couple of things came to mind. First: Toronto Chris Bosh is back. Bosh looked in his comfort zone as the number one option for the Heat, and his 26 points, 15 rebounds led his team to a 107-95 victory. Secondly: Dwayne Wade still looks like the player he did last year. Listen, Wade's had a great career, but he simply can't carry a team as the number one guy any longer. I think he knows this is now Bosh's team, so hopefully he will play that Robin role as the season continues. Thirdly: Norris Cole? Yes the Heat's long time "little bro" was great last night in the starting role, scoring 23 points. If he can continue his hot hand, the Heat will be better than we all projected this season. 
I'm excited to see how the new look Cavaliers play tonight, and it'll be interesting to watch the Thunder/Clippers matchup to see if OKC can respond in a hostile environment. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @HoopsaholicBlog


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. Na inauguração vocês serão os primeiros a saber e desde agora espero "todo mundo lá". O mundo todo pode vir. Por isso gostei de conhecer o pessoal da OpenZine, que sabe unir as pessoas. Estão de parabéns também com este novo site. Belíssimo site e trabalho de equipe que sempre nos prestigia com calor humano. Enquanto aguardamos o novo espaço, acontecer na Internet, estão convidados a conhecer minha revista Olhar Virtual, na antiga versão e lembrando que amanhã é Halloween, 31/10/2014, entrem também na revista de brinquedos, porque crianças adoram recortar e brincar com máscaras horripilantes de papel!
 http://openzine.com/publisherzine.aspx-ID=34056.html

 . At the opening you will be the first to know and sinceI hope now "everyone there." The whole world can see. So enjoyed meeting the staff of OpenZine who knows unite people. Congratulations are also in this new site. Beautiful site and teamwork that always honors us with warmth. While we await the new space, happen on the Internet, are invited to meet my magazine "Virtual Look", in the old version and remembering that   tomorrow is Halloween, 31/10/2014, also enter the magazine toys because children love to cut and play with "horrifying masks" paper!
 http://openzine.com/publisherzine.aspx-ID=34056.html

 . En la inauguración que será el primero en saberlo y desde, espero que ahora "todo el mundo allí." Todo el mundo puede ver. Así que disfruté   mucho con el personal de OpenZine que sabe unir a la gente. Felicidades también están en este nuevo sitio. Hermoso lugar y el trabajo en equipo que siempre nos honra con calidez. Mientras esperamos el nuevo espacio, sucederá en Internet, están invitados a conocer a mi revista "Look virtual", en la versión antigua y recordando que mañana es Halloween, 31/10/2014, introduzca también los juguetes de revistas porque los niños les encanta cortar y jugar con papel "máscaras horribles"!
http://openzine.com/publisherzine.aspx-ID=34056.html


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Since 1960
NOW HIRING
About M&M
M&M's goal is to get our customers vehicles back on the streets effeciently, and in a timely manner. Founded in 1960 by Miguel Montanez, M&M Auto clinic has been family owned for 54 years, and counting. Our company started out in the small town of Sauk Centre in Minnesota. We now proudly own 15 shops spread out across the United States, and 2 across the border in Mexico.
Responsibilities

-Maintain a log of times and materials

-Perform equipment inspections

-Sanding auto parts

-Painting auto parts

-Taking dents out

-Ordering parts needed

-Knowledge of safely using numerous power tools

-Knowledge of correctly installing parts

-Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

-Some computer knowledge

-Ability to follow oral and written instructions

-Ability to record keep

-Clean driving record

-6 months of prior experience

-Work in team-based environment

-High school diploma

-Associate degree in auto body



About Bell Moving Columbus

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The Ring of True Customer Satisfaction - Bell Moving and Storage of Columbus has one primary focus, our customer. Bell Moving and Storage was established in 1922 and the demand for movers in Columbus, Ohio allowed us to open a second location there in May 2011. We recognize that every move is unique. Therefore, we take the time necessary to understand and develop a customized moving plan tailored to your specific needs. For almost 90 years, we have applied professionalism and expertise to every move we make. Our Columbus moving company offers services designed to provide you with the most stress-free, successful moving experience possible.



Bell Moving & Storage of Columbus
4717 Roberts Road
Columbus, OH 43228
(614) 503-0035


New Ford Focus ST petrol and diesel range priced from £22,195

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Following its dynamic debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, prices from £22,195 have been announced for the new Ford Focus ST - available with both 250PS EcoBoost and 185PS TDCi 2.0-litre engines      CO2 of the petrol engine is reduced by 10g to 159g, while first diesel Focus ST emits only 110g/km      Auto-Start-Stop technology improves fuel efficiency of EcoBoost model by six per cent      Top-of-the-range ST-3 specification enhanced by upgrades including ‘Rock Metallic' alloys with red brake callipers, illuminated scuff plates and SYNC 2  The new Focus ST 12-model range has gone on sale priced from £22,195 ahead of first deliveries from February 2015.  Showcasing a new sports exterior design and enhanced improved interior for Ford's latest global performance car, two engines, three series and two bodystyles make up the hot new Focus ST range in the UK.  Both the 250PS EcoBoost petrol and 185PS TDCi diesel 2.0-litre engines are offered in the ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3 series.  The latest Ford Focus ST line-up continues the acclaimed estate bodystyle for both roomy loadspace and sporty handling, alongside the five-door hatch alternative.  The Ford Focus ST's powerful new 2.0-litre diesel develops 185PS/400Nm and emits only 110g CO2/km.  The CO2 output of the 2.0-litre 250PS petrol engine is reduced by 10g to 159g.  In addition to the full ST body styling kit, sport tuned suspension and 18-inch unique ST alloy wheel standard features on the new Ford Focus ST-1, ST-2 has LED daytime running lights as standard and the top ST-3 series is enhanced by a series of upgrades, including ‘Rock Metallic' alloys with red brake callipers, illuminated scuff plates, privacy glass, SYNC 2 with 8-inch touchscreen and cruise control with speed limiter.  Both petrol and diesel models offer Auto-Start-Stop for the first time, improving the EcoBoost engine version's fuel efficiency by six per cent and making it the most fuel-efficient petrol Focus ST ever.  "The new Focus ST delivers an even more sophisticated balance of performance, driving dynamics, refinement and style - the core of Ford's Sports Technologies DNA," said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. "Even more enjoyable and rewarding to drive and with the choice of diesel power for the first time, the new Focus ST is in a class of its own."  The Focus ST also will benefit from technology and craftsmanship revealed this year for the new Ford Focus - the world's best-selling global nameplate.** The sporty and aggressive new five-door and wagon models will offer class-leading driver assistance technologies and connectivity features including the SYNC 2 in-car connectivity system.  Ford has sold more than 140,000 Focus ST models in 40 countries worldwide since the car was first launched in 2002 - 43,600 of those in Britain.  Enhanced driving dynamics  Ford Team RS, the award-winning European arm of Ford's Global Performance Vehicle group, made improving the entire driving experience the number one objective for the new Focus ST.  The sports suspension features all-new front springs and sportier new shock absorber tuning front and rear. In combination with the model-specific anti-roll bars and rear springs from the previous generation ST, these enhancements deliver an even sharper dynamic performance.  The calibration of the Electronic Power Assisted Steering and electronic vehicle control systems also has been revised to meet the specific sporting requirements of the new Focus ST.  These changes deliver:      A quicker response from the variable ratio steering, improving turn-in and delivering better overall balance     A new Electronic Transitional Stability function in the advanced three-stage Electronic Stability Programme. This senses vehicle stability and driver inputs, intervening as required to maintain optimal precision and control during rapid changes of direction at speed - for example in a lane-change situation     Revised Electronic Torque Vectoring Control settings that further optimise wheel torque distribution, maximizing traction through corners and increasing agility  Power delivery refinement under hard acceleration - particularly front wheel traction and gear shift quality - is also assisted by engine mounts engineered specifically to accommodate the performance of the new Focus ST. Additionally, Ford worked with Michelin to develop a new 19-inch tyre that complements the driving dynamics, especially maximising lateral grip.  "Ford has long enjoyed a reputation for producing performance hatchbacks with superb driving dynamics and the new Focus ST more than lives up to that pedigree," Bakaj added. "The engineering enhancements to the suspension, steering and electronic control systems deliver greater responsiveness, agility, precision and an exhilarating driving experience - whichever powertrain you choose."  Power of choice  The new 185PS 2.0-litre diesel engine that debuts in the new Focus ST has been optimised to deliver ST performance and character alongside fuel efficiency and everyday practicality.  The increased power output of the Focus ST 2.0-litre TDCi - a 23 per cent gain over the 150PS 2.0-litre engine in the new Focus range - is achieved by electronic calibration, a revised air intake system and a new sports-tuned exhaust.  Peak power is developed at 3,500 rpm and there is 400Nm of torque available from 2,000-2,750rpm, enabling the new Focus ST diesel to achieve a maximum speed of 135mph. The torque output enables impressive in-gear acceleration and strong performance at low rpm. In 4th gear, acceleration from 31-62mph takes just 5.5 seconds, the combination of a shorter ratio and the increased power enabling the Focus ST to outpace the 150PS 1.5L EcoBoost Focus by 2.7 seconds.  Ford's 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine uses turbocharging, Twin-independent Variable Cam Timing technology, and high-pressure direct-injection to deliver uncompromising performance. Peak power is available at 5,500rpm, 360Nm of torque is available from 2,000-4,500rpm, and maximum speed is 154mph.   Both engines use a six-speed manual transmission with a performance-oriented, short-throw shift. The gear ratios - exclusive to ST and matched individually to each engine - deliver rapid acceleration in lower gears and comfortable cruising at speed.  Powerful appearance  The new Focus ST features sportier and more aggressive styling than the previous generation, with a lower, wider stance; new dynamically sculpted bonnet; slimmer headlamps and rectangular foglamps.  The sports bodykit also includes body‑coloured side skirts and diffuser elements either side of the exhaust, and a rear roof spoiler optimised for aerodynamic performance. All new Focus ST models feature twin-hexagonal centre tailpipes.  Black lamp bezels, ST badging and new 19-inch ST Design alloy wheels - that are available as an option - complete the look.  "Focus ST has proved very popular with Ford's sporty customers and the new model takes that to an even more striking and dramatic level," said Bakaj. "The signature honeycomb upper grille has been reproportioned, there are new rectangular fog lamps in the outer apertures, and the lower fascia offers a much sharper definition and profile. At the rear, the width of the car is emphasised by a new full-width graphic."  A new dark grey exterior paint colour called Stealth is introduced exclusively to the Focus ST3. Deep Impact Blue is new to the full ST range that also includes Tangerine Scream, Frozen White, Panther Black, Race Red and Moondust Silver  Cockpit-style cabin  Ford has redesigned the Focus interior for a more intuitive layout that also is simpler, with a clearer visual connection between the key components and significantly fewer buttons in the cabin.  An additional bank of three gauges - an ST hallmark - is situated on the instrument binnacle and displays turbocharger boost pressure, oil temperature and oil pressure information. A new, flat-base sports steering wheel with a soft-feel leather covered rim; a satin chrome-topped gear lever; and ST pedals deliver the interior that ST drivers expect.   Satin chrome door grab handles and illuminated aluminium scuff plates add extra touches of refinement, and sports seats developed jointly by Ford and Recaro provide the support required to fully enjoy the ST driving experience, and also are comfortable for every day driving.  Advanced technologies  Driver assistance, convenience and connectivity technologies that will be introduced for the first time include the Ford SYNC 2 connectivity system. SYNC 2 offers access to audio, navigation, climate control and mobile phones using class-leading voice control and a high-definition, 8-inch colour touchscreen that displays the ST logo on start-up.  Adaptive Front Lighting, available for the first time on the Focus ST, adjusts the intensity and angle of the Bi-Xenon HID headlamp beams according to vehicle speed, steering angle and distance to objects to provide optimal illumination. Cross Traffic Alert also is a new addition for Focus ST, and warns drivers reversing from parking spaces if other vehicles are about to cross their path.  Ford's enhanced Active City Stop collision avoidance system - now operative at speeds of up to 31mph - readies the brakes if a potential impact is detected and - if the driver does not respond - will automatically apply the brakes. Lane Keeping Aid applies steering torque to guide the Focus ST back in to lane if drifting is detected
The declared fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Results in MPG also correspond to this European drive cycle and are stated in imperial gallons. The results may differ from fuel economy figures in other regions of the world due to the different drive cycles and regulations used in those markets.


2014 NBA Preview: The Cleveland Cavaliers

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#1 Cleveland Cavaliers
Potential Starters
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Dion Waiters
SF: LeBron James
PF: Kevin Love
C: Anderson Varajao
The Cleveland Cavaliers automatically became the favorites to win the NBA Championship when they acquired both LeBron James and Kevin Love over the summer. Those two players alone could compete for a title, but then attach Kyrie Irving to the equation and this team is downright scary. With first year head coach David Blatte running the show, the Cavs will be must-watch television this season, and I can't wait.  
LeBron is simply the best player in all of basketball, and people who argue that clearly have no clue about the sport. The two time NBA champ averaged 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists last season in Miami and now that James is back at home in Cleveland, I expect to see him increase all of those numbers. Last season he was asked to do a lot because of injuries to Dwayne Wade, but now that LeBron is teamed up with Love and Irving, he will be able to facilitate more which will ultimately result in more personal success for The King. LeBron is the ultimate team player, who is loved by his teammates. I'll never bet against the guy and I don't see any scenario where LeBron isn't in the NBA Finals for the fifth straight season. 
So the Cavs get the best player in the game, and the best power-forward as well? That alone shows how crazy the NBA offseason can get. Love is a monster in the post, and the Cavs will love to have the sharp shooting big man on their roster. Last season with the Wolves, Love averaged 26 points, 12.5 rebounds per night. This year he won't asked to do as much, but I think he will thrive now that all of the attention won't be on him. I'm predicting Love to have the best season of his career now that he's in Cleveland.
Kyrie Irving is the luckiest kid in the world. One day he wants to be traded away from Cleveland, then the next he's on a starting lineup that includes two of the leagues top ten players. Irving will be responsible for running Blatte's new offense, so I'm expecting him to flourish now that he's not the lone ranger in town. LeBron makes players better just by being on the court with them, and I expect Irving to increase his 20 points per game average he had last season while also upping his assist numbers to double digits. I think I could average ten assists as the point guard on a team with James and Love. Trying to stop all three of these elite players will cause problems for many opposing teams. They're just too good. 
Dion Waiters and Anderson Varajao will fill out the rest of the starting lineup, and both players will have a solid role on this team. LeBron has said multiple times that he's thrilled to play with Waiters, who averaged 16 points last season. Waiters isn't the quietest guy in the world, and he made it very vocal that he should start and that him and Irving make up the best back court in basketball. At least he's confident, right? But for real, he'll be open due to the all stars he plays with taking up all of the attention from the defense, so Waiters should have a big year. With Varajao, the Cavs have a reliable center who can rebound and make open layups. Someone should teach Kendrick Perkins how to do that.. But anyways I think Varajao will be a nice piece to this Cavs puzzle because he will play within the system and he's unselfish. 
Cleveland may have the deepest team in the league to go with their already stellar starting five. They will have Tristan Thompson, Mike Miller, and Shawn Marion all coming off the bench. The Cavaliers have a great chance to win multiple championships over the next few years with this core nucleus of players. I don't think this LeBron-led team will take as long to get in a rhythm like the Miami team did his first year in South Beach. I hear Blatte is an incredible coach, so it'll be interesting to see how all of these personalities mesh. 


2014 NBA Preview: The Oklahoma City Thunder

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The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2014-15 season with their sights set on one goal, an NBA Championship. The young franchise has been at the brink of winning a title over the last five seasons, but OKC hasn't been able to put on the finishing touches. After losing in the NBA Finals to the Heat three seasons ago, the Thunder suffered injuries to Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka in back to back postseasons to derail all hope of winning that illustrious championship. Now with two seasons left on Kevin Durant's contract, the Thunder are all of the sudden in "desperation mode" to win a title before his contract expires. If KD is still empty handed at that point, who knows what decision he'll make about his future. 
Kevin Durant is the reigning NBA MVP, and no one can argue with the fact that the guy is incredible on and off the court. Last year Durant averaged 32 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game to lead the Thunder to the second best record in the Western Conference. His shooting ability at his size is truly phenomenal and the guy seems to get better every season while adding a new weapon to his arsenal. Durant is constantly making his teammates better, and you can tell his "Thunder Buddies" love to play with him. Even though he'll miss the first six weeks of the season with a Jones Fracture in his foot, I still expect the superstar to return better than ever and get back on his MVP pace. 
With the Durant injury, point guard Russell Westbrook will take on more of the offensive load for the Thunder. Last year Westbrook averaged 22 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game in a season slowed down by injury. Westrook is the most athletic player in the NBA, and opposing point guards have nightmares about guarding the monster. In Durant's absence, Westbrook must find away to become a better facilitator and get his teammates involved. Russ is a guy who's confident enough to take on an entire team by himself, but he must realize he can't do that and he must involve the role players if the Thunder have any chance of keeping their head above water during Durant's recovery period. I know Westbrook is capable of doing that, and in my opinion he's the best point guard in the league. He will finally have a team of his own to lead during these next six weeks, and I look forward to seeing how he handles it. 
Serge Ibaka is entering this season with a lot to prove. Last year he was very vocal that he wanted to be an all star and wanted to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, and neither of those things happened. He did averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds. Ibaka is the best rim protector in the business, and with an increased role early in the season I'm expecting the best year of Ibaka's career in 2014-15. He has elite athleticism and can knock down the mid-range jumper with ease. He's even added the corner three-ball to his bag of tricks, so expect Ibaka to average at least 18-19 points this season. 
Reggie Jackson is another guy who has a lot to prove this season as he approaches the end of his contract. He saw the big payday that Eric Bledsoe got, so he's out to make some money this season. Jackson had a stellar season last year for the Thunder averaging 13 points and four assists a night. He stepped in nicely as the sixth man, and really gave a reliable presence for the second unit. He's been known to wave off Durant and Westbrook in the past which has led to frustration from the two super stars. In the end, he's a valuable asset who should have his best season
Potential Starters
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Andre Roberson
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Steven Adams
Check back later to see who I ranked first in the "HOOPSAHOLIC NBA Preview"
#2 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have announced that Steven Adams will be the starting center over Kendrick Perkins, which should give the Thunder more offense at the start of games. Both Andre Roberson and Jeremy Lamb will see some playing time at shooting guard, but I believe Roberson has the advantage right now. He has length and will provide great wing defense. The Thunder also have Nick Collison returning, the veteran will mentor the newest Thunder player, Mitch McGary when the rookie returns from injury since the two have very similar playing styles. Anthony Morrow was also brought in over the offseason to be a sharp shooting bench player, but will also miss time to start the season. Like I said at the beginning, this is a humongous year for the Thunder. The role players will need to take on more responsibility, especially early on in Durant's absence so the Thunder will be in good position to have homecourt advantage in the playoffs. 


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the life of a Street Musician
Some call them homeless, others call them buskers, and some call them street musicians. Whatever name they may be called by, they sit on the street corner and play an instrument for money. Most have seen one of these people before, but have we ever stopped to talk to them or care to ask them if we can get anything for them? Most of us just walk by quietly; others judge them; some will even aggressively attack them with their words, or actions. We see them as filthy, dirty people that need to get a real job and quit begging us for food and our hard-earned money. 
What if we have too many preconceived notions? We tend to judge them before we actually know why they are playing music on the streets. They are not all there simply to gain spending money for drugs and alcohol. Some are there because they love music and failed in all other areas of life and now are doing all they can to make a living. Some were abandoned as children or teenagers and had no other option than to drop out of school and doing something to support their siblings.
I can remember the one day I met a small, skinny boy of the age of sixteen who had lived his life as a street music, here is his story:
Jake lifted his eyes up in to the pouring rain, today he had to sit under the eve of a building in the downtown of New York. The city could look so dark and scary on days like this. Well, to Jake every day in this city was dark and scary. Like the walk home late at night always scared him, there were always at least five shady looking people that followed him with their eyes every night, sometimes more. Every day was a day he was scared he was not going to make it home. He knew he was lucky to even have a place to call home.
Both he and his little sister had been abandoned by their parents two years ago, they had been fortunate enough to find a man that rented a tiny, dark, and filthy room in his basement to them. Every night they could hear rats scurrying around on the floor. At first they had been terrified by the sounds of their claws clicking on the hard cement floor, but after a time they became accustomed to it. Jake tried to think of them like he thought of himself; just a poor animal that had been abandoned and that no one loved and cared for. It was very humbling for him to compare himself to a rat, but at the same time he knew everyone else saw the resemblance. 
He was seen as filth by most, every now and then when he was playing his guitar on the streets he would gain a smile or a pat on the back, and if he was lucky some change, sometimes he even made a few dollars. It did not matter to him whether he got a penny or a dollar; everything helped. A handful of change could buy some day old bread which he and his sister would eat as their one meal for the day.
They had learned not to be greedy and to be grateful for what they had, but it was hard seeing people wearing nice, clean clothes; people that obviously had a few dollars to spare but simply turned up their noses and walked away. They would not give to someone who could go earn money elsewhere, but had they never thought that this was his only form of making money? They did not understand what had happened to him and that this was indeed his only form of making money for him. Of course, Jake and his sister could go to the courthouse and tell how they had been abandoned by their parents and then possibly get adopted, but they did not want new parents, they did not want anyone else to abandon them. The only ones they could trust were each other. They thought they could trust their parents, but they were proven wrong.
Jake did not understand how or why they had abandoned them. Maybe they had not, maybe for some reason their parents had to disappear. Perhaps they would come back for them, but that was only wishful thinking. Jake knew they had abandoned and they were on their own now. No one was going to help them. That also scared Jake, the world he had known and had trusted was, all of a sudden, turned upside down. Now he knew not who to trust and who would keep their word.
This had been a world that once showed promise of giving him a good life, but that promise was empty. There would be no glory in this life for him. He would always have to live on the streets, barely being able to make money, being judged for not having what most would consider a “real” job. It was a real job though, but no one would ever see it that way.
It was very easy for him to feel depressed, especially on days like this. The cold and the rain soaked through his old, torn clothes and left him feeling totally abandoned and miserable. No one would ever understand him or what he was going through; no one would ever show him compassion. He looked down at his guitar, for some reason it reminded him of himself: worn, battered, and just tired of being used. He was tired of being looked at as a wild animal and a beggar. He wanted more out of his life than this, he wanted to be more than what people thought of him as. He wanted to be a respectable, and pleasant boy. Never would he get that chance, unfortunately; he would always be a looked at as quite the opposite.
Jake looked up to a man that was giving him a dirty look. “Yes? Can I help you?” Jake asked. The man looked down at him, the dirty look getting more intense by the second. “Yeah, get off the street and quit begging,” said the man. “Never once did I ask you for anything, and you have much; but I have little, and you ask me to give up my only form of making money,” said Jake, he stood up, picked up his guitar and stormed off into the rain. “Have a blessed day, sir. I hope all your dreams come true, and I actually mean that. Mine never have, but I hope yours do.” Jake called over his shoulder.
That day was the day I met Jake in the rain on a stormy day in New York. I was the man that had given him the dirty look. Later that day I found him, he shared his story with me and opened my eyes to see that they are not all bad people; they are not all filthy people; they are not all drug addicts and alcoholics. We all have too many preconceived notions and are too quick to judge. Next time you see one of these people, do not just walk by or give them dirty looks. Hand them a dollar, or simply just give them someone to talk to. Next time you see one ask why they are out on the streets playing music, do not just judge them. Who knows? Maybe they have a sad life story and just need someone to show them kindness. 


Human Trafficking

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Human Trafficking: The Secret Shame Around the World 
     What is human trafficking? Human trafficking is selling men, women and children into some kind of slavery. Sex slavery is the destination for many women and girls. Most of the men and male children go to labor-intensive places. According to freedom4innocence.org, human trafficking in the Middle East happens to 12% of men, 22% of children and 66% of women. The article also says that 80% of traffic victims end up as sex slaves. Traffickers do this for the sole purpose of making money. In 2005, the global human trade industry made over $31.6 billion in profits.  
     One thing many people do not know is the victims often go with the traffickers willingly. They go with promises of jobs or marriages. Some families also sell their children to traffickers. Many of the people are vulnerable individuals who have no family, such as orphans or street people.  
     The most common ways victims experience exploitation are prostituting, forced labor, slavery and removal of organs for sale. Sexual exploitation is by far the most common. The female victims suffer from a much higher risk for STD’s, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. These women are forced to have sex for making pornography.  
     These women often have permanent damage to their reproductive organs and many suffer from PTSD. A trafficker can make 20 times more than he paid for a victim. If the victim remains in “good condition”, a pimp could sell her again for an astronomical amount of money.
     Around half of these victims are under the age of 18. Many of the trafficked children undergo sexual exploitation as well. These children are much more likely to develop mental disorders, to engage in drugs, to resume the prostitution and to become involved in violent crime later in life.
     The other half of the victims go in to physical labor. This is the second most common form of trafficking in the world. As unbelievable as it sounds, there is a market for slaves. The average cost of a slave is $100. An estimated 27 million slaves exist around the world. The most popular destinations are Italy, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Japan, Germany and the US. Many of the young victims become victims because their family members sell them into slavery.
     
There are many survival stories with human trafficking. However, the stories of those never saved are much more common. The stories of the survivors are hard to read and hear about but the public needs to be aware of what goes on around the world, even here in our own country.
Many of the survivors are forever damaged by what happened to them, whether the damage be psychological or physical or both. The following stories are from survivors.
    Dai, a young female Korean immigrant was taken into sexual slavery after years of parental and spousal abuse. She escaped her abusive relationship, but not before he took her naturalization papers. A female pimp in Las Vegas who invited her to join an escort service approached her.      
Another story, perhaps even more upsetting, is Concy’s story. When she was nine years old, she was taken from her village in Uganda. She became part of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). She became a child soldier and married the Brigade Commander against her will. At the age of 10, her “husband” forced her to have sex with him. The Brigade Commander had 20 “wives”, most of them between 12 and 18. Since Concy was a soldier who fought, she was the “top wife”. When he left, Concy was in charge of keeping the other girls in line. A year after being captured, there was a large fight between LRA and Ugandan government soldiers. She used that opportunity to run away. Life back in her village wasn’t easy, though. Her people shunned her, because they knew the unspeakable things she had been forced to do. She went back to school, and one day when she was 15, was forced into a man’s hut, where he raped her. She was shunned again and she returned to the man, as he was now her “husband”. She became pregnant and lived for a year with her “husband”. He abused her, and she left with her daughter. She is now working in a bakery in Pece and remarried a good man (Survivor Stories).      Trafficking is something that happens all around the world. It is a hard thing to talk about, and because of that, many people just ignore it. It is something that needs to change, and future generations have the power to change it.  

     Several weeks later, she found herself in a prostitution/ sex slave ring. She spent six months in this world, where she lost her identity and her dignity. A wealthy man eventually bought her and conditioned her to become a female pimp. She began to do the same thing those people did to her. She became addicted to drugs, which she used to escape her reality. While she was on the run, she found people she could trust, became a voice against trafficking, and dug herself out of that hole (A Survivor’s Story).



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Diagnosing ADHD: What you need to know 

There are no laboratory or imaging tests available to determine a diagnosis; instead, clinicians base their conclusions on the observable symptoms and by ruling out other disorders. The specialist who conducts you or your child’s evaluation will ask you a range of questions that you should answer honestly and openly. He or she may also:
• obtain a thorough medical and family history
• order or conduct a general physical and/or neurological exam
• lead a comprehensive interview with you, your child, and the child’s teacher(s)
• use standardized screening tools for ADHD
• observe your child at play or school
• use psychological tests in order to measure IQ and social and emotional adjustment (Segal & Smith, 2014)

The mental health professional assessing the problem will also look at the following factors:
• How severe are the symptoms? To be diagnosed with ADHD, the symptoms must have a negative impact on you or your child’s life. In general, people who truly have ADHD have major problems in one or more areas of their life, such as their career, finances, or family responsibilities.
• When did the symptoms start? Since ADHD starts in childhood, the doctor or therapist will look at how early the symptoms appeared. If you are an adult, can you trace the symptoms back to your childhood?
• How long have the symptoms been bothering you or your child? Symptoms must have been going on for at least 6 months before ADHD can be diagnosed.
• When and where do the symptoms appear? The symptoms of ADHD must be present in multiple settings, such as at home and school. If the symptoms only appear in one environment, it is unlikely that ADHD is to blame (Grohol & Martin, 2013).



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Willis Tower Disaster
 Officials at Chicago's Willis Tower say the popular tourist attraction is safe, even though a glass ledge jutting from the building's 103rd floor appeared to crack beneath the feet of a visiting family. The see-through glass bays are known as The Ledge and extend about four feet from the building, which was once called the Sears Tower. Officials say the family wasn't in danger when the cracks appeared Wednesday on a glass enclosure. In a statement Thursday, Willis Tower says a protective coating covering the glass surface cracked, not the glass itself. They say the cracks don't affect the "structural integrity" of the ledge, which is designed to occasionally crack. The ledges have proven to be a popular — if a frightening — experience since they opened in 2009 ( “Cracks Appear on Ledge at Chicago's Willis Tower.” (NBC15 RSS. N.P.) 
About Willis Tower
The Willis tower was formerly named and still commonly called Sears Tower. This building is a 108-story, 1,451-foot skyscraper that was built in 1973. It was formerly the tallest building in the world and it held this rank for almost 25 years. At this point in time, the Willis Tower is currently the second-tallest building in the United States and the eighth-tallest freestanding structure in the world. Over one million people each year visit this enormous skyscraper, which makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chicago. Due to a lease on a portion of the space, Sears Tower was renamed Willis Tower in 2009. Even though it was renamed, people often still refer to it as Sears Tower (Wikimedia Foundation).
How it was built
With about 350,000 employees, Sears, Roebuck & Co. was the largest retailer in the world in 1969. Sears executives agreed they wanted to consolidate all of their employees that had offices all throughout the Chicago area into one building; Sears Tower. Sears wasn't sure where to put it, so they asked an outside council to suggest a location. After the firm met with authorities and the applicable law, Sears was advised that the proposed structure could be built in an area known as Goose Island (Wikimedia Foundation).
After the site was decided upon, the preliminary inquiries determined that the necessary permits would be able to be obtained. The next thing that needed to be done in this process was to gain the property and a team of attorneys from the Arnstein law firm headed by Andrew Adsit. The attorneys began buying the property parcel by parcel. Sears bought fifteen buildings with character and paid $2.7 million to the City of Chicago for the part of Quincy Street which divided the property (Wikimedia Foundation).
Demanding 3,000,000 square feet of space, and predictions that they will grow in the future, Sears found amazing architects by the names of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to come up with a structure that was predicted to be one of the largest buildings in the world. SOM’s team of architect, Bruce Graham and Fazlur Rahman Khan, a structural engineer, designed the building as nine square "tubes" squished into a 3×3 matrix producing a square base with 225-foot sides. The nine tubes would go up to the 50th floor of the building. Once the tubes hit the 50th floor, the northwest and southeast tubes end, and the remaining seven continue up. When they reach the 66th floor, the southwest and northeast tubes end. At the 90th floor, the south, east, and north tubes end. Finally, the center and west tubes continue until the 108th floor (Wikimedia Foundation).
The Willis Tower was the very first building to use Khan's tube structure. This amazing design was structurally efficient and economic. It effectively provided more space and became higher than the Empire State Building, although the cost was much less per unit area. This, in turn, highly influenced the skyscraper construction. It is usually used in extremely tall buildings today, including the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. To honor Khan's contributions to the skyscraper, the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois made a sculpture of him for the lobby of the Willis Tower (Wikimedia Foundation).
Sears executives came together and agreed that the space they are going to occupy will be designed to house their Merchandise Group, and that floor space for future growth would be rented out to smaller firms and businesses until Sears could take it back. The latter floor areas had to be drawn up to a smaller plate to be attractive and marketable to prospective lessees. It also had a high window-space to floor-space ratio. On the other hand, smaller floor plates needed to have a taller structure to yield sufficient square footage. Skidmore architects proposed a tower with large floors in the lower part of the building, which would give the Sears Tower its distinctive look (Wikimedia Foundation).
As you can tell just from the reading, the Willis Tower is an extremely extravagant building that took a very long time to build. If you are interested in touring Willis Tower, it is located in Chicago, IL and is very easy to schedule. Even if you are afraid of heights, on the main floor you can learn more about the history and see pictures of the skyscraper dating back to when they were building it.
Work Cited 
“Cracks Appear on Ledge at Chicago's Willis Tower." NBC15 RSS. N.p., 29 May 2014. Web. 08 Oct. 2014.
< http://www.nbc15.com/news/headlines/Cracks-appear-on-ledge-at-Chicagos-Willis-Tower-261135771.html>.
"Willis Tower." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.
 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis_Tower>