26 Magazine

Starfall.com from ABC’s to reading a book: A wonderful site for your child

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:30:11 +0000

Starfall is a fantastic site for children to learn everything they need to read. The colorful and exciting levels use a child’s voice, so kids feel comfortable while they have fun. The appealing part of this website is that it addresses the needs of a variety of age groups and lesson requirements, while giving the kids (and parents) a nice ‘playground’ of enjoyment, while learning.

The ABC’s section lets your child select which letter of the alphabet, displays the capital and lower case and sounds it out for them. There is also an image using that letter.

Learning to put letters into words is one of the hardest things for children to accomplish. Starfall has a ‘Learn to Read’ area that lets a child choose the letter combinations and then follow through a journey of listening to the sound out, musical singing of the sounds and viewing how the word is used in a combination of words, stories and even videos.

Taking the leap into actual reading means putting all of the ABC’s and sounds together to identify words and sentences. StarFall’s “It’s Fun To Read” section lets your child choose which topic is most interesting to them. Each topic brings an interesting bit of information in the form of a short sentence as well as question and answer.

Children learn so much easier when they are having fun and the StarFall website brings a wealth of fascinating choices, images and sounds to entice all reading levels. There are special areas of the website just for parents and educators, with practice and curriculum guidelines to encourage and support every child’s reading experience.

Gulf Oil Spill: the Secrets BP Won’t Share

admin — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:59:21 +0000

British Petroleum or BP has had a tough time of it as of late, and with little wonder. Still reeling from the gulf oil spill of 2010, the petroleum giant seems to be ensnared in a myriad of secrets relating to the incident that’s been noted as the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. Their lack of swift action in the April 2010 catastrophe drew heavy criticism from the public, environmental agencies and the White House, prompting President Barack Obama to begin the establishment of an independent commission to investigate the leak and say “Plug the damn hole” in an unusual show of force and irritation on the part of the usually even keeled president.

Let the Finger Pointing Begin
There’s been a lot of finger pointing in the days since the explosion and eventual fix, with Transocean’s CEO stating at one point that it wasn’t their fault because the blowout preventer had just been tested successfully only a week before the accident, but was it? Back in May of 2010 the New York Times reported that a half-dozen of the agency’s scientists both currently and formerly working for the Minerals Management Service or MMS claimed that they were pressured regularly by agency officials to alter their findings of internal studies if it was suspected that an accident of any proportion or the harming of wildlife was likely to occur.

The article went on to state the Minerals Management Service had allowed many hundreds of these oil drilling projects without ever obtaining the legally required permits to do so. So if they were “forced” to do so, who else might be being less than honest about their actions in regards to the events leading up to the disaster?

The Blame Game
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing back in May of 2010 where reps for all three oil companies involved in the Deepwater drill began to blame each other for the fateful event. Dick Cheney’s Halliburton was responsible for cementing the well and claimed to have met the requirements of British Petroleum for the job and went on to cite the epic failure of the blowout preventer Transocean was responsible for.

Transocean’s CEO in turn denied this stating emphatically that their blowout preventer had been successfully tested just a week prior to the accident, as mentioned earlier, and he blamed both British Petroleum and Halliburton for their less than adequate cement job which was believed, in their opinion, to have led up to the resultant explosion.

British Petroleum’s president stated the responsibility lay with Transocean as they were the owner/operators of the rig itself and as such were responsible for its safety. It was so painful it was like something straight out of the annals of a slap-stick comedy worthy of Laurel and Hardy or Buster Keaton or better yet the Keystone Kops.

Lies and More Lies?
The congressional hearing holding the inquiry was told that the three groups ignored significant safety warning signs prior to the blast, once again prompting criticism from President Obama who didn’t mince words when he stated he didn’t appreciate what he considered to be a “ridiculous spectacle” during the actual hearing itself with executives of the three groups falling all over one another in an effort to try and point the “finger of blame” at the others. He further stated that he thought it was clear that not only had the system failed, but that it had failed badly.

The Cameron Connection & the Whistle Blowers
Then there was the thwarted effort of Oscar-winning director James Cameron whose offer of help was turned away with a blind eye by BP, but why? They refused to say, instead politely denying the offer in a short and unapologetic statement refusing to give a reason whatsoever. What were they afraid of? What secrets were they hiding or trying to hide? We’ll most likely never know.

Eventually in August of 2010 a whistle blowing group would reveal that scientists in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had had fears about Corexit, the chemical dispersant BP was using in the cleanup effort, and as a result of those fears had raised concerns with the upper echelon within the agency that the chemical dispersant that was approved for use in the gulf oil spill was not safe. BP sprayed nearly 2 million gallons of Corexit on the slick itself and at the site of the leak on the ocean floor.

So, all in all, how much did BP really know about any of these things concerning the gulf oil spill, and why have they been so secretive throughout it all?

Sources:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/29/bp-oil-spill-timeline-deepwater-horizon
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/26/barack-obama-oil-spill-leak

New Focus on Specialty Disease Drugs by Pharmaceutical Companies

admin — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:43:17 +0000

Here in the United States, rare diseases are categorized as such if they affect less than roughly 650 patients per million people of this country’s total population. Over in Europe in the relatively newly formed European Union, a rare disease is noted or categorized as being rare if it affects less than 500 patients per million of its population. Even rarer diseases yet, which are referred to as ultra-rare, are assigned that distinction when less than 20 patients per million suffer from them. Sometimes known as a specialty disease, rare and ultra rare diseases are quickly becoming the focus of pharmaceutical companies looking to produce niche drugs.

The Math Behind the Numbers
To break it down for you, while in the U.S. very common or prevalent diseases may affect upwards of millions of people, rare diseases will typically touch the lives of less than 200,000 individuals while ultra-rare diseases will be responsible for affecting 6,000 people at the utmost and often times far less. Many of these diseases currently designated as rare and ultra-rare are termed as chronic and progressive. They are usually marked by ongoing pain and severe disability and often accompanied by high rates of mortality.

The Debate Rages On
With the seemingly endless list of diseases to contend with, the debate rages on about the decision by many pharmaceutical companies to pursue the present course of specialty disease drugs for such extremely rare conditions such as aHUS, or atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is an ultra-rare genetic disorder characterized as being extremely debilitating and life threatening. Take Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Alexion has discovered and developed Soliris, aka eculizumab, which has been touted as the first treatment for individuals suffering from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria or PNH and aHUS. Both of these horrific and debilitating diseases have far-reaching consequences.

While both of these disease’s sufferers no doubt count their blessings every day for the scientific research and advancements that have led to the development of these break-through drugs, many people are asking the question: Why aren’t cures for diseases that impact the masses like cancer and Alzheimer’s and many other more commonly known diseases that plague the world being more aggressively pursued? This is not to begrudge the patients with far less common maladies. People are almost as happy for them as the sufferers are themselves at the prospect of the relief. No moral and compassionate being would begrudge another relief from pain and suffering.

The Crux of the Situation and Moral Implications
So it isn’t a matter of sour grapes that’s compelling the grumblings. It’s the perceived loss of ground in the advancements for cures for what some have termed the “bigger picture” diseases, those highly prevalent diseases that are taking us out every year in staggering numbers. It’s prompted many to accuse drug companies of tailoring cures for those niche groups that can be charged exorbitant sums of money for drugs that are as rare as the diseases they treat. Let’s face it: once a disease that affects the masses has been cured, the revenue in connection with these diseases would eventually dry up, making it in essence a non-lucrative endeavor for pharmaceutical companies.

After all, the companies themselves will only benefit as long as there’s a demand for the remedy. Once that demand is no longer in need or perceived to be in need and the challenge has been met an end to the profits are surely in sight. The argument has been espoused for decades that there’s no money in finding a cure for cancer because the long-term treatment of it is far too lucrative. Let’s hope that’s not the true motivation behind the lack of a cure for it and the dozens of other life-threatening diseases out there that continue to plague mankind. We’d hate to think of the pharmaceutical companies as being purely for profit with their own agendas as the driving forces behind them.

Sources:
http://www.alxn.com

1DH12 Gene: Is it a cure for HIV?

admin — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:44:14 +0000

HIV, just the acronym alone strikes fear in the hearts of those who utter it and those that hear it. It’s been roughly 25 years since it first came to the forefront of the public’s attention, and so many advances in it have been achieved, yet there’s still no real promising cure in sight — or is there? So far, all we’ve been able to do with the virulent disease is find ways to slow its progress, but little else. Not that that’s any small feat considering the rampant pace with which it was claiming lives 20 years ago. Unfortunately, that hasn’t changed much in third-world countries.

Promising Breakthroughs
But now in developed countries, people are living relatively normal lives and adding years to the survival rate, increasing the likelihood of some of its victims actually living long enough to see a cure in their lifetime. Recently a man in Europe is believed to have beaten the odds as the result of an experimental procedure that was implemented through a bone marrow transplant in order to save his life from leukemia. He had contracted HIV many years earlier and had been living a relatively symptom-free life from it with the help of immunosuppressant medications when he developed leukemia. Near death and with nothing left to lose, his doctor was struck with a thought that he decided to pursue.

Previously unheard of, the patient received stem cells from a donor who was immune to HIV. Though highly uncommon, it seems about 1 percent of the Caucasian population is immune to HIV. These individuals hail predominantly from Europe where it is believed the immunity gene goes all the way back to the plague based upon the theory that people who survived the plague somehow passed their immunity down to their heirs living today. If this is found to be true, an end could truly be in sight. But researchers and scientists are loath to jump on the “yippee-we’ve-found-a-cure bandwagon” just yet and remain stoically cautious, but hopeful nonetheless.

Further Studies Needed
But that’s not the only promising news on the horizon. The gene 1DH12 is being studied right now as a possible answer to the AIDs epidemic. It’s much like the gene CCR5 or delta 32, as it’s known, that is present in the heirs of plague survivors. Not a lot is known about it, and it’s definitely not layman reading material. In fact, we’d liken it to a brain freeze being preferential as compared to trying to comprehend the myriad of documents written about the findings thus far. But what if it were to hold some potential? What if the promise of a cure or a vaccine really were to become a reality in the not-so-distant future? Think of what it would mean.

It almost makes one giddy just thinking about it. But before we get too excited about it, it’s important to note that we’ve got a long way to go before anything definitive comes of it. It’s still in the very early stages or infancy, if you will, of its testing and comprehension to just exactly how it might pan out in the long run. But it is encouraging to note that through genetic paths we may one day be able to solve the riddle to this and many more diseases where hopefully cures will prevail to help alleviate man’s pain and suffering one day soon.

People are Dying Every Year due to Medical Malpractice

admin — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:37:00 +0000

Medical malpractice is the bane of the medical profession like no other leading to doctors being left with few choices in many instances but to limit their practice or get out of it altogether. Take the rash of obstetricians several years back getting out of the business of delivering babies and opting for decreased services to women, in essence limiting their obstetrics choices. But the real problem lies with the amount of people dying every year due to a variety of mistakes that could have been avoided were it not for their doctor’s blatant oversights.

How often do we see x-rays on the nightly news where once again someone has been sewn up with medical instruments and sponges left inside of them? Isn’t that someone’s job in the operating room to account for all of the tools of the trade at the end of the day, so to speak? Medical mistakes account for an estimated 225,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone, depending on which statistics you read, leaving medical malpractice as the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States.

The death toll for cancer patients in the country has been on a steady decline over the years with an estimated 22 percent drop with a projection of roughly 550,000 deaths for 2011 while death from medical errors continues to be on the rise. So what’s leading to this disturbing trend? For starters, a chronically overburdened health care system and, as stated earlier, fewer physicians willing to practice along with an overall decrease in new med students hasn’t helped the matter any. And these deaths aren’t strictly from botched surgeries. They come in many forms from misdiagnoses and prescription errors to flagrant ineptness on the part of the physician.

To add insult to injury, many states are insisting on instituting caps or limits on monetary sums that physicians can be sued for but continue to aid in protecting them from the public’s right to view their personal practice’s track record, which begs the question: just whose side are you on, anyway? We tend to think of our elected officials as being there to serve us, as that is why we elected them in the first place.

Kansas has even gone so far recently as to pass a bill encouraging doctors not to inform mothers to be of possible birth defects or issues that could potentially affect the health of the unborn child or mother in an effort to deter them from considering the possibility of terminating the pregnancy and then prohibiting the parents from suing them in the event their suspicions were correct.

What kind of insanity is this, and where and when did it all go so wrong? A better question might be when did our elected officials get in bed with the AMA? It would seem to me that if we can reduce the incidence of cancer-related deaths we surely ought to be able to curb the death rate as it relates to medical malpractice. Perhaps the entire system needs an overhaul because it appears we’re long overdue for a change.

Sources:

http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/mistakes/common.htm

New Studies Show Video Games can Help Kids Learn

admin — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:34:19 +0000

After years of pointing an accusing finger at video games and their negative affects on kids, some new studies have come out with some positive news for parents. Yes, the violent games out there still exist and they can still have a negative impact on your child, but these new studies have shown that with the right games your child can actually learn valuable life skills and a variety of other interesting and unexpected benefits. As with all things with your child’s development, involvement and monitoring are strongly encouraged to ensure they’re not being exposed to the wrong influences and that their consumption of any one thing is done in moderation.

Having said that, the good news for youngsters is that games that require children to help out or come to the aid of others in a nonviolent way have a positive impact on your little one’s mind. This has actually been seen through their actions and in testing post game playing. Games with characters that helped one another in a non-hostile environment actually encouraged kids to be more cooperative and compassionate with a greater increase in wanting to help and share with other children and prompted fewer thoughts of violence or hostility and aggressive actions in addition to a lower acceptance level of violent behavior. So far so good,right? Well, read on. It gets better.

In addition to aiding in the development of important social skills, add to the list motor skills, cognitive function, reasoning, multitasking and perceptual skills. Cognitive function skills can be improved through computer games for the simple reason that players have to pay attention to the entire screen all at once in order to be successful in their mission to stay alive with everything coming at them. They need to be able to react quickly and with greater precision.

A 2008 study showed that individuals that regularly played video games were able to count 50 percent more items visually presented in rapid succession than those who didn’t play them. Another benefit was superior processing of information skills. They were also able to switch between tasks with greater ease.

What this means is that your child or teen’s abilities to problem solve and tactically plan might be significantly improving over time by trying to figure out how to off that mutant zombie that’s stalking him or her in one of their favorite games. When you think about it, all of these very same skills of planning, quick reactions and problem solving are actually the very skills that might help to make safer teen drivers. Bet you never saw that one coming, but it’s true.

If this all seems to be a bit of a stretch to you, consider the following: A recently conducted study found that surgeons in laparoscopy that were also gamers are a whopping 27 percent quicker in the performance of advanced surgeries with an astounding 37 percent lower risk of committing errors than non-gaming surgeons. How’s that for impressive?

Further findings confirm that playing video games can also improve such things as scientific reasoning for the very reason that in such games as WoW and others similar to it that have discussion boards where multiple players can openly discuss their elaborate strategies, it creates a thinking environment where tactical and reasoning skills are being shared and learned through the actual playing of the game.

And as if all of this weren’t enough, it’s been determined that computer games are gaining acceptance as a pain management tool. Yup, you read right. Before you nix the idea altogether, think about it. It totally makes sense. Anytime you’re distracted from any source of pain no matter where it may be emanating from — unless, of course it’s mind-numbingly blinding pain that’s unfathomable — you tend to think about it less and notice its intensity less. So there you have it. Being a gamer might not be so bad for you after all.

Sources:

http://ryan-white.suite101.com/the-positive-effects-of-video-games-on-children-a91980
http://simone-ravicz.suite101.com/important-news-the-pros-and-cons-of-video-game-playing-a249188
http://rupert-taylor.suite101.com/some-video-gaming-is-positive-a127413′

http://rupert-taylor.suite101.com/some-video-gaming-is-positive-a127413′

FAA needs an upgrade

Awesome Rob — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:15:23 +0000

Earlier this week, there was a scare in the skies that reminds many people of the situation that happened on one infamous day in 2001. Flights all across the north east, reaching as far west as O’Hare in Chicago, were affected when the FAA was forced to ground hundreds of flights, due to a cascade of computer problems. The systems that failed were absolutely crucial to safety and function, and with them unable to function as they were designed, there was a very high risk for catastrophic events. The problem simply highlighted the FAA’s need for an overhaul to prevent disaster.

The FAA’s air traffic control systems are one of the many computer systems built years ago and still in use though there are many more efficient and reliable models and tools available today. The problem with the FAA’s systems is very much like every other government system in the country. While the government has no problem spending money on doing research on how much gastrointestinal discomfort a wombat might feel if it eats funny berries, they refuse to find the necessity to make sure the systems that safeguard human lives in a variety of aspects are kept up to date and working to the best of their abilities.

The FAA systems were once upon a time state of the art. As with everything in technology however, state of the art lasts about as long as it takes to say it, meaning that while the system worked at the time, with the increased load placed upon it now with increases in travel frequency within the country, as well as flights coming in from abroad, means that an upgrade should have been in the works when the last system was implemented.

The problem ultimately resides in the government’s reluctance to spend money on anything it deems able to get by with what it has already. The alternative is wasting the money on pet projects that serve no purpose other than to appease a very small group of people, usually those who donated to the politician’s campaign. Its a corrupt system where the “Old Boy’s Club” of friends get to spend a blank check on things they would never have dropped money into themselves, but since the government’s paying, why not? Instead of focusing on fixing potential problems and keeping the United States at the peak of technological advancement, the money that could be used to fuel progress is instead used to line bird cages and be thrown in fire pits to keep the flames of irrelevance burning strong.

One day, a disaster may happen in which the public outrage will be strong enough to force politicians to get off their self-serving pedestals and do something for the benefit of the nation, but it is unfortunate it takes such a situation to get the action that should have been executed preemptively.

Movement to retire 23

Awesome Rob — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:14:25 +0000

A couple of nights ago, the NBA got a little treat from one of its most prolific stars: LeBron James. On top of his exceptional play, as always, last season’s NBA MVP came out and said he will be changing his jersey number from 23 to 6 next season. His reasoning? Michael Jordan’s number should be retired by the NBA, from every team.

Usually, retiring numbers are something that is left to the individual team, and no sport body since Major League Baseball’s retiring of Jackie Robinson’s no. 42 has considered retiring a number across the board. It is a big step and the NBA has no previous history of even considering such a move, but since The King’s annoucement, the movement has picked up speed.

When one considers the reasons behind Jackie Robinson’s number retiring and Michael Jordan’s, there are a few key points to understand. Jackie Robinson played baseball in a very volatile time for civil rights in the United States, and being the first black MLB player, he was forced to walk a fine line and be the face of the black race in a white sport. His perseverance against the racial tension and sportsmanship laid the foundation for change in Major League Baseball, and his contribution to civil rights and sport was beyond what any other athlete at the time had ever accomplished. The MLB did the right thing in retiring his number out of respect for the adversity he faced while doing what he loved: playing baseball.

Michael Jordan never had to fight the racial tension and be a figurehead in the civil rights movement as Jackie Robinson was. In many ways, Jackie Robinson’s contribution to sport paved the way for athletes like Michael Jordan to take center stage in a major sport, competing under the lights and having the opportunity to achieve greatness. Jackie Robinson’s aid to the end of racial segregation in baseball was an instrumental part of American sports history, and Michael Jordan didn’t have anywhere near the same pressure to take a stand, and not only play, but play well.

James does have a point in his request to see no. 23 be retired. Living with the number 23 on his chest essentially has made his career into one where he tries to “Be Like Mike,” and try to say he is the next Jordan. The King can build his own legacy with a different number, reducing the number of direct comparison’s between the two. The game they play is similar: they both dominate the other team and have an uncanny ability for the sport. Jordan had a solid team built around him and he was the missing link that was needed for all the championships the Bulls won. James doesn’t have the same talent around him, but James also hasn’t been able to come up in the clutch as often as Jordan did with game winning shots and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat as regularly as Jordan.

And as long as LeBron lives by 23, he will forever be overshadowed by Jordan’s legacy.

Why violent video games?

andrea — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:31:50 +0000

It was earlier this week in my Mass Communications Ethics course that we discussed the negative effect that violent video games have on the youth of America. Of course this is all debatable, and this post isn’t meant to challenge or condemn anyone for playing these games.

The point is to examine America’s obsession with these games. A prime example of this is the new video game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which was released on Tuesday, earned $310 million in opening-day sales alone. According to Daniel Terdiman, a blogger for CNET news, 4.7 million copies were sold in the United States and the U.K. alone in order to break this record.

This is more than the next highest selling video game, “Grand Theft Auto IV” which also made $310 million in first-day sales worldwide. (Modern Warfare made $310 million in just the U.S. and U.K.) Also, just to put this into perspective, last year’s Batman movie “The Dark Knight” made $155 million in the opening weekend… WEEKEND.

Obviously, “Grand Theft Auto” and “The Dark Knight” are a little bit on the violent side. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” is the same.

As the title suggests, this game revolves around… a war. According to a review by the Associated Press, “You’re really a good guy who has infiltrated the terrorist cell.” If you’ve heard any press about this video game then I’m sure that you’ve heard about the terrorist aspect of the game.

A tad controversial? Yes. Although, critics say it’s essential to the game.

The “Call of Duty” saga includes six versions of the game. Two different companies are responsible for the creation of the games. This year’s version came from Infinity Ward and has been seriously popular just within the few days of its release.

Now, it’s easy to blame video games on the violent tendencies of American youth. According to the American Psychological Association, “High levels of violent video game exposure have been linked to delinquency, fighting at school and during free play periods, and violent criminal behavior (e.g., self-reported assault, robbery).”

The truth is that the average age of a video-gamer is 35-years-old, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos MediaCT for game industry trade group the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

The war and violence obsession in America is nothing new really. It’s nothing really new though, is it? Violence is a part of everyday life. We may not see it in America but it happens all over the world.

Could it be our sheltered lives that give us such a hunger for blood?
If the average American saw half of the amount of bloodshed that they see in this video games and movies, they would be shocked.

So, I’m confused… Can anyone tell me why so many people are interested in violent video games like this?

Escapism?

Masculinity?

Hidden violent tendencies?

I just don’t get it. Sure, I’m female so maybe I’m missing the proper chromosome.

I’d like to know. If you’re interested in shooter video games, tell me why.

World Series lives up to the hype

Awesome Rob — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:34:03 +0000

Leading into this year’s World Series, the story line was a beauty. The World Champions of 2008, the Phillies, were back in the mix and squaring off against the World Series trophy juggernaut, the New York Yankees. Both teams featured high powered offense and left handed pitchers that would make teams of yesteryear shake their heads in disbelief. High profile stars like Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and CC Sabathia were set to do battle against Cole Hamels, Pedro Martinez and Cliff Lee. The ingredients were all there to make a World Series classic.

After game one, things looked great for a competitive series of pitching domination.

Then game two rolled around, and three, and four, and suddenly the Yankee’s offense made the Phillies look very vulnerable. A-Rod, who was pretty much useless in the first few games of the series, came out huge in games three and four, especially in four, and with him clicking with the rest of the offense, the Yankees literally could do no wrong at the plate.

And it wasn’t even just at the plate where they had their success.

The series tone was set in the top of the 9th inning of game four. Top of the 9th inning and with the score tied and two outs set, it looked like the game was either going into extra innings or the Phillies would have the perfect opportunity to tie the series and shut down the Yankee offense. Then Johnny Damon stepped up to the plate and delivered one of the most amazing at bats in recent memory, going nine pitches and preventing the inning from ending. Finally, he connected and made it to first. Progress had been made. Then on the next pitch, Damon takes off to steal second, knowing that he had to make a move when it would be least expected. After snagging second, and seeing that there was no one covering third, Damon took off and outran the only person capable of tagging him out, completing a double steal on a single pitch.

Suddenly, the stadium wasn’t so rowdy.

With Damon’s clutch play, the next factor was A-Rod leading the Yankees on a strong hit and scoring Damon, while putting two runners in scoring position. Another hit solidified the Phillies 9th inning collapse, giving the Yankees a three-run lead going into the bottom of the 9th with Mariano Rivera playing cleanup, which is almost a 99.9 percent chance of perfection.

Sure enough, Rivera cleaned up three batters in eight pitches, giving the Yankees a 3-1 series lead.

In this post season, we have seen A-Rod beat his demons, Damon come back from mediocrity to have the best moment of baseball genius this year, and watch the Yankees come back to true form and nearly bury the defending World Champions in their own stadium

The Phillies won game five, saving themselves from defeat at home, sending the series back to the Bronx where the Yankees have been extremely successful all year and in this post season. Whether or not they can close out the Phillies is still up in the air, but if Pedro Martinez plays like he did game two, Andy Pettitte is walking away with the win, and the Yankees with their first World Series since 2000.