thermophile kenny

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Speak of the Devil: A Day In The Life Of A Cat

"If you hold a cat by the tail, you learn things you cannot learn any other way." ~ Mark Twain

"Cats were put into the world to disprove the dogma that all things were created to serve man." ~ Paul Gray

"A catless writer is almost inconceivable. It's a perverse taste, really, since it would be easier to write with?a herd of buffalo in the room than even one cat; they make nests in the notes and bite the end of the pen and walk on the typewriter keys." ~ Barbara Holland

7:10 AM. Awake, unexpectedly. Hearing the sound of distant machinery. This will not do. This will not do at all. I demand my sleep not be disturbed until I'm ready to wake up.

7:12 AM. Have determined source of sound. Spotting machinery out on road. Apparently those lowly humans are engaged in resurfacing the road with those big loud noisy things.

They had better not be doing this all day. Or I will have words with them.

7:15 AM. Sleep is impossible, now that the noise patrol is going on outside. Honestly, what kind of hour is this for anyone to be out and about? Well, if I have to be awake, my staff had better wake up. If she isn't already...

7:17 AM. Have found staff in bed, refusing to stir. Staff has pillow curled around her head, as if to block out the noise outside. Understandable, staff, but I require nourishment. Right now.

7:18 AM. Pouncing up on bed. Walking back and forth on top of staff. Wake up, staff. See to my needs, post haste. Then go have a word with that work crew outside. They rudely interrupted my sleep. And yes, I know I'm being two faced by saying they're rude and then waking you up. There is a difference. I'm a cat, and you work for me. Therefore I have every right to wake you up whenever I please.

7:20 AM. Staff grumbles and growls. Oh please. We cats have perfected the arts of grumbling and growling.

7:21 AM. Staff finally sits up, mutters something about wishing it was Saturday. Staff, you have ten minutes to come downstairs and feed me. And it had better not be any of those field rations. You and I both know I don't like field rations.

7:29 AM. Back downstairs waiting in kitchen. Hearing staff upstairs. Time's running out. I was far more generous than I could have been, giving her ten minutes to get downstairs, and nary a trace of her...

7:32 AM. Staff finally emerges into kitchen to feed me. The fact that she's reaching for the field rations does not leave me hopeful. Staff, I thought we had an understanding.

7:34 AM. Staff places bowl of field rations down on floor near me. Glare at her with disdain. Staff, this is going on your performance evaluations, you realize?

7:36 AM. Reluctantly beginning to eat field rations. Far too dry and lacking in taste. I would vastly prefer high grade salmon and caviar.

7:55 AM. Staff on her way out the door. Bids me goodbye for the day. Staff? Wait, what about my right to go in and out as I please all day long? Staff?

Staff has closed the door behind her. I'm stuck.

This is definitely going on her performance evaluations...

7:56 AM. Watching staff pull out of driveway in car. Work crew still out on road making noise. Wondering if I can call the?county to complain about the noise.

8:25 AM. Work crew slowly grading road. Instead of gravel, you morons could just pave the road. Wondering if that would make more noise or less. Pacing back and forth on windowsill, wondering when they'll get finished.

8:45 AM. That's enough. Time to call the county and have them shut this operation down. It's going to cut into my nap time.

8:46 AM. Have called county officials to file formal complaints. Stymied by their inability to understand cat. Will not lower myself to speak English.

9:35 AM. Work crew sounds are more distant. Down the road now. Hopefully they won't come back, but that noise thoroughly disrupts my daily routine of naps, naps, and more naps. Must write a letter to the editor.

10:45 AM. Finally the machines are distant enough not to annoy me.?Time for naps. It would be ideal if I could be napping whereever would be most inconvenient for the staff, but she's off at that place she calls work.

12:45 PM. Waking up from nap. Needed the rest. Time to stroll about. Perhaps force myself to eat some more of those field rations. Not much of a choice, really. A cat has to eat....

12:57 PM. Finished eating field rations. Even less impressive after a few hours in the bowl than they were this morning. Staff, you and I will have to have a long talk about the quality of my meals, or I will just have to find myself a new staff member.

1:15 PM. Wandering through house. Have stopped by scratching post. Must attack scratching post. Can't help myself. It's in my nature.

1:30 PM. Have finished assaulting scratching post. Still lingering scent of catnip on it. Ah, catnip. There is surely nothing in the world more exquisite. Or more addicting.

1:35 PM. Attacking the scratching post has made me a little sleepy. Nap time.

2:55 PM. Waking up again. Oh, come on, staff, where are you?

3:10 PM. Wandering house. Have found ball of string in upstairs guest room.

Can't resist it... it's calling out to me. I must have it.

3:11 PM. Have given in to urge to attack the ball of string.

4:05 PM. Finally finished unspooling ball of string in epic run around the house. Feeling sleepy. Might take a nap.

5:10 PM. Waking up again. Puzzled by presence of string all over the place.

Oh, right.

I did that.

5:15 PM. Following string along. How did I manage to get it between all of the staircase pillars like that?

5:20 PM. Confused by how the string is now wrapped around the piano. I must have been moving fast. These things happen... I get so obsessed with the string that I don't watch what I'm doing...

5:30 PM. Okay, let me see if I've got this straight... I got the string fed through the telephone casing? How is that possible? Did I violate basic laws of physics?

5:35 PM. I'm starting to think the staff won't be impressed by what I did to the ball of string.?It's everywhere.

5:48 PM. Practise patented innocent look. The one that says, That was like that when I woke up. Don't ask me who did this...

5:55 PM. On the other hand, the argument could be made that it's the fault of the staff. She left a ball of string out in the open, knowing what I might do. Yes, it's her fault.

6:05 PM. Hearing the sound of a car door outside. Scrambling up onto windowsill. Ah, there's the staff. Coming up the walk to the front door.

Let's see, Patented Innocent look, or Blame It On Her? Which should I use?

6:06 PM. Staff opens front door and sees first of the string wound around the doorknob and into the living room. I casually saunter into the hall.

Oh, come on, you're the one who left the string upstairs, and me all by my lonesome for hours on end....

6:07 PM. Staff mutters about wondering why she didn't just get a dog. Staff, we've been through this before. Dogs are silly and foolish creatures. You require a cat. I keep you in your rightful place. Namely under my paw.

6:08 PM. Staff begins long process of dealing with string I've run all over the house. Yes, well, if you left the door open?so I could go in and out at my?leisure as I please all day,?we wouldn't have this problem, would we?

I'd have wound the string around the picnic table and the barbecue.??

7:15 PM. Staff finally finished dealing with the string. She looks at me with a shake of the head and a roll of her eyes. I respond by rubbing my head against her legs and purring.

She melts. Works every single time.

7:25 PM. Staff begins preparing dinner. Staff, I'm assuming better cuisine is in store for me tonight?

7:30 PM. Staff puts down standard field rations and the generic canned meat. Staff, this is not what I meant by better cuisine.

7:45 PM. Have reluctantly finished off evening meal. Will watch staff closely as she prepares her own meal. I smell something distinctly of chicken origins. With those seasonings she uses.

8:10 PM. Staff has finished making her meal. Must sit nearby in kitchen and stare. And then stare some more.

8:15 PM. Staff relents and sets out an additional plate, then puts meat on it, and puts it down on the floor. Taking a sniff. Chicken Parmigiana. Now this is more like it!

8:20 PM. Happily satisfied by extra meal of delicious chicken parmigiana. Staff, this will reflect very well in your performance evaluations.

8:35 PM. Staff finishing up with dishes. Heading into living room. Time to watch a bit of television.

8:40 PM. Political debates. No thank you. They don't talk about what's truly important in the world.

The price of catnip.

8:45 PM. No, not a reality show. No one cares about a sleazy bachelor anyway. Where are the shows that feature attacks on squirrels by cats? That would be Must See TV.

8:50 PM. Staff comes in and takes the remote without asking. Staff, that's not nice.

Staff settles in for a Matthew McConaughey movie. Oh, come on, staff. We've discussed this before. The man looks like he's been hit by too many baseballs. That goofy grin of his is the sort of thing you'd see on a dog.

9:10 PM. Staff persists in watching Matthew McConaughey flirt with hapless Kate Hudson. Why do they make so many movies together? Isn't that cruel and unusual punishment? Where's a Siberian Tiger wandering into the middle of the story for no reason when you really need one?

9:20 PM. Oh, well, at least this movie doesn't feature the Aniston Demon. I have no idea why that woman is famous... I really don't.

9:45 PM. Of course. The misunderstanding between Matthew and Kate that will inevitably lead them to a happy ending regardless. It happens in all of these movies. Makes you want to smack the screenwriter.

I still say he grins like a dog.

And that's not a compliment.

10:15 PM. Credits rolling. Staff bawling. She always gets this way watching those movies. Come on, staff, these films don't rate as tearjerkers.

Humans. Can't figure them out. Never will....

10:20 PM. Staff shuts off television for the night. Staff remarks that she loves those films. Staff, we're going to have to get you a better quality of film to watch. Try The Ghost And The Darkness. I always root for the lions, even though I know the end of the movie.

10:45 PM. Staff gives me a late evening bowl of milk. Very good, staff, there's hope for you yet.

10:55 PM. Staff picks me up for cuddles. Will put up with it. I figure I should let her, what with the whole ball of string all over the house thing I did today....

11:35 PM. Staff brings me up to bed for the night. I purr away. For some reason cuddles do that to me.

Don't tell anyone I said that. I have a reputation to maintain.

Source: http://williamkendallbooks.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-day-in-life-of-cat_26.html

mindy mccready cliff harris cliff harris josh turner barnaby

Living Greener: Tips to Cut Down on Water Waste ? George Slavov's ...

When it comes to being more eco-conscious, most of us could stand to make some improvements in our daily routine. One of our worst habits is inefficient water use. We are not purposely wasting it, we are just not aware of our habits and we take water for granted. But, in the next several years, many states are predicted to have a water shortage; this precious resource is not infinite like we think it is. If you are looking to be a better friend to the environment, there are some easy fixes you can implement right in your home and making an effort to use water more efficiently is a great place to start.

Check for Leaks and Fix Them

You may not think much of a leaky faucet, but even a seemingly small leak like this can waste hundreds of gallons of water a month; a bigger leak may waste thousands. The best way to check for leaks is to record the reading on your water meter, turn off everything in your house that uses water and then check it again several hours later. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.

Toilet Tips

Standard toilets waste a huge amount of water with each flush. A higher-efficiency toilet can reduce water use anywhere from half a gallon to five gallons per flush; this translates to using up to 70 percent less water flushed and 30 percent reduction in indoor water use.

If you cannot purchase a new toilet, there are very inexpensive means to make your current toilet more efficient. You can purchase tank bank or float boosters at home improvement stores, or you can make your own by filling plastic bottles with water, and sand or pebbles; make sure to place them away from the operating mechanisms. This simple fix can save up to 10 gallons of water per day.

More Efficient Showerheads and Faucets

Installing a low-flow showerhead?which means using less than 2.5 gallons per minute?is easy, inexpensive and will significantly cut down on water use. All faucets should be fitted with aerators?this significantly cuts down on water use without affecting pressure. This may be one of the most powerful ways to conserve water and it is also one of the cheapest since aerators can cost as little as a few dollars.

Insulate Hot Water Pipes

Running the water while waiting for it to heat up is a major contributor to inefficient water use in the home. Insulating your water pipes is an inexpensive, simple fix; less water will be wasted and you will get your precious hot water faster?a win-win situation.

Cut Down on Garbage Disposal Use

Garbage disposals can use several gallons of water per day. You can reduce water use by using it less frequently. Put unused food to good use by starting a compost pile for your lawn, trees and other plants. This also helps conserve water by creating healthier soil that retains moisture better, which means less water for landscaping upkeep. Not all food waste is appropriate for compost, however. Acceptable items include fruits, vegetables, breads, crackers and other grain products, coffee grounds, pulverized nut shells, and egg shells. Items to avoid include meat, fish, bones, eggs, dairy products, greasy foods, fatty foods and oils.

Put Grey Water to Good Use

Grey water, or the water left over from domestic activities, such as washing clothes, can be used for other purposes and does not need to go right down into the sewer. It can be used to water your lawn and garden; considering the amount of water we use for landscaping, this can make a significant dent in your overall water use. Depending on how you are using it, you can simply collect it yourself in a bucket or have hardware installed that can divert it automatically.

Kelli Cooper, writing on behalf of Accent Building Products, is a freelance writer who covers a range of topics on green living; she enjoys educating readers on how they can be a better friend to the environment.

Source: http://georgeslavov.com/garden/living-greener-tips-to-cut-down-on-water-waste/

record store day jennie garth space needle nashville predators king arthur king arthur there will be blood

Daytrading, Stock Trading, Investing and Forex Trading ? The Key ...

These are programs which reference past market information when investigating realtime market info, taking the whole breadth of the market into account, to take advantage of the market?s pattern-esque movements and get an exceptionally good read and prophecy on where the market will go next so you can trade sensibly without needing to spend the effort or time doing so yourself. During the past, stocks pick programs were reserved for and only utilised by trading pros with massive firms. First, a refund guarantee goes a good way in this niche.

Stocks pick software has helped a considerable number of traders make big money on some hot choices, but because it's been so worthwhile for so many traders this has led a considerable number of publishers to piece together ineffectual pickers of their own and pass them off as cash earners with interesting branding and internet sites. Refusing to endure and correctly handle trades that do not work leads to trading gaffes. It's the incapacity to deal with the inescapable losing trade that causes traders to chop winning trades short, move stops in the middle of a trade, cling to losing trades, average down, and fail to click on the trigger on sound trade setups. Learning how to accept and handle trading loss could be of the same importance as making good trades. Survival Tips Here are 7 steps to survive and even flourish when suffering a loss : Put down the trade as it happened : Don?t sweep the loss under the rug! Include how you viewed the market at the time and the way in which the market action and your signals seemed to meet the standards for a sound trade set up. Judge the trade : Once the trading day is over, return to what you wrote and see what can be learned.

It's a wrong idea as day traders shouldn't only understand completely the logic trading but they also have to have a clear and calm attitude to make imperative call. Perhaps you are thinking about those day traders are just too fortunate to make some random profit in market. Almost all of the decisions get made in an exceedingly brief time period , thus, either a vet day trader or those depend on the help of trading methodology ought to have a clear mind and powerful heart to do that. Some of the systems can overlook and monitor the stockmarket, or select the best pick of stock for trader . You may either select the systems to frequently update the new stock statistical data, or use the ones that can investigate and prompt you the bullish stock pick or which is going to plunge. There'll be moments when you believe there is an excellent chance to make a trade only to realise that you are heading towards a problem.

The key here is to think first prior to jumping in. You have got to look at the situation rigorously before deciding for the very next step. The only possible way to be successful in the exchange so far as day-trading is anxious is, to make predictions about the stock patterns and attempt to make a capital on the short term market upturn. * Playing stories ? this plan of action is to buy stock in a company that has just reported good news * Range Trading ? here's where stock which has been rising and falling is acquired close to the low price and sold as it hits the heavy price range. Tips for surviving and prospering as a trader The 5 commonest methods adopted by day traders who try to make are profit are * Trend following ? utilized by all trading firms this tactic presupposes that stocks that having been increasing constantly may continue to rise. * Covering spreads ? To play the spread or the make the spread basically means to buy stock at the Bid price and sell the stock at the Ask cost. The biggest difference between the bid price and the ask price is sometimes known as the spread.

Source: http://traders101.com/2012/09/25/the-key-here-is-to-think-first-prior-to-jumping-right-in/

phoebe prince jose reyes college football bowl schedule college football bowl schedule double mastectomy 2011 bowl schedule bcs games

Painted Address Pumpkin Topiary | The Motherload

One of my favorite things about Fall is the fun crafts that I get to do with all of those beautiful Fall pumpkins! Today I wanted to showcase an easy painted address pumpkin topiary that you an create with just a few supplies from your local Walmart store. This painted address pumpkin topiary would the be the perfect way to dress up your porch, porch step, or a little corner in your room.

Craft Supplies Needed

2- 75 inch pumpkins (any color)- $4.87 each

8? pumpkins (how ever many you need to complete you house number)- $4.87 each

Black Plaid FolkArt acrylic paint (I chose the shiny variety)- $1.77

4? Plaid letter stencils ($3.77)

Stencil Brushes ($5.47)

Clear tape (in supplies)

Hot glue gun & glue sticks (in supplies)

8? pot (I found mine in the clearance section of the store for $11.96)

1. Begin by twisting off the stems on all of the pumpkins that will be going on the bottom of your topiary. You will want to leave your top pumpkin (the 75? one) with the stem intact. All the other stems can come off.

2. Center your stencil on your pumpkin and attach it with clear tape. Make sure when positioning your numbers that when you stack the pumpkins, you will be able to see the number clearly in the center. You will especially want to do this for your bottom pumpkin since it will be wedged in your pot.

3. Trace your number with a pencil. Remove your stencil.

4. Pour your acrylic paint in a disposable cup or bowl. Using a small paintbrush, carefully paint your number on your pumpkin. If you make an error, use a cloth or a damp Q-tip to remove any painting errors. Set your pumpkin aside, and repeat the process on each of the other pumpkins until you have stenciled your address number.

5. Wedge your 75? pumpkin into the pot. This should be a tight fit so you will not need to glue or attach your pumpkin into the base. Stack your next pumpkin and carefully hot glue in each spot where the pumpkins are joined together. Hold the pumpkins together to secure for a minute or two. Repeat this process until you reach the top of your pumpkin stack!

Stand back and behold your pumpkin glory! Isn?t this just the cutest thing ever? I know all of my neighbors are going to be so jealous!

I hope they are half as impressed as my cat.

Seriously.

Looking for more Fall crafts? Be sure to check out my round-up of the Best Fall Crafts on MomAdvice. I hope you will find it inspiring, friends!

?
Pin It
Source: http://momadvice.com/blog/2012/09/painted-address-pumpkin-topiary
melasma jimmy rollins jimmy rollins let it snow jason trawick jerry lewis tampa bay bucs

Nadal not sure when he'll return from knee injury

FILE - This June 10, 2012 file photo shows Rafael Nadal wiping his face as he plays Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their men's final match in the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Nadal still has no timetable for his return from a knee injury. The Spaniard hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June to little-known Lukas Rosol. (AP Photo/David Vincent, File)

LONDON (AP) ? Rafael Nadal still has no timetable for his return from a knee injury, and the 11-time Grand Slam champion isn't sure if he'll play the Australian Open in January.

"All that is in my mind is to keep working hard to come back," Nadal said in interviews with European newspapers Tuesday. "I cannot think about the future because it's not like if you break your arm and you know you will have a few weeks like this, then a few weeks like that and then you are back."

The Spaniard hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June to little-known Lukas Rosol. Nadal is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.

"This is a day-by-day thing," Nadal said. "I have checks every day to see how I'm improving. I can't predict what will happen."

Nadal could miss the ATP World Tour Finals in London Nov. 5-12 and Spain's Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic Nov. 16-18.

As for the Australian Open, he was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "I hope you see me in Australia. That is the biggest goal for me, to come back just before then in Qatar, but I cannot say for sure it is going to happen. The only thing is to recover well. I want to be 100 percent when I come back."

Nadal said he played with anti-inflammatories to get through the French Open, which he won for a record seventh time, and took pain-killing injections at Wimbledon.

He said he was particularly upset at missing the London Olympics, where he had been scheduled to carry the Spanish flag at the opening ceremony.

"I was very, very sad for three weeks around then," he said. "It only comes every four years. Missing the U.S. Open was hard, but you think you will have more chances."

Nadal praised Andy Murray, who won the U.S. Open for his first Grand Slam title after losing in four previous major finals.

"He deserves it more than anyone," Nadal said. "I am very happy for him."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-09-25-Nadal%20Injury/id-76785c17c8b54c5bb946f5e5b1dd1dc9

woody guthrie benson henderson 2012 dunk contest edgar vs henderson berkshire hathaway ufc 144 james jones

RIM Shows Off BlackBerry 10?s Gaming Prowess

The perception of RIM?s BlackBerry ecosystem is that it?s only meant for business use; too stuffy. The company tried to change that by introducing some standard games to the equation with its Blackberry PlayBook, but it?s handsets remained largely without any entertainment prospects.

With BlackBerry 10?s new touchscreen interface, however, it looks like mainstream mobile games will finally be making their way to BlackBerry devices.?During its keynote today, RIM?s team lead for gaming, Sean Paul Taylor showed off some of the games that will be coming to BlackBerry 10.

Of the four games shown during the keynote, four were rehashes of titles we?ve already seen on Android and iOS including Shark Dash, Jetpack Joyride, and Shadowrun. Each game appeared to run smoothly and without and hiccups, although and real impressions will have to wait until we can actually get our hands on them.?

The one game that did interest us was the space shooter Alpha Zero. RIM says the game is brand new and will make its big debut on BlackBerry 10. Taylor says the game supports multitouch gestures, allowing users to control their ship?s lasers by moving two fingers around the screen.?

That was it for the games RIM was showing off for its new OS. There also wasn?t any mention of the number of games that will be available for the operating system at launch. If RIM really wants to drop its stodgy image, it?ll have to offer users far more entertainment options than what we?ve seen.?

Source: http://blog.laptopmag.com/rim-shows-off-blackberry-10s-gaming-prowess

ides of march elizabeth smart nick young south dakota state long beach state beasley trailblazers

Monday, September 24, 2012

Snedeker pulls away to win FedEx Cup

Brandt Snedeker reacts after sinking his putt on the 18th hole to win the Tour Championship golf tournament and the FedEx Cup, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Brandt Snedeker reacts after winning the Tour Championship golf tournament and the FedEx Cup in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Brandt Snedeker reacts after sinking his putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Brandt Snedeker waves to the crowd after winning the Tour Championship golf tournament and the FedEx Cup, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Brandt Snedeker acknowledges applause from the crowd after sinking a putt on the fourth hole during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

ATLANTA (AP) ? With the biggest round of his career, Brandt Snedeker won something far more valuable than money Sunday.

He proved to himself he could beat the best in the world.

Snedeker knew his best chance to be the FedEx Cup champion was to win the Tour Championship, no simple task with East Lake as tough as ever and Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods going after the same prize.

Snedeker was the only player in the last five groups to break par.

He answered the final challenge with three big birdies on the back nine, building such a big lead that his final tee shot sailed into the grandstands to the left of the 18th green and it didn't even matter. Snedeker still closed with a 2-under 68 for a three-shot win in the Tour Championship, and a $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup.

But this was never about money.

"I think it solidifies what I already know," Snedeker said. "I think when I play my best golf, my best golf is some of the best in the world. I've never had more confidence in myself than I have the last five weeks, and I made sure that I kept telling myself that all day. I am one of the best players in the world. This is supposed to happen. It's OK to feel nervous, and no matter what I feel today, everybody else in the field feels exactly the same way I do.

"So go out there and get it done. I did a great job of that."

McIlroy, the best player in golf this year and the No. 1 seed going into the Tour Championship, faded early by dropping four shots in a four-hole span on the front nine. So did Woods, who already was 3 over on his round before making his first birdie on the par-5 ninth.

Snedeker wound up with a three-shot victory over Justin Rose (71) to win the Tour Championship, his second win this year and a trophy that came with $1.44 million. Add the $10 million bonus from the FedEx Cup, and it's the richest payoff in golf.

Big deal.

The 31-year-old from Nashville, Tenn., calls that kind of money "crazy talk ... like winning the lottery." Far greater perspective came from a 30-minute hospital visit Sunday morning with Tucker Anderson, the son of his swing coach who was critically injured in a car accident and is in a responsive coma.

"I asked him if he thought I was going to beat Rory McIlroy, and he gave me a wink," Snedeker said.

He beat McIlroy out of the FedEx Cup, and everyone else in his way at East Lake. Ryan Moore was tied for the lead with birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, only to make bogey on the last three holes for a 70 to tie for third with Luke Donald (67).

McIlroy had won the last two playoff events and three of his last four tournaments dating to his record eight-shot win at the PGA Championship. He still is virtually a lock to be voted PGA Tour player of the year, but he had to settle for second place ? and a $3 million bonus ? in the FedEx Cup.

And so ends the most successful year yet in the FedEx Cup ? four wildly entertaining playoff events packed with the biggest names, even if the No. 1 player in the world wound up at No. 2.

"I'm a little disappointed, but at the same time, Brandt really deserves to win," McIlroy said. "He played the best golf out of anyone. He knew what he needed to do. He needed to come in here and win. He controlled his own destiny, just like I did. And he was able to come and do that. So because of that, he really deserves it."

How can Snedeker explain winning the FedEx Cup over a player who won twice during the playoffs?

"Life is all about timing," he said, grinning.

Snedeker, who finished on 10-under 270, won for the fourth time in his career and moved into the top 10 in the world for the first time.

It also was his first time winning with a share of the lead going into the last day. In his previous three wins, he came from five shots, six shots and seven shots behind, the latter at Torrey Pines this year.

That's what made Sunday feel more valuable than the cash. That's what he takes to the Ryder Cup next week at Medinah, where no one can question why U.S. captain Davis Love III picked him for the team.

"I'm a lot better under pressure than I gave myself credit for," Snedeker said. "I learned that over the last four weeks. I've had a lot of pressure the last four weeks and a bunch of different stuff going on in my life. To be able to focus in and do what I did was pretty impressive."

Snedeker joins Woods (twice), Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Bill Haas as winners of the FedEx Cup in its six-year history.

It was an emotional week in so many ways for Snedeker, already a high-strung personality. His father, Larry, flew in to watch final round at East Lake, only the second tournament he has attended since having a liver transplant last year. And then came the visit with Tucker.

"It just made me realize ... as much as I made today out be important, how unimportant it really is," he said. "It got me focused on the small stuff, which I did a great job of doing today."

But he delivered some big shots ? a 40-foot birdie putt on No. 8, just two holes after he dumped his tee shot into the water on the par-3 sixth and made double bogey; the 18-foot birdie putt on No. 13 that gave him momentum on the back nine; and a chip-in for birdie from short of the 17th green that effectively clinched it.

"I had complete confidence in what I was doing," Snedeker said.

Rose was within one shot on the back nine, but he never caught up after Snedeker's big birdie on the 13th. Rose will look back on the final round and regret a series of missed putts, mostly for birdies and one for par, all of them costly. He missed four putts inside 10 feet.

"He's mentally tough, Brandt," Rose said. "It's kind of a different pressure, playing for $10 million. It gets in your head more than other golf tournaments. Other golf tournaments, it's more routine. But this week, it's not routine. We talk about it all year long, and suddenly you have to walk the walk. And he did a great job of that today."

Snedeker, McIlroy and Woods were separated by four shots going into the final round. All any of them had to do was win to capture the FedEx Cup.

Woods, who was four shots behind, was the first to leave the picture. He missed the first fairway with a 3-wood and made bogey, hit into the water on the par-3 sixth hole and was never a factor the rest of the way. He birdied the last hole for a 72 and finished eight shots behind in a tie for eighth.

"I just didn't have it this weekend," Woods said.

McIlroy, three off the lead, also came undone early. He had 11 consecutive rounds in the 60s during the FedEx Cup playoff, but with a strong breeze and a fierce golf course, that was bound to end. He sped the process along by getting caught up in the rough on No. 4 for bogey, hitting into the water on the sixth for double bogey, and driving into a bunker on the next hole for yet another bogey. He shot a 74 to finish nine strokes back.

The toughest part for Snedeker is figuring out what to do with such a windfall. The only thing he has ever splurged on was his home in Nashville, which he said was "not grandiose." He still drives the SUV he bought when he first joined the PGA Tour in 2006.

"I'm not by any means a flashy guy," he said. "Of anybody that I know, I do not need $11 million. So there are going to be things we can do to really help people. So that's the way I look at it. This is unbelievable to be financially stable for the rest of my career. As long as I'm not an idiot, I should be fine, really. I really think we can make a difference and help a lot of people out in Nashville and Tennessee and the surrounding areas."