1.  As a full-service local columnist, I've gone through the trouble of providing you a generic holiday letter to include with your cards.

2.  As a basketball coach, I'm going over everything three hours before a game to see if you're ready.

3.  As a child, he would go to the Tijuana racetrack with his brother Joe, who was a jockey.

4.  Despite a snowstorm that slowed traffic in the area that day, all but three of the critters were gone by Wednesday afternoon.

5.  Despite the amount of glass, wood, cardboard and other traditionally recyclable items left by the tornado, every scrap of debris has gone to the landfill.

6.  Despite her strengths as an organizer _ and 14,000 contributors to her campaign _ Baird has gone after the GOP incumbent on bread-and-butter issues like student loans and Medicare.

7.  Despite that commitment, the Easton project has gone without mention in the Limited's reports to shareholders that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

8.  Despite the prominence of the Raiders' Jett-setters, their offensive line may go just as far in determining how far this team goes this season.

9.  Despite their ongoing relationship with ISL, the Big Ten isn't going for the proposal, either, right now.

10.  Despite this, Miller will go into October's world championships in Sabae, Japan, as the favorite.