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Are you thinking about moving your business to the cloud? If so, you'll need a cloud provider. The provider needs to be a partner that will collaborate with you on design, and build and support a tailored solution that meets your business requirements for security, compliance, reliability and customization. But how do you determine which provider is right for your business? Knowing the right questions to ask is half the battle. In this slideshow, Concerto Cloud Services has identified five questions organizations should pose to prospective service providers during the selection process. Charting this information on a scorecard with which you can base your final decision is a recommended way to approach the process.
Related Topics : IBM Looks to Redefine Industry Standard Servers, APC, Brocade, Citrix Systems, Data Center
While HCI is certainly innovative in design, its true measure lies in the practical benefits it brings to data center management and operations. ... More >>
Survey findings include pain points for secondary storage, average restore times, the growth of hyperconvergence and rate of cloud adoption in enterprises. ... More >>
IT administrators need to identify zombie assets, verify idle status and shut off anything that is unused. Here's how to get your dormant infrastructure back in shape. ... More >>

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A look at cattle ranches of America's Great Plains, 100 years ago
The following paragraphs are quoted from the textbook, World Geographies: Second Book (p. 112-115) by Ralph S. Tarr and Frank M. McMurry, published in New York by the MacMillan Company in 1922.
Passing westward from the fertile valley of the Red River of the North, one finds the farmhouses decreasing in number and the country becoming more and more arid until finally, in western North Dakota, there is very little farming without irrigation. At the same time, the plains gradually rise higher and higher, until, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, an elevation of fully a mile above the sea is reached. This arid plateau, extending from Canada to southwestern Texas is commonly known as the Great Plains...
...[M]ost of the arid region of the Great Plains is unsuited to farming. For this reason, there are comparatively few large cities, as you can see on the map. The entire western third of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, as well as the Great Plains farther west, are given over mainly to ranching.
This industry is carried on in much the same way throughout all parts of the arid West. In western North Dakota, for instance, there is little water except in the widely separated streams, and there are very few trees except along the stream banks. Since the ranchman must have both water and wood, he locates his house, sheds, and stockades, or corrals, within easy reach of these two things. If there is no neighbor within several miles it is all the better, for his cattle are then more certain to find abundant grass.
A single ranchman may own from ten to twenty thousand head of cattle, and yet they may all be allowed to wander upon public land, called "the range". Usually they keep within a distance of thirty miles of the ranch-house; but sometimes they stray one or two hundred miles away.
Twice a year there is a general collection, or round-up, of cattle,-- the first round-up occurring in May or June, and the other early in the fall. One object of the first is to brand the calves that have been born during the winter.
Since there are few fences, cattle belonging to ranches which are even a hundred miles apart become mixed during the winter; and those in a large herd may belong to a score of different ranchmen. Each cattle owner has a certain mark, or brand, in the form of a letter, a cross, a horseshoe, etc., which is burnt into the side of every calf.
A round-up, which lasts several weeks, is planned by a number of ranchmen together. A squad of perhaps twenty cowboys with a wagon and provisions, a large number of riding horses, or "ponies," and a cook, go in one direction; and other wagons, with similar "outfits," set out in other directions. Before separating in the morning, the members of a squad agree upon a certain camping place for the night, and they then scour the country to bring the cattle together, riding perhaps sixty or eighty miles during the day.
The second large round-up is similar to the first, except that its object is to bring together the steers, or male cattle, and ship them away to market; it is therefore called the beef round-up. A ranchman who owns twenty thousand cattle may sell nearly half that number in a season. As the steers are collected, they are loaded upon trains and shipped to distant cities to be slaughtered.
Very often the cattle have found so little water and such poor pasturage, that they have failed to fatten properly, and must be fed for a time before being slaughtered. This may be done upon the irrigated fields near the rivers in the ranch country; or the cattle may be sent for this purpose to the farms farther east, as in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska.
This passage is quoted from the textbook, World Geographies: Second Book (p. 112-115) by Ralph S. Tarr and Frank M. McMurry, published in New York by the MacMillan Company in 1922.


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Nokia: Microsoft Buys Phone Division, Licenses Patents for $7B
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Nokia (NOK) a short while ago Tuesday morning announcedMicrosoft (MSFT) will purchase the "Devices & Services" business of the Finnish phone company for €5.44 billion in cash, or $7.2 billion, of which €3.79 billion is for the ongoing operations and €1.65 billion is for a 10-year, non-exclusive license by Microsoft of Nokia's patents, with Microsoft in return granting some use of Microsoft's own patents.
Nokia's ordinary shares traded in Helsinki (NOK1V) ended Monday's session up about 4 Euro cents, or 1.3%, at €2.96. Nokia's American Depository Receipts ended Friday's session at $3.90.
Microsoft is making €1.5 billion available to Nokia right away, in the form of 5-, 6- and 7-year bonds. Microsoft will continue to use the Nokia brand for 10 years, Nokia said.
The deal leaves Nokia with its "NSN" telecom equipment business, its mapping technology business, and a third business developing "advanced technologies," Nokia said. The board of directors of Nokia is evaluating the strategy going forward for the remaining businesses.
Nokia said the deal, if it had been completed last quarter, would have boosted its net cash at the end of Q2 to €7.8 billion.
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, formerly a Microsoft executive, will step down and leave the board of directors, and become the executive vice president of Microsoft's "Devices & Services" business. Microsoft will absorb 32,000 Nokia staff. He will be replaced on an interim basis at Nokia by Risto Siilasmaa.
Nokia shareholders must approve the transaction, and there will be a meeting of holders for that purpose on November 19th.
Nokia will hold a conference call at 3 pm Helsinki time, which is 8 am Eastern time. You can access a webcast of the presentation on the company's investor relations Web site.


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The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation based primarily in Germany. Like most of the world's scientific research groups, the Göttingen Institute relies on computation as a vital tool for conducting and analysing the results of its work. For Professor Holger Stark and his group, their investigations into 3D Electron Cryomicroscopy have been significantly accelerated by the Institute's adoption of parallel computing on the graphics processing unit (GPU) using NVIDIA's CUDA and Tesla technology.
Professor Stark's work seeks to increase our understanding of the structure and 3D movement of tiny nanomolecular structures called macromolecules. Present in every living cell, these biological 'machines' are responsible for the most fundamental processes of life so gaining an accurate picture of their mechanisms is vital. For example, antibiotics work by acting on the functions of a particular kind of macromolecule in bacteria called a ribosome. A detailed understanding of these ribosomes and their functions is therefore very important in allowing medical researchers to develop effective drugs.
To produce detailed 3D images of macromolecules, Professor Stark's team uses an electron microscope. Although modern electron microscopes are capable of resolutions higher than the distance between individual atoms, the biological structures being studied here would be destroyed by such an intense electron beam. To avoid harming the biological structures, the team cools their samples to a very low temperature and then uses a relatively low electron dose while observing the macromolecules' structure and 3D movement. But since the low resolution produces "noisy" images which then need to be cleaned up, the researchers developed specialized 3D image processing tools that reduce noise and quickly align multiple images to improve accuracy.
Using a CPU cluster with 48 cores, the team was able to align 15,000 images in around seven days. However, at this rate, their target of aligning one million images would take 1.3 years for every macromolecule studied.
In February 2008, the Institute's Göttingen facility became the first NVIDIA® Tesla™ installation in the world, with 200 GPUs in server configuration. By using the NVIDIA CUDA™ programming language to run their algorithms on the Tesla server solutions, the researchers were able to take advantage of the massively parallel computing power of GPUs and perform their calculations at a much faster rate.
With this GPU configuration, the alignment of one million images now takes 14 hours – over 800 times faster than what was possible on the previous CPU cluster. Due to these results, the Institute plans to expand its Tesla facility, allowing the image alignment process to be completed in just nine hours; placing the Göttingen GPU cluster's theoretical performance on a par with the world's most powerful supercomputers.
"NVIDIA's GPU technology is exactly what our team needed," says Stark, "and it came along at just the right time. The difference it makes to our work is fundamental – we can now perform calculations in just a few hours which were impossibly slow on our previous CPU-based solution. This technology is allowing us to accelerate innovation and discovery."
New insights into the relationship between antibiotics and macromolecules in bacteria will lead to the development of more effective drugs and antibiotics. In time it is hoped that this will contribute to quicker recovery from illnesses and surgical procedures and ultimately saving lives.


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My ex-colleague and buddy, Luke Closs is a pretty amazing juggler. Well, he gave a presentation entitled Juggling for Geeks at the recent YAPC::NA 2007. I also happen to love juggling in my spare time (quite modestly), and so should you, it's good for the brain cells!
Check out the video for yourself, it's a pretty nice introduction to some more advanced elements of juggling, especially the pretty cool
Siteswap notation for describing tricks. Best for those that have already mastered the basic 3-ball juggling pattern, but looking for a base to learn new tricks on.


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MIDDLEBURY ––Planned Parenthood has drawn more attention on the national stage over the past few years, largely due to concerns about the organization's provision of abortion care.
ADDISON COUNTY –– 3SquaresVT beneficiaries will now get more bang for their buck at Vermont farmers markets.
At the start of July the Northeastern Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and the Wholesome Wave Foundation began Harvest Health Coupons, a new initiative designed to encourage beneficiaries of 3SquaresVT, the state's food stamp program, to purchase food at farmers markets.
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MIDDLEBURY –– Planned Parenthood is a national reproductive health care provider, which is divided into regional affiliates. The Middlebury Health Center is one of 10 sites that comprise Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE).
Planned Parenthood provides a variety of reproductive health services to men and women, explained Jill Krowinski, director of Vermont public affairs for PPNNE.
WEYBRIDGE –– Michael Claudon managed to combine three of his passions –– antique clocks, economics and wooden boats –– into one successful business venture.
Claudon started Snake Mountain Boatworks in 2008, opening it for customers in 2011. Before that, he worked with antique clocks and taught economics at Middlebury College. He explained that the jump from restoring clocks to wooden boats is not as farfetched as it seems.
I recently realized that I don't appreciate the smell of freshly spread manure enough.
I didn't suddenly decide that I love the odor, but I have discovered the scent a reminder of home and of the beautiful landscape around me, a landscape that I have not appreciated fully until recently.
I attend college outside of Boston, which is a considerable change in scenery from what I see here in Addison County. Down there I don't have the same views of rolling mountains and green pastures and the smell of manure is nowhere to be found.
NEW HAVEN –– A line of farmers waded through waist-high wheat in a New Haven field last Thursday, looking closely at the plants, determining if it could be harvested soon and asking questions about everything from the effects of dry and wet weather to the types of wheat that are doing the best this year.
VERGENNES — Visiting Racquet's Edge outpaced the Vergennes Champs, 269-214, in Champlain Valley Swim League action on Thursday.
Tucker Stearns won three races for the home team, while Allison Croke, Katrina Mayer and Matteo Palmer picked up two victories apiece for the Champs.
The Champs also won eight relays, sweeping the 10-and-under and 18-and-under boys' and girls' races.
Earning points for Vergennes with top-three finishes in individual races were:
VERGENNES –– Two Jupiter-sized planets were recently discovered by a research group led by Waltham native Sam Quinn and his adviser, Russel White.
Quinn, 26, graduated from Harvard University in 2005 with a degree in astronomy and astrophysics and is now a PhD candidate at Georgia State University.
VERGENNES –– Charles Gravier, Le Comte de Vergennes, a French nobleman for whom the city of Vergennes was named, died in 1787. But on July 14 le Comte de Vergennes will be strolling around the streets of the Little City, stopping to talk to passersby and leading a tour of the city's downtown.
French explorer Samuel de Champlain, who lived from 1574 to 1635, will also be hanging out in the City Park this Saturday telling his personal history. Craftspeople will be knitting, making 18th century shoes, quilting, blacksmithing and spinning.
Editor's note: Nonprofits and other organizations that depend heavily on income from U.S. government sources have to look for other funding or rein in their services. This is the second in a series looking at how locals are reacting to moves to cut spending on the federal government level.
ADDISON COUNTY –– Isaiah Goff nodded as Jenn Cunningham described the importance of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Vergennes.
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WALTHAM, Mass.- Brandeis University seniors Kate Warwick of Boxborough, Mass., and Chris Brown of North Chelmsford, Mass., have been selected as University Athletic Association (UAA) Indoor Track and Field Runners of the Week for the week ending Feb. 12 after their performances at the Boston University Valentine's Invitational last Friday and Saturday.
Warwick, competing in the 5,000-meter run, placed 10th overall, sixth among collegiate runners and second among Division III competitors for Brandeis's best performance of the meet. Her time of 17:03.44 was 17 seconds faster than her previous season- and lifetime-best in the event. She owns the fastest time in the UAA this season and the fourth-fastest in Division III. This was her second UAA Runner of the Week honor of the 2011-12 indoor season.
Brown, who was honored as UAA Runner of the Week for the third time this season for his performance in the mile run. Brown was 21st overall with a time of 4:05.98. He finished 13th among collegians and second among Division III runners at the meet. Brown's time was just under two-and-a-half seconds better than his previous lifetime best and ranks him first in the UAA and third in all of Division III this season.
With their top-five rankings at this stage in the season, Warwick and Brown are good bets to qualify for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field championships, which will be held March 9-10 at Grinnell College in Iowa. The top 13 men and 15 women in the NCAA rankings in each event will be selected. For Brown, it would be his fourth appearance at NCAAs, having made three trips to the Division III cross country championships with the Brandeis men from 2008 to 2010, while Warwick qualified for the NCAA cross country championships as an individual in 2011.
Warwick is a 2008 graduate of Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. She is the daughter of Robert and Cindy Warwick, Boxborough, Mass.
Brown is a 2008 graduate of Chelmsford High School. He is the son of James and Susan Brown, No. Chelmsford, Mass.


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Aeration---getting pure oxygen
Buying, building and using brewing equipment and apparatus. Product reviews and questions.
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Aeration---getting pure oxygen
I was thinking of getting a SS aeration stone, and dont want to mess around with aerating with a pump for 30-40 minutes and making a ton of foam, so where can I buy/get some oxygen????
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Hey everyone! Hope your holidays were awesome! Santa got me what I wanted so I'm pleased haha! Though it was hectic this christmas, 12 of us all staying in my tiny house and 2 young kids. Wow.
Anyway, my Mum does pickles every year for gifts, lime pickle, picalilli, beetroot etc. This year I got a couple of jars!! Both quite large, one is pickled garlic (I use garlic a lot in cooking so very useful!) and some pickled ginger slices. Now these babies are HOT, helped clear my sinuses of my cold xD But sooooo very tasty!
I was wondering if you guys had any ideas on what I could use the ginger and garlic for? Would the ginger work in onigiri maybe?
I'm not short, I'm fun sized ^_^
I'm brain numb on what to do with pickled garlic as it's a finished food for me (I'd rather peel some fresh cloves for cooking with).
Same with the ginger, except it is something I use to add flavour to other tsukemono-style side dishes or dressings.
(I'm more likely to use beni shoga to cook with than gari - the ginger you described sounds more similar to gari to me. Beni shoga does taste differernt to gari and 'blends' in well with foods like yakisoba and okonomiyaki. Gari is 'harsher' and doesn't blend in so well, so it is often regarded as a lively way to refresh the palate)
Anyway, back to your mum's gift of pickled ginger, a couple of examples from me would be:
Shred the ginger, add it and some of the pickling juice to some soy sauce/shoyu, add a couple of drops of sesame oil, stir and pour over rice and avocado (rice, avocado and smoked salmon is particularly nice). Garnish with chopped spring onion/green onion.
Make fresh 'instant' cucumber pickles with it.
Slice some cucumber (if using English cucumbers, slice in half lengthways and scoop out the seeds first), put the slices in a sieve/colander sprinkle on some salt and leave to drain for 10-20 minutes. Rinse the cucumbers and shake/squeeze off excess water.
Make up a dressing similar to that above with sliced or shredded pickled ginger, pickle juice, shoyu, a touch of sesame oil or rayu or sesame oil and dried chili flakes if you want a chili kick and leave the cucumber to marinade for at least an hour. - Try and eat these within as day, these won't keep for very long.
Try both of your pickles as salad dressing ingredients.
Personally, I'm not sure I'd want the ginger or the garlic as an onigiri ingredient. I'd be happy to eat gari or shoyu garlic WITH an onigiri (pickles, onigiri and a bowl of miso soup is a classic combination) but for some reason the idea of biting through rice into a pocket of fiery vinegared ginger isn't appealing to me - yet I enjoy alternating between mouthfuls of rice and mouthfuls of gari. I'm not sure why that is.
Those sound particularly yummy!! Thanks a lot! Dressings would work best now you said it actually. I may try a bit in a stir fry as well. Guess just playing around will be best to work it out as well!
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Sheet music downloads have become the preferred method of acquiring classical music repertoire. Created by professional musicians, EveryNote.com presents classical sheet music download of over 20.000 popular and hard-to-find music scores over 1000 composers. A major Internet provider of classical sheet music files download online, EveryNote.com offers the largest and most complete digital sheet music download library on the Web in the world. Instantly download, view and print your favorite classical music score. Everynote.com currently offers thousands of classical music compositions for Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Classical Guitar, Voice, Chamber and Choral music.Many more instruments, composers, genres added every day! EveryNote.com has been featured in The New York Times, Globe and Mail, Musical America and many other publications.
Edward Harry Kelly 1879 - 1955
Edward Kelly short biography
As Ragtime became fashionable in the USA, Edward Kelley received a national recognition as a composer. As a child, Kelly was already playing in Ragtime bands and writing music for them. In 1905, Kelly wrote Peaceful Henry, which became famous overnight and was recorded by numerous bands in the USA and abroad. Having composed many more popular Rags, Kelly organized his own Kelly's Band and Orchestra in 1906. The band was very successful and enjoyed a long career. In 1917, Kelly put together a fifty-piece band that performed a Welcome Home concert for returning WWII veterans.
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In response to Rich's comment, I don't think the Sox are in danger of moving. Where would they go? Unless MLB starts contracting teams, there are much worse places to be than the 2nd team in Chicago. Just ask the A's (who are in much worse shape as far as fan support and revenues go) how easy it is to find a new city to move to.
I don't necessarily agree that the Sox fanbase has shrunk. I guess it depends on what time frame he is talking about. Since 1967? Since 1983? Yeah, I could see that. I think the Sox's moves to UHF in the late 60s and, more catastrophically, the move to pay TV SportsVision in 1982 is what really decimated this fan base in a way that this team has yet to recover. But, in the last 10 years? I'd say Sox support in the Chicago market is much better now than it was before 2005. I think the 2005 team won over a bunch of youngsters to the Sox and that we'll see this translate to more paying customers once these kids grow up and enter the work force in another 10 years or so
You are absolutely right. Failing to make the post season in consecutive years EVER is a pretty damning stat for the White Sox. If you are already the "underdog" team in a 2-team market, you're not going to build up a huge following when you make the playoffs typically once every 5 years or so. It's pathetic that we're in the 18th season of the 3-division, 1 wild card arrangement and the Sox have only been able to scatter a few playoff appearances.
The Tigers are on the verge of making the playoffs for a 2nd consecutive year. Say what you will about their lousy defense, but their ownership is willing to put up the big bucks to build a contender. They brought in Prince Fielder. They were willing to essentially eat Dontrelle Willis's contract to get Miguel Cabrera. These are things that Sox ownership won't commit to doing unless their bottom line supports it.
Don't forget that part of the problem is the continual lack of much talent in our minor league system. I'm glad to see Sale and Reed look like home-grown successes. But the depth in this organization is just too thin. We can't continue to rely solely on expensive signing like Dunn or scrap-heap success stories to become a consistent winner. What the Sox have been able to do well in the last 10 years or so is be a consistent "average or better" team. Just being around .500 most years with a smattering of post season appearances every 5 years isn't going to cut it.
What really pisses me off is that this is always turned around to be an indictment against Sox fans. "Oh, where are the fans!!!! They should be packing that place every night! even though they're coming off 3 disappointing seasons and an offseason where Sox management seemed to emphasize budget austerity."
This is so spot-on, it should be framed.
This has been a golden opportunity for the Sox while the Ricketts era on the North Side has gotten off to a bumpy start. Since 2005, I think it's been clear that the people are no longer buying the notion that all things Cubs are wonderful.
....but the Sox are once again pissing away another golden opportunity. If you think Sox attendance and competitiveness in Chicago is lackluster now, I'd hate to think what will happen if the Cubs ever got their act together while the Sox continue on their continue path of not being serious contenders year in and year out.
I'm always fascinated by how the TV numbers play into things. I find it really hard to reconcile the increase in TV viewership for 2012 (which makes total sense) with a drop in ballpark attendance. For one, TV viewership indicates some level of overall "sox fans" in the region, and ever since the Sox had higher TV numbers than the Cubs in 2006, I've believed that the Chicago-region numbers were evening out a little. I'm sure the Cubs still own a healthy margin of "I'm a cubs fan" vs "I'm a sox fan" if asked, but the number gap wasn't that large post 2005. I'd say more along the lines of 60-40 cubs-sox in the overall chicago region. Maybe a bit higher, but that still should mean the Sox fan base is larger than many entire markets.
I guess I don't believe that the overall sox fanbase is small - and based on the fact that TV numbers went up this year, it means people were paying more attention to the first place team, but just weren't showing up to the park. To me that is directly related to marketing and sales on the Sox side to draw season ticket holders. Also could be a economic issue.
Attendance record: 1-0
Nice little slap in the face of the "intransigent Bridgeport people" for the lack of a thriving bar/party scene in Bridgeport around the park.
Somebody show that moron how to use Google Maps and let him see aerial photos of Wrigely Field and Sox Park and maybe he'll figure out what the difference is.
2015 Obligatory Attendance/Record Tracker
LAST GAME: May 22 - Sox 3, Twins 2
NEXT GAME: June 8 - Sox vs. Astros
Talking about 'culture' in general is a crapshoot but here goes:
Something also to consider is what has changed in general since 2006 in the ways people consume media and spend their free time?
HDTVs and online streaming of games have heightened the quality and accessibility of sporting content at home. Spend thousands of dollars on tickets, concessions, and parking or a couple hundred (at most) a year on a nice TV and beer and food at home? No commute to the park, no problem.
Along those lines, if it's a Friday night and you don't want to sit home, go watch the game at bar with 100 HDTVs, cheap drinks, and an atmosphere in which you can easily communicate with you're friends instead of shouting over the PA and the drunk jamook behind you.
Gas was 1$ cheaper per gallon in 2006, and people LOVE to complain about gas prices and use it as an excuse for not driving places.
Why spend 200$ on a Sox game when you could go on Groupon or Living Social and do an outdoor activity for a fraction of the price?
Totally anecdotal, but it seems like there are alot more street festivals/concerts/ethnic fests then I can recall there being.
The Blackhawks won the Cup, superceding the Sox as the city's most recent champion, thus taking attention and money away.
I don't think any one of these things had a huge impact, but collectively there may be an effect.
You are absolutely right. Failing to make the post season in consecutive years EVER is a pretty damning stat for the White Sox. If you are already the "underdog" team in a 2-team market, you're not going to build up a huge following when you make the playoffs typically once every 5 years or so. It's pathetic that we're in the 18th season of the 3-division, 1 wild card arrangement and the Sox have only been able to scatter a few playoff appearances.
Except the Sox were outdrawn this season by teams like Colorado, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Toronto. Is this "consecutive/multiple-year" theory exclusive to the South Side of Chicago?
Attendance records:
09 : 3-2.
10 : 2-3.
11: 0-1.
12: 2-1.
14: 2-3.
15: 3-3.
16: 1-0.
What are the ticket prices like in those markets for example? How do they compare to the Sox??
Again for seemingly the thousandth time, there is NO ONE SINGLE REASON OR ANSWER...it's all factoring in...which to my mind makes it that much harder for Brooks and company to figure out.
How do you come up with a plan where you don't know where to start?
It's not apparently, fix A, then B, then C, then D...problem solved.
It's more like, "well because of this factor we have to start with C, get that a little better than we can look at A, then mayby slide over to start on E."
I have no idea how they are going to tackle this.
I will say this though and I believe it to the core having closely watched this franchise now for 52 seasons. If they could put a run together, not get to the World Series four years in a row, just get to the playoffs four years in six...seven times in a decade (like say the Angels, or Boston or the Cardinals or Phillies something like their runs) a LOT of these issues would disappear.
I am firmly convinced of that.
Similar teams off the top of my head would be Baltimore (barring this year), Toronto, Colorado, Oakland, Seattle. What ways are their attendance trending?
Last edited by amsteel; 10-01-2012 at 05:33 PM.
It's what's needed for the White Sox. I don't give a **** about what Colorado draws. Apples and oranges. Do most people in Denver root for another MLB team in the same city and are staunchly anti-Rockies? When did the Blue Jays move to pay TV while their crosstown rivals were on a superstation?
Lip, you found the simple answer in all of the whirlwind of rhetoric.. Fielding a consistantly winning competative team with success goals met (Post Season) WC/DC/WS and the oppourtunity to achieve them, will fill the ballpark.Winning teams dont need gimmicks or have to walk around town cap in hand.
Big Klu says... "When you step in the box you go to war"..
This year's slogan reminded me of a young boy at the game bored and fidgeting, with his father yelling at him "Sit still and appreciate the game!".
2016 Attendance Record: TBD
To note, in 2011 and some past years, I did buy some tickets in advance before the season started. This year? I did no such thing. Of course, part of that was because we welcomed our son to this world in early April. The other part of it was, why should I buy tickets in advance? I can get them when I want them. Despite having a limited schedule for free time, I still went to five games this year (which they won all five).
Let's face it. Last season was a complete disaster. It was the worst atmosphere at the ball park then I ever experienced in my life. And, I was lucky enough where the Sox went 6-2 in those games. I hardly was excited about this season, and so was a lot of people. I know this was talked about, but I don't think this was really covered enough.
What do the Sox need to do? Well, on the field, they need to build a foundation. Relying on the scrap heap simply only gets you so far. You can't go into a season every time and expect everyone to have career years (like 2005). The early 90s team had a solid foundation. My biggest gripe with the Kenny Williams regime is that there was no long term plans. The best businesses have both a short term and long term plan. In the short term, 2005 worked wonders. But, as we have seen, you can only go so far. Let's give Hahn a chance and see what his way of doing things. Hopefully, Williams will only oversee operations and will only provide input when he is consulted. Which, that is the role of a president.
Now, on to my last comment, which may make me unpopular. But, oh well. There seems to be quite a bit of people in the fan base who are still upset about things that happened many years ago, like 1982, for example. That was 30 years ago, and it has nothing to do with the team today. The past is also talked about as well, and it seems to be held against the organization. I was mightly pissed off about what happened in 1994. I didn't watch baseball for five years after that. But, I don't hold it against the team for TODAY's operation. It's in the past. Hell, I don't even hold them against keeping Ozzie around two years too long. He's gone now. I'm fully aware of the flaws of the state of the organzation today. That should be talked about and what needs to be done to improve it, not something that happened decades ago. If you are that upset about it, then why even bother following the team?
I'm a Bears fan first, and I despised Michael McCaskey when he ran the team. He was probably the biggest idiot I saw on television (of course, this was before reality TV)... But, he's not even with the team anymore, and hasn't run day-to-day operations in over 12 years. Hell, I've only seen his mug on TV once since his mother kicked him upstairs. But, I don't hold it against how the team is ran today. Credit/critisim is given to the people running the team TODAY. What happened over 10-15 years ago has nothing to do with the state of the team today. I can go on all day about this topic, but that's for another thread. Just using it as an example.
Whether you like him or not, probably the guy you need to bring in is John McDonnough. He may be an ******* and not liked by the Blackhawks die-hards, but the man knows marketing. Whether you like it or not, if you want to see an almost full ballpark most nights, you need to bring in such people the Cubs and Blackhawks attracted. Die-hards only get you so far.
That Sox have never hired a GM with prior GM experience. (Hemond was a carry over) GM's is this organization have to be weened and then controlled. I doubt an outsider will ever be hired under this regime.
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In 2014, Aaron won another Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series playing Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad.
In 2012, Aaron won another Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series playing Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad.
In 2010, Aaron won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series playing Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad.
Aaron played the title role in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a parody film trailer on the web site Funny or Die.
In the 2009 Emmy Awards, Paul was nominated in the category Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad.
During off-hours on the set of Breaking Bad, Aaron likes to go karting with his castmates on a racetrack near the set.
For his role as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, Aaron watched documentaries and looked up YouTube videos on heroin abuse. He even found a list of instructions on how to cook meth while researching about drugs and chemistry.
Paul, who played Francis in the 2009 remake of Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left, is a big fan of the horror genre.
He admits to being obsessed with the shows, Lost and Dexter. Aaron even approached Lost's head writer Damon Lindelof after an awards event to let him know how much he adores the show.
Aaron appeared in the following television commercials: Kellogg's Corn Pops (1999), Pepsi (1999), Pizza Hut (1999), Juicy Fruit Gum (2000), Vanilla Coke (2002), and Verizon (2004).
He starred in the following music videos: KoRn's "Thoughtless" (July 2002), Eric Schrody's "White Trash Beautiful" (May 2004), and Plastiscines' "French Made".
His favorite guest appearance of all time was his stint on Threat Matrix, where he played a bad kid who turned his life around but was later afflicted with the Ebola virus and died.
Aaron was once a contestant in The Price is Right, won a desk, and even made it to the Showcase Showdown. He overbid his showcase by $132.00 and lost.
Aaron's mom, like himself, is a huge fan of Bryan Cranston and his show, Malcolm in the Middle, and was thrilled when she learned that he would be starring alongside Cranston on Breaking Bad.
When he was just a baby, Aaron portrayed Baby Jesus at church. His first leading role as a child was singing and dancing as Dinky the Donkey when he was only six.
If he could guest-star in any TV series that he chooses, Aaron would want to appear on Lost, even as one of the unnamed background players on the island. (2009)
Film and TV Movie Credits:
• The Last House on the Left (2009) as Francis
• Say Goodnight (2008) as Victor
• Leo (2007) as Hustler
• Daydreamer (2007) as Clinton Roark
• Choking Man (2006) as Jerry
• Candy Paint (2005) as Brad Miller
• Bad Girls from Valley High (2005) as Jonathan Warton
• Perfect Opposites (2004) as Monty Brandt
• Even the Losers (1998)
In 2001, Aaron dated actress Samaire Armstrong, with whom she worked in the "Lord of the Flies" episode on The X-Files that year.
Aaron is 5' 8" (1.73 m) tall.
Paul performed in Hoodwinked at the Coronet Theatre in Hollywood, California. He also appeared in stage productions of Love, Death, and the Prom and The Wedding Party.
Aaron: (on the ending of Breaking Bad) No, I'm happy that they're ending it. I love it so much and with that said, I will be very sad to say goodbye to that. But it will be good to close that chapter and I'm glad they're not going to stretch out the story lines and just milk it, you know? And they're going to stay true and honest and keep the quality where it's at right now. Or even go beyond that. I think shows are best when they end and people want more so that people continue to talk about it. When a show continues to keep going and going and going and just wanted it to end years ago then it loses that magic.
Aaron: (about taking on more major roles) I would absolutely love to do that as well, even more so, but I really don't even care what the role is. I will literally do anything [laughs].
Aaron: (in reference to his involvement with "Breaking Bad") It's so nice to be part of a project that you're actually really proud of because when I first started, just to make ends meet I started doing commercials and small guest stars here and there. A lot of them I really loved, but sometimes I'd be like, 'Oh, my God, I can't believe I have to say this –' or 'I can't believe I have to do this show to pay my rent.'
Aaron: I've never been around that kind of drug. Living in Los Angeles you run into other sketchy things, but heroin is so dark and intense and very specific.
Aaron: (on show business) This business is such a rollercoaster of crazy rejections and emotions, but I knew that going into it, so you've got to be definitely a very strong person to try and survive this.
Aaron: (on working in Albuquerque for "Breaking Bad") I actually hated it during the pilot. I loved working, obviously. But I would just go to work, and then go back to the hotel and I couldn't find much to do. But when we started shooting the series I fell in love with the city. It's just nice to get away from the hustle of Los Angeles, and the skies are endless out there. It's like a beautiful painting every day.
Aaron: (on acting) For me it's the funnest thing in the world, just zipping up in a different skin and completely act like someone who's the polar opposite of yourself.
Aaron: I do love lighter stuff, I just find myself being inspired by these really dark interesting materials. I guess I lean towards the crazy situations because it's hard for me to sink my teeth into something super light and fluffy. But I'm game to try!
Aaron: (on having the bad guy vibe) I don't get it, I feel that I'm a very nice person. My father is a retired Christian Baptist Minister, my mother is the sweetest person on the planet and I grew up with great morals -- but people say I have really intense eyes. I don't know how to take that.
Aaron: (about playing Jesse Pinkman on "Breaking Bad") It's fun to tackle, but it's also very dark and sad at times, especially with the research I did and reading these stories about families that have been destroyed by this horrible drug. And I personally in my life have had people that I'm really close to, I've watched them get lost in this drug, and it literally ate their soul alive. They turned from these beautiful creatures into different people altogether, which is so sad.
Aaron: (on playing Scott in "Big Love") It's nice, because I never really get to play the straight-edge kid, I'm always a little off beat or kind of play darker roles or really over-the-top humorous roles. But this is kind of a straight-laced kid. You know, a good boy.


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Ok, so that was a dirty trick dangling a cool pack in front of your eyes and then not opening it. I was running waaaay late for work last night and I wanted to post something. Besides, I thought it might get some of the lurkers to post a comment and I was right. You didn't really think I'd be able to resist opening this thing, did you?
62 Kenny Lofton
18 Edgardo Alfonzo
53 Bartolo Colon
90 Mike Cameron
131 Brandon Duckworth
151 Bill Hall
44 mini Brian Giles Polar Bear
T206-15 Sammy Sosa
Before I even bought it, I know I'd pull an Edgardo Alfonzo out of this pack. I guessed it would be the mini card though. Kenny Lofton's card looks great, plus he's in an Indians uniform where he belongs. Speaking of Indians, what the heck happened to Bartolo Colon? Did he catch Mo Vaughn disease? I think it's the Disney influence. There seems like there's been a bunch of players signing big contracts with the Angels and then turning into a pumpkin when the clock strikes midnight. Even so, they still might end up winning the World Series. I guess pumpkins do best in October.
The back of the pack gives odds for Rookies at 1:2. I didn't think there were SPs in this series. This pack has two rookies, Bill Hall and Brandon Duckworth. I suppose one of them may technically be a prospect card, but I can't tell which one. Bill Hall was my big fantasy bust this year. I figured hey, third baseman eligibility with outfield production, how can I lose? I ended up replacing him with BJ Upton off waivers so I guess I didn't lose after all. Brian Giles is the mini in the pack, and the Slammin' Sammy pack searching discourager card is the last one in the pack. This is actually the first series one pack I've opened, but it seems kind of silly to put the thick card in the back of the pack. Wouldn't a relic card be obvious if it was the last one in the pack? That, folks, is why you always buy boxes of this stuff.
Unfortunately, I need none of the cards for my set. I don't have the Giles mini card, so it's not a complete double pack at least. Now I can finally say I opened a T206 first series pack and that experience is worth more than an unopened pack collecting dust.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
2002 Topps 206
2 comments:
- --David said...
I wholeheartedly agree with your Lofton statement. I am so glad the Tribe were smart enough to bring him back to Jake for his final season(s). Welcome home, buddy!
- Adam Lisonbee said...
That Lofton card does look great.
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Heads up, party people, the cops seem ready to mete out a heavy dose of law and order at the annual Burning Man festival next week.
Startup founder Aaron Muzslaski trekked to Black Rock City in the Nevada desert a little early. He forecasts heavy rains with chance of the heavy reign of law enforcement at the annual pop up art and culture festival-slash-outdoor rave, according to Boing Boing.
"The pigs are here," Muzslaski wrote. "And uncommonly badge heavy."
They nabbed a Burner for a car registration violation, he says. Another got a $275 ticket and threat of getting registered as a sex offender for peeing in public.
"In 18 years on the playa, I've never seen a more aggressive police presence that what's been going down today. Deeply upsetting, outrageous stuff."
To encourage lawfulness, the Burning Man blog posted a bunch of rules, including some about outdoor kitchens and others for anyone who plans to bring a drone to Black Rock City. The official blog also wrote about the police crackdown, but the post was taken down after a few hours.
Muzslaski suspects the increased rule of law is a backlash from a lawsuit the Burning Man organization won against the Bureau of Land Management, the acting law enforcement in that part of the desert.
"Whatever the cause, know this: Law enforcement is going to be VERY AGGRESSIVE at Burning Man this year," he continues. "Keep your [bleepity bleep] as right as you do back in the world. Don't give them any excuses."
So if you're planning on bringing in any illicit substances, be forewarned.
Find Jennifer Wadsworth on Twitter at @jennwadsworth.


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A fun destination this time of year is Hank's Pumpkin Town in Watermill. There are corn mazes, face painting, stuff to climb on, and . . . pumpkins! Most people probably see this as a fun fall activity with children. Me? When I drive by those acres of low-to-the-ground greenery with bright orange orbs by the thousands peeking out, I think food! I see Tunisian sweets, French soups, African stews, and American cheesecakes.
It's pumpkin season, folks, and there's a lot more you can do with these cucurbita pepos besides carving jack-o'-lanterns. You can eat almost every part of them save the stems and their somewhat bland flavor makes them a versatile fruit-vegetable that can be used in sweet or savory dishes. The flesh tends to absorb the flavors of what it's cooked with, whether garlic and herbs, or apples or plums.
Pumpkins, along with other members of the cucumber and squash family, have been a dietary staple all over the world since 5500 B.C. There are endless varieties to choose from in every hue from white to red. Some are good for pies, some for seeds, some for soups and stews, and some for baking and stuffing.
When selecting a pumpkin, choose one that is firm and heavy for its size, and consistently colored throughout. It's okay if there's a slightly flattened pale area on one side, this simply means your pumpkin was resting comfortably in the field while growing.
The tradition of displaying carved pumpkins with candles in them came from Irish immigrants. All Hallow's Eve, Oct. 31, marked the end of the Celtic calendar year. Hollowed-out rutabagas, turnips, and beets were displayed in windows to ward off evil spirits, welcome home deceased ancestors, and scare away one particular restless soul called Stingy Jack, hence "jack-o'-lantern."
Whether you go to Pumpkin Town to play or to buy pumpkins for decorating, keep in mind that those playthings are also a versatile, healthy, inexpensive, and ancient food that is adaptable to many kinds of dishes.
Click for Recipes


text: Sea Wolf is a band led by Alex Brown Church, an indie rock musician based in Los Angeles, California. Church attended film school at NYU and was a founding member of a group called Irving in 1998. Many of the songs he wrote as a member of Irving didn't fit the group's style, and so Church began performing as Sea Wolf with a rotating ensemble of backing musicians, playing locally in Los Angeles and recording demos in Seattle with producer Phil Ek (Band of Horses, The Shins, Fleet Foxes). Sea Wolf signed to Dangerbird Records in 2007 and released an EP and a full-length, the latter of which hit No. 24 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.


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Gang Awareness / Anti-Gang Videos
Tags: Parents - Gang Awareness , Kids-Anti-Gang , Gang Documentaries , Local News
Parent Gang Awareness Videos
On the Front Line: Gangs, Guns & Violence Part 1 Las Vegas Gangs : Not our kids! Part 1 Las Vegas Gangs :Not our kids! Part 2 Las Vegas Gangs :Not our kids! Part 3 Gangs Recruiting In School On the Front Line: Gangs, Guns & Violence Part 2 On the Front Line: Gangs, Guns & Violence Part 3 Kids, Drugs, Violence And Drug Enforcement
|The Gang Threat
|The Current Effort
|We Need Your Help
|The Threat
|What Is Being Done
|Help Anonymously
|What is a Gang?
|Stop Houston Gangs Task Force
|What Gang Activity To Report
|Organized Criminal Enterprise
|Prevention & Intervention Assistance
|Submit an Anonymous Tip or Incident
|Gang Identification
|What Youth Needs to Know
|What Others Say
|Houston Area Gangs, Signs & Symbols
|Parents, Educators and Community Residents
|Non Emergency Contacts
|Houston's Most Wanted Gang Members
|Gang Graffiti vs. Tagger Graffiti
|Link to Stop Houston Gangs
|Other Anti-Gang / Crime Efforts
|Terms, Conditions and Privacy Policy
|Gang Awareness/Anti-Gang Videos
|Dejar de Pandillas Houston en Español


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Taylor Swift Visits With Family of Car Accident Victim [Pic]
Taylor Swift is always the do-gooder. The singer never misses the opportunity to visit with her sick and less fortunate fans. Swift managed to carve time out of her schedule to stop by Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles to meet with the family of Lauren Murphy, a young woman who was hit by a car while on an early morning run in Hollywood on April 19.
Murphy, a lovely Midwestern blonde, had an emergency lobectomy to remove a portion of her left frontal lobe and to remove a piece of her skull so that pressure could be relieved. Needless to say, her status is extremely critical but stable.
Her family and friends were surprised by the visit from Swift.
One of Murphy's pals even claimed that she is "going to be so mad that she was not awake" to meet Swift. How nice of T. Swizzle to bring her sunny smile and good cheer to a family that is desperately waiting for one of its members to get better. When Murphy is fully recovered, Swift will to invite her to one her concerts or performances.
A fund has been set up to help offset some of Murphy's medical costs.
Watch the Taylor Swift '22' Video


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We are back on the road Sunday as we fly out to the wonderland of Vegas for Interbike. We are excited to see what is up and coming in the bicycling world, hang out with old friends and meet new ones. We will be in the Triathlon pavilion this year and are offering a special shirt just for our Tri fans. If you are at Interbike come say hi. We will be at booth 11140!
~See you in Vegas!


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We are passionate about art. Our gallery is one of a kind - stretching throughout the corridors at Domino's Farms Business Complex. We invite you to stroll the gallery at your leisure. With nearly two hundred works to view, you will enjoy finding a work of art for your space.
Artwork created by modern day artists is our expertise. We consistently acquire paintings that we love and cannot live without. You will find that we feature colorful, vibrant works that exude powerful energy, as well as softer paintings that offer stillness. Our gallery walls are ever changing due to new additions. We invite you to visit us and select a work of fine art or several works for your living space.
Stop in our Gallery Store to see the wonderful selection of gifts and accessories to accentuate your home and wardrobe.


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Note: The following is information provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security" at the request of ITD Emergency Program Manager Bryan D. Smith.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the new year approaching, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Ready Campaign is reminding Americans to Resolve to be Ready in 2009. Resolve to be Ready is a nationwide effort designed to encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies that could occur the new year.
"Individual planning is the cornerstone of emergency preparedness," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Since establishing this department and Ready, we have come a long way in raising the baseline of preparedness in this country, but we still have a long way to go. As 2009 approaches, I urge all Americans to consider the importance – and real value – of being prepared for all hazards."
Being Ready for emergencies can be an easy New Year's resolution to keep by following the Ready campaign's three simple steps: 1) Get an emergency supply kit; 2) Make a family emergency plan; and 3) Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.
By taking these three steps – in particular having an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car – Americans will be prepared for winter mainstays like power outages and icy roads. Each of these kits should include basic necessities such as water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you are without power or become stranded in your vehicle. Complete checklists for each kit are available at www.ready.gov.
This year, the Ready Campaign is employing new media strategies to promote emergency preparedness. By using Twitter, a social networking tool, Ready hopes to not only reach new audiences, but also to open the lines of communication with the public, ensuring emergency preparedness is top of mind year-round. Twitter users can stay up-to-date on the latest Ready activities by following their username, "ReadydotGov," on Twitter.
By making the decision to Resolve to be Ready in 2009 and following the simple preparedness steps in advance, Americans will minimize the impact of emergencies on themselves, their family and their businesses. By visiting www.ready.gov or calling 1-800-BE-READY, individuals can access free materials that will help them make and keep a New Year's resolution that will bring their families peace of mind.
- - - - -
February 2008 marked the Ready Campaign's fifth year at the Department of Homeland Security. Launched in 2003 in partnership with The Advertising Council, Ready is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.
It has proven to be one of the most successful campaigns in Ad Council's more than 65-year history. Since its launch, the campaign has generated more than $756.5 million in donated media support. Individuals interested in more information about family, business and community preparedness can visit www.ready.gov.
Published 1-2-9


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Lesson plans, activities, and games to help students learn about past presidents and develop leadership skills.
Every four years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, millions of Americans go to the polls to choose a new leader in a free and open election. The candidates, nominated during the preceding summer at the conventions of their respective political parties, have waged vigorous campaigns. Through the media of radio, television, newspapers, and magazines, they have made known their views on both national and international affairs and have become familiar faces to the people of the nation.
On Inauguration Day, January 20, the successful candidate for the high office of president of the United States takes this oath of office:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
This the same oath that has been taken by every American president since George Washington. And yet, in the two centuries since the first president was inaugurated, the obligations and duties implied in the oath have changed. The key to the changes lies in the words, "the Office of the President." Exactly what is the office of the president? What was it originally intended to be? And what has it become?
The Growth of the Presidency
The men who wrote the Constitution of the United States were opposed to the idea of an all-powerful head of state. America's Founding Fathers thought of the presidency as an office of great honor and dignity, but one with little real power. The American colonists in general favored the parliamentary system of government but did not believe that all governmental powers should rest within any one body. So, in framing the Constitution, they provided for three separate branches--legislative, executive, and judicial.
Article I of the Constitution deals with the functions of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Not until Article II is any mention made of the president. This article states that the president shall be the head of the executive branch of the government. But to limit and restrict the office, the Constitution provides Congress with checks against any president who may try to assume too much authority.
The framers of the Constitution believed that in the presidency they had created an office of prestige but little power. They would be astounded if they knew the changes that have occurred. The powers and responsibilities of the president have grown enormously. The president has become the leader of his country in fact as well as in name. His words and deeds affect the course of history not only in the United States but in every country throughout the world.
The men who were presidents early in the history of the republic were able to carry on the duties of their office with little assistance. When George Washington served as first president of the United States, his staff consisted of a secretary, one or two clerks, and household servants who acted as messengers. But with the enormous growth in presidential power and responsibilities, the office of the presidency now must be run by a large staff. Today the president of the United States requires the assistance of over 1,500 people.
The employees assigned to jobs directly relating to the office of the presidency are staff members of the Executive Office of the President. The Executive Office was created by Congress, but it can be reorganized by the president through executive orders.
The Cabinet
The president's cabinet is one of the most important parts of the executive branch of the government. The cabinet was not provided for by the Constitution, nor was it created by an act of Congress. It developed through necessity. The cabinet traces its beginnings to George Washington's assembling his department heads in 1793 to discuss U.S. neutrality in the French Revolutionary wars.
The cabinet is made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments of the government. Its function is to advise the president on matters of the greatest importance. One of the first tasks of a new president is to select a cabinet. You can read more about this presidential advisory group in the Cabinet of the United States article in this encyclopedia.
The first executive posts, which became the president's cabinet, were created in 1789. They were the following:
Secretary of Foreign Affairs (State)
Secretary of War
Secretary of the Treasury
Attorney General
The present-day cabinet includes the following heads of executive departments:
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General (Justice Department)
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
The president may also choose other members of government to serve in the cabinet; the vice president, the White House chief of staff, and the director of the Office of Management and Budget may all join the cabinet at the president's discretion.
Presidential Leadership
The vast and complicated structure needed to run today's government has brought many changes to the office of the presidency. With each new president, the machinery of government becomes more complex.
The rise of presidential power did not come about all at once. Nor did the growth of leadership follow a fixed and steady course. Some presidents have strongly exercised the power of leadership. Others have been relatively weak leaders.
Since the time of George Washington many presidents have contributed to changing the powers of the office. People often have different views as to whether a president has acted wisely and exercised his power for the general good of the entire nation. Leadership takes many forms, and all leaders cannot appeal to all people. The leadership qualities of a few presidents, however, will serve to show how some have used the power of their office.
Thomas Jefferson was the nation's third president. Even though he served so early in the history of the office, he understood that in order to gain the results he desired, he would have to exercise a great deal of political power. Jefferson skillfully organized his sympathizers in Congress into a strong political group. These men worked together so well that they often were able to defeat their opponents in many important matters. This plan of Jefferson's was the start of the system of political parties as we know it today.
Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, was another strong leader. Jackson was the first man of the people to be elected to the presidency. Many of the men in the government were not friendly to the new president or to his views. But Jackson was determined to overcome his opponents. In critical issues he relied on the support of the people and removed cabinet members who disagreed with his policies. By the skillful use of his leadership qualities, he was able to carry out many of his programs.
The strongest desire of President Abraham Lincoln was to preserve the Union. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Lincoln did not have the power to call up troops or to take certain other actions. But he knew that in order to protect the Union he would have to assume wartime powers. Many people disapproved of his actions. But Lincoln seized the power he felt he must have. By exercising leadership in a time of crisis, he succeeded in preserving the Union.
Woodrow Wilson, during whose term the bitter battles of World War I were fought, had one great dream. The dream was for the creation of a League of Nations that would help to prevent future wars. The League of Nations finally was established at the close of the war. But in spite of Wilson's strength, his own country refused to join. Wilson died a disappointed man. But under his leadership the office of the presidency outgrew the bounds of the United States and became an office with international responsibilities.
In another period of serious trouble for the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt served as president. During the Depression of the 1930's Roosevelt sought tremendous powers. He recommended to Congress legislation that would create jobs for those who could find no work, in order to get the country back on its feet. He even attempted to change the structure of the Supreme Court by increasing the number of justices. During World War II he extended United States influence in the field of international relations.
Even though the president of the United States is today one of the most important individuals in the world, he is not all-powerful. There is an authority that is higher than that of the president. It is the will of the people of the United States, who have reserved to themselves the final authority that is called sovereignty.
Duties and Powers of the President
"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years[horizontal_ellipsis]"
These words form the opening of Article II of the Constitution, outlining the powers and duties of the president. The four sections of the article also state how the president shall be elected and paid, and who shall succeed him if he is unable to serve out his term. This Article, written in a careful and straightforward manner, suggests that the document's framers were on their guard against the possibility of a too ambitious president. It gives little hint, however, that they had any idea of how enormous and important the office of the presidency would one day become.
To the average citizen it often seems that the power of the president is unlimited. But that is far from the truth. What acts is the president permitted to perform without restrictions of any kind? What is he prohibited from doing? The answers to these questions give some idea of the powers of the president and of the system of checks and balances provided by the Constitution.
Article II states that the president shall be commander in chief of the Army and the Navy. He shall have the power to make treaties--provided two-thirds of the Senate agrees. He shall appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, and other officials--"by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate." Section 3 of the Article provides that he shall address Congress on the state of the Union, see that laws are carefully carried out, and receive foreign ambassadors and ministers. Basically, all these provisions of the Constitution are still in force today.
Even within the framework of the Constitution the duties and powers of the president have become highly complex. The best way to understand them is to examine the various branches of the government and see how the president functions in each.
Executive and Administrative Powers
The president stands at the head of the executive branch of the government. He is elected by the entire nation and is responsible for carrying out and administering the laws approved by the legislative branch--Congress. The Constitution outlined these powers only in the most general terms. Most presidential authority, therefore, has been granted by acts of Congress.
Power of Appointment and Removal
The president has the power to appoint important officials. The list of these officials includes ambassadors, members of the cabinet and their assistants, federal judges, military and naval officers, heads of agencies, and United States attorneys and marshals. In almost all cases Senate approval is assured. The president does, therefore, exercise a great deal of power in the choice of the people named for key government posts. In 1926 the Supreme Court ruled that since the president has the power to appoint officers, the president also should have the power to remove them.
Executive Ordinances
Administration of policies outlined by Congress usually is left to the executive branch. The president (or subordinates acting for him) spells out the details in the form of executive orders that have the force of law.
Legislative Powers
The president is given certain legislative powers that make it possible for him to exert considerable influence over Congress.
Power to Recommend Legislation.
At the beginning of each session of Congress the president delivers his "State of the Union" message. In his address he recommends a legislative program. This is followed by a proposed budget and economic report. The president also may submit special messages from time to time on particular subjects. In this way he makes known to Congress the laws he considers necessary.
Veto Power
Every bill or joint resolution passed by Congress must be sent to the president for action. If he signs it, it becomes law. If he vetoes it, he must send it back with the reasons for his veto. The veto power enables the president to act as a check on Congress.
Judicial Powers
The chief executive can exercise judicial power in several ways. He recommends to the Senate his choices for attorney general (to head the Department of Justice) and Supreme Court justices. In every district of the country he appoints federal court judges and the U.S. district attorneys.
Pardoning Power
The president has the power to pardon a citizen of an offense. He may also grant a reprieve, or postponement of punishment. He cannot exercise this power in impeachment cases, where a pardon can never be granted.
Powers in Foreign Affairs
The president has enormous powers in the field of foreign affairs. He is the nation's chief diplomat. He receives diplomatic representatives, ambassadors, and ministers from foreign countries, and sometimes attends special international conferences.
Power of Recognition
The president has the power of recognition--the formal approval of the government of a foreign country. Without recognition, normal trade and diplomatic relations cannot exist between two countries.
Treaty Power
If the United States wants to enter into commercial pacts, define its boundaries, make peace, or enter into any other international agreement, the president may negotiate a treaty with the country or countries concerned. The president shares this power with the Senate. Two-thirds of that body must ratify, or approve, a treaty before it goes into effect.
Executive Agreements
Agreements between the president and the chief executive (rather than the official government) of a foreign country are not subject to Senate approval.
Military Powers
As stated in the Constitution, the president is commander in chief of the armed forces. This position guarantees that the people always shall control the Army through their elected civilian leaders. Here, too, the president's powers are shared with Congress. Congress makes rules for the armed forces, sets apart funds for defense, and has the power to declare war. Appointments or commissions of military officers must be confirmed by the Senate. But in many national emergencies, the president can act without the consent of either house of Congress. He may use armed forces in combat abroad without a formal declaration of war. He may send troops to protect the mails and interstate commerce. At the request of a governor or state legislature, he may send troops into a state in case of domestic violence which is beyond the control of state and local police.
Political Party Leader
The president is the leader of his party. In this role he influences party policy in national and international affairs. He makes wide use of his patronage power--the power to appoint members of his own party to government posts. He also has the power to grant favors of many kinds to officials of either party.
The Presidency Today
The United States and its position in the world have changed greatly since the president's duties were outlined in the Constitution. The role of the president has grown from that of a largely honorary officer to a powerful leader in national and international affairs. He is the single, unifying force in a political system in which power is highly dispersed. Probably no other person exercises as much influence in today's world as the president of the United States. What the president does cannot fail to affect the course of history.
But no matter how popular or powerful a president may be, his term of office is limited. At the end of four years he must submit his record to the people. If they do not re-elect him, he must surrender his power. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution provides that no president can be elected more than twice. As long as these safeguards exist, sovereignty will remain subject to the people's will.
Gerald W. Johnson
Author, The Presidency
Reviewed by David C. Whitney
Author, The American Presidents
How to cite this article:
MLA (Modern Language Association) style:
Johnson, Gerald W. "Presidency of the United States." Reviewed by David C. Whitney. The New Book of Knowledge®. 2008. Grolier Online. 21 July 2008 <http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2024000-h>.
Chicago Manual of Style:
Johnson, Gerald W. "Presidency of the United States." Reviewed by David C. Whitney. The New Book of Knowledge®. Grolier Online http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2024000-h (accessed July 21, 2008).
APA (American Psychological Association) style:
Johnson, G. W. (2008). Presidency of the United States. (D. C. Whitney, Rev.). The New Book of Knowledge®. Retrieved July 21, 2008, from Grolier Online http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2024000-h
Copyright © 2008 Scholastic Library Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Get more election resources for your classroom in the elections special report from Scholastic News and the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps.


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I've been more and more interested in replaying the entire trilogy with a 360 controller. After playing Marathon 2's port on the 360 I really miss having things like rumble when the player fires his assault rifle and so forth.
I'm wondering if anyone has managed to get the 360 pad working with Aleph One? I've tried but I haven't been able to fiddle with the axis. Additionally for some reason my character just moves forward when I'm not touching the controls.


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MATRIX sewage treatment systems are designed to optimise process efficiency, minimise running and maintenance costs and to be as simple and cost effective as possible to install.
The MATRIX sewage treatment system is designed to achieve the minimum required effluent quality standard of 20mg/litre (BOD) : 30mg/litre (SS) : 20mg/litre Ammoniacal
The certified performance of the MATRIX system is that it produces an average final effluent quality of 11mg/litre (BOD) : 16mg/litre (SS) and 7mg/litre Ammoniacal.
This relates to an average efficiency ratio of 96.2%, better than most other manufacturers. As part of the test procedure the MATRIX system was proven to have one of the lowest operating costs.
All Matrix sewage treatment plants have a standard inlet invert depth, but in keeping with our commitment to customer satisfaction and to keep installation simple, we can manufacture matrix units to specifically meet site requirements. Integral pumped discharges can also be provided with all units, eliminating the need for additional tankage and installation costs.
All Matrix systems are complete with failure alarms as standard (as required by BSEN12566-3).
The MATRIX treatment system is a three stage biological process contained within a single tank structure, based on the principles of a submerged bed reactor and designed in accordance with the requirements of BS6297. Careful configuration of the internal flowpath and the inclusion of non-mechanical recirculation systems ensures optimal process performance as demonstrated by the exceptional results obtained from the independent testing, providing complete peace of mind. There are NO electrical or mechanical components within the Matrix treatment plant thereby eliminating the need for any specialist servicing arrangements ensuring that any maintenance requirements on the MATRIX system are kept to an absolute minimum.
Benfits Of The Matrix Sewage Treatment Plant
|Model No/day:
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|6 pop
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|550 mm
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|60 w


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Is this a good time to add to emerging-market positions? It was just a few months ago that emerging markets were hammered on the ultimately unfounded concern the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise rates sooner than expected, forcing other central banks to follow suit and hurting developing economies in particular. During January alone, the MSCI Emerging Markets index tumbled 6.6%, while the S&P 500 fell just 3.6%.
Far from the anxiety on Wall Street, in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, the CEO of $12.4 billion asset manager Veritable, Michael Stolper, had a very different view. It was mid-March, emerging-market indices remained beleaguered, but he seemed unfazed by all the jittery investors in the market. "Our investment policy team has been discussing [emerging markets] a lot lately and at current levels they look attractive," he said. (For more on Veritable and Stolper see "Veritable Offers Up the Unvarnished Truth About Client Returns.")
Veritable has been allocating ever-greater sums to emerging-market money managers since mid-2012 – and continues to ramp-up exposure today. Clients currently have about 15% to 18% of their international stock assets in emerging-market equities, says CIO David Belej, and he expects that to climb another five to 10 more percentage points over the next few years. Short-term sell-offs are generally a great way to buy long-term exposure, he says.
But, Belej quickly cautions, not all battered emerging markets. Consider the precipitous fall in Russia's Micex. From peak to trough this year, the index fell 13%, after the West enforced economic sanctions related to escalating tension with Ukraine. Belej is still not tempted to buy Russian stocks because the country remains unattractive to investors over the long term. "We have concerns [in Russia], about corporate governance and minority rights, that easily trumped somewhat attractive valuations," Belej says. His final conclusion: Piling into the Russian market during Putin's land grab in Crimea is inefficient over the long term. So no go.
Over the years, Veritable has played the emerging markets with a short list of money managers that tend to outperform traditional benchmarks. "In these inefficient markets we like stock-pickers not benchmark huggers," he says. He looks for managers with U.S. or London-based schooling in value investing; who have flourished under the watchful eye of other prominent managers before going off on their own; and who live in the country they are covering. Veritable has a proven track record of early investing in emerging-market money managers who turn into stars. That includes a 1996 investment in Richard Chenevix-Trench of Sloane Robinson; another mid-1990s allocation to Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital Management. Similarly, an early investment in the money manager Egerton Capital, when it was founded by John Armitage in 1994, proved prescient.
Belej currently is bullish on pan-Asia, since emerging consumers, a growing population and strong economic growth will act as continuous ballasts to whatever macro-economic curve balls the central planners throw at the markets. In particular, he likes India, where the election of pro-business Prime Minister Narendra Modi signals a willingness to change the country's often corrupt business environment (see our recent Barron's cover story).
Furthermore, India's stock market is not as crowded and efficient as developed market indices like the S&P 500. To Belej, this suggests that active managers should be able to outperform local indices over time. Want some ideas? Colleague Reshma Kapadia recommended nine ways to play India in "Where to Invest in India," published earlier this month. The Morningstar-topping fund Matthews India (ticker: MINDX) likes shipping and logistics firm Gujarat Pipavav Port (GPPV.India), as a play on the imminent update of the country's crumbling infrastructure. Another pick, Shriram Transport Finance (SRTR.India), is India's biggest commercial vehicle lender, which should benefit from economic growth.


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Very Nice 3 Bedroom 2 Bath House Pet Friendly Located on the N West side of Bella Vista. This home is smoke free. Nightly rates starting at $135 per night. Rates shown are based on two adults, each additional adult up to the units maximum is $15.00 per night extra. Pets require prior approval. If approved a $20 per pet/night fee will be added. Limit of two if approved.
Spectacular natural beauty surrounds four distinct seasons with each bringing a refreshing new look. Bella Vista is a land of scenery including rivers, lakes and streams accompanied by numerous hiking and bike trails, providing a truly natural experience.
Bella Vista features 12 tennis courts in three separate complexes, including courts lighted for play on summer evenings. Vacation Rentals guests enjoy complete use of Bella Vista's tennis facilities.
Bella Vista is a golf haven where you can enjoy six 18-hole and two nine-hole golf courses rated among some of the best in Arkansas. With green fees on all 18-hole golf courses to fit most budgets and offer twilight specials throughout the season
Bella Vista boasts some of the best fishing in Northwest Arkansas on eight lakes stocked with bass, catfish, crappie and other pan fish. Beaver Lake and the White River are less than 60 minutes away and provide spectacular striper and trout fishing as well.
Cultural activities are available in each community, and Broadway productions, exhibits, etc. are available at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. Northwest Arkansas also offers several art galleries, studios and diverse fine arts at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Downtown Bentonville where 250,000 visitors are expected to visit each year. Shoppers are treated to quality handmade arts and crafts, antiques and fine arts during the Fall and Spring Craft Fairs in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista.
Eureka Springs, America's Victorian Village, is resplendent with colorful turn-of the-century homes, historic buildings and one-of-a-kind shops. The Great Passion Play, the historic Basin Park and the "Haunted" Crescent Hotel and the Blue Spring Heritage Center are just some of the many attractions.
You can also discover towns with old-time squares in Northwest Arkansas' Ozark Mountains. Browse a while and enjoy the nostalgia. You might even find a real treasure or unique souvenir at one of the quaint little shops, or if you prefer a shopping experience at national premium retailers instead, than a visit to Pinnacle Hills Promenade for exciting shopping, dining and entertainment in Rogers should do the trick.
People from all over the country are discovering Northwest Arkansas, and it remains one of the most desirable places in America to live, reflecting the best buy in quality of life now and for the foreseeable future.


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Deathwing isn't the only great beast to be impaled to death in an End Time this year, it seems. The tale of Glider, one of the biggest and most famous automation bot software packages for World of Warcraft, is effectively over. Based on reading various blog links (sent by a reader, thank you much) and a hefty amount of Internet Wayback Machine research, it appears that the lawsuit was settled and Glider is no more. What were the terms of the settlement, and why did Glider settle after the news back in 2010?
When I last updated you all about the Glider case back in December 2010, the courts reversed much of the decision in regards to the EULA copyright infringement claims but not with respect to violations of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, as Glider circumvented the Warden software to essentially hack Blizzard's software. MDY Glider was not victorious per se, but it was definitely in a better position than it would have been had the copyright infringement stuff stood.


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The iTunes feed for Stop Podcasting Yourself stopped working over the weekend.
If your iTunes/podcatcher isn't updating new SPY episodes, the new feed address is http://stoppodcastingyourself.libsyn.com/rss
On your iTunes toolbar, click on the "Advanced" menu, then click "Subscribe to Podcast..." and copy and paste this address into the box: http://stoppodcastingyourself.libsyn.com/rss
Sorry about that. Thanks for listening.


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IT was a great performance at Wolves by the Bluebirds, in fact I would go so far as to say brilliant at times, particularly in the first half.
After the defeat to Brighton it was obviously very important that Cardiff bounced back.
I think there were some supporters who were maybe starting to get a bit anxious.
But this result showed that it was a glitch against a Brighton side, who, let's be honest, came and did a very good job.
You can understand some concern from the Cardiff faithful when you remember how City seem to always have a wobble at the end of the season just when they need to be getting some consistency together.
But, for me, this Cardiff side just has way too much character, way too much talent and way too much class to have the same kind of problem.
Obviously I've played for both Cardiff and Wolves and do get divided loyalties.
All I will say now is that I hope Wolves win all the rest of their games this season and avoid relegation.
I am a bit concerned about them right now because, perhaps unsurprisingly, they look devoid of any confidence whatsoever.
But the Bluebirds were never going to allow them to get the first win under Dean Saunders.
The way they played they really made it easy for themselves. For a start, they managed to keep the Wolves fans pretty quiet.
A bit like at Cardiff, Wolves fans are not the easiest to play in front of when things are not going well.
They don't have a great deal of patience and even after just six minutes I noticed they were starting to get on the backs of their players.
You can sense a real fear of relegation to League One at Molineux.
Cardiff took full advantage of that and all good sides have that ruthless streak. If your opponents are struggling, just don't let them get up off the floor.
I was very impressed by Craig Bellamy and Fraizer Campbell. Their movement was amazing.
Fraizer is doing exactly what I called for recently when I wrote I wanted him just to focus on getting the goals.
Five in five games for him now proves that he's doing just that and, for me, he's still a couple of matches from being fully fit.
I think there could be a good partnership developing between Bellamy and Campbell which can only be good for Cardiff.
They complement each other very well and they look like they want to work together and play for each other.
The closing down at the front they both do is very impressive and it sets the tone for the whole team.
Campbell's goals were real striker's goals too and that was nice to see.
Yet there are some players in the Cardiff side right now who perhaps don't get the praise they deserve.
A prime example of that is left-back Andrew Taylor.
Right now he is producing an eight out of 10 performance every game, at his worst he's a seven.
His consistency is impressive and he has to be in the running for Player of the Year.
Another guy in the same category is Aron Gunnarsson, a player who has got some real bite and broke a lot of things up against Wolves.
Craig Conway and Don Cowie were back in the side yesterday as well and I thought they were excellent.
I don't think it's any coincidence that with Cowie back in the side Peter Whittingham managed to control things a lot more than he has recently. Cowie does the work of two players which gives Whittingham more space.
While all round the Bluebirds are playing well, they are being helped by the fact that their rivals are hardly chasing them down with any real purpose.
I noticed again that a lot of the pack behind them dropped points, only Watford winning, a club I think may well get the second automatic spot.
I still believe Cardiff will go up in the other automatic spot.
Next weekend, the Bluebirds face what is going to be a tough trip to Middlesbrough.
But right now, who is going to be the more worried, them welcoming us, or us going there?
Boro are going to be feeling the pressure more, I'm sure.
Cardiff can afford to drop points, Boro cannot.
That said, the way the Bluebirds are playing right now they'll believe they can make the long trip to Teesside and come back having not dropped any points at all.


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VIDEO: Clippers' Crawford wins 2014 KIA Sixth Man of the Year Award
When everybody else is floating on a raft sipping from an umbrella drink in the dog days of the offseason, they're the ones you can usually find sweating it out in the confines of a hot gym.
They are those role players with the rough edges, sharp teeth that can come off the bench to leave a mark on a game. So our next stop in the Summer Dreaming series looking ahead at award winners for the 2014-15 season is our top five choices for Sixth Man of the Year.
Send us your picks.
Taj Gibson, Bulls — The big man coming off the Bulls bench felt snubbed when he finished as runner-up to two-time winner Jamal Crawford last season and that's likely to drive him even harder this time around. All good news for coach Tom Thibodeau, who'll have a stuffed starting lineup with the return of Derrick Rose and the addition of Pau Gasol. Gibson has always been a defensive force and now he's coming out of his offensive shell, averaging 13 points per game last season to go along with 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Seems he's had a change in mindset or an upgrade in confidence and is willing and able to take his game straight at opponents. He's never going to be a big scorer, but that's not what Chicago needs him from. Gibson brings a blue-collar attitude, a nose for the ball and the kind of toughness that only becomes more valuable in the playoffs. Joakim Noah gets all the attention for his physicality, but Gibson backs down from nobody.
Vince Carter, Grizzlies — Back in those turn-of-the-millennium days when the high flier was placing his elbow on the rim in jaw-dropping fashion to win the slam dunk contest at the 2000 All-Star Weekend, how many thought Carter would still be relevant, let alone still excelling nearly a decade and half later? But at 37, he can still attack the basket and finish when necessary and can fill it up from behind the 3-point line in his transition from starter to sixth man. Now he's in Memphis, where it seems the Grizzlies have been searching in the woods for eons to find the right perimeter shooter to balance an inside-oriented attack that depends too heavily on Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Carter steps into the role filled by Mike Miller last season and will likely do it better. In a summer when the change of addresses by the high profile likes of LeBron James, Pau Gasol and Kevin Love are getting all the attention, this is a below-the-radar move that could vault the Grizzlies back into the thick of the fight in the rugged Western Conference.
Tyreke Evans, Pelicans — In what was supposed to be a bounce-back attempt, things did not start out well for Evans last season. But as injuries took their toll on the Pelicans roster, he slowly became comfortable and grew into their most potent weapon not named Anthony Davis. He stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 14 points, 5.0 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, and had plenty of nights when he stepped up to carry the full load while playing a variety of positions. Assuming that a healthy Jrue Holiday returns to be the starter at the point and needs the ball in his hands, Evans is best suited to coming off the bench again and leading the charge with the second unit. Last season New Orleans' best five lineups all had Evans on the court, playing either at shooting guard or small forward. When he gets it going, he can be unstoppable doing a lot of different things and, if he can add a dash of defense and consistency to his game, could become a younger version of San Antonio's Manu Ginobili.
Manu Ginobili, Spurs — The man himself, who has probably only won this award once in his 12 NBA seasons because he's established such a high bar and delivered with such consistency that we — and the voters — tend to take him for granted. Frankly, he should already have retired the trophy. After having his body break down and force him to ponder retirement in 2013, Ginobili bounced back last season to remain fit and delivered his most inspired play during the Spurs' run to the championship. Yes, his numbers are down significantly from 2007-08, the only time he was recognized as Sixth Man of the Year. But that's only because coach Gregg Popovich has cut down significantly on his minutes to preserve his health, prolong his career and keep the window open for more years of title contending by his veteran team. At 37, Ginobili is always just one misstep away from an injury that could sit him down and take away his explosiveness. But as long as that body holds up, he'll be the straw that stirs the margarita in San Antonio and the stick by which all current sixth men in the league are measured.
Dion Waiters, Cavaliers — It's been a rocky start to the third-year guard's NBA career. The questions about his relationship with Kyrie Irving. The questions about whether he could be moving on to another team. With a touch that runs hot and cold like the water in a cheap apartment building, he's hardly a high-percentage shooter. But Waiters has the talent and the explosiveness to take his career to the next level, and now that LeBron James is returning to Cleveland it looks like he's going to get the chance. The presence of James as mentor could have a calming effect and get Waiters to focus on the big picture rather than find reasons to be upset. With a starting lineup that includes James, Irving and Love, there will certainly be plenty of opportunities to come off the bench and show that he gets it. He's shown that he can make clutch plays with the ball in his hands. If Waiters understands and plays the team game, everybody wins.