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For WNBA Fans
Our look at prospects for the 2013 WNBA Draft and a group of top players to watch.
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A'dia Mathies became exactly the senior leader the Kentucky Wildcats needed during the 2012-13 NCAA season. Now she's adjusting to being just "another addition" with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
People spent a lot of time discussing Skylar Diggins and the "three to see" for good reason, but another significant story line for the 2013 draft class is that it features an even more promising point guard class than the highly touted 2009 WNBA Draft did. Not all of them have officially made rosters yet, but they have a good chance and their college statistics compare favorably to players of the past.
Last week St. Joseph's Hawks star Chatilla van Grinsven signed with the Connecticut Sun after being named Big 5 Player of the Year. Swish Appeal had the opportunity to follow-up with van Grinsven on a special senior season, the Connecticut Sun, and preparing for the next step in her basketball career.
Kristi Toliver and Juan Dixon were among those who shouted out the newest Terp turned pro.
Video of A'Dia Mathies' press conference after being selected 10th overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks (via CommonWealthNetwork2).
Texas A&M's Kelsey Bone was selected fifth overall by the New York Liberty in the 2013 WNBA Draft on Monday. Swish Appeal had an opportunity to follow up with her and her mother about getting drafted, what she did leading up to draft night, and playing for New York Liberty head coach Bill Laimbeer.
After the past two WNBA drafts I've taken stock of some of the top undrafted players. This year, that includes three players we had been following throughout the 2012-13 NCAA season and a third who multiple people considered a first round pick.
We'll be tracking the 2013 WNBA Draft as it goes tonight, but here is a final draft board after all that analysis over the past few months.
Scoring efficiency is clearly important for guard prospects, but can we get more precise at determining how important?
Okay, the big day is finally here. The WNBA Draft will be held tonight at 8:00 PM on ESPN2 at ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.
Last Monday, I put together a mock draft for a couple of WNBA team sites that I didn't comment on here. The following is my final attempt at a mock draft after looking at the statistics and talking things over with others in the know.
Continuing our position-by-position look at prospects for the 2013 WNBA Draft, we look at centers and try to use the numbers to figure out who the best one is after Baylor star Brittney Griner.
Over the past few years, scoring power forwards like Danielle Adams (2011) and Nneka Ogwumike (2012) have made a splash as rookies in the WNBA. This year's top scoring power forward is Tianna Hawkins, This year's top scoring power forward is Tianna Hawkins, who turned herself into a scorer out of need.
To kick off our position-by-position look at 2013 WNBA prospects, we begin with a group of players who have defined themselves by doing something that generally transfers to both the NBA and WNBA extremely well: offensive rebounding. But what are the chances that rebounding alone will carry some of the key power forward prospects?
Last year, I posted an essay about the evaluation of draft prospects in terms of minimizing risk, drawing from principles outlined in the widely-read book Moneyball. Since then, I've set out to see if there are tangible ways to weigh a prospect's value by their level of risk relative to past prospects based upon a set of red flags and similarity ratings. The following is a partial draft board based what I've been able to put together.
The WNBA has released a list of 12 prospects who are invited to attend Monday's 2013 Draft which will be held at ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. They are:
To read more on the 2013 Draft, and top prospects, follow our StoryStream.
The Phoenix Mercury, the team with the first pick in the 2013 Draft has a huge Draft Central page which can be accessed here. You can read more on the "Big Three," past number one picks, and other draft prospect related analysis, at least from the perspective of a Mercury fan.
The fun part is the Mock Draft section which includes one from our boss, Nate. Take a look at his picks here. In addition, Kevin Pelton of ESPN, Odeen Domingo of the Arizona Republic, Doug Feinberg of the AP, David Siegel of hoopfeed.com, and Al Bravo of the AP also created mock drafts.
We'll cut to the chase here. The top three for everyone except Al Bravo was Griner-Delle Donne-Diggins from first to third. Bravo had the second pick going to Diggins and with Delle Donne going to Tulsa at third.
At the fourth pick, things get interesting.
Nate has the Washington Mystics selecting a guard, Tayler Hill of Ohio State at the fourth pick given the need to add guards, which I have noted, since there needs to be immediate help there. But the other mock drafts had post players Tianna Hawkins of Maryland (Pelton and Feinberg) and Kelsey Bone of Texas A&M (Domingo and Siegel) going to DC. Bravo had Syracuse center Kayla Alexander as the fourth pick.
With four different players tabbed as possible #4 picks, the Mystics seem to have a very tough task. With the exception of Swish Appeal where we believe the Mystics will end up picking a guard, most of the other guys think that they should pick a post, which would only add to an already current imbalance between perimeter and interior depth on the team.
UPDATE at 3:10 PM ET, April 11, 2013 - H/T to blackandgoldforever who found that the Mercury updated the draft site.
If a player hasn't gotten the invite by now to show up in Bristol, Connecticut on Monday, April 15th, what can we say about her final draft position?
Tianna Hawkins could be staying close to home in the D.C. area, just as she did for college, a prospect that she describes as 'so awesome.' But regardless of where she ends up, she will soon be living her dream as a WNBA Draft pick and will have the opportunity to reach heights even greater than the ones people never expected her to reach as a senior at Maryland.
Finishing up the look at 2013 WNBA Draft prospects in the recently completed NCAA Tournament, we look at a group of players from the Spokane region that we haven't discussed much.
There were three primary 2013 WNBA Draft prospects in the 2013 Final Four, and the three had one main ingredient in common: They are winners. Brian McCormick adds to our ongoing discussion of these three draft prospects with his first-hand observations from New Orleans.
MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry chats with ESPN's Jemele Hill, former South Carolina coach Susan Walvius, gold medal Olympic swimmer Donna de Varona, and 2013 WNBA Draft prospect Elena Delle Donne, who described her experience as a college basketball star who chose Delaware over UConn.
Over the course of the season we've taken a look at a number of NCAA DI seniors in anticipation of the 2013 WNBA Draft. With the Final Four coming up this weekend, it's time to finalize that list before creating an actual draft board.
A look back at the seasons of a few 2013 WNBA Draft prospects in the Norfolk region of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Texas A&M center Kelsey Bone announced yesterday that she would be leaving school to enter the 2013 WNBA Draft, as many WNBA fans have expected for some time. So what might her college statistics say about how well she'll fare in the WNBA?
Third team All American, Kelsey Bone, from Texas A & M will make herself eligible for the WNBA Draft. Story will come later
In recent weeks - and even not so recent weeks - the subject of Brittney Griner stands as a hot topic in many circles. Here's a quick look at some of the most recent high-profile pieces on the Baylor senior.
Tianna Hawkins and Alyssa Thomas gave Maryland fans a season to remember and the Terps hope to become even better in 2013-14.
Baylor Lady Bears center Brittney Griner reflects on her career after an 82-81 loss to the Louisville Cardinals in which she scored 14 points on 4-for-10 shooting.
ESPN's highlights from the Delaware Blue Hens' 69-62 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, including the post game interview with senior Elena Delle Donne.
A brief set of responses from Delaware Blue Hens star Elena Delle Donne captured from a combination of the press conference in Bridgeport and a one-on-one interview.
The Illinois Fighting Illini will face the Toledo Rockets today at 7 p.m. EDT for the chance to advance to the fourth round of the WNIT.
Greg Alan Edwards of SB Nation's Kentucky site A Sea of Blue summarized the high points of Wildcats' guard A'dia Mathies' 34-point performance against the Dayton Flyers in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, giving the senior the game ball.
Mathies led the way as she hit 3's as well as shots inside the arc. She was getting tip-ins, off ball screens to get open looks, and using her teammates as picks everywhere...At one point, Kentucky allowed UD to take FT shots on three consecutive possessions and they hit 5 of 6 to cut the lead down to 2. Then Mathies decided she had seen enough. Soon, her 15 points became 20, then 25, and by the time she had hit 30, the Kentucky lead was back to 14 and Dayton was gassed. When all was said and done, Mathies had a total of 34 points, hit 6-7 from behind the arc, and was 13-17 from the floor.
Although one game should change our evaluation of a draft prospect, it's the type of performance that those of us paying attention to the 2013 WNBA Draft have probably been hoping to see more of throughout the season.
For more on the 2013 WNBA Draft, visit our draft prospects storystream. For more on Kentucky, visit A Sea of Blue's women's basketball section. For more on the tournament as a whole, check out our NCAA section.
ESPN's highlights from the Baylor Lady Bears' 85-47 blowout of the Florida State Seminoles in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Just the Facts, Ma'am: A'dia Mathies had 34 points, and Kentucky used a small first half run to take control of their second round NCAA tournament game, beating Dayton 84-70.
For MOAR hats, free drinks, bendy cheerleaders, redemption, and grabby hands, join your intrepid and clock-racing blogger after the jump.
Kentucky Wildcats guard A'dia Mathies went 0-for-5 from the field and had three rebounds in a 61-41 win over the Navy Midshipmen in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. In her recap of the game, Queenie described Mathies' performance as "...one of the most awful games I've ever seen from her."
Greg Alan Edwards of SB Nation's A Sea of Blue insists that the Wildcats can't afford to have another poor performance from Mathies against the Dayton Flyers in tonight's second round game.
The one thing that UK cannot afford is for Senior guard and Team Captain A'Dia Mathies to disappear again. After going scoreless in the opening round against Navy, UK had to find a way to get A'Dia out on Dayton early and often. Navy's game plan of denying Mathies the ball worked well against her, but the rest of the team picked up the slack. Counting on that happening twice is not a good strategy. Kentucky has scorers, of that, there is no doubt. Kentucky needs Mathies. She is the heart and soul of this team. Kentucky without A'Dia Mathies is a good team. Kentucky WITH A'Dia Mathies is a Final Four team.
Dayton coach Jim Jabir was disappointed with the way his team allowed St. John's to penetrate in the first round game and that should be one thing that Kentucky looks to exploit as well: attacking the basket instead of settling for jumpers.
For more on the Kentucky, visit A Sea of Blue's women's basketball section. For more on first round performances for both Dayton and Kentucky, check out our Bridgeport region storystream.
In a game with an ending too wild to describe, California Golden Bears guard Layshia Clarendon stood out in an 82-78 overtime win over the South Florida Bulls to advance to the Sweet 16.
norcalnick of California Golden Blogs summarized Clarendon's performance nicely - and what makes her a solid WNBA prospect - in his recap of the game.
She scored 27 points on 19 shots and punished USF for every defensive mistake. If they sagged off her (why would anybody do that?) she nailed a 3. If they played her tightly, she wove her way into the paint for a mid-range jumper or an assist. Her and-1 bank shot might have been the play of the game. Before the game I asked for her and Brittany Boyd to outplay the Smith twins. They did...With Layshia leading, everybody else played their part.
That last line is a great way to underscore what has made this team so special this season and what makes Clarendon a good candidate to contribute to a roster at the next level: she finds her spots on the court remarkably well, knows what she's capable of, rarely forces the action, and plays within the offense which allows her teammates to thrive even as she's dropping 27 on someone.
There's a lot to like there as a college starter and WNBA draft prospect.
For more on the tournament, visit our NCAA section. For more on some of the top prospects for the draft, visit our 2013 WNBA Draft storystream.
Believe it or not, in comparison to some of the other upsets that have occurred, I'd consider this one among the more predictable ones primarily because the Nebraska Cornhuskers can be so unpredictable as described in our preview before the tournament.
And yet the players who stepped up for Nebraska in their 74-63 upset of Texas A&M tonight were hardly unpredictable, as described in a recap at SB Nation's Nebraska site Corn Nation by Jon Johnston.
The Huskers were down 14-6 early and battled back to tie the game at 16. Nebraska scored the next nine points and would lead the rest of the way as the closest Texas A&M came was a 32-30 score with 3:26 left in the first half... The Huskers were lead by Jordan Hooper and Lindsey Moore. Hooper had 21 points and while Moore added 20 points and 10 assists.
Nebraska will now move to the Sweet 16 where they will face either the Duke Blue Devils or Oklahoma State Cowgirls.
For more on the game, check out SBN's Corn Nation. For more on the tournament, check out our 2013 NCAA Tournament section.
ESPN's highlights from the Baylor Lady Bears' 82-40 win over the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, which included another Brittney Griner dunk.
Nowhere has the joy and pain of March Madness been more present than in the Dayton Flyers' double overtime win over the St. John's Red Storm in Queens.
I'll let the tweets tell the story.
Dayton earns 96-90 win over St. John's in first double OT NCAA Tournament game since 2000.Flyers to play Kentucky on Tuesday.#A10WBB— Atlantic10Conference (@atlantic10) March 24, 2013
@daytonwbball holds on 2 OT to beat St. John's & move to round of 32 for the 1st time in program's history! Great game #A10WBB #thriller— Aaron M Smith (@PicknSplinters) March 24, 2013
Nadirah McKenith fouled out of the game one rebound shy of a triple double #stjwbb— St. John's WBB (@STJ_WBasketball) March 24, 2013
Noooooo, please don't show Nadirah crying on the bench.I can't stand it.:(#MarchSadness— Shannon Cotterell (@SGC72) March 24, 2013
Thrills, milestones, the end of careers, and tears.
That's probably March Madness in a nutshell.
For more on the Bridgeport region - and how Kentucky advanced - check out our storystream.
Bob Knight discusses what impresses him about Baylor Lady Bears center Brittney Griner; Geno Auriemma likens her to UCLA men's basketball great Lew Alcindor.
Baylor obviously has one major star who everyone knows will be drafted (hint: she's tall), but what about their other seniors? Today we look at the draft chances of those other four players as well as other prospects to watch in the Oklahoma City bracket.
For the WNBA fans who haven't followed the NCAA women's college basketball season very closely, we'll do a bracket-by-bracket look at a few WNBA prospects in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Today we'll begin with the Bridgeport region; while you've probably heard something about the highly touted Elena Delle Donne, there are a few others worth keeping an eye on as well.
They always say, "It's not how you start but how you finish" and the last few chapters in Kelsey Bone's life have not just been a wonderful dream because of what she has accomplished, but in that she's done it "her way". Opening up the pages of history show how the results of today came from the pain of yesterday.
The Division I NCAA women's basketball tournament will start this Saturday on March 23. Many of the top seniors who are playing in the tournament will not only try to take their teams as far as they can and hopefully win it all on April 9 in New Orleans, but they also may be hoping to increase their draft stock to WNBA teams. However, in college basketball, there are four classes playing at any one time, and at least some think that the junior class, or in WNBA terms, the 2014 Draft class also consists of many players who may also be very effective at the next level. My question to you all: Is this 2013 Draft Class deeper than next year's 2014 Draft Class?
Throughout the 2012-13 women's NCAA Division I basketball season, we've discussed a number of players around the site that could eventually make it in the WNBA. With the college season coming to a close, the following is just a list of players we've focused on thus far in one way or another. You can see more on the players we've been discussing this season in our WNBA Draft prospects storystream.
After Syracuse center Kayla Alexander's dominant performance against Villanova, coach Quentin Hillsman briefly commented on the importance of him figuring out how to fully utilize her talent.
We had a good showing in last Sunday's open thread in regards to what you thought about the top of the 2013 Draft class. Though the "media" wants you to believe that there are three game changers and impact players in this draft, many, if not most of you believed that this class was more of a Big Two if not a Big One class featuring the woman, the myth, the legend: Brittney Griner. Regardless, there are going to be 33 additional players drafted after the "Big Three" and the media believes this will be a deeper than usual draft, which indicates that there may be some additional players who may also provide a significant impact on the right team. Which players who aren't part of this chosen "Big Three" have a shot to become impact players?
The Princeton women's basketball team will celebrate their historic senior class this weekend with a chance to win its fourth consecutive outright Ivy League title with a pair of wins. Niveen Rasheed is a 6'0" senior guard and co-captain for the 19-6 Tigers. She is from Danville, California. She recently answered a few questions about her career and professional basketball aspirations. (Rasheed is also discussed at the 17:30 mark in the video above.)
Greg Alan Edwards of SB Nation's A Sea of Blue looked back on star guard A'Dia Mathies' season and career the other day after she was named SEC Co-Player of the Year along with Meighan Simmons of Tennessee.
While Mathies has had something of an up and down year, Edwards explains why what might have been considered "disappearing" might not have been all that bad.
A'Dia knew that she could score when she wanted to, she could pad her stats and make herself look great to the writers and awards groups out there, and she would be raising her draft stock the entire time. And her team would have failed...All the while A'Dia kept picking and choosing her places to shine while also involving all of her teammates in the games. Matthew Mitchell's Forty Minutes game is not easy to play. It looks like chaos, but it takes patience. You have to know who to attack and when. You have to know when to run and when to choke teams off before they even reach the half-court line. That's where Mathies made her name this season.
Mathies and the Kentucky Wildcats face the Vanderbilt Commodores in the SEC tournament today at 6 p.m. EDT.
For more on the SEC tournament, visit our tournament storystream. For more on other 2013 WNBA draft prospects, visit our draft prospects storystream.
Highlights from Arizona Wildcats guard Davellyn Whyte's triple-double against the Arizona State Sun Devils in mid-February.
Jenny Ryan as well as teammate Kate Thompson earned All Big-Ten honors for the first time in their careers, marking the first time in over a decade that a pair of Michigan Wolverines have received conference honors in a season in which the team has made huge strides themselves.
Highlights from Baylor Lady Bears senior Brittney Griner's 50-point performance, including a one-handed dunk, in a 90-68 win over the Kansas State Wildcats on Senior Night in Waco, TX.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Skylar Diggins' post-game interview with ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo after a 96-87 win over the Connecticut Huskies tonight.
The Big Ten Network recently had a feature on the Penn State Lady Lions' dynamic backcourt duo Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas with a focus on how their relationship has progressed over the years as they've learned to share the court and lead the team to success.
Highlights from Baylor Lady Bears star Brittney Griner's fifth career triple-double.
In his Senior Day preview of the Kentucky Wildcats hosting the Tennessee Lady Vols, Greg Alan Edwards of SB Nation's Kentucky site A Sea of Blue pays tribute to each of the seniors, including A'Dia Mathies and her impressive standing in the Wildcats program.
The day she signed her Letter of Intent to come to Kentucky over her hometown Louisville squad, this program changed. The die was cast that she would be the one to lead UK from mediocrity to excellence.
Overall this season, Mathies leads Kentucky in scoring and ranks second in the SEC averaging 18.3 points per game. As the preseason SEC Player of the Year, Mathies currently ranks in the top 15 of six SEC statistical categories, including second in scoring (18.3) and 3-point field goal percentage (.443), and third in 3-point field goals made (2.3). She also ranks No. 2 in scoring and No. 3 in steals. She is the first player in Kentucky history (men or women), to accumulate over 1,800 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 250 steals in her career. Mathies needs just one more steal to become the third player in school history with 300 or more and 10 more to tie the UK steals record of 309 set by Stacey Reed (1991-95).
So what does that mean for her WNBA draft chances? Discuss in our WNBA draft open thread.
For more draft analysis, check out our 2013 WNBA draft prospects storystream.
With some conference basketball tourneys coming up later this week and with the NCAA Tournament on the horizon, this gives college basketball's top seniors a chance to give their last, and hopefully their best impressions on WNBA teams in regards to their draft status. There's been plenty of talk by the league that this is a draft headlined with three game changing draft prospects: Baylor center Brittney Griner, Delaware forward Elena Delle Donne, and Notre Dame guard Skylar Diggins. However, is this draft class really a headlined by "Big Three", or are there more or less prospects who figure to be game changers or impact players in the WNBA this season?
John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant reported yesterday on Connecticut Huskies guard Kelly Faris hitting a milestone yesterday that is shared only with former Husky great Maya Moore.
With her six rebounds Saturday, Kelly Faris joined Maya Moore as the only two players in UConn women's basketball history to score at least 1,000 points with 750 rebounds, 500 assists and 250 steals.
And although she maintains in the article that stats aren't of concern to her, her statistics actually cast her in a pretty favorable light as a WNBA draft prospect as described a couple of weeks ago.
For more analysis of draft prospects, check out our 2013 WNBA draft storystream.
After helping the California Golden Bears to a riveting victory over the Oregon State Beavers on Senior Day, senior guard Layshia Clarendon has been named a candidate for the Naismith National Player of the Year award. Swish Appeal had the opportunity to interview the star guard about her rise to the point she's at now, how she responded to the low points in her career, and, of course, her hair.
The highlight video from Notre Dame Athletics of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish's 79-68 win over the Syracuse Orange on Tuesday night.
The Pac-12 Networks highlight package of Cal's win over Oregon State, featuring clips of Layshia Clarendon coming off screens and shooting off the dribble.
The California Golden Bears managed to fight their way back from a 17-point first half deficit to beat the Oregon State Beavers 58-56 in front of a home crowd ready to celebrate their seniors on Senior Day.
A few Swish Appeal regulars were at the game sitting with folks from SB Nation's California Golden Blogs, so for now we'll defer to norcalnick for a summary of the action and a brief assessment of how important senior guard Layshia Clarendon was
...the reason that Layshia Clarendon is the MVP of this team is because when nothing else is working, they can give her the ball and she will go to work.
I've never seen Cal just hand her the ball and let her break down the offense herself so frequently. But it was absolutely the right decision. She finished with 26 points, 18 of them coming in the second half when the offense was "give the ball to Layshia, set a screen, and maybe grab a rebound if Layshia actually misses." It worked to perfection.
After the game there was an absolutely outstanding Senior Day ceremony at Memorial Stadium's University Club, which included beautiful video tributes to Cal's four seniors (and free food, which was awfully tasty). We'll have more on the game and the post-game ceremony later.
For more on Cal, visit CGB's women's basketball section.
Congratulations Tianna! twitter.com/BrendaFrese/st…— Brenda Frese (@BrendaFrese) February 22, 2013
As described by Zack Ward last night, Tianna Hawkins joined Crystal Langhorne and Marissa Coleman as the only Maryland Terrapins women's basketball players to reach 1,000 rebounds.
Prior to the 2012-13 NCAA women's basketball season, a few of us on the Swish Appeal team came up with a list of 13 NCAA Division I players whose development we would watch closely as 2013 WNBA draft prospects. Yesterday, we checked in briefly on some of the guards on that list. Today, we look at some of few of the interior players on that list beyond Baylor superstar Brittney Griner. For more on the 2013 WNBA draft, visit our draft prospects storystream.
Highlights from the California Golden Bears' 72-64 win over the USC Trojans on Sunday (via Pac-12 Networks)
Prior to the 2012-13 NCAA women's basketball season, a few of us on the Swish Appeal team came up with a list of 13 NCAA Division I players whose development we would watch closely as 2013 WNBA draft prospects. This week we check in briefly on some of the guards on that list to get a better sense what's available in the draft. For more on the 2013 WNBA draft, visit our draft prospects storystream.
Last week, we looked at a few factors that contribute to the success of NCAA mid-major WNBA draft prospects. Today, we apply what we gained from looking at the past five years of mid-major prospects to the 2013 WNBA draft: Which players are worth keeping an eye on? For more on the 2013 WNBA draft, check out our 2013 draft prospects storystream.
Just the Facts, Ma'am: Cincinnati got off to an 8-0 start, but then the Red Storm's Nadirah McKenith went on an 11-2 run to spark St. John's to a 75-46 win. McKenith finished with 20 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Cincinnati was led by 12 points from Jeanise Randolph.
For concentrated awesomeness, pinkness, ducks, and warm and fuzzies, join your intrepid and musophobic blogger after the jump (oh GOD what is that noise behind the couch).
Not only did Maryland's star senior refuse to let herself have two bad games in a row, she had her second best scoring outing of the season.
As described by Ryan Dunleavy at the Scarlett Scuttlebutt blog, Rutgers Scarlet Knights post Monqiue Oliver played only five minutes in a heartbreaking 60-57 loss to the DePaul Blue Demons last night that cost legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer her 900th win.
It's just the latest episode in a season of "disappointing" post play for Rutgers, which was documented recently by Dave Hutchinson of the Star Ledger.
Oliver, slowed by an ankle bruise suffered on Dec. 30 against Tennessee, has averaged just 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.6 minutes in six games since the injury. She sat out one game, has come off the bench in the past three and didn't play down the stretch against Seton Hall.
Before the injury, Oliver, who hurt her Achilles early in the season, averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 25.6 minutes in the first 10 games.
Oliver was one of the 13 players that made our preseason 2013 WNBA draft prospect list due to her offensive rebounding numbers from her junior season, but it's becoming increasing unclear what to make of her as injuries have hampered her ability to contribute.
For more on Oliver and other 2013 WNBA draft prospects, check out our draft storystream.
One of the things that stood out about the Maryland Terrapins' 71-56 loss to the Duke Blue Devils on ESPN2 was how top 2013 WNBA draft prospect Tianna Hawkins struggled. (Updated at 11 p.m. PST.)
Greg Alan Edwards of SB Nation's Kentucky Wildcats site was among A'dia Mathies' harshest critics earlier this season. But yesterday he gave credit where credit was due after Mathies' impressive performance in a 75-53 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
A'dia Mathies has officially come into her own in her Senior year. I was vocal and persistent in criticizing her when SEC play started, and I believe it was justified. However, when she made up her mind that she was going to get back to leading this team, she has come on full bore. Game Ball. 28 points on 10-17 shooting, 5-9 from the arc, and 3-3 from the line will get you a win from A'Dia every time. She started out hot, and got even better as the Cats jumped on her back and rode all the way to the win.
For more on Mathies and Kentucky, visit A Sea of Blue's women's basketball section. For more on 2013 WNBA Draft prospects, check out our draft storystream.
During a Q&A with Al Willman of the Eastern Echo, former Kansas Jayhawks assistant and current Eastern Michigan Eagles head coach Tory Verdi suggested that 6'3" Jayhawks post Carolyn Davis will be selected in the first round.
Moving on to the University of Kansas, being part of a program that really needed help taking that next step and within our second year we made it to the Sweet 16, and having the opportunity to coach Carolyn Davis who is on the Waite Trophy watch list and also an All-American, so I had that opportunity to help coach her up as well. She'll be selected in the first round of the WNBA draft this year as well.
Davis has certainly been on our radar since before this season but was noted as having a statistical red flag: a low offensive rebounding percentage during her junior year before tearing her ACL. Surely Davis will be in the first round conversation as a big who's an efficient scorer, but thus far this season she's still outside of the top 15 in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding.
But setting that aside, one of the things that really stands out about this draft if you look at in terms of tiers is that there are maybe a handful of elite prospects (if we're generous in how we define "elite") but it still seems extremely difficult to determine what the draft will look like after the top three picks much less narrow down a list of first round locks.
For more of our ongoing analysis of 2013 WNBA Draft prospects, check out our 2013 draft storystream.
Last week, Clay Kallam of Full Court Press took a look at some of the prospects we've been watching this season and made some key points about the top players after the highly touted "big three":
...from this perspective, the Washington Mystics will probably have to settle for Maryland's Tianna Hawkins (who sadly does a lot of the things Crystal Langhorne already does), and after that, it's just guesswork.
Can Tayler Hill do more than shoot? Despite her 20.6 ppg, Ohio State has been one of the most disappointing teams in the country, and the 5-10 guard has more turnovers than assists. Her game might translate well into the WNBA, but then again a smallish two guard who doesn't handle and has defensive questions might never break into a starting lineup.
And speaking of small, Angel Goodrich (Kansas) is a pure point guard, but is generously listed at 5-4 and shoots just 36.5% from the field. Markel Walker (UCLA) has the size (6-2), but does she have the quickness? Toni Young (Oklahoma State) and Chelsea Poppens (Iowa State) have a shot, and Kelly Faris (UConn) can defend at a very high level.
Although this has been touted as an especially deep draft, closer scrutiny of the prospects throughout this season really has revealed that after the top three or four there will be a lot of guesswork involved for WNBA general managers for this draft.
For more of Kallam's thoughts on the WNBA offseason, check out the rest of his article at Full Court Press. For more of our ongoing analysis of 2013 WNBA Draft prospects, check out our 2013 draft storystream.
The California Golden Bears' ability to dominate the post offensively was ultimately the dominant feature of their win against the Kansas Jayhawks last night, but there was an interesting story on the defensive side of the ball as well. For more on this game, check out our Cal-Kansas storystream.
Star forward Elena Delle Donne is expected to be back in the lineup for the Delaware Blue Hens tonight against the Maryland Terrapins after missing all but one game so far this season, according to a report by Kevin Tresolini of The News Journal.
The best medicine, Elena Delle Donne suggested Wednesday, may be a heavy dose of competitive basketball tonight...Delle Donne has been blue herself of late. She has battled flu-like symptoms caused by the vestiges of Lyme Disease, but plans to play just her second game this season and first since Nov. 20 tonight.
The Delaware athletics site is showing that Delle Donne's return to action will be in front of a sell out crowd, which is hoping for a win to avenge a loss last year.
In last season's meeting in College Park, Delle Donne had game-highs of 32 points, 3 blocks, and 3 steals in 40 minutes of action.
For more on this game, check out our Delaware-Maryland storystream.
Success and leadership go hand in hand. So when one looks at the early success that Colorado has garnered at 9-0, look no further than the Buffaloes top two leaders: Head Coach Linda Lappe and star guard Chucky Jeffery. For more on the game, check out the recap from the weekend at SB Nation's Ralphie Report.
Greg Alan Edwards of SB Nation's Kentucky site A Sea of Blue has been watching A'Dia Mathies closely this season and after yet another quiet performance against Middle Tennessee State University on Sunday - 7 points on 2-for-6 shooting and 5 fouls - he made a few observations that are relevant to Mathies' WNBA potential.
Although he notes that Mathies is leading the team in scoring average this season, it's the way she's gotten those points that he's most concerned about.
FG% 39.1 That's offensive in Mitchell's layup-oriented offense, and she is next to last on the team. Ft% .682 which is bad enough, but she is not getting to the line either. She is only 3rd in FT attempts. For a slasher and driver in the lane like A'Dia, it's less than stellar, way less. She has also fouled out of 2 of the 9 games that UK has played. The cold hard truth is that A'Dia is off her game, way off and it does not appear to be getting any better.
From a WNBA perspective, the most alarming thing for Mathies - whose college style of play projects to a scorer in the pros - is her shooting efficiency. Mathies' 2-point percentage (42.14%) is significantly below the rate of successful prospects in the past. Even if she was an elite 3-point shooter, the fact that she gets to the free throw line at such a low rate (20%) essentially casts her as an inefficient jump shooter.
Mathies' athleticism will keep her on draft radars and make her an attractive prospect - particularly for a team interested in her defensive potential that stands out when watching her (fouls notwithstanding) - but the early returns make you ask exactly what Edwards has: "Where's A'Dia?"
For more on Kentucky women's basketball, check out A Sea of Blue. For more on 2013 WNBA Draft prospects, check out our storystream.
Even if a team were to come into Waco, Texas knowing exactly how to stop the Baylor Lady Bears, the challenge is actually executing that game plan.
And the bottom line is that the Kentucky Wildcats simply did not execute and ultimately got routed 85-51 in a game that actually managed to look worse than the final score suggests because Brittney Griner was able to take a rest well before the game was over.
Greg Alan Edwards of SB Nation's A Sea of Blue had harsh words for both the Wildcats team and their star A'dia Mathies in his post-mortem.
Unfortunately for UK, A'dia disappeared early in the game and was never a factor before fouling out with 5:20 left in the second half. None of her 12 points ever came at an opportune time, and defensively she looked more like the freshman A'dia Mathies than the Senior leader of the UK Hoops squad...A'dia simply does not have the luxury of taking a night off. And tonight, she really never showed up. Her assist came in the second half when the game was already over and her night was almost done.You have to credit Baylor's Sims. She played Mathies like a harp.
Although Baylor might really just be that good, it was not at all a good showing for Kentucky or their star player who some consider to be a top WNBA draft prospect.
The second annual Carrier Classic will feature a matchup between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball teams on Friday at 4 p.m. EDT on NBC Sports Network. Not only does the game help raise the profile of women's basketball - while showcasing a couple of top 2013 WNBA draft prospects - but also the critical role of women in the military. For more information on the game, visit the official Carrier Classic website.
The Iowa State Cyclones enter the 2012-13 season just outside the top 25 rankings.
If they want to move up, senior forward Chelsea Poppens will be a large part of that.
Cody Westerlund of the Ames Tribune put together a great feature article on the 6-foot-2 senior over the weekend, highlighting both her biggest strength and the weakness she'll have to overcome in order to be even more productive for the Cyclones.
Notably, Poppens accomplished all her work in just 26.8 minutes per game, a paltry number for a star player on a team that didn't rout opponents, because she was often in foul trouble. That she so often drew the ire of the referee's whistle isn't pleasing to Fennelly...Flanigan, the Aplington-Parkersburg coach, can't say he didn't see it coming either, considering how she went about practice all her life.
"I remember doing rebounding drills, and she would just be killing people," says Flanigan, who follows Poppens and the Cyclones closely. "She'd get every rebound. I'd have to do some drills without her included, for her safety and everybody else's. Not because she was out of control but because she was, 'I'm going to get the ball at any cost.'"
Ask most anyone, and that willpower is the one trait that's allowed Poppens to be successful throughout her Iowa State career, during which she's played in 96 of a possible 97 games, starting 83 of them. She's a quality athlete, strong and fundamentally sound at 6-foot-2, but in no way is she remarkably athletic.
It's an in-depth article with plenty of great information to digest, but that section in particular really stood out because it pretty much sums up Poppens' profile as a 2013 WNBA draft prospect - a relentless rebounder, which bodes well for a WNBA draft prospect but isn't remarkably athletic and has some concerns about foul trouble and turnovers that she could probably stand to improve upon if she wants to be successful at the next level.
While the article addresses Poppens and her role in the team's success - which reflects their experience on the frontline - their guard situation is a little shakier, as alluded to earlier today on the @CycloneWBB twitter account.
On Kidd: "She needs to give us some scoring and we obviously need another ball handler. And like most FR she needs to learn defense isn't...— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) November 5, 2012
.....just something you do until you get the ball back."— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) November 5, 2012
For more on the Cyclones, check out Westerlund's article here. Click here for more on Poppens from Swish Appeal's Jessica Lantz during last season.
Having looked at indicators of a successful transition from college to the WNBA yesterday, today we look at the other end of things: what are the risk factors for an unsuccessful WNBA Draft prospect?
With James Bowman continuing his look at the top women's college basketball programs this week, I'm going to start officially looking ahead to the 2013 WNBA Draft for the remainder of the week. We'll begin today with a look at what NCAA Division I statistics suggest a player has the talent to make it as a pro, as we began to discuss previously.
During yesterday's visit to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, the projected top three prospects for the 2013 WNBA Draft discussed what they plan to work on in their senior years and the qualities they believe they all share.
During a visit to ESPN's campus, Delaware forward Elena Delle Donne revealed where she would like to land in the WNBA.
For more on the 2013 WNBA Draft, check out the storystream menu bar on the right side of this page.
For more on the 2013 WNBA Draft, check out the storystream menu bar on the right side of this page.
Kara Lawson, Connecticut Sun veteran guard, is preparing for the WNBA playoffs. But as she does, there is no doubt that she'll have her nose to the ground to see who will pick up the top pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. Not due to the fact that she'll have to face off with this incoming crop of newcomers on the court, but also because she'll be analyzing their games throughout the season for ESPN.
With prospects that have the women's basketball world buzzing already about the depth and breadth of talent, it's no surprise that Lawson is touting this draft class as one of the best. But one particular woman that Lawson - and most everyone - has their eye on is none other than Baylor senior center Brittney Griner.
"This class is very, very good. Obviously, Brittney Griner is going to make things very difficult for all players - how much she's going to change things defensively with her length, and just with her athleticism," Lawson said in a WNBA playoff teleconference on Sept. 24. "This class has the ability to be right up there with some of the best classes to come in."
The four teams that will be looking for the ping pong balls to find favor on the franchise are the Washington Mystics, Phoenix Sun, Tulsa Shock and Chicago Sky. Along with Griner, there are two already touted prospects receiving the majority of the hype in Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Delaware's Elena Delle Donne.
"But Griner to me, specifically stands out," Lawson continued. "You can just put her anywhere and she's going to have a huge impact and a huge ability to transform a team. If she goes to a city that maybe hasn't been getting as great support, I think she maybe has the opportunity to transform that community in terms of women's basketball and getting people out to watch games."
Lawson, who's in her 10th season of the WNBA, began her "offseason" career at the network in 2004 with a particular focus on NCAA basketball. She'll be sure to have an opportunity to comment on Griner's game on-air, as the Baylor Lady Bears are slated to appear on ESPN for five games in the upcoming season.
But before her analyzing can begin, her squad will face off with the New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference Semifinals beginning Friday. She is in the midst of her most productive season as a pro, contributing 15.1 points, 4.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds a game for the Sun, all career-high averages.
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text:
Archive for the 'Fire Fighting' Category
What Goes Up…Explodes!
Fireworks displays are often hand-fired, Joe Collins' favorite way of shooting a show. And, this past weekend, he and a friend photographed a hand-fired show from beginning to end. Here's what he had to say about the experience.
Loaded Trailer
Above, is a trailer loaded out for the show with racks, mortars, buckets, post-hole digger, fire extinguishers and other things needed.
Dropped Show
The show is "Dropped"—delivered by a special crew with the proper training, equipment, placards, trucks and certifications.
The mortars are dug in. Fours are in front, fives are in the middle and threes are at the end. This placement reduces the chances of loading the wrong sized shell into a mortar.
Dropping Finales
Finale racks are screwed together, and the shells are dropped. Finales are long chains of shells tied together with quickmatch so that when one shell is lit, the entire rack will fire in sequence.
Finale Racks
Above, you can see all the finale racks ready to be shot.
Bucket of 5s
The shells to be shot individually are put into buckets—basically a garbage can. With the lid turned upside down this provides some protection for the shells before they are loaded. Each size of shell has its own bucket. The person responsible for getting the shells out for the loader is called a "Bucket Tender."
The cakes are set up. A cake is a multi-part firework. Each cardboard tube contains a shell or effect and all are lit off in sequence once the fuse is lit.
The next step is to wait for it to get dark. Bring bug spray, lawn chairs and plenty of water to drink!
Fusee Closeup
Something very much like a road flare—called a "Fusee" is fastened to the end of a piece of conduit. To light a shell, touch the burning end of the Fusee to the quickmatch or visco, make sure it is lit and briskly step away.
Lighting Shells
The bucket tender is to the left. And the shooter is lighting quickmatch which will light the shell.
Lifting Shell
To the loaders and bucket tenders, this is what a shell looks like as it's lifting. In this case, it's a five-inch shell.
I like to tell people I haven't seen a fireworks show since I started shooting them because what you see above is pretty much all that I get to see.
Shell Hand-off
The loader is getting more shells from the bucket tender to be loaded into mortars. Note the fusee in the back pocket of the loader—in this case me. The extra fusee is a backup if something goes wrong with the one being used to light shells.
Loading Shells
Yes, we are often that close to lifting shells as we are loading. Although it looks as though I have my head over the mortar, I'm trying to be as far away from the mortar as I can, facing another direction as I drop the shell.
A lot of teamwork, training, experience and most importantly, trust is involved in shooting a fireworks show.
Stepping Fast
And everyone has to hustle, while being safe.
Cakes Lifting
Every once in a while, hit a cake or two. Yes, it does sometimes get a bit bright.
When the bucket tenders are out of shells, they turn their bucket over to let everyone know that they have no more shells. Then they can watch the end of the show.
Finale Lifting
Naturally, the last thing fired are the finale's. I was about three-foot away from the racks when the shells started lifting.
Safety Check
When the show is done, every mortar and cake is checked to see if all the shells have fired. If a shell hasn't lifted for some reason, the mortar is filled with water and it's removed to go back to the fireworks company to see what went wrong.
Above, you can see where we blew the top off a five-inch mortar. It landed two-feet from a bucket tender's head.
Then the hard work starts, tearing down everything and packing it away for the trip back to the fireworks bunker.
The job of a pyrotechnician is physically demanding, sometimes dangerous, doesn't pay very well, and requires a lot of planning, training and experience to pull off, but the result is worth it!
* Joe Collins is a twelve-year veteran firefighter/paramedic in the busiest volunteer fire department in his county. He holds numerous fire and EMS certifications—many of the same as professional firefighters. During the day he works as a Critical Care Paramedic in the highest call volume EMS service in Iowa. For the past seven years, he has been a professional pyrotechnican working in the fireworks display industry.
Fireworks: Behind The Scenes With Pyrotechnician Joe Collins
Everyone likes the Fourth of July–fireworks, food, and fun. For some of us, it's a time of hard work, thrills, and sometimes danger.
For the past seven years, I have been a professional pyrotechnican working in the fireworks display industry.
The BATF—Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, abbreviated to ATF has defined various classes of fireworks. Consumer fireworks are most often classified as Class 1.4G—stuff you can buy in stores and shoot in your back yard—state and local laws permitting.
Most display fireworks are classified as Class 1.3G. I have a federal license to posses and shoot Class 1.3G fireworks as long as I am working for the display company that sponsored my license.
Now that the legalities are out of the way, let's get to the fun stuff!
The cone at the bottom of a typical shell is where the lift charge is located which is simply a bag of black powder enclosed in a protective cone of cardboard.
five inch shell
Tied into the bottom of the shell is quickmatch which is black match—cotton string covered or soaked in black powder that is enclosed in a paper tube or plastic tube all along the whole length. The tube forces the fire down at a very high speed (approximately 30 feet per second). This is what we light to "lift" the shell from the mortar, either electrically or by fire.
quickmatch closeup
You can see the blackmatch in the close up above.
The whole shell is wrapped in craft-type paper secured with glue.
On the top is a loop of string that is used to keep the quickmatch in the right place and in larger shells is used to lower the shell into the mortar.
To lift a shell, you need a mortar. They come in various sizes and are often held together to accomplish certain effects—the one below is called a finale rack—a series of mortars tied together that all lift shells at the end of a show.
finale rack
As you can see, there are several different sizes and the company I work for has a few of them.
mortar storage
Single mortars are what you see below and are often buried into the ground to stabilize them.
And, they come in a wide variety of sizes.
single mortar storage
big mortar
Our mortars are constructed of fiberglass which doesn't cause the shrapnel problems if they blow out like the old steel mortars. They are also cheap to make and are lightweight.
mortar closeup
Shells blowing apart mortars happens more often than you would think and makes for an exciting experience when you are close to them.
This is why we wear protective clothing: it's mandatory that you wear blue jeans, a cotton shirt, a helmet with a face shield and ear protection, gloves, and safety glasses.
safety gear
The most complex of shows to set up and shoot are electrically fired. Some shows are also required to be electrically fired—like those set to music and every barge shoot.
wired barge
The shells are ignited by an electric match which, when an electric current is applied to it, ignites a combustible compound. Think of a model rocket igniter but much more powerful.
The matches are wired into slats which are screwed to the top of the mortar racks.
slat closeup
The slats plug into cables.
slat cables
As you can see, it takes more than a few cables to wire up the shows.
The cables are plugged into a firing panel.
firing panel back
Firing panels come in a wide variety of configurations and sizes, some small:
small firing panel
Note the battery cables—most shows are fired using a car battery.
And some large-bigger shows are fired with larger panels.
100 shot firing panel
You may only notice that there are fifty switches. There are two banks. When you've fired the first fifty-shells, you flip a switch and you can shoot the second bank of shells.
bank switch
The really difficult part is making sure that the shells will fire when you flip the switch. There is a test function on the firing board which you can see below.
test and firing switch
There is an LED over each switch and if it doesn't glow when you hit the test switch, then you have to figure out what is wrong with the circuit which can be very tedious to track down.
firing switches
Once the shells are loaded, wired, tested and otherwise ready to go, you can sit back and enjoy the show.
Next time we get to my favorite way of shooting a fireworks show—hand fired.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our World: An ally no more
Instead of warning Egypt against breaking its treaty with the Jewish state, US officials chose to criticize Israel instead.
US President Obama and Hillary Clinton
Photo: REUTERS
And then in the months to come, Egyptian voters in the far more Islamist Nile Delta and Sinai will undoubtedly provide the forces of jihadist Islam with an even greater margin of victory.
Until the US-supported overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt served as the anchor of the US alliance system in the Arab world. The Egyptian military is US-armed, US-trained and US-financed.
The Suez Canal is among the most vital waterways in the world for the US Navy and the global economy.
Due to Mubarak's commitment to stemming the tide of jihadist forces that threatened his regime, under his rule Egypt served as a major counter-terror hub in the US-led war against international jihad.
GIVEN EGYPT'S singular importance to US strategic interests in the Arab world, the Obama administration's response to the calamitous election results has been shocking. Rather than sound the alarm bells, US President Barack Obama has celebrated the results as a victory for "democracy."
Rather than warn Egypt that it will face severe consequences if it completes its Islamist transformation, the Obama administration has turned its guns on the first country that will pay a price for Egypt's Islamic revolution: Israel.
Speaking at the annual policy conclave in Washington sponsored by the leftist Brookings Institute's Saban Center for Middle East Policy, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hammered Israel, the only real ally the US has left in the Middle East after Mubarak's fall. Clinton felt it necessary – in the name of democracy – to embrace the positions of Israel's radical Left against the majority of Israelis.
The same Secretary of State that has heralded negotiations with the violent, fanatical misogynists of the Taliban; who has extolled Saudi Arabia where women are given ten lashes for driving, and whose State Department trained female-hating Muslim Brotherhood operatives in the lead-up to the current elections in Egypt accused Israel of repressing women's rights. The only state in the region where women are given full rights and legal protections became the focus of Clinton's righteous feminist wrath.
In the IDF, as in the rest of the country, religious coercion is forbidden. Jewish law prohibits men from listening to women's voices in song. And recently, when a group of religious soldiers were presented with an IDF band that featured female vocalists, keeping faith with their Orthodox observance, they walked out of the auditorium. The vocalists were not barred from singing. They were not mistreated. They were simply not listened to.
And as far as Clinton is concerned, this is proof that women in Israel are under attack. Barred by law from forcing their soldiers from spurning their religious obligations, IDF commanders were guilty of crimes against democracy for allowing the troops to exit the hall.
But Clinton didn't end her diatribe with the IDF's supposed war against women. She continued her onslaught by proclaiming that Israel is taking a knife to democracy by permitting its legislators to legislate laws that she doesn't like. The legislative initiatives that provoked the ire of the US Secretary of State are the bills now under discussion which seek to curtail the ability to foreign governments to subvert Israel's elected government by funding non-representative, anti-Israel political NGOs like B'Tselem and Peace Now.
In attacking Israel in the way she did, Clinton showed that she holds Israel to a unique standard of behavior. Whereas fellow Western democracies are within their rights when they undertake initiatives like banning Islamic headdresses from the public square, Israel is a criminal state for affording Jewish soldiers freedom of religion. Whereas the Taliban, who enslave women and girls in the most unspeakable fashion are worthy interlocutors, and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, which supports universal female genital mutilation is moderate, Israel is an enemy of democracy for seeking to preserve the government's ability to adopt policies that advance the country's interests.
The unique standard to which Clinton holds the Jewish state is the standard of human perfection.
And as far as she is concerned, if Israel is not perfect, then it is unworthy of support. And since Israel, as a nation of mere mortals can never be perfect, it is necessarily always guilty.
CLINTON'S ASSAULT on Israeli democracy and society came a day after Panetta attacked Israel's handling of its strategic challenges. Whereas Clinton attacked Israel's moral fiber, Panetta judged Israel responsible for every negative development in the regional landscape.
Panetta excoriated Israel for not being involved in negotiations with the Palestinians. Israel, he said must make new concessions to the Palestinians in order to convince them of its good faith. If Israel makes such gestures, and the Palestinians and the larger Islamic world spurn them, then Panetta and his friends will side with Israel, he said.
Panetta failed to notice that Israel has already made repeated, unprecedented concessions to the Palestinians and that the Palestinians have pocketed those concessions and refused to negotiate. And he failed to notice that in response to the repeated spurning of its concessions by the Palestinians and the Arab world writ large, rather than stand with Israel, the US and Europe expanded their demands for further Israeli concessions.
Panetta demanded that Israel make renewed gestures as well to appease the Egyptians, Turks and Jordanians. He failed to notice that it was Turkey's Islamist government, not Israel, that took a knife to the Turkish-Israeli strategic alliance.
As for Egypt, rather than recognize the strategic implications for the US and Israel alike of Egypt's transformation into an Islamic state, the US Defense Secretary demanded that Israel ingratiate itself with Egypt's military junta. Thanks in large part to the Obama administration, that junta is now completely beholden to the Muslim Brotherhood.
As for Jordan, again thanks to the US's support for the Muslim Brotherhood and its aligned groups in Libya and Tunisia, the Hashemite regime is seeking to cut a deal with the Jordanian branch of the movement in a bid to save itself from Mubarak's fate. Under these circumstances, there is no gesture that Israel can make to its neighbor to the east that would empower King Abdullah to extol the virtues of peace with the Jewish state.
Then there is Iran, and its nuclear weapons program.
Panetta argued that an Israeli military strike against Iran would lead to regional war. But he failed to mention that a nuclear armed Iran will lead to nuclear proliferation in the Arab world and exponentially increase the prospect of a global nuclear war.
Rather than face the dangers head on, Panetta's message was that the Obama administration would rather accept a nuclear-armed Iran than support an Israeli military strike on Iran to prevent the mullocracy from becoming a nuclear-armed state.
Clinton's and Panetta's virulently anti-Israeli messages resonated in an address about European anti-Semitism given last week by the US Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman. Speaking to a Jewish audience, Gutman effectively denied the existence of anti-Semitism in Europe. While attacks against European Jews and Jewish institutions have become a daily occurrence continent-wide, Gutman claimed that non-Muslim anti- Semites are essentially just all-purpose bigots who hate everyone, not just Jews.
As for the Muslims who carry out the vast majority of anti-Jewish attacks in Europe, Gutman claimed they don't have a problem with good Jews like him. They are simply angry because Israel isn't handing over land to the Palestinians quickly enough. If the Jewish state would simply get with Obama's program, according to the US ambassador, Muslim attacks on Jews in Europe would simply disappear.
Gutman of course is not a policymaker. His job is simply to implement Obama's policies and voice the president's beliefs.
But when taken together with Clinton's and Panetta's speeches, Gutman's remarks expose a distressing intellectual and moral trend that clearly dominates the Obama administration's foreign policy discourse. All three speeches share a common rejection of objective reality in favor of a fantasy.
In the administration's fantasy universe, Israel is the only actor on the world stage. Its detractors, whether in the Islamic world or Europe, are mere objects. They are bereft of judgment or responsibility for their actions.
There are two possible explanations for this state of affairs – and they are not mutually exclusive. It is possible that the Obama administration is an ideological echo chamber in which only certain positions are permitted. This prospect is likely given the White House's repeated directives prohibiting government officials from using terms like "jihad," "Islamic terrorism," "Islamist," and "jihadist," to describe jihad, Islamic terrorism, Islamists and jihadists.
Restrained by ideological thought police that outlaw critical thought about the dominant forces in the Islamic world today, US officials have little choice but to place all the blame for everything that goes wrong on the one society they are free to criticize – Israel.
The second possible explanation for the administration's treatment of Israel is that it is permeated by anti-Semitism. The outsized responsibility and culpability placed on Israel by the likes of Obama, Clinton, Panetta and Gutman is certainly of a piece with classical anti-Semitic behavior.
There is little qualitative difference between accusing Israeli society of destroying democracy for seeking to defend itself against foreign political subversion, and accusing Jews of destroying morality for failing to embrace foreign religious faiths.
So too, there is little qualitative difference between blaming Israel for its isolation in the face of the Islamist takeover of the Arab world, and blaming the Jews for the rise of anti-Semites to power in places like Russia, Germany and Norway.
In truth, from Israel's perspective, it really doesn't make a difference whether these statements and the intellectual climate they represent stem from ideological myopia or from hatred of Jews.
The end result is the same in either case: Under President Obama, the US government has become hostile to Israel's national rights and strategic imperatives. Under Obama, the US is no longer Israel's ally.
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Ref.nr.: 70805
Strathaird Bed and Breakfast, CanadaStrathaird Bed and Breakfast
Strathaird Bed and Breakfast B&B in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Exprience Real Scottish hospitality,Strathaird is located on a quiet tree lined street a short pleasant walk to The Falls and all attractions, Comfortable pillow top Queen bed Rooms feature Central Air,Ensuite baths, and complimentary Wireless inte
Please contact the owner to check availability.
Unfortunately this property does not have an online availability calendar. Please contact the owner directly by filling the contact form.
Facilities and Features
Room Details:
Sleeps: 6
3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Location Details and Things to Do
Recommended Attractions
Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum
Visitor Centre or Museum
Ontario, Canada


text:
The Hoover Police Department is attempting to located two suspects that they believe is preying on the elderly.
October 2, Hoover Police was notified by an elderly man that his wallet had been stolen, but he was unsure where the theft had occurred. His stolen
credit cards were used to purchase over $13,000 in merchandise at
several stores in Hoover and Birmingham in a three hour period on the
same day of the theft.
It appears that the victim was at a doctor's
office, and the theft occurred in an elevator.
According to police, the theft happens when one suspect distracts the victim by falling to the floor
and when the victim moves to help the "injured", the second suspect steals
the victim's wallet.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Kevin Parkinson, at (205) 444-7562.
UA President: incident won't interrupt progress
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>


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To bring you the world's finest iWotsit protection we've hooked up with consummate case professionals Uncommon. They're an industry leader in making superbly high quality and durable iPhone & iPod cases – one of the few brands chosen by Apple for Apple Stores. They invented a revolutionary and top secret printing process called TATT™, which embeds the design into the case – so no fading or peeling, ever. It all sounds a bit space age really, which we quite like.
The deflector is a single piece clip-on case.The capsule is a two piece slide-on case with a removable bottom.
We currently offer the following case styles:
Which iPhone Do I Have? |
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beba fanta laranja, boneco.fanta orange drink, doll.
foto, fotografia, drink, fanta, beba, laranja, boneco, orange, doll
Photographer, Videomaker, Filmmaker, Editor, and addicted to images.


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Step 2: Removing the spacer and lifting the movement out
Remove the white plastic spacer carefully. Then hold the watch case with your left hand and let the movement gently drop into your right palm. Please do not apply force if the movement seems to be stuck, you could damage the edge of the dial. If the movement does not come out easily, you could use your pointed pegwood, and carefully try to loosen the movement.
Navigation for this article, just click on the last picture on the page to read on >>>


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College Bound? Keep Your BFFs Close
Graduating from High School? Keep Your BFFs Close with Skype Dancing with your best friends at prom. Senior Cut Day. The moment you and your classmates toss your caps in the air at graduation. Some of the most precious moments are shared with friends – and as you embark upon your summer vacation, the realization of … Read more
Musician Performs Personalized Concerts via Skype
Indie musician Jhameel catapulted to the top of the Hype Machine Popular Charts with the help of his enthusiastic fan base. Jhameel immerses his listeners in synthesized melodies, thought provoking lyrics and vocals inspired by the likes of Michael Jackson and Prince. Based in Los Angeles, California, he does it all – produces, sings, writes … Read more
Montana-based Mamalode Brings Parenting Respite to the World, with Skype
For many moms (and dads alike), "me-time" is rare and precious. With that in mind, a small business in Montana has created a place online where parents can escape throughout the day to find a slice of community and connection. And with the help of Skype, their rural surroundings are no barrier to business. Founder … Read more
Solving the Mysteries of the Universe and Using Skype
What's a Higgs boson? No, it's not a fancy British surname but rather the missing piece of the puzzle that helps us understand the sub-atomic world. Tentatively proven to exist just this spring, this particle could be the biggest scientific discovery of our time. Top physicists like Dr. Gabriella Sciolla aren't able search for Higgs boson … Read more
Man meets newborn son on Skype – while in taxi
When you were born, there is a good chance that your father wasn't allowed past the hospital waiting room door. While times have changed in America, Western Europe and a few other areas, much of the rest of the world still keeps dads at a distance. Such was the situation for Bojidar Markov in Sofia, Bulgaria, … Read more
Soldier Never Misses a Moment with Digital Daddy Time
On Christmas morning, Julie McGhee had her young sons hold off on opening their presents. Their dad, Jeff, was serving overseas and struggling with missing out on all the precious family moments, from holidays to first steps. This holiday, however, would be different. With a little help from Skype, Jeff watched as his kids tore open each … Read more
Mother Meets Newborn Daughter for the First Time via Skype
Elizabeth Stone once said, "Making a decision to have a child – it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." In light of Mother's Day, a day to express gratitude to the significant female figures in our lives, we look back to the women who brought … Read more


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2185 48" Deck Height Adjustment
IHC Cub Cadet Forum -- Questions and answers to all of your Cadet related issues.
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2185 48" Deck Height Adjustment
I have a Cub Cadet 2185 with a 48" deck and no matter what adjustment lever setting and wheel height I use the anti-scalping wheels always ride on the ground. I only see a couple of adjustment bolts on the rear arms that look like they might buy me a half inch or so of height. Are there other methods to allow me to raise the deck more?
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Cub Cadet 2185
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Lori Ferraro
When I think of Valentine Day in the 80s my memories go to the following
In eighth grade I bought my boyfriend, Albert, a big gold medallion that
said "Libra" and had the tipping scales on it – he was my first real
boyfriend and I was super excited to give him this fancy piece of
jewelry in a little black velvet box.
In the tenth grade my boyfriend Lenny gave me one of those novelty coffee
mugs with a miniature teddy bear inside it – the mug said "I LOVE YOU
My junior year my boyfriend Jason came over to my house for a romantic
dinner that I took credit for making, which my mother actually made.
Jason gave me some a big stinky bottle of Fendi perfume and this
gigantic I LOVE YOU balloon that popped seconds after this photo was
Don't give love a bad name! Valentine's Day is upon us - the 80s fan in
your life can truly become your endless love by surprising them with one
of these totally awesome gifts. For me it will be hard to top that
miniature bear in a mug but hey...you can try.
Pac Man Necklace – 80s Love PacMan
Oh my goodness, this is adorable:
Photo Credit:
Camille Designs
Looking to up your high score in the gift department? How about this
handmade sterling silver personalized Pac Man and ghost
necklace that includes three sterling silver charms - a Pac Man a tiny
heart "pellet" and a Ghost with names of your choice. Make her heart go
wakka-wakka on February 14th with this unique one-of-a-kind necklace.
Love Plus One: 80s Love Songs
Not your typical 80s love songs CD...you won't find any "Time of My Life"
or "Hello" here. This CD is filled with more new wave love songs such as
"Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels, "I Got You" by Split Enz and
"Space Age Love Song" by A Flock of Seagulls. Ooooh, and who doesn't
want to have a romantic dinner at home while listening to "Love Plus
One" by Haircut One Hundred? I DO.
80s Rainbow Heart T-Shirt
Show your love your love with this retro t-shirt!
Because what says 80s better than a pink heart with a rainbow going
through it? NOTHING! The only thing missing is a unicorn and a Pegasus
flying through the air.
Lips Telephone
I just called to say I love you! Pucker up with this 80s-inspired lips
So popular back in the day, I had a friend who had one and I loved going
over to her house after school to hang with her, admire her phone and
call to boys on it. I had another friend with a cheeseburger phone which
was also cool, but this one was my favorite.
80s Inspired Valentine's from Meow
Etsy has a wonderland of fun 80s themed stuff on it - Meow Kapow! Has some
fantastic cards, buttons and gifts on there including these two great
What's more romantic than a Back to
the Future Flux Capacitor valentine? And how cute is the "I
love your bits" that references Pac Man, Space Invaders and Berserk? I
would put these puppies in frames if someone gave them to me. The shop
also has a fantastic Skeletor Collage art print and a little spiral
notebook made from an old school library card. Awesome.
Take your valentine back to the 80s this year with one of these great
gifts. If you want to make the night extra special/authentic be sure to
pile on the Polo cologne or Obsession perfume, exchange a single red
carnation and slow dance to "Lady in Red" by Chris DeBurgh.
Happy Valentine's Day.
80's Home . 80s music . 80s movies . 80s culture . 80s fashion . 80s party planning . site map . contact LT 80s
© Copyright 2014. Like Totally 80s LLC. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Notice. Site by denning e-solutions, LLC


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Firefox and IE FSU Browser Theme
Just wanted to let you all know that you can download an FSU browser theme for Firefox or IE on Seminoles.com. Looks pretty decent, although Chief Osceola seems to always be giving me the stink eye. It seems to change a few of my browser settings, but nothing I couldn't change back.


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PECOTA: Indians atop tight division
The new PECOTA projections are starting to be released in various forms. Today, Clay Davenport posted the Depth Charts for all 30 teams along with projected standings based on them. The Depth Charts combine the individual player projections for 2009 with estimated playing time allotments. This first draft (it will be revised over the course of spring training) shows the Indians leading the AL Central with 84 wins, while the other four clubs all winning between 74 and 79. The Indians and Twins in the 1-2 spots conform to my expectations. I am surprised that PECOTA sees the Tigers as a close third with the Royals only a few games behind. Good projection systems are inherently conservative, in that every player and every team represents a wide range of possible results in 2009, and the projection attempts to show the median result for each player and, in the aggregate, for each team. Based on injuries, breakouts, slumps and the way the ball bounces, all five teams have the potential to finish with 70 wins or 90 wins, but as spring training starts, PECOTA sees the Indians as five to ten wins stronger than their rivals. The system sees Victor, Garko, Peralta and Francisco as 750 OPS guys in 2009. Grady leads with an 860 projection, followed by 790 for both Choo and Shoppach. Among pitchers, the projected VORP leader (based on both production and innings pitched) is Cliff Lee by a wide margin, followed by Perez, Joe Smith (!), Wood, Carmona, Betancourt, Jensen Lewis and Scott Lewis, in that order.


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Where Does Production Come From
This is an article from The Hardball Times. The author states his methodology as such: "Using Wins Above Replacement and corresponding dollar values from FanGraphs, I found the dollar value for every player who was worth 1.0 WAR or more in 2009. This introduces a bias by excluding many free agents who didn't earn their keep, but it has two benefits: It keeps us focused on players who really contributed, and it reduces the size of the project to something more manageable." There's a table halfway down the article that breaks down where each team got its production from and is simply another (graphical this time) demonstration of where the Indians front office has excelled and failed at.


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when Derek Anderson was 2/17 23 yds 1 int for the entire day.** shakes head **Too bad there are no Adrian Peterson-like players coming out this year.
SUH is PETeRSON like, IMO/
I think it's between us and the Rams for the worst team in the league, but I'd say we're better at this point in time.
And we lost to Wash who lost to Detroit
Detroit would eat us alive.....


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About Us
Events Mania Inc. is a boutique event design, planning and consulting firm. Owner and Principal Event Designer; P. Rhea Smith has experienced more than two decades in Hospitality Management, in the Caribbean as well as the USA. She is a Certified Trained Professional Chef, trained in her native country of Trinidad and Tobago, with specialized training in the USA. Rhea's experiences range from High end Hotels, Resorts, Restaurants, Dinner Cruise Ships and Catering Houses.
She has worked in various restaurants and catering houses in New York City. Former Executive Chef of the well known Mid-town Restaurant – Soul Café; owned by Actor Malik Yoba. Her experience at the Soul Café featured her on the Food Network Channel, WLIB- Good Morning Show, Venus Magazine, Upscale Magazine, and Restaurant News to mention a few. She also managed two of New York City's dinner cruise lines the Bateaux NY and the Spirit Cruise Brand.
Rhea's expertise and experience in Hospitality Management, has kept her in good stead for this ever evolving world of Event Consulting and Design. She brings with her a very detailed eye to the business of Event Management. Her training in Event Planning and International Wedding Planning has broaden her professional portfolio. An avid tea aficionado, she enjoys a good brew. Apart from planning events, she spends her time researching and sampling teas. Her utmost pleasure is entertaining family and friends.


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EVERY few months when the Spanish government announces the latest batch of economic and debt data, these numbers always turn out to be worse than expected and much worse than originally projected.
Ironically, this is exactly what we should expect under the circumstances.
Foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Magallo compared the European Union to the doomed liner Titanic, saying that passengers would be saved only if all worked together to find a solution, the #i#Financial Times#i# reported recently.
It is that Garcia-Magallo is openly discussing the possibility of the "passengers" not being saved.
Usually in the beginning of a sovereign debt crisis we spend an unfortunately long time in which policymakers insist that the market is overreacting to bad news and that the problem – inevitably a short-term problem driven largely by illiquidity – can be resolved with patience and hard work.
There is no discussion of contingency plans because the contingency is unimaginable.
At some point however it becomes possible at least to acknowledge formally that policymakers might be forced into the contingency.
Once this happens, the debate becomes much more intelligent and the resolution of the crisis is speeded up.
As recently as six months ago one didn't discuss in polite company in Madrid the possibility that Spain would leave the euro and restructure its debt.
The prospect was unthinkable and like many unthinkable things it could not be discussed.
This made it very unlikely that anyone except the radical parties of the left or right would be able to control the discussion and of course this was likely to lead to a more disorderly resolution.
But now perhaps things have changed.
If responsible policymakers, advisors, the press, and public intellectuals are indeed discussing and debating the future of the euro now, I am pretty sure that a real and open debate about Spain's prospects will quickly move the consensus towards abandoning the euro.
The historical precedents suggest that typically policymakers postpone the decision to reverse the monetary straightjacket for as long as they can, and in the process they erect barriers towards such a reversal in the name of shoring up credibility.
These barriers work by increasing the cost of a policy reversal, and the point of this is to improve credibility in investors' eyes by increasing the cost of "misbehavior" by policymakers.
Mexico did this in 1994 when, in order to convince an increasingly skeptical investor base that the central bank would not devalue the peso against the dollar, the Ministry of Finance shifted its domestic borrowing from peso-denominated funding to dollar-denominated funding, which of course would increase the debt-servicing cost of a devaluation for the government.
Unfortunately, when policy is reversed anyway, as was the case in Mexico in 1994, the cost indeed ends up being much higher, and it takes longer for the economy to recover.
In that sense the sooner Spain prepares for an abandonment of the euro the less painful it will be.
But of course it won't be painless. Whenever an analyst predicts that Spain will soon leave the euro he is almost always countered by someone who earnestly explains that Spain cannot leave the euro because the process will be too painful.
n 1993-94 of curse we were told that this was why Mexico could not possibly devalue, and in 2000 and 2001 this was why Argentina could not possibly break the currency board. It would have been too painful to devalue.
But of course Mexico and Argentina both did devalue and, yes, it was a very painful experience but they did it because the alternative was worse.
And likewise while it is true that Spain cannot leave the euro without experiencing a very painful process, the point is not that anyone is arguing that Spain should willingly and irrationally choose to endure pain. Spain will leave the euro because the alternative is worse.
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Euthanasia Blues
I first posted this disability rights protest song about euthanasia a few years ago. Given the flow of events, and the many new SHSers who might not have seen it, I decided it was worth
This Blog considers assisted suicide/euthanasia, bioethics, human cloning, biotechnology, radical environmentalism, and the dangers of animal rights/liberation. My views expressed here, as in my books and other writings, reflect my understanding that the philosophy of human exceptionalism is the bedrock of universal human rights. Or, to put it another way: human life matters. (The opinions expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of any organization with which I am affiliated.)
I first posted this disability rights protest song about euthanasia a few years ago. Given the flow of events, and the many new SHSers who might not have seen it, I decided it was worth
It's a travesty that there is reason for this song to exist.
This post has been removed by the author.
I also have this song posted on my website. I wish people would listen to it's message.
It's not just the disabled, it's the elderly, too. It's disgraceful, and it's criminal, too.
You know that Shakespeare line about the first thing we've got to do is get rid of the lawyers? Well, unfortunately, some of them do give the legal profession a bad name for good reason. But that's nothing compared with the damage doctors, and their arrogance, do, and I'm trying to think of an analogous line for them. It does seem to me that the first thing we've got to do is straighten them out (not easy since they weren't even trained to think), and society's perception of them, too.
I am so glad you posted this protest song. It is chilling message that needs to be heard but too often is ignored.
I am so glad you posted this protest song. It is chilling message that needs to be heard but too often is ignored.
This was interesting to hear. The song makes a point that hasn't been clear in what you've written. The impression I've gotten from your posts is that you are against people having the right to decide when and how to die - at the very least, your anger at assisted suicide movements and so on indicates that. But the song seems to put forth the ideal that a person gets to choose how they want to die, which I basically agree with as a general principle (that needs to be ironed out in specific situations of course).
Do I just have your position wrong, or do you not quite agree with the song 100%?
Doug: I've seen SHS make it clear that a person is entitled to a choice of whether to continue treatment, etc.; at least that's how I've read it. That's different from assisted suicide.
Doug: I can't repeat and repeat what I have written in two books, numerous articles, and countless speeches. But I am glad you brought it up. I support people's right to refuse wanted life sustaining treatment. I don't support assisted suicide/euthanasia. Those are totally different concepts.
Thanks for dropping by.
Thanks for clarifying. I get the impression that, not having read any of your books, read your articles, or heard your speeches, I'm a little behind the conversation, so I'm happy to opt out. I think I misinterpreted the purpose of the blog, so I apologize.


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The Giants offense is dreadful and except for brief periods it has been failtastic throughout 2011. But where does it stand in historical terms for a defending World Series winner?
In 2010 while winning the NL West the Giants posted a team OPS+ of 97. Just subpar, surprisingly. This year (before the Timmeh meltdown yesterday) the team's OPS+ stood at 84. It wouldn't surprise to know it's fallen to 83 now.
This differential of 13 (possibly 14) would become the largest drop in OPS+ by any defending champion in the Wild Card Era, surpassing the decline of 12 points of OPS+ suffered by the "defending" Florida Marlins in 1998 (OPS+ dropping from 98 to 86).
"Defending" in quotes invites you to keep in mind that those Marlins actively dismantled their team following their '97 Championship, electing to part with some very expensive key parts in a cost-cutting move.
Does this resonate with you? These Giants hitters are actually performing quantifiably worse than a team that wasn't even trying to repeat as World Series winners.


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Our house was built in 1942 and reroofed 17 years ago and needed to be replaced. I phone for a price...
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Installing Cool Grey roof deck 8 vents 3 flashings and IKO shingles. The job is now complete and I am very thankful to you for this recommendation.
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Firefighters walk out again (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service crews walk out on strike again
Updated 9:54am Sunday 4th May 2014 in News By Joe Curtis, Health Reporter
HAMPSHIRE firefighters have walked out again today in the latest chapter of a bitter national dispute with the Government.
County crews are were back on the picket line at 2pm for a 12-hour stoppage in an ongoing row over pensions.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union will also strike between 10am and 3pm tomorrow.
The Government has criticised the industrial action and said that "robust contingency plans" were in place to protect the public during the strikes.
The union claims that ministers are "sitting" on proposals that could end the row that were drawn up six weeks ago.
Hampshire Fire Brigades Union chairman Nigel McCullen said that the action was unfortunate but unavoidable.
He said: "It's a necessary step. We don't want to be out on strike, it's not how we operate, but we are fed up with the Government over our pensions.
"We will sit back down with them at any time to discuss proposals but they have not come up with any at the moment.
"We got into talks between January and now that were progressing well but it has got to a point we really need to see some proposals from them and this is how we tell them we are serious.
"It's something we are uncomfortable doing but the Government are messing around with our lives and our families' futures."
The union said that firefighters are having to pay higher pension contributions, face working into their late 50s and could be sacked because their fitness declines as they get older.
However a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "The Government is clear that further change can be made through constructive engagement, but not under the shadow of industrial action, which only serves to damage firefighters' standing with the public.
"The deal on the table gives firefighters one of the most generous pension schemes in all the public sector, and the proposals protect the earned rights of a higher proportion of members than any other public sector scheme.
"Nearly three-quarters will see no change in their pension age in 2015. Under the new scheme, a firefighter who earns £29,000 will still be able to retire after a full career aged 60, get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.
"An equivalent private pension pot would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much."
Comments (4)
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1:17pm Sat 3 May 14
Nod says...
I think he's getting confused. That's EXACTLY how they operate.
1:55pm Sat 3 May 14
Maine Lobster says...
Nod wrote:The members of the FBU would not be on strike if their terms and conditions were not being attacked. In addition to that, the government are withholding an improved offer for political reasons pending the forthcoming euro and council elections. The dispute could have been resolved by now but the Government have chosen to use it to seek political gain by allowing the strikes to proceed.
Did a Union Leader just say "We don't want to be out on strike, it's not how we operate"?
I think he's getting confused. That's EXACTLY how they operate.
8:02pm Sat 3 May 14
IronLady2010 says...
I'm sure others will fill the space on the new terms.
11:23pm Sat 3 May 14
issacchunt says...
IronLady2010 wrote:Not when they have such a cushy number. Most people won't even notice they sre striking apart from hgv agencies, golf club and snooker halls.
Surely, if you don't like the terms, you find a new job. I don't see anyone holding a gun to their head to keep them in employment.
I'm sure others will fill the space on the new terms.
Comments are closed on this article.