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5 U.S. Code § 8101 - Definitions
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For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) "employee" means—
(A) a civil officer or employee in any branch of the Government of the United States, including an officer or employee of an instrumentality wholly owned by the United States;
(B) an individual rendering personal service to the United States similar to the service of a civil officer or employee of the United States, without pay or for nominal pay, when a statute authorizes the acceptance or use of the service, or authorizes payment of travel or other expenses of the individual;
(C) an individual, other than an independent contractor or an individual employed by an independent contractor, employed on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin in operations conducted under a statute relating to tribal timber and logging operations on that reservation;
(E) an individual appointed to a position on the office staff of a former President under section 1(b) of the Act of August 25, 1958 (72 Stat. 838);
but does not include—
(iv) a member of the Metropolitan Police or the Fire Department of the District of Columbia who is pensioned or pensionable under sections 521–535 of title 4, District of Columbia Code; and
(2) "physician" includes surgeons, podiatrists, dentists, clinical psychologists, optometrists, chiropractors, and osteopathic practitioners within the scope of their practice as defined by State law. The term "physician" includes chiropractors only to the extent that their reimbursable services are limited to treatment consisting of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation as demonstrated by X-ray to exist, and subject to regulation by the Secretary;
(3) "medical, surgical, and hospital services and supplies" includes services and supplies by podiatrists, dentists, clinical psychologists, optometrists, chiropractors, osteopathic practitioners and hospitals within the scope of their practice as defined by State law. Reimbursable chiropractic services are limited to treatment consisting of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation as demonstrated by X-ray to exist, and subject to regulation by the Secretary;
(4) "monthly pay" means the monthly pay at the time of injury, or the monthly pay at the time disability begins, or the monthly pay at the time compensable disability recurs, if the recurrence begins more than 6 months after the injured employee resumes regular full-time employment with the United States, whichever is greater, except when otherwise determined under section 8113 of this title with respect to any period;
(5) "injury" includes, in addition to injury by accident, a disease proximately caused by the employment, and damage to or destruction of medical braces, artificial limbs, and other prosthetic devices which shall be replaced or repaired, and such time lost while such device or appliance is being replaced or repaired; except that eyeglasses and hearing aids would not be replaced, repaired, or otherwise compensated for, unless the damages or destruction is incident to a personal injury requiring medical services;
(6) "widow" means the wife living with or dependent for support on the decedent at the time of his death, or living apart for reasonable cause or because of his desertion;
(8) "brother" and "sister" mean one who at the time of the death of the employee is under 18 years of age or over that age and incapable of self-support, and include stepbrothers and stepsisters, half brothers and half sisters, and brothers and sisters by adoption, but do not include married brothers or married sisters;
(9) "child" means one who at the time of the death of the employee is under 18 years of age or over that age and incapable of self-support, and includes stepchildren, adopted children, and posthumous children, but does not include married children;
(10) "grandchild" means one who at the time of the death of the employee is under 18 years of age or over that age and incapable of self-support;
(11) "widower" means the husband living with or dependent for support on the decedent at the time of her death, or living apart for reasonable cause or because of her desertion;
(12) "compensation" includes the money allowance payable to an employee or his dependents and any other benefits paid for from the Employees' Compensation Fund, but this does not in any way reduce the amount of the monthly compensation payable for disability or death;
(13) "war-risk hazard" means a hazard arising during a war in which the United States is engaged; during an armed conflict in which the United States is engaged, whether or not war has been declared; or during a war or armed conflict between military forces of any origin, occurring in the country in which an individual to whom this subchapter applies is serving; from—
(A) the discharge of a missile, including liquids and gas, or the use of a weapon, explosive, or other noxious thing by a hostile force or individual or in combating an attack or an imagined attack by a hostile force or individual;
(B) action of a hostile force or individual, including rebellion or insurrection against the United States or any of its allies;
(C) the discharge or explosion of munitions intended for use in connection with a war or armed conflict with a hostile force or individual;
(D) the collision of vessels on convoy or the operation of vessels or aircraft without running lights or without other customary peacetime aids to navigation; or
(14) "hostile force or individual" means a nation, a subject of a foreign nation, or an individual serving a foreign nation—
(B) engaged in armed conflict, whether or not war has been declared, against the United States or any of its allies; or
(15) "allies" means any nation with which the United States is engaged in a common military effort or with which the United States has entered into a common defensive military alliance;
(17) "student" means an individual under 23 years of age who has not completed 4 years of education beyond the high school level and who is regularly pursuing a full-time course of study or training at an institution which is—
(A) a school or college or university operated or directly supported by the United States, or by a State or local government or political subdivision thereof;
(B) a school or college or university which has been accredited by a State or by a State-recognized or nationally recognized accrediting agency or body;
(C) a school or college or university not so accredited but whose credits are accepted, on transfer, by at least three institutions which are so accredited, for credit on the same basis as if transferred from an institution so accredited; or
Such an individual is deemed not to have ceased to be a student during an interim between school years if the interim is not more than 4 months and if he shows to the satisfaction of the Secretary that he has a bona fide intention of continuing to pursue a full-time course of study or training during the semester or other enrollment period immediately after the interim or during periods of reasonable duration during which, in the judgment of the Secretary, he is prevented by factors beyond his control from pursuing his education. A student whose 23rd birthday occurs during a semester or other enrollment period is deemed a student until the end of the semester or other enrollment period;
(18) "price index" means the Consumer Price Index (all items—United States city average) published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and
(19) "organ" means a part of the body that performs a special function, and for purposes of this subchapter excludes the brain, heart, and back; and
(20) "United States medical officers and hospitals" includes medical officers and hospitals of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Veterans Affairs, and United States Public Health Service, and any other medical officer or hospital designated as a United States medical officer or hospital by the Secretary of Labor.
[1] So in original. Pub. L. 93–416added par. (F) immediately after par. (iv), rather than after par. (E).
Source(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 532; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(4), (48),Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 196, 209; Pub. L. 93–416, § 1,Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1143; Pub. L. 96–499, title IV, § 421(b),Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2608; Pub. L. 97–463, § 4,Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2532; Pub. L. 102–54, § 13(b)(1),June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 274.)
|U.S. Code
|Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
|(1)–(5), (12)–(16)
|Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 458, § 40, 39 Stat. 750.
|June 5, 1924, ch. 261, § 2, 43 Stat. 389.
|May 31, 1938, ch. 293, 52 Stat. 586.
|Apr. 11, 1940, ch. 79, § 1, 54 Stat. 105.
|July 1, 1944, ch. 373, § 605(b), 58 Stat. 712.
|Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 958, § 5, 60 Stat. 1049.
|Oct. 14, 1949, ch. 691, § 108, 63 Stat. 860.
|July 30, 1956, ch. 779, § 3(b), 70 Stat. 721.
|Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 837, § 501(e), 70 Stat. 883.
|Aug. 8, 1958, Pub. L. 85–608, § 302, 72 Stat. 539.
|Sept. 13, 1960, Pub. L. 86–767, § 208, 74 Stat. 908.
|Sept. 4, 1964, Pub. L. 88–581, § 4(b), 78 Stat. 919.
|5 U.S.C. 794 (1st sentence).
|July 11, 1919, ch. 7, § 11 (1st sentence), 41 Stat. 104.
|Aug. 25, 1958, Pub. L. 85–745, § 1(b) (last sentence, as applicable to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act), 72 Stat. 838.
|Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 458, § 10(H), 39 Stat. 745.
|Feb. 12, 1927, ch. 110, § 2, 44 Stat. 1087.
|5 U.S.C. 760(B) (last 23 words of 1st sentence).
|Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 458, § 10(B) (last 15 words of 1st sentence), 39 Stat. 744.
|Oct. 14, 1949, ch. 691, § 106(c) "(B) (last 23 words of 1st sentence)", 63 Stat. 859.
Former section 790(a) is omitted as unnecessary in view of section 1 of title 1, United States Code.
Former section 790(c) is omitted as unnecessary as the term "commission" is not used in this subchapter.
Former section 790(i) is omitted as unnecessary as the title "Secretary of Labor" (substituted for "Federal Security Administrator" by 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 19, § 1, eff. May 24, 1950, 64 Stat. 1271) is fully set out the first time it is used in each section.
In paragraph (1)(B), the words "to the United States" are substituted for "to any department, independent establishment, or agency thereof (including instrumentalities of the United States wholly owned by it)".
In paragraph (1)(C), the words "subsequent to September 7, 1916" are omitted as obsolete.
In paragraph (1)(iv), the words "under sections 521–535 of title 4, District of Columbia Code" are substituted for "under the provisions of the District of Columbia Appropriation Act approved September 1, 1916".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
|Section of title 5
|Source (U.S.Code)
|Source (Statutes at Large)
|5 App.: 760(M).
|5 App.: 793a(c)(1).
|5 App.: 793a(c)(2).
|July 4, 1966, Pub. L. 89–488, §§ 7(c), 14 "Sec. 43(c)", 80 Stat. 254, 256.
Paragraph (17) is reorganized and restated for clarity and to conform to the style of title 5, United States Code. In clause (D), the words "Secretary of Labor" are substituted for "Secretary" on authority of section 40(i) of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act.
In paragraph (19), the words "July 1966 and each later month" are substituted for "the month this section becomes effective and each month thereafter". The words "section 8146a of this title" are substituted for "this section" to reflect the codification of section 43 in title 5.
References in Text
Act of August 25, 1958, 72 Stat. 838, referred to in par. (1)(E), is set out as a note under section 102 of Title 3, The President.
1991—Par. (20). Pub. L. 102–54substituted "Department of Veterans Affairs" for "Veterans' Administration".
1983—Par. (1)(F). Pub. L. 97–463struck out "and who is otherwise an employee for the purposes of this subchapter as defined by paragraph (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) of this subsection" after "petit or grand juror".
1980—Pars. (19) to (21). Pub. L. 96–499struck out par. (19) which defined "base month" as the month of July 1966 and each later month which was used as a basis for calculating an increase under section 8146a of this title, and redesignated pars. (20) and (21) as (19) and (20), respectively.
1974—Par. (1)(D). Pub. L. 93–416, § 1(g), struck out "and" after the semicolon.
Par. (1)(F). Pub. L. 93–416, § 1(a), added par. (1)(F).
Par. (2). Pub. L. 93–416, § 1(b), expanded definition of "physician" to include podiatrists, dentists, clinical psychologists, optometrists, and chiropractors and inserted provision limiting the extent to which chiropractors are included.
Par. (3). Pub. L. 93–416, § 1(c), included within "medical, surgical, and hospital services and supplies" those supplied by podiatrists, dentists, clinical psychologists, optometrists, and chiropractors and limited the reimbursable services of chiropractors.
Par. (5). Pub. L. 93–416, § 1(d), added to definition of "injury" damage to or destruction of medical braces, artificial limbs, and other prosthetic devices and excepted eyeglasses and hearing aids unless damage or destruction is incidental to a personal injury requiring medical services.
Par. (11). Pub. L. 93–416, § 1(e), substituted "the husband living with or dependent for support on the decedent at the time of her death, or living apart for reasonable cause because of her desertion" for "one who, because of physical or mental disability, was wholly dependent for support on the employee at the time of her death" as definition of "widower".
Pars. (20), (21). Pub. L. 93–416, § 1(f), added pars. (20) and (21).
1967—Par. (1)(iii). Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(4), substituted "Environmental Science Services Administration" for "Coast and Geodetic Survey". See Historical and Revision Notes under section 2101 of this title.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Pub. L. 96–499, title IV, § 422,Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2608, provided that: "The amendments made by section 421 [amending this section and section 8146a of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 5, 1980] with respect to any adjustments which are to be made on or after that date; except that the period specified in such section as extending from December to December shall, with respect to the adjustment to be made on March 1, 1981, extend instead from the last month in which the price index resulted in an adjustment prior to enactment to December of 1980."
Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
Pub. L. 93–416, § 28(a),Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1151, provided that: "Except as otherwise provided by this section this Act [enacting section 8151 of this title, amending this section and sections 8103, 8104, 8107, 8110, 8111, 8113, 8116, 8117, 8118, 8119, 8121, 8122, 8132, 8135, 8142, 8143, 8146a of this title, repealing section 3315a of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 8116 of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment [Sept. 7, 1974] and be applicable to any injury or death occurring on or after such effective date [Sept. 7, 1974]. The amendments made by sections 1(b) and (c) [amending this section], 2 [amending section 8103 of this title], 3 [amending section 8104 of this title], 7(a) and (b) [amending section 8111 of this title], 8(a) [amending section 8113 of this title], 8(b) [amending section 8143 of this title], 9 [amending section 8116 of this title], 16(a) [amending section 8133 of this title], 16(b) [amending section 8135 of this title], 17 [amending section 8133 of this title], 19 [amending section 8135 of this title], 20 [amending section 8135 of this title], 21 [amending section 8146a of this title], 22 [enacting section 8151 of this title], 24 [amending section 8146a of this title], and 25 [amending section 8147 of this title], shall be applicable to cases where the injury or death occurred prior to the date of enactment [Sept. 7, 1974] but the provisions of these sections shall be applicable only to a period beginning on or after the date of enactment [Sept. 7, 1974]."
Short Title of 1990 Amendment
Pub. L. 101–534, § 1,Nov. 7, 1990, 104 Stat. 2352, provided that: "This Act [amending section 8111 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 8111 of this title] may be cited as the 'Attendant Allowance Adjustment Act'."
Transfer of Functions
Environmental Science Services Administration in Department of Commerce, including offices of Administrator and Deputy Administrator thereof, abolished by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, set out in the Appendix to this title, which created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Department of Commerce and transferred personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of funds of Environmental Science Services Administration to such newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Components of Environmental Science Services Administration thus transferred included Weather Bureau [now National Weather Service], Coast and Geodetic Survey [now National Ocean Survey], Environmental Data Services, National Environmental Satellite Center, and ESSA Research Laboratories.
Functions of Public Health Service, Surgeon General of Public Health Service, and all other officers and employees of Public Health Service, and functions of all agencies of or in Public Health Service, transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by 1966 Reorg. Plan No. 3, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, effective June 25, 1966, set out in the Appendix to this title. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare redesignated Secretary of Health and Human Services by section 3508 of Title 20, Education.
Processing of Claims Filed by District of Columbia Employees
Pub. L. 93–198, title II, § 204(e),Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 783, provided that: "All functions of the Secretary under chapter 81 of title 5 of the United States Code, with respect to the processing of claims filed by employees of the government of the District for compensation for work injuries, are transferred to and shall be exercised by the Commissioner, effective the day after the day on which the District establishes an independent personnel system or systems." An independent personnel system was established for the District by D.C. Law 2–139, Mar. 3, 1979, 25 DCR 5740.
Study and Report to Congress by Secretary of Labor of Provisions and Programs Under Subchapter
Pub. L. 93–416, § 27,Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1150, directed Secretary of Labor to conduct a study of the provisions of this subchapter and its programs which was to include: hearings, research, and other activities necessary to formulate recommendations; an examination of need for authority to increase allowances for services of attendants above the maximum fixed by section 8111 of this title in exceptional circumstances; an examination of the effectiveness of this subchapter; and recommendations as to survivor benefits; report results of the study together with his findings and recommendations not later than 12 months after Sept. 7, 1974.
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I've searched high and low but have not found a way to make a firm decision between the two styles.As I plan to use them for day hiking, it would seem reasonable to go with the trekking poles since presumably they are designed for that purpose, however in discussions on using trekking poles, people talk about using the strap to carry the load rather than your grip. And also that you can use a modified nordic motion to give you not only load carrying and stability but some propulsion as well if you desire. If you are using the strap to transmit the load from the pole to your body, the nordic pole type glove seems a little better, no?As I'm 6'5", I need a longer pole, so am looking at the Leki All-Season nordic (http://www.leki.com/html/nw_product_2405.asp) and the Super Makalu COR-TEC PA AS (http://www.leki.com/html/trek_mountain_2038_05.asp)I borrowed a friend's Black Diamond Contours and the flick lock slipped a couple times on steep descents and that bottom click release button is a real pain.Thanks for all input.Mark
Not that it will help you make the decision, but I haven't found a whole lot of difference. I've used nordic ski poles and trekking poles, and while the nordic glove does fit tighter it also grips my hand rather harshly; it's more comfortable with a light glove. My trekking pole straps have more padding on them and they don't grip tightly, so they're fairly comfortable with bare hands. (I am not moving fast enough when backpacking for the whole 'throw the hands back' motion to be worthwhile.)The biggest drawback to the poles you mention is that they're heavy! I'm not sure what the weight of the first is, but it is made of aluminum so I'm guessing it's over a pound per pair; the second is 21.7 oz/pair. Compare that to trekking poles that weigh 6-8 oz/pair (GG Lightrek, BMW Stix, Adapt Bison). Those poles don't include straps because they don't need them. I put 120 miles on my Bison poles in the few weeks between receiving them and the onset of winter, and I didn't miss the straps at all. The poles have such a light swing weight that they need very little grip (just a few fingers) and the grips are grippy enough to transfer all of the weight that I wanted to put on them. I use them in the nordic walking style and found they work just fine. (Nordic walking style adds at least 1/4 mph to my hiking speed.) My suggestion is to borrow those BD poles again and figure out your optimal pole length. The standard nordic walking pole length is 68% of your height, so 133cm. Rounding to the nearest 5cm (typical pole length increment) you would have a choice between 130cm and 135cm. I tested pole length extensively (paying no attention to the 68% standard) and ended up choosing a length that was 1.5cm longer than the 68% standard; YMMV. Once you know your optimal pole length you could then consider using fixed-length poles, which are generally lighter (and possibly more reliable) than adjustable poles.Try using the BD poles without straps. I found it odd for the first hour or two, but after 50 miles I realized I didn't miss the straps (and this was with my 20oz aluminum poles). That convinced me that I could switch to strapless ultralight poles. Now that I have them I'm not going back...
Edited by Otter on 12/08/2006 22:02:14 MST.
Hi Mark,These are some good questions- I have an article that will come out in the late summer on this issue. For now, though, I hope this helps in your decision:Nordic Walking is a specific sport that uses a specific type of pole. The pole is used differently- much more like a cross country ski pole is used with a full release. The strap system also attaches the pole to your hand much more solidly. For normal hiking, nordic walking poles aren't as good as trekking poles. The grips are thinner and the poles are designed around the release at the end of your extension. In situations where the trail is more technical, this isn't usually possible. Further, being locked into the pole could be unsafe (when you fall, the pole is with you 100%).That said, some of the Nordic Walking technique can easily be used with trekking poles. By having slightly longer poles, making placements behind your feet, and using the poles for forward propulsion, you are using a style similar to Nordic Walking. If you use trekking poles, though, they are better for providing balance and stability in technical situations- trekking pole style.So now that we're talking about trekking poles, I'd like to invite you to look beyond the trekking poles you've mentioned. They do extend to 140 cm but they are almost 11 oz each. Much lighter poles are available that extend beyond 140cm and would be perfect for a person of your height. You might want to check out the Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles Review Summary that I recently published: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/carbon_fiber_trekking_poles_review_summary.html There are some great models there that you would really enjoy. There is nothing like having a light, stiff pair of poles in your hands; you lift them all day and an couple of ounces makes a big difference.You may also want to consider a fixed-length pole. After using your friend's poles for a while, you'll find a length that works for you and many pole users find that they don't adjust the poles often on the trail anyway. I only use adjustable poles for travel and mountaineering these days. Fixed-length poles can be much lighter and more reliable.Some people do love straps but I've found that I don't miss them in my hiking poles- even for use when snowshoeing. This is a preference piece.Best of luck in finding the best poles for you Mark. I love using trekking poles and I feel they've transformed my hiking. I'm much more effecient now and they have saved me from many bad falls. I hope you find similar results.Doug JohnsonTrekking Pole Editor
Edited by djohnson on 12/08/2006 22:16:20 MST.
Douglas has some good ideas here- obvously we were writing our posts simultaneously! Definitely check out his ideas- our experiences are parallel. One last point- for hiking primarily with Nordic Walking style, I use poles that are 3-5 cm longer due to the extreme angle of placement. You may want to play with that when getting used to the BD poles. I pick my longer poles when trying to lay down heavy mileage in mainly non-technical terrain (ie the PCT) and my shorter poles for everything else.Have a good one!Doug
If you want *real* lightweight poles, look at mid-range nordic racing poles...http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47941545&parent_category_rn=4501641&vcat=REI_SEARCH98g/pair for a 155cm pole. In practice you'd cut it down quite a ways to make a walking pole. Such a pole is cheaper and (a bit) lighter than offerings from BMW or GG.If you went for the real high end you could probably knock 20 or 30 grams more off that weight. But you'd probably spend two or three times the ducats for those poles.
Edited by david_bonn on 12/08/2006 22:46:45 MST.
I wouldn't agree with this recommendation. Sure- these are light at 3.5 ounces but you have a Nordic Walking grip that will be limiting in technical hiking situations. Further, I'm not sure how it would turn out to cut the fiberglass/carbon down and still be able to reinstall the tip. The tip is also not a breakaway "flextip" and won't accept other baskets for use in snow, etc. Pretty limiting.You can go even lighter with a pair of fixed length poles from Gossamer Gear (2.9 oz), Titanium Goat (3.1 oz), or Bozeman Mountain Works (3.1 oz). These poles all give you a flextip, a grip better suited to rough, technical terrain, and a very low weight. The bonus- you don't have to cut them down.
Edited by djohnson on 12/09/2006 07:28:55 MST.
I'm sorry Doug, but that is 3.5 ounces per pair. For a 155cm pole. You can spend a bit more money and get that to less than 3 oz / pair.On this web site BMW stix poles claim 5.4 oz/pr for a 120cm pole.GG claims 2.6 oz for each pole, not per pair.I like pole straps. And the wider strap with velcro that is used with nordic racing poles is way more comfy than the lame-o pole strap most trekking poles come with. I also really, really don't buy that trekking pole manufacturers have well-designed grips for technical terrain. Plus, you can replace the pole straps on a pair of nordic racing poles -- a technology that has eluded most manufacturers (I think all) of conventional trekking poles.You are right that you are limited to the tiny basket.As for cutting down the pole, that is pretty routinely done. The most common breaking point for these poles is near the tip (like poking you pole through too-soft snow and hooking a root or low-lying tree branch). A lot of people will "recover" a longish set of skating poles by cutting off the broken end (and its matching pair) to make a pair suitable for classic skiing. Or for a length that their little sister can use.To each his own. One of the things that gets me is that even the hard-core UL gear makers seem to be unable to look outside their niche. Ski pole manufacturers have been making poles for nordic ski racers for more than a dozen years that are lighter and cheaper than what GG and BMW and TG are selling today. You can't even argue about market size -- I'm sure there are more UL backpackers than there are elite ski racers.Doug, I think you owe me a bit of an apology. The information in your post directly contradicts information (trekking pole weights) that I could look up (on BPL's own web site) in a few seconds. I imagine it was late when you made your post.
Edited by david_bonn on 12/09/2006 09:24:01 MST.
David- sorry about that- you are absolutely right! Wow- that's wicked light! I just weighed a Leki trekking pole tip and it's .5 oz or 1.0 oz per pair- that's certainly part of the deal. The larger EVA foam trekking pole grips must be the other additional weight piece.Those are some good points too about using ski poles. Thanks for your thoughts and input.I've used Nordic Walking poles quite a bit on the trail. My understanding is that they're designed to be primarily controlled by the strap as opposed to the grip- the grip is very thin. The grip of a trekking pole is wider and typically contoured which makes them easier to grap, place, and control in technical terrain. I find that a NW grip is great through moderate terrain but when things get more rough (rocky, roots, and without consistent pole placements) the trekking pole grips are more functional. Would you agree with this David?Thanks-Doug
Doug, thanks for clearing that up.I'm a hard-core cross-country skier (and I'm writing this between while I'm letting my just-waxes skis cool off before scraping and brushing them) and I use walking poles like I use nordic ski poles. I hang from the straps and grip the pole only lightly and usually not at all. Most of the time I can control the landing spot of the pole with just my thumb and forefinger, kind of like holding a giant pencil. Since a ski pole is so light it is easy to control the placement, even on rough terrain.From a biomechanical standpoint, the muscles you use to grip a ski pole are a lot smaller (and thus typically tire more easily) than the larger muscles in your arms and legs. Easier to support your weight on your bones. That's what they are there for. I agree that the straps and grips of most trekking pole products make that a less than comfortable process.I agree too that the baskets on nordic poles are much, much lighter. But that is actually a feature, not a bug -- you want minimum weight at the end of the pole, which is swung around quite a bit over the course of the day.'nuff said, I'm off for a ski.Thanks,David
Edited by david_bonn on 12/09/2006 09:38:02 MST.
My athletes have been ski walking and hill bounding with poles for over 20 years - during the warmer months when deprived of snow. We have only used one-piece poles. Durable one-piece Nordic Walking or Ski Walking Poles are far superior to any type of adjustable poles. The twist lock systems wear out, make annoying clunking sounds, lock up and/or cause the poles to collapse unexpectedly.SWIX and Excel have taken a stand promoting one-piece Nordic Walking poles - because they are safer, lighter and more durable than adjustable/telescoping/collapsible poles. Just ask the hundreds of backpackers that have tumbled when their twist lock systems failed.Regarding Nordic Walking Straps - these fingerless glove type straps make a huge difference. Most quality poles utilize a Salomon Ski Company patented strap - i.e. SWIX and Excel. When adjusted correctly they are super comfortable and blister free.Nordic Walking poles also come with removable rubber tips for use on pavement and other hard surfaces - making them more versatile than trekking poles.Over 6 million Europeans are Nordic Walking everyday. Walking and hiking with poles burns more calories and radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. One piece Nordic Walking poles are safer for backpackers as well as seniors, plus folks with balance issues, MS or Parkinson's.My favorite walking poles are the SWIX Nordic Walking VIP's (lightweight aluminum alloy) and the SWIX Nordic Walking CT4's (Carbon Fiber).
Edited by xcpete on 12/09/2006 10:33:58 MST.
Lots of really good info here. I'm addicted to trekking pole use - two of them simultaneously to be more precise (i know some individuals prefer to use just one similar to a hiking staff).I've used UL fixed length poles, various types of adjustable length trekking poles, and also NW poles.I can't add much more to what's already been said by the experts who have aleady replied.My sole purpose in weighing in here is to present one aspect of trekking pole use that has not been mentioned, but has been covered in great detail in older Threads by several others and myself (search the Forums - hopefully some of these old Threads/Posts will come up - a lot of good info and experiences related in them).What i'd like to bring out is "Wrist straps - do we really need them?"Before switching to UL single piece CF trekking poles, i used the wrist straps of more conventional/heavier poles as a load bearing device to prevent grip/forearm fatigue. I was really skeptical of UL poles since they lack wrist straps (though non-load bearing "keeper" cords are easily added so that the poles aren't lost if they are dropped).The UL poles (typically around 3oz each, give or take - mine are well under 3oz each since they are so short) are so light that my grip naturally relaxes on the forward swing and only grips tighter on the push-off. No forearm/grip fatigue is experienced even after many hours of use. This has been the experience of several others who replied to some of my Posts in the last couple years stating that, they too, had similar experiences. Apparently, the grip relaxes sufficiently to insure adequate blood flow while relaxed.Now, some people may have a medical condition (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.) that may not allow them to repeatedly grip-and-release for hours at a time, so using t-poles w/o wrist straps doesn't apply to them, nor should they attempt it w/o speaking w/their physician first.Again, my experience is by no means unique as several older Posts to these Forums made quite clear.Just something to consider if anyone is free of limiting physical/medical conditions that might otherwise affect their use.
Regarding straps or no straps... I MUCH prefer no straps... by far. I just really really hate the feeling of having my hands strapped into a pole. I just feel so much "freer" without the straps. And I don't like the way they transfer force into the wrist / side of the hand.I use Komperdell C3 poles with the straps removed and LuxuryLite TrailStiks which have no grip and only a strap... and I really don't like the straps on either. I'd love to find a grip that I could slip on / off of my LL trailstiks for those times when I take my LuxuryLite UL 3/4 length cot.
Edited by davidlewis on 12/09/2006 12:02:00 MST.
David and Dougs:Like PJ said you guys and others have some great experience, study, and advice. I would only like to offer my view of trekking poles vs XC poles from the off-trail standpoint, as that forms the basis of my (limited) experience.First, super-stiff high quality racing nordic poles are good for long distance skate tours (100-300 miles) in Alaska. The tips and the baskets and especially the stiffeness are essential to efficient skating, However, skate poles are too long when we got off the glaciers or river ice that we had been skiing, and started walking on moraines or bushwacking through alders. Consequently, we didn't walk with them much -- and instead carried them -- or made packrafting paddle shafts out of them when needing to raft.Second, adjustable and collapsible trekking poles were great in our expedition length adventure racing gear boxes for whomever went lame with bad feet near the end of the race and could still crutch to the finish. But they were heavy and floppy and the grips/straps were terrible when compared to what good skate-ski poles are like.Taken together, my limited experience suggested that poles in off-trail backcountry in Alaska (again, my experience is limited to that), were not worth their weight. That is, until Ryan Jordan introcuced me to the 6 oz/pair of super stiff poles without straps. I only used one for 550 miles and two for 70 miles, but preferred the single to the double. I also liked no strap, unlike David Bonn who's clearly nordic to the core (and good on him for that!).My impression from reading between the lines on this thread is that people are using them to propel themselves along trails (hence two poles with straps good) rather than as balance and feelers off trail (where one pole sans straps works well for this old dog). In both cases, light and stiff are the key, no?
Edited by romandial on 12/09/2006 16:42:50 MST.
I think a lot of it (straps vs no straps) is about what you are used to.In the right (or very wrong) snow conditions, a nordic skier might be 100 percent propelled by their poles. 20km and 30km World Cup Races have been won by people double poling the entire distance. Ouch. Probably more typical for a nordic skier on groomed trails is twenty to thirty percent of their propulsion coming through the poles. Skating in the backcountry on solid morning snow is probably comparable. If you are breaking trail with a heavy pack and shuffling along you probably are only getting ten or fifteen percent of your forward momentum from your poles. And you won't be doing much double poling with a pack on.Skis are supposed to slide. Walking shoes aren't supposed to. I'd guess those simple facts put an extremely low upper limit on how much power you could get through poles. Probably five percent under optimum karma.I don't think anyone has worked out the mechanics of using trekking poles for walking as well as how nordic ski racers use poles for, well, racing. All we really have to go on is anecdotal evidence and our own personal experiences.I love straps. I can scramble over a short section while letting my poles dangle and not get too tangled up. I can also stop and eat a clif bar while walking (or skating) without too much awkwardness and not worry about forgetting the pole when I move on. I don't think I use my poles very much for propulsion, but a lot for balance, especially up or down steep hills.What gets me about this whole exercise is that you can buy a pole for less than eighty bucks at REI that is cheaper and lighter than non-adjustable hiking poles from several manufacturers. And I don't see any technical reasons that should be so. Even more interesting, such poles are quite common. A lot of outdoor stores that rent skating skis would have poles just like those. You could probably buy a used pair for fifteen bucks. You could probably find two broken poles that you could salvage as walking poles for free.It seems to me that you could swipe the basket part from a busted old pair of adjustable poles, cut the ski poles down to an appropriate length (for me, from 150+cm to 120cm) and have a super-light frankenpole. The major out-of-pocket cost would probably be for the epoxy, or maybe a hacksaw blade too.Doug, yes, the basket assembly on a trekking pole, at 1.0 oz per pair, is most definitely heavier than on a nordic pole. But the weight on REI's web site was for a 155cm pole! I typically adjust my trekking poles around 120cm. I'd bet that 35cm of that example pole and the lightweight basket weighs *more* than the basket assembly on a lightweight trekking pole. So you'd still end up lighter.Hopefully someone who makes ultralight trekking poles is reading this and getting some ideas...Oh, and I love excel poles. Too bad that they are almost impossible to get in the states anymore. I heard they went out of business.
>My impression from reading between the lines on this thread is that people are using them to propel themselves along trails (hence two poles with straps good) rather than as balance and feelers off trail.I heard about Nordic Walking last year (on BPL) and when the snow melted I began using that technique with my trekking poles. I find, when hiking on flat and uphill trails, that placing the poles just beside my feet and pushing increases my hiking speed between 1/4 to 1/3 mile per hour with no increase in exertion. I not only push back but also down, so I still get some of the weight transfer benefit as well as propulsion. (I compared speeds by hiking the same 20-mile trail several times in the same week using no poles, trekking poles the usual way, and trekking poles the Nordic Walking way adapted for hiking on trails, with and without straps.) True Nordic Walking is meant to be good cardio exercise, but I use just enough of the technique to improve my speed without noticeably increasing my cardio. If the trail is downhill or a bit sketchy I just use my poles the 'normal' way to take some weight off and improve balance.For off-trail I prefer a single pole (often a 6-foot bamboo staff; 12 oz) and probably use it the same way you use yours. Bamboo staves were easy to get in Hawaii, and I didn't find a pair of trekking poles as useful or as easy to handle as a single pole on those rough 'trails.' (Some hikers carry a 'dirt axe' for nasty sections, so you can guess how primitive some trails are.) A bamboo staff once saved my life, at the cost of its own; they're not terribly strong when bent.>In both cases, light and stiff are the key, no?Agreed. The difference between 20oz/pair poles and 8oz/pair poles was much more significant than I thought. After all, my trekking poles didn't feel that heavy. But it was amazingly easy to swing one lightweight pole above head height in front of me at every other step to clear spiderwebs, and I felt that my hands and wrists were less tired at the end of the day, even without straps. My heavy poles have anti-shock springs in them, but my lightweight poles have enough bend in them to not cause any shock-related injury, while still being able to hold my body weight between them.I'm going to try the ultralight poles that David mentioned. My nordic ski poles weigh 16oz/pair; I didn't realize that Nordic Walking poles were _that_ light! I'm curious whether they will hold up to the strain of off-trail, or even on-trail, hiking.
Edited by Otter on 12/09/2006 23:51:23 MST.
David: My Excel poles (too short for skating), pink grips with the little ledge at the heal of the hand, simple strap system (not glove-like) I got used in the mid 80's and have used on two dozen backcountry ski tours > 50 miles. They are great! didn't know they were not made anymore......gone the way of so many things decent.I also looked at the REI Poles you listed. Personally, that style of grip doesn't work for me, oarticularly when trying to eat while wearing them. Also, cheap poles like that are not very stiff....do you feel any nastiness -i.e. bending like they're going to break -- when pushing on them for propulsion or emergency balance?Doug: how long was your babmboo staff? Was it long or short enough to push off with the end in the palm of your hand?
Edited by romandial on 12/09/2006 23:10:20 MST.
>Doug: how long was your babmboo staff? Was it long or short enough to push off with the end in the palm of your hand?They are mostly my height (6'2") plus or minus a few inches, and about 1 inch in diameter, although my 'big' staff is 7.5 feet long and 1.5" in diameter (good for pole-vaulting in streambeds). I didn't usually put my palm on the end (except when down-hopping), instead wielding it one- or two-handed as necessary.Here's a picture showing the proper technique :-)
Edited by Otter on 12/10/2006 00:06:15 MST.
As usual, BPL users with excellent scientific introspection into their particular tastes. I'll keep this one simple myself however. My $1.00 125cm Excel ski poles (yay for thrift stores) with a couple wraps of duct tape for tarp guys suit me wonderfully. I generally hike with my hands out of the loops. The plastic grips designed for use with gloves while skiing is not as comfortable in summer so a home modification there is probably in order.
the other david wrote "I think a lot of it (straps vs no straps) is about what you are used to."That may be true... but in my case at least... I was not "used to" anything as I've never skiied or nordic walked or hiked or backpacked before I started UL backpacking a couple of years ago. I just don't like the feeling of having my hands strapped to a pole. I think it's a personal thing that has... at least in my case... nothing to do with what I'm used to... or how I'm using the poles... or what kind of terrain I'm on... or anything else for that matter. I simply just don't like straps :) But that's just me. Take that for what it's worth... which is to say... not very much. Just one man's completely unscientific preference.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: do a route and see what it has listed for the default gateway. I had a problem before where I connect to the internet with ppp0, and use eth0 for my network, and it was trying to use eth0 as the gw. Also make sure you have a dns setup or an ip for one.


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Christchurch Community Rally Against Novopay
Education Minister, Hekia Parata arriving to announce that seven... News PhotoArrival,Business,Christchurch - New Zealand,City,Corporate Business,Creativity,Education,Education Minister,Finance,Government,Hekia Parata,New Zealand,Social Issues,VerticalPhotographer Martin HunterCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesCHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 18: Education Minister, Hekia Parata arriving to announce that seven Christchurch schools will close and 12 will merge to create six schools as part of the government's education shake-up in the post-disaster city on February 18, 2013 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Members of the community joined with support staff and teachers in opposition to recent pay issues. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)


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Ultimate-Performance Electrostatic Center Speaker
Designed primarily to serve as the center in a home theater incorporating other XStat-based MartinLogan electrostatic speakers, Stage is versatile enough to handle left, right, and surround duties as well. Its dual 6.5" aluminum-cone woofers and advanced Vojtko crossover seamlessly integrate a solid bass foundation with the astonishingly transparent, detailed midrange and treble produced by its XStat panel. A single-pivot bracket / stand facilitates set-top, shelf, on-wall, or on-floor placement.
HD-XStat (Hybrid Dynamic) Technology
What really sets the Stage apart is a high-resolution neodymium soft dome tweeter embedded directly in the electrostatic panel. By eliminating the need for a bulky tweeter-housing mounted in front of the ESL panel (as found on the Cinema and Theater center channels), the Stage all but eliminates high-frequency diffraction. This unique mounting system also increases mid-range / high-frequency phase coherence and time alignment while offering superior dispersion characteristics compared to previous MartinLogan center channels.
XStat Transducer
Advanced MicroPerf stator technology dramatically increases the sound-producing area of MartinLogan's latest-generation CLS electrostatic transducer. This increase in effective radiating area translates to higher efficiency and an even more effortless, unlimited dynamic presentation. The XStat pulls no punches!
But there's more to it than just putting more holes in the stators, which must maintain uniform spacing in front of and behind the diaphragm to exacting tolerances. They cannot flex. Stage firmly anchors the transducer's working elements stators and diaphragm around their periphery, while ClearSpar spacers stiffen the assembly further across its width. ClearSpars enable precise, consistent tensioning of the Vacuum Bonded diaphragm without obstructing the floating, see-through look that is the visual hallmark of MartinLogan electrostats.
In the end, a speaker cannot outperform the signal feeding it. MartinLogan's state-of-the-art toroidal transformer and electrical interface engineering ensure an absolutely transparent link from amplifier to electrostatic panel. The result is sound of unparalleled purity, precision, clarity, and openness the next best thing to no speaker at all.
Vacuum Bonding
The components of each XStat panel two insulated, high-purity carbon steel stators, plasma-deposited PET diaphragm, and ClearSpar spacers are fused into a cylindrical-section geometry with an aerospace adhesive whose hold strength exceeds that of welding. MartinLogan's proprietary Vacuum Bonding process ensures uniform diaphragm tensioning and facilitates the extremely tight tolerances necessary for construction of such a precision transducer.
Curvilinear Line Source Electrostatic Panel
One of MartinLogan's original breakthroughs, CLS technology has been an essential ingredient of every electrostatic loudspeaker the company has produced. Proprietary manufacturing methods enable construction of electrostatic panels as cylindrical sections. Their gentle horizontal curvature solves the problem of obtaining good high-frequency dispersion from a large radiating surface without compromising overall sound quality or reliability.
MicroPerf Stators
Although stators are the elements of an electrostatic driver that are supposed to stand still, they carry the audio signals that do the work of propelling the diaphragm back and forth to move air and produce sound. Because the stators sandwich the diaphragm between them, they must be perforated to allow sound to pass through. Yet they must also be rigid enough to remain absolutely stationary despite the strong electrostatic forces pushing and pulling at them during operation.
MartinLogan's MicroPerf design optimizes this tradeoff by reducing the size of the individual holes and using many more of them than in a traditional electrostatic panel. MicroPerf almost doubles effective diaphragm radiating area without compromising structural integrity. The resulting increase in output capability and efficiency allows a panel to be made much smaller without sacrificing performance or to enjoy a substantial leap in bandwidth and dynamics without growing larger.
Low-Distortion Aluminum-Cone Woofers
By eliminating cone flexure, aluminum diaphragms help the advanced-technology woofers achieve the very low distortion necessary for proper blending with MartinLogan electrostatic panels.
Vojtko Crossover
Carefully hand-built using only the finest polypropylene capacitors and air-core coils, the crossover employ's MartinLogan's proprietary Vojtko topology for vanishingly low distortion and seamless driver integration. This precision-tuned network preserves even the most microscopic sonic nuances while handling the full dynamics of any source.
Application Versatility
Stage is suitable for use in any stereo or multi-channel audio system, mounted either on- or off-wall. And it blends well with other MartinLogan speakers in both sound and appearance, which allows mixing and matching to meet specific installation requirements.
Each Stage LCR speaker includes a single-pivot bracket / stand that enables easy installation on a set-top, shelf, horizontally / vertically mounted to a wall (under or beside a plasma screen, for example), or resting on a floor.
A low-voltage DC power supply eliminates the need for a traditional, heavy IEC power cord and increases installation flexibility.
Dipole Sound Radiation
The sound we hear from a loudspeaker is a combination of direct radiation from it to our ears and reflections off of room surfaces walls, floor, and ceiling. How our brains integrate all this information is far from simple. Depending on the angle of incidence to the ears and the arrival-time difference between direct and reflected sound, reflections can either blur detail and stereo imaging or enhance the natural impression of depth and openness.
True dipole speakers, such as electrostatic panels, have long been noted for their near-ideal radiation patterns. They send very little sound to the sides, thereby minimizing side-wall reflections with short arrival times that tend to interfere with perception of the direct sound. Their strong rear radiation, however, produces a generous amount of ambience-enriching later-arriving reflections off the wall behind them.
Toolless Binding Posts
MartinLogan's proprietary toolless binding posts make cable connection and management easy.


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Update 3: As expected, ABC has renewed 'Don't Trust the B----- in Apt. 23' for a second season.
Update 2: and for those who need ABC confirmation that 'Pan Am,' 'Missing' and 'The River' are canceled, you have it.
Update: GCB has been canceled.
'Scandal' has been renewed by ABC for a second season according to creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes and ABC has confirmed officially.
No word on 'Private Practice' (even Shonda is still waiting as of this writing)
'GCB,' or 'Body of Proof' yet.
ABC has also picked up several new shows.


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Indoor and Outdoor Dining Follow us on twitter @thebeergarden1, Instagram @beergarden1 Hours of Operation Monday – Thursday 4pm-12am Friday & Saturday 4pm-1am Food served from 4pm-10pm Happy Hour Specials Monday – Saturday 4pm-6pm and 9pm-11pm Not During Football Weekends $2 Draft Bud Light, $2 Wells, $3 House Wine The Beer Garden is located in the public parking lot located off of N. Lafayette Street in downtown Starkville. The world renowned chef, Gordon Ramsay designed and created the Beer Garden that was aired on the TV show "Hotel Hell" Show Season 2, fall of 2014. Chef Gordon Ramsay's menu includes his famous Gordon Burger to the traditional English Fish & Chips. Try locally brewed craft beers and enjoy a summer breeze. Indoor landmark room also offers the same with HDTV for sports games. The Beer Garden does not allow pets outside or inside. Hope to see you come on by!
BG Menu Page 1 (App, Soup) 2015
BG Menu Page 2 (Entree) 2015
BG Menu Dessert & Beverage
Tweets by @thebeergarden1
Please give us some feedback below!!


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By MYRIAM MIEDZIANMinute Man Media
In Saudi Arabia, 55 percent of university students are women; in the United Arab Emirates it's 75 percent; in Iran it's 60 percent. U.S. statistics are closest to the Saudis', with 56 percent female students. Conservatives argue that the U.S. gender discrepancy in higher education -- as well as boys' lower level of achievement in elementary and high school--are due to a feminist "war against boys," and the ascendance of progressive education brought about by liberals. In order to excel, boys need gender-segregated schools that emphasize competition and use traditional authoritarian teaching methods.
The cross-cultural data undermines their argument. Coeducational progressive education is scarcely the norm in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries. As for gender war, who could possibly be more oppressed than Saudi women who aren't allowed to drive, can't travel abroad without a male guardian's permission, and must be covered from head to toe in sweltering desert heat. (Well yes; Afghan women under the Taliban had it even worse.)
The truth is that a higher percentage of boys than girls exhibit qualities not conducive to sitting still, paying attention in class, and learning. Studies indicate that from a young age boys tend to be more impulsive, easily frustrated, and interested in rough and tumble play and outdoor physical activities. While boys do better in math and spatial skills, girls have better verbal and reading skills necessary for a large part of the school curriculum.
Due to chromosomal makeup, boys are far more likely to suffer from ADHD (attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity), severe learning disability, and mental retardation. These represent serious educational handicaps. More males than females are geniuses, but since their numbers are very few, they do not make much difference statistically.
This gender discrepancy in educational achievement was not apparent until recently since historically education has been a male privilege. In the United States, after World War II, higher education was encouraged for men and facilitated by the G.I. bill, while young women were advised not to do too well in school. The fragile male ego had to be protected, and an "MRS. degree" was far more important that a B.A. As a result, in 1970, 41 percent of college students were females. By 1982, it was up to 52 percent-- the women's movement had succeeded in changing women's aspirations, and removing admission quotas to professional schools like medicine and law that had kept female enrollment under 10 percent.
Many men who are not academically inclined make decent livings, doing useful work as firefighters, police officers, construction workers, truck drivers etc., but due to technology and the exodus of manufacturing jobs, there are fewer jobs for people without higher education. While there may always be a higher percentage of women in college (women are further motivated by the fact that women's jobs that do not require higher education - home health aides, day care workers etc.-- are paid much less than men's jobs), we should be doing everything possible to encourage boys to do well in school. Instead, studious boys are rejected as nerds, while jocks are revered. Parents are often more excited about their son scoring a touchdown on the gridiron than scoring an A in literature class.
Macho film heroes who show off huge physiques lead many boys to more concern with enhancing muscles than grades - the use of steroids and Creatin, a muscle enhancing drug, has become a serious problem in high schools. Popular music and lyrics are often identified with an inner city culture that glorifies violent macho male behavior. This absurd identification of black culture with inner city culture is particularly nefarious for African American boys who must contend with not only being viewed as nerds or geeks if they hit the books, but also as white wannabes. No wonder over 60 percent of African American college students are female.
If there is a war on boys being waged, it consists of encouraging non-functional and often anti-social behaviors at the expense of qualities that could provide many boys with more opportunities and better lives.


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A nice reminder of June 29, 2012.
The Goal:
The Celebration:
The Despair:
The Fire head to Kansas City Saturday afternoon (2:00pm CT on NBC Sports Network) on the back of two losses to start the season. The team has yet to score a goal or secure point but face a KC team smarting after a loss in Toronto last week. Both will be looking to kick start their season with a big win. Here are some tactical things to look out for.
Right back – three games, three different starters?
With injuries to both Logan Pause and Steven Kinney, it is likely the Fire will have to start a third different right back already this season. Jalil Anibaba started on the right against LA and had a difficult time of things but looked much more comfortable in his natural position at center back last week against New England.
With Kinney out, its almost assured that Anibaba will partner with Austin Berry in the middle which means we will likely see Mike Videra or Wells Thompson on the right. Both played there for a bit of preseason and Videra played at right back for the Men in Red during the 2011 season.
READ: Videira or Thompson at right back?
Previewing Sporting KC
Wells is the more experienced player and like Pause, has played in numerous positions during his MLS career. In a hostile atmosphere away from home, communication between the defenders will be key.
KC are particularly dangerous down the wings and Patrick Nyarko will need to be on hand to help out either Thompson or Videra who will face constant overlapping by the KC wing-backs.
Pressuring KC – copy the Toronto model
Sporting KC lost 2-1 in Toronto last week falling behind 2-0 after only twenty minutes. TFC pressured Sporting from the first whistle and it worked extremely well, with SKC constantly giving the ball away.
TFC's first goal of the game came from pressuring and ganging up on the Sporting KC players. Folks will remember the goal stemming from a bad pass between Matt Besler and Aurelian Collin, but the reason the center backs had the ball at all was because TFC forced Sporting all the way back to their defenders.
TFC clearly flustered Sporting and the pressure prevented SKC from being able to get the ball to their danger men Claudio Bieler and Graham Zusi. Toronto was unable to keep up the pressure for more than the first half and in the second, KC was able to impose their game.
If the Fire can start in a similar fashion to TFC last week and sustain the pressure throughout the game (a tough ask, I know) it would go a long way towards allowing SKC to dictate the tempo, something they will look to do as the home team.
Testing Jimmy Neilson – difference between chances and half chances
A lot of the talk after the first two games of the season was that the Fire created many chances, but were unable to finish them. If we examine the amount of genuine saves Carlo Cudicini and Matt Reis actually had to make though, the numbers are very small, both have to overexert themselves on only one occasion, with the rest of the shots being hit right at them.
Both times the Fire forced the opposition 'keeper into making a fine save was from shots outside the box. When the Fire do get the ball in the box, the team as a whole needs to start showing a bit of composure instead of rushing shots.
Muzzling Zusi – double teaming and picking him up when he comes inside
For the past few seasons, Graham Zusi has been Sporting's best player by some margin. Zusi is dangerous because he can hurt you in so many different ways.
He's comfortable playing outside on the wing and is just as effective when he switches wings as he did against TFC in the second half last week. Zusi also links very well with SKC's outside backs, especially Chance Meyers who overlaps Zusi on a regular basis and picked up a lot of assists doing so last season.
Coach's Take: Sporting KC
READ: A look back on the 2012 win at Sporting
Zusi also likes to cut inside, opening up more space on the outside for the wing-backs to move into. For the most part, TFC did a good job stifling Zusi last week and they did so mainly by double teaming him when he had the ball.
As I said in my Week One preview, a lot of emphasis will be on the Fire wingers, Dilly Duka and Nyarko to track back and help out Gonzalo Segares and whoever the team starts on the right.
Zusi's crossing is arguably his most dangerous weapon and with targets such as Bieler and Sapong lurking in the box, the less crosses the Fire allow, the better.
Prediction: The games in KC have been tight affairs recently, and I don't see this one being any different. 1-1 Fire with a goal from Chris Rolfe.
Stephen Piggott is a contributor to Chicago-Fire.com. Follow him on Twitter @irish_steve.
Hoping this match from July 4, 2001 in Kansas City is a good omen for the weekend. Peter Vermes should remember the game well, he played all 90 minutes in defense.
Fast forward to 57 seconds in...
We're having a lot of fun with GIFs lately. Since its #RivalryWeek in MLS, we thought we'd do one on Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes being mad.
Also, props to @ricecakeonfire for tweeting me his compilation of the many faces of Peter Vermes:
SELECT SHOTS: From today's CONCACAF Gold Cup press conference at Solider Field
CONCACAF is hosting a press conference today at Soldier Field to announce a huge soccer event happening in Chicago this summer. The Press Conference is slated to start at 10:30am CT.
Click Here to watch the big news unfold.
A lot of cool media around Section 8 Chicago's tifo from Saturday... One more piece is this movable GIF file done up by our web maestro Nick Sintich:
A stroll through my Google Alerts this morning leads me to wish a big congrats to former Fire captain Chris Armas on his induction with the inaugural class into the Long Island Soccer Hall of Fame this past Saturday.
The second captain in club history, the Brentwood, N.Y. product racked up 273 competitve appearances (4th all-time) along with 12 goals and 50 assists (2nd all-time) in his 10 seasons in Chicago. He joins C.J. Brown and Zach Thornton as the only three players in club history to be part of all six domestic championships and is one of seven men enshrined in the Ring of Fire.
PERUSE: TrueCar Player Registry
I did some further digging and found out that although he was unable to be in attendance at Saturday's ceremony, Fire owner and Long Island native Andrew Hautpman helped support the event by purchasing a table at the dinner and had this letter read to honor Armas' career achievements and contributions to the Chicago Fire Soccer Club:
Greetings Fellow Long Islanders –
I wanted to extend heartfelt congratulations to Shep Messing, Paul LeSueur, Kim Wyant and Chris Armas for your induction into the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame. Your contributions to the sport of soccer and to Long Island have helped shape the game and our community in positive and powerful ways.
I apologize for not being able to attend tonight's event (ironically, it's the home opener for my beloved Chicago Fire!). Speaking of which, I would especially like to acknowledge and thank the 'one and only' Chris Armas for his efforts with the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. Chris is the type of individual who has always done things the right way. His industriousness, talent, attention to detail and spirit has always separated him from his competitors on-and-off-the-field.
Having also grown up playing soccer on Long Island (in Smithtown where my mother designed all of the patches for the Smithtown Traveling Soccer Club), I immediately bonded and felt a closeness with Chris, not to mention having also admired his approach to the game. Chris is as hard working a player you will ever encounter and is perhaps the best holding midfielder of his generation. Despite winning five domestic trophies, being a five-time Best XI midfielder and earning 66 appearances with the U.S. Men's National Team, Chris remains humble and true to his Long Island roots.
Before owning the Fire, I always looked at Chris as someone who exemplified all of the characteristics I valued in a soccer player. Once I was leading the club, I realized that Chris exemplifies all of the characteristics I value in a person. Chris is a trusting and caring individual who treats everyone with the utmost respect and tries to do the right thing...always. Above all, he is a committed family man and a wonderful human being.
Chris, thanks for your spectacular contributions to the game of soccer, to Long Island and to the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. I'm am truly honored to have gotten to know you and consider you a trusted colleague and a friend.
Again, congratulations to all of those being honored tonight -- I look forward to seeing the Hall of Fame grow from strength to strength.
Best regards,
Andrew Hauptman
Hopefully Saturday's recognition for Chris isn't the only Hall of Fame he enters in 2013. Armas, who made 66 appearances and scored two goals for the U.S. Men's National team, was once again on the ballot for the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame this year.
The announcement on the 2013 class is set to come later this month...
Fire Homegrown forward Kellen Gulley has headed to Georgia to begin training with the NASL's Atlanta Silverbacks this week.
Fire head coach Frank Klopas mentioned throughout preseason that the team was looking to send the 18-year-old forward out on loan this year and it appears that the club is working towards an agreement with the second division side.
Signed from the Mississippi Fire Juniors in August 2011, Gulley has yet to make his competitive debut for the club. The potential move should serve him well in gaining playing time as he continues to develop.
Coached by former FC Dallas head coach Brian Haynes, the Silverbacks open their 2013 NASL Spring campaign vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers on April 13 at Silverbacks Park.
Last night's tifo display from Section 8 Chicago was quite good. In case you missed it, check out this Vine video from user wreckyourworld.
According to ISA Operations Chair Eric Kekeis, "Project Rise" took 70 hours spread over eight days and cost $2000 total.
Check out these two time lapse videos of the whole process from YouTube user qskapunk and be sure to donate to the Section 8 Chicago tifo drive to help fund further tifo and other supporter related activities.
Well done everyone!


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Today I taught the above named class at Cool Bean Cafe'. I had a small group of mini-chefs but a very well-behaved group. The kids also knew their way around the kitchen and some were rather young. All of them could crack eggs without getting shells in the bowl, they can measure, whisk, pour and make fresh squeezed orange juice.
Since I don't own the rights to any photos, you will have to visit Cool Beans' Facebook page and like them to see any pictures from today. But I did promise the recipes and menu.
Bacon and Egg Casserole with Tomatoes
Fruit kebabs with cream cheese dip
French Toast
Fresh squeezed orange juice
Bacon and Egg Casserole with Tomatoes
- 6 large eggs
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 4 slices bread, torn or 3 croissants, sliced and torn into 1-inch pieces
- 8 to 12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 10 to 15 sliced grape tomatoes or 2 small tomatoes, diced
- 1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper
Heat oven to 350°. Butter a 2-quart baking dish.
Whisk eggs with milk in a bowl; set aside.
Arrange torn bread over the bottom of the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with the bacon pieces and tomato slices. Top with Cheddar cheese then pour the egg mixture evenly over the top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until puffy and lightly browned.
Serves 4 to 6.
Fruit Kebabs with Cream Cheese Dip
Strawberries, cleaned and hulled
Melon cubes
Fresh Pineapple chunks
Bamboo Skewers
7 oz. jar of Marshmallow Cream
8 oz soften cream cheese
1/8 tsp ginger
Arrange fruit on the skewers and set aside. Mix cream cheese, ginger and marshmallow cream until blended and fluffy. Serve.
Homemade French Toast
1 cup of milk
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sugar
8 slices of bread
Non-stick spray
Mix all but bread and spray in a bowl. Pre-heat a griddle and coat with cooking spray. Dip bread into mixture and flipto coat the other side. Place on pan. Turn once when the bottom is light brown and all milk/egg mixture is cooked. Keep warm until all is done. Serve with butter and/or syrup.


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Langeran France
Jan. 20 1919
Dear Folks
I am well and still in France and expect to leave anytime now. I got a letter from Eliza as she was leaving Scotland for Brest France. She sent me a picture of the place she was staying and it is a pretty place but you cant tell much by the pictures as some fine pictures are taken in France and the land is poor. This is the best place I have been in yet. You told in your last letter dated Dec. 30 and told about eggs being 68 cents. I got a letter from Beth and she said pigs was all dead and told about her Christmas presents. I like to read her letters and so do the other boys. She uses some queer phrases.


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EAST AMHERST, N.Y.-Former UB head coach Reggie Witherspoon said Monday he was stunned when UB athletic director Danny White told him he wouldn't be returning as the Bulls head coach for next season.
Surrounded by current and former players, coaches, family and friends at his East Amherst home Witherspoon said "I was shocked. I'm still shocked. Completely shocked by it." He said its the first and only conversation he had with White that wasn't positive. Witherspoon said White called him on the bus ride back from Cleveland after the Bulls were eliminated from the MAC tournament. White asked him to stop by his office when he got back. " Danny and I have never had even a disagreement. So it would be difficult for me to sit here and say bad things about Danny because we've only had really good conversations until Friday."
In his 14 years as the Bulls head coach Witherspoon took a program that was a laughing stock and made it into a credible competitive program. "Now if you start taking shortcuts you don't have a program you just have some teams. Teams might be great. You could win a championship, it's a team. And the next year you start all over and the next thing you know you don't have anything that lasts. And I don't know if that works at UB."
Witherspoon was able to attract players from all over the country to come to UB. "I always thought the biggest benefit we had to bringing people to Western New York were the people. I always thought that. I thought that the best way to connect people is to have a program, have guys who may not have been teammates but they felt permanently connected. And I still think that."
Whoever takes over as the Bulls bench boss takes over a team expected to contend for a MAC title. Channel 2 sports has learned that UB has reached a number of well known coaches. Among those UB has contacted ar Seth Greenberg, Bruce Pearl, Fran Fraschilla and Bobby Hurley. Fraschilla said he wasn't interested.
Witherspoon said he hasn't thought much about the future except that he keeps thinking about getting the team ready for next season.


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I'd like to read a comparison between the Sonja and the Magicos Q5 and Q7, or Willson Alexandria
To riff on Wes's conclusion, "If it ain't broke, it don't need fixin'." So I was somewhat puzzled when I first saw the Anat's successor, the Sonja 1.3, at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show. The Sonja 1.3 comprises the Sonja 1.1, the top module, which can be used on its own and costs $38,800/pair (footnote 1). Adding the upper woofer module gives you the Sonja 1.2 ($72,800/pair), while completing the package with the lower woofer module results in the Sonja 1.3 ($106,800/pair).
Superficially, the new speaker looks identical to the older one: the same height, the same formthree separate modules constructed from aluminum panels mounted atop one anotherand the same drive-unit array: a 1" silk-dome tweeter mounted within an almost circular waveguide between two 6" midrange drivers, and two 10" woofers. But on closer inspection, it became apparent that the Sonja 1.3 is, in many ways, a completely different design.
The Sonja . . .
The modules of the Anat Reference II Professional were flat-sided, with the HF/MF module rectangular and the two woofers truncated pyramids of different heights but identical volumes, which gave the speaker's appearance a Bauhaus flavor. By contrast, the Sonja 1.3's modules feature subtly radiused side panels, the increasing radius of the lower modules producing an elegantly concave profile. The woofers are no longer powered but passively crossed over, the crossover for both modules residing in the bottom one. (When just the Sonja 1.2 is purchased, the low-frequency crossover is housed in the 1.2 woofer module; this is replaced by a blanking plate when the 1.3 woofer is added.) The crossover filters are a proprietary topology, said to add in-phase in the overlap regions, and use expensive, close-tolerance Mundorf capacitors and "Zero Ohm" inductors. One toroidal air-core inductor is wound in-house by YGA, and the Sonja's internal wiring is all Kimber Select.
Most significant, whereas the Anat and its variants used paper-cone midrange units and woofers, the Sonja's drivers feature the BilletCore diaphragms that made their appearance toward the end of the Anat's life. Each cone begins as a circular blank of 6061 aluminum alloy, an aircraft-grade metal that finishes well and doesn't corrode like harder aluminum alloys. A five-axis CNC machine first balances the blank, then increases its rotational speed so that metal can be cut away to produce the finished cone. It takes about three hours of machine time to produce the woofer cone, which has a thickness before anodizing of 0.25mm, this down from an initial time of eight hours. To produce a midrange cone, which is 0.2mm thick, takes about 90 minutes (both times including setup). The finished cones are sent out for hard anodizing, then shipped to Denmark with the surrounds to be assembled into complete drive-units, the Danish company providing all the "soft" parts, such as the spider.
The final woofer cone weighs 46gm; for reference, the cone of the 10" woofer used by KEF in its R207/2, which I reviewed a few years back, including the voice-coil and its former, weighs 40gm. There is therefore a tradeoff between increased mass and reduced sensitivity with a machined-alloy cone. However, YGA's founder, Yoav Geva, feels that this is worthwhile, given that the BilletCore cone is going to be truly pistonic not only throughout its passband but well beyond it. The use of machined metal unstressed by stamping or extrusion makes the cones extremely rigid and strongthe midrange cone has a mass of only 8gm, but can take 1000 lbs of vertical load without flexing.
Not only the cones, but all the metal parts in the Sonja, including the trim rings around the driverseven the biwiring binding postsare made by YGA. The aluminum panels that form the enclosures are milled from large sheets of aluminum.
I visited the YGA factory just before writing this review. It's an impressive operation. Raw aluminum-alloy rods, bars, and sheets enter; finished speakers and bags of aluminum swarf and scrap leave, the former to dealers and distributors, the latter to a recycling center. YGA's two expensive CNC machines run flat-out for two shifts every day, even machining away the copper between the traces on the circuit boards for the crossover filters.
Having seen YGA's capital-intensive operation, I am surprised not only that the Sonja 1.3 doesn't cost more than it does, but also that it costs slightly less than the company's earlier flagship model.
Setup & System
YGA's Dick Diamond and Kerry St. James delivered the six aluminum flight cases containing the Sonja 1.3s and, much to my relief, insisted on setting up the speakers in my listening room all by themselves. With each complete speaker weighing 506 lbs, I had been wondering how they were going to move them.
The answer: To place the 1.2 module atop the 1.3 module, then crown the array with the 120-lb 1.1 module, they used the hand-pumped, handled suction cups used to lift large sheets of glass. Then, with the speaker assembled, they slid Teflon furniture-moving coasters, fitted with Delrin inserts, under the four spikes. It proved surprisingly easy to slide the speakers around on these coasters, to find the optimal positions in the room. Once Diamond and St. James had proclaimed themselves comfortable with the setup, they took the suction cups and coasters away with them, meaning that I was able to do no further fine-tuning of the speaker positions.
I'd like to read a comparison between the Sonja and the Magicos Q5 and Q7, or Willson Alexandria
It's a bargain ... stupid !
after the YGA guys left - why didn't you install your usual cabling? It surprises me you didn't revert to your constant , then install the K-S cables and report the difference?
As you might say, "color me puzzled?"
To respond to these points, with speakers as large as the YG Sonja 1.3, Wilson Alexandria XLF, and Magico Q7 or Q5, the logistical problems doing side-by-side comparisons are immense. For example, I have a basement listening room and I don't see how I could get either the Wilsons or either of the Magicos in that room? If I remember correctly, each Magico Q7 weighs 700 lbs. (The YGs each split into three modules, which made the task manageable - just.)
But you can find our reviews of the XLF and Q5 at http://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-alexandria-xlf-loudspeaker and http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/magico_q5_loudspeaker/index.html .
Regarding the lack of cable comparisons in my Sonja review, I ran out of time. However, I still have the Kubala-Sosna cables and will publish some comparisons, using different speaker, later in the year.
Regarding the sarcastic comment that the YG speaker is a "bargain," I feel that while the Sonja 1.3 is very expensive, it is indeed fairly priced given the bill of materials, the cost of skilled labor, and the use of capital-intensive equipment (the cost of which has to be amortized over a relatively limited production run), to make it. Remember also that with a speaker this bulky and heavy, even the cost of shipping a pair to the dealer is expensive and that cost has to be built into the retail price.
I am reminded of a story told me by YG's Yoav Geva. He was contacted by a would-be customer who complained about a YG speaker's price and who estimated that there was around $200 worth of raw aluminum stock in that speaker.
"Send me a check for $200 and I'll send you the raw aluminum so you can build your own speaker!" responded Mr. Geva :-)
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Bulsara, yes it is stupid to say it's a bargain.
Lofty, Mr Atkinson doesn't test cables just allows subjective reviews.
Mr Atkinson, "I feel that while the Sonja 1.3 is very expensive, it is indeed fairly priced given the bill of materials, the cost of skilled labor, and the use of capital-intensive equipment (the cost of which has to be amortized over a relatively limited production run), to make it"................"Having seen YGA's capital-intensive operation, I am surprised not only that the Sonja 1.3 doesn't cost more than it does, but also that it costs slightly less than the company's earlier flagship model."
Well I'll keep that in mind next time I have a complete house built from scratch. I think I'd get much more for the money than just a pair of speakers. Good luck to them selling enough of these to recoup their investment plus make a profit. Not many very wealthy people are going to buy these.
For $108,000 you can buy all the electronic, audio, computer, wood working equipment to build your own speakers and have plenty left over for a good sized down payment on that house. Plus you have the satisfaction of learning how to make those speakers and can make more and more for your family and friends. People do this all the time. Check out the DIY audio and speaker forums. Plenty of already tried and true speaker plans on there.
For $108,000 you can buy all the electronic, audio, computer, wood working equipment to build your own speakers and have plenty left over for a good sized down payment on that house.
Not if you want to emulate the YG speakers. The 5-axis CNC machines used to mill all the speaker parts cost, if I remember correctly, several hundred thousand dollars each. And then there is the positive air pressure machine room, the swarf and scrap collection machines, the salaries of the skilled operators, and the cost of the milling tools, themselves. Let alone rent, cost of capital, worker health insurance and benefits, etc. And while aluminum is relatively easy to machine, the mineral-loaded phenolic resin material used by Wilson wears out several tools, at a couple of hundred dollars a time, for each enclosure.
It is all too easy for an armchair critic to poke scorn at companies like YG and Wilson. But the enterpreneurs behind these companies have done something the armchair critic has never done, which is to put at risk their ability to feed their families in order to realize their dreams.
No-one forces you to buy speakers like thiese, Mr. Holland, but you have to respect what their manufacturers are trying to achieve.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Who wants to emulate the YG? There are plenty of designs out there just as good or better. Look at Mr Linkowitz http://www.linkwitzlab.com/ or John K's http://www.musicanddesign.com/naomain.html others are also out there.
You don't have to spend obscene amounts like on a YG or Wilson to have fantastic sound.
Those impedance and phase numbers for the YG aren't exactly astounding by any means, you would think for the money that they would have tidied up the problems there and also the panel vibrations are not worthy of the price paid.
"But the enterpreneurs behind these companies have done something the armchair critic has never done, which is to put at risk their ability to feed their families in order to realize their dreams"
Oh stop it I might cry. Poor little Wilson has it rough I can tell.
"No-one forces you to buy speakers like thiese, Mr. Holland, but you have to respect what their manufacturers are trying to achieve."
Their achievement is to charge as much as possible and hope the rich buy it.
Your links don't work.
Too lazy to copy and paste the links themselves into their browser
[Edit by John Atkinson]
[Additional edit by John Atkinson]
The speakers in those links don't look impressive. But, I will reserve judgement because I HAVE NEVER HEARD THEM.
A person would be silly to denigrate a product they have never seen and heard in person...
Oh that's right you can't.
Both of those speakers are very well known and admired in the audio community of course they aren't silly expenisve so they don't have the snob appeal like Wilson or YG does,
will be able to pick out what is and what isn't good about a product soley based upon the measurements, layout and other appearances. [flame deleted by John Atkinson]
Hope those manufacturers are better with audio design than they are with graphic design or even information graphics, because those are some primitive repositories. Irksome.
(Just for the record I'm quite sure it's possible to obtain superlative speakers for under 10k or 15k...even semi mass produced ones via brick and mortar audio shops.)
getting across the information. They are more of an info site than trying to sell something. If you want glitz then look elsewhere.
First just let me say WOW!! Nice speakers (no I am not being sarcastic). I would love to have a pair of these in my living room.
I will have to agree with Mr. Atkinson on his assessment of why these speakers cost what they do. Given that these speakers are not really considered "mass produced", but made in small quantity I can understand the cost. Machining is very expensive and not a cheap way of making metal parts. It is a slow process and requires expensive machines that must be maintained and staffed by well-paid labor. The benefit of machining is its flexibility and precision. As they say – time is money.
If they were truly made in high quantity, most manufactures would shift to casting or other forming methods which can save a lot of money because it is fast and does not require as expensive machines. That kind of work is usually farmed out to "third world" or "developing countries". Of course some finish machining would be required, but nowhere near as much as with billet machining.
I know that there is a lot of animosity toward the high end audio industry for their prices. Some of it I would say has foundation, but not all of it. People need to understand that many of these companies are small businesses that sell only in the hundreds, some if that. We get used to the mass produced "Made with slave labor" prices from Best Buy and the like. The business model for the smaller companies is totally different. They need to have on staff not only the founders and lower waged assembly people, but engineers and technicians who are expensive. Plus pay for insurance, rent, taxes, utilities, etc. Then there are the materials and subcontractors and expensive capital equipment. They must also spend their own money on trade shows and advertisements. They are not a non-profit organization.
I am an engineer myself; and have spent some 25 years in research and development. Developing products is expensive. While developing a product, you are making no money on it. It eats away at your cash like no tomorrow. By the time let say a high end amplifier goes from concept to production, a year can be spent. It first needs to be designed on paper and simulated on computers. Then it must be bread boarded, then prototyped – maybe two or three iterations. Then it must be designed for manufacturing. That can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars if not more. That investment must be recouped with hopefully some profit. Some can make stuff in a garage and be cheap and good, but once you move out from a garage your expenses balloon.
Yes we can look at it from an armchair DIY point of view, but that is way too simplistic and disrespects the effort it takes to make a well-designed product that can be reliably reproduced in quantity. We need to be careful when making judgments on high end items.
Are you amongst the many un-wealthy who are also not going to buy these speakers?
Thank you for making it clear for all of us.
I understand your logistical problems, my intention was not to complain but having more information from a reviewer like you that got the opportunity to listen to all of them, and at the same time have an respectable oppinion.
Mr Atkinson's words: "The Sonja's voltage sensitivity is specified as 88dB/2.83V/m. However, my estimate was significantly less than that, at 85dB(B)/2.83V/m"
So takes even twice more the power for the same loudness. If 1 watt = 85 dB then 32 watts = 100 dB and above 100dB it made the amp clip? Yep really worth every penny.
"This speaker needs to be used with an amplifier capable of delivering both amps and volts in quantity—I suspect that the hardness I noted at sustained SPLs above 100dB was simply due to the amplifiers clipping into the demanding impedance."
So lets say you spend another $50,000 on an amp capable of driving these. Nice.
If Georgie can't find it at Wal Mart, Georgie ain't buyin'....
Nope, that is not his point: it means it'll take me 130 watts to get to 120dB on my JBL pro drivers system while you'll need 2,000 watts with these $100k fancy speakers driving mickey mouse drivers with very expensive diaphragms... To call these being able to reproduce realistic levels is a farce.
Even assuming that YG is not being unreasonable about the selling price, the question is whether all that elaborate machining,etc is necessary for achieving state of the art sound ?
The answer is NO
[Off-topic text deleted by John Atkinson] Magico uses aluminum structures in their $20,000 speakers but is it worth the cost? You can throw endless amounts of money into making things appear "better" and look impressive but I'd rather have a set of speakers that come with an actual frequency response graph included and it's not that hard to do so yet who does? It would prove that quality control is constant with not just the sample loaned to Atkinson but also the pair you yourself bought.
Having truth and fact defined for you by Uncle Joseph for so many years, Comrade JRusskie, no wonder you trust a piece of paper with a graph over your own hearing.
Yet you seemed to have overlooked that fact. Atkinson takes frequency graphs, do you trust him? Floyd Toole trusts graphs, that's how the speaker industry found out what consumers liked the best. A speaker that has flat frequency rersponse. Too bad some designers overlook the importance of a benign impedance that doesn't tax the abilities of the amp.Do you trust anything other than your willingness to open mouth and insert foot?
And they all trust their hearing too!
I'd rather have a set of speakers that come with an actual frequency response graph included and it's not that hard to do so yet who does?It would prove that quality control is constant with not just the sample loaned to Atkinson but also the pair you yourself bought.
For production QA on finished speakers, YG uses MLSSA with the speaker suspended high in the air to give an anechoic time window of 13ms. But as I said in the review but you seem to have overlooked, YG did send me the response of what I understood to be the finalized protoype sample of the Sonja 1.3, measured in the NRC's anechoic chamber in Ottawa. And as I also wrote in the review, my measurement of the farfield response of my sample of the Sonja was almost identical in the midrange and above to YG's NRC measurement of the prototype. YG therefore does have very effective quality control and your insinuation is incorrect.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Isn't the same as the production run in many cases plus you got a cherry picked set of speakers or do you believe that it was just a randon set the shipping clerk chose to send you? You seemed to have overlooked that I said "but also the pair you yourself bought." so my point is still valid. Will YG send out frequency specs for every speaker?
Isn't the same as the production run in many cases...
Again you misunderstand what you read. The sample measured in the NRC chamber was the final protoype, ie, the reference sample of the design. All Sonja 1.3s are measured as the final step of the production process and their response compared to that of the reference measured under identical conditions. The close tolerance of that QA process is confirmed by the fact that my measured response of a production sample was essentially the same as that of the reference sample, even given the fact the former was measured with a swept sinewave in the NRC chamber and I used a quasi-anechoic MLS technique.
I am sure there are companies that have poor or inconsistent QA. YG Acoustics is not one of them. It's time for you to stop beating this dead horse.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
So in other words, they don't supply a print out of the frequency response of the actual speakers you buy.


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Shop for Abilene Electricity Rates: It's Easy!
Abilene may be better known for its many universities and Dyess Air Force Base, but one of the city's best perks is the ability to compare electricity prices.
Whether you're watching football on TV, or powering your air conditioner, there's no way to avoid using electricity. The least you can do is compare electricity prices for competitive Abilene electricity rates. You might be able to find a lower supply rate and save some money.
Why compare electricity prices?
Because the Abilene electricity rates market is deregulated, you have to purchase a plan from a retail electricity provider (REP). Before deregulation, local utilities such as AEP North controlled the whole electricity supply process, from generation to transmission and distribution. Some parts of Texas and the United States are still regulated and people in those areas don't have electricity choice.
In Abilene, REPs compete with one another for your business. You can compare all types of plans, including variable- and fixed-rate electricity plans, and find a product that works for you. Remember, no matter what provider you choose AEP North will still deliver your electricity and take care of local power lines.
As you look for Abilene electricity rates, be sure to take a look at Just Energy, one of the largest retail electric and natural gas providers in the United States and Canada. Whether you're looking for competitive rates or price security from fixed-rate electricity plans, our expert team will help you find a plan.
Go green with Just Energy in Abilene
Did you know Texas is one of the largest producers of wind power in the country? Taylor County is home to the Trent, Buffalo Gap and Horse Hollow wind farms. These wind farms produce clean energy that protects the environment and employs hard-working Texans.
Thanks to Just Energy in Abilene, you can support these causes by buying a JustGreen product. This green option allows you to offset up to 100 percent of your home's or business' electricity use and support jobs in Taylor County.
So whether you're looking for green options or long-term fixed-rate electricity plans, Just Energy in Abilene can help. Give us a call today to learn more!
Sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Texas; www.abilenetx.com. Updated 4-30-14.
Abilene not your city? Check out:
|Corpus Christi
|San Angelo
|Spanish Camp
PUCT Cert. No 10052


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Browse GoColumbiaMo.com Skip top Navigation. Translate this page
The City of Columbia's Medication Drop Box program provides a safe and anonymous way to dispose of unwanted and/or unused medications. By properly disposing of unused medications we reduce the misuse of prescription drugs in our community and pollution of our local water supply.
The Medication Drop Box is conveniently located downtown in the Columbia Police Department lobby, at 600 E. Walnut Street, and is available for use anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For a free downloadable flier about the Medication Drop Box click here.
What can be placed in the drop box:
Prescription* and over-the-counter:
* Please remove labels from prescription medication containers.
What cannot be placed in the drop box:
Needles (Sharps)
Bloody or infectious waste
Medications from businesses
Hydrogen peroxide
Aerosol Cans and Inhalers
To provide information about illegal drug sales please contact the Columbia Police Department- Vice, Narcotics, and Organized Crime Unit at 573-874-7785


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AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) - Toyota has dethroned General Motors as the world's top-selling automaker.
The Japanese company says it sold 9.7 million cars and trucks worldwide last year, although it's still counting. GM says it sold 9.29 million.
GM retook the crown in 2011 when Toyota's factories were slowed by an earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The disaster left Toyota dealers with few cars to sell. The company has since recovered.
GM is also contending with a stronger Volkswagen. It narrowly edged out the fast-growing German company for second place last year. VW says it sold a record 9.1 million vehicles.
GM was the top-selling automaker for more than seven decades before losing the title to Toyota in 2008.
The Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500 pickup are the North American Car and Truck of the Year winners.
The winners were unveiled Monday morning at Cobo Center in Detroit.
Car finalists were the Cadillac ATS, Ford Fusion, and Honda Accord. Truck and utility vehicle finalists were the Ford C-Max, Mazda CX-5, along with the Ram.
Forty-nine automotive journalists voted on the winning vehicles from the selected list of finalists.
A vehicle must be all new or substantially changed to be eligible.
This is the 20th year for the awards. Organizers accept no advertising, though carmakers try to capitalize on the marketing value of the honors.