text:
When You Had a Bad Day...
You've heard the news by now, that Theo's white whale got away, snatched up from the open sea by his old nemesis the S.S. Yankees. The contract numbers are absurd (7 years/$155M, opt out after 4 years), but we knew that eyeball popping was going to be required once the dust settled. There's been no confirmation that the Cubs were willing to be as absurd, although the whispers from Peter Gammons and Jeff Passan seem to indicate that no one was all that close to the Yankees offer. That being said, we're not sure how much back and forth there were in these negotiations either or what the final push was for Tanaka to pick New York over the other clubs. It may have been simply the money, maybe the glory of Yankee pinstripes, maybe the city of New York, maybe a combination of all three. What we do know is that the consolation prize (most likely) is either Paul Maholm or Jason Hammel and you kind of hope that the Cubs just don't even bother going back to pick either one up.
Regardless, I'm not to worked up about losing out on Tanaka. A $22M a year salary is nothing to scoff at and maybe Tanaka will be worth it or nearly worth it, or maybe he'll blow out his arm and miss a few seasons and be less effective after that. You don't want those things to happen to a player, but it's the risk involved and it seems more times than not, teams are grateful they didn't land the big free agent signing than did. And while I'm probably just trying to convince myself that this doesn't suck, I think there are some truth behind those thoughts, even if filled with just a bit of sour grapes.
Right after the Tanaka news hit, there was the blurb that negotiations have broken down with the rooftop owners and lawsuits are most likely forthcoming. As the Cubs spokesman said, this will certainly force delays on the renovations, i.e revenue, i.e did Theo sign a 15 year contract by any chance? I don't wish to take sides in a dispute I know little about. What I seem to have pieced together is that the Cubs and the rooftop owners made a deal a few years back where the Cubs would get some kickback from the rooftops. I don't know if anything formally was agreed upon, but at least informally I'm sure the rooftop owners thought maybe the Cubs won't FUCKING BLOCK THEIR VIEW. But that seems to be exactly what the Cubs intend to do, although they are P.R'ing it in a way that any hindrance to views will be minimal. I'm not sure how a 95 foot sign won't block views, but maybe there's some new space age translucent video board material I'm unaware of. That being said, Cubs rooftop owners have been making a lot of money doing a lot of nothing over the years, so 'eff them as well. There are no winners here.1
As for the offseason, I don't think an 'F' would do it justice. It's not that I was expecting a ton of signings, but I was hoping for a little creativity. At least a little more than Jose Veras and a trade for Justin Ruggiano. I'm short on solutions, but overflowing with apathy at this point. I know the plan is to wait for the prospects and by all signs, these kids are about as a good as you can hope to get. But in the meantime I'm going to have watch Darwin Barney and Donnie Murphy take at-bats and that's just not okay. I'll wait, and I understand the process, but I just can't get too worked up about anything until that process turns into something resembling a winning team.
1 - There's your Cubs 2015 slogan.
I'm going to repeat a post I
I'm going to repeat a post I made late on the previous thread, because it seems relevant here.
"A contract IS a contract -- but in commercial law, if a contract is no longer advantageous for the Cubs, they can break the contract and pay the damages. Nothing sacred about a contract or dishonorable about breaking it and paying the requisite damages. The amount of damages would be the difference between the rooftops' income (and property value) with the obstructions being put up and without the obstructions. That may be significant -- and it may be very little. That would have to be worked out between the parties involved -- or in court, if they can't agree on a figure.
A contract doesn't freeze the parties into what they agreed on at the time it was signed. Things happen and circumstances change. When they do, you break the agreement and pay fair compensation for what the parties lost out on -- and you move on. The Wrigley renovation may actually have very little commercial effect on the rooftop owners. They are going to have to prove otherwise."
Well, they are going to have to prove what their actual damages are, anyway. People may still be just as happy to pay to be on a Wrigley Field rooftop with part of the field obstructed. It's not like you are getting the world's best sight lines right now. They are far away and part of the field is already blocked.
It's not a marriage. It's a contract. Break the dang thing and pay the roofies the difference in their income for the rest of its term. The deal was going to run out in a few years anyway.
Also, once the Cubs write a
Also, once the Cubs write a check for whatever the damages are determined to be, I would imagine the property values for the roof top buildings will drop significantly.
With the amount of money the
With the amount of money the Cubs are planning to spend, an indefinite halt seems unlikely. IMO the roof top owners are over playing their hand, but there are a lot of unknowns.
This was in response to my
This was in response to my comment, and it misses the point I was trying to make. My point is that Cubs' ownership is being extremely short-sighted in regards to what makes their investment special and unique. I know a lot of posters on here don't give a shit about Wrigley or the neighborhood, but IMO those are what makes the Cubs a more beloved franchise than the White Sox (or Reds or Astros or whoever).
People come from all over the world to visit historic Wrigley Field. It's the last place on the face of the earth where you can watch professional sports without being bombarded by incessant advertising, laser light shows, and Katy Perry songs. By adding the signs, jumbotron, mascot, Luna jingle, and replacing the organist with the crappy song du jour, Wrigley loses almost all of its charm. In the face of rampant commercialization and homogenization, why don't the Ricketts see their value lies in being different?
And frankly, I can't believe so many people are siding with the greedy billionaire over the small business owners who have a legally binding contract in place. If the Ricketts family over-leveraged themselves and need a quick infusion of cash, why should we all be so ready to let them have it no matter the cost? I always wanted to be able to take my son to a Cubs game and have him experience baseball the way it used to be. Now, I'll just have to tell him about it.
I completely sympathize with
I completely sympathize with your sentiments about Wrigley, but, sadly, it's likely that those charmed days are over. Today's youth moves at about a hundred miles a minute. They don't mind being bombarded by all the cacophony that modern day stadiums bring, but the real problem is that you are also longing for, by extension, the days when free agents who've never pitched a game of major league baseball didn't cost $150 million. If you really want Wrigley to stay the same, are you also okay with the Cubs having a losing team until 2019, when the next opportunity for a big TV contract comes up? The best case scenario for the Cubs if they can't bring in more revenue is to be the Oakland A's, constantly outsmarting everyone else. I don't think I'd bet the ranch on that, and I doubt Theo would stay long enough to try to see that through.
Today's game is different than it used to be.
And, frankly, the charm of watching 96 loss teams play in a decaying, if pretty, ballpark, has sort of faded away for me.
I don't accept the premise
I don't accept the premise that Jumbotron = World Series, or even Jumbotron = Higher Payroll. Cubs' ticket prices are astronomically high, and attendance is almost always very high (last couple horrible years excepted). My argument is that the reason the Cubs have a huge national following and high attendance despite losing records is because of the uniqueness of Wrigley Field.
If you moved the Cubs to Rosemont or wherever, I believe attendance would suffer dramatically, if not right away then definitely in the long term. I feel the same way about the "death by a thousand cuts" we've been put through with Wrigley over the last decade or so. It started with adding $250 seats behind home plate, then came extra ads along the upper decks, then the Bud Light (barf) Bleachers, then Toyota and Under Armour/Target, then Luna, then Nickelback between batters, and now the Jumbotron and added advertising.
Go watch a replay of Kerry Wood's 20K game. You won't see any of that nonsense. A lot of my argument is about nostalgia and wishing things would stay the same, but I really truly believe the Cubs' brand has an enormous amount of equity built into the historic charm of Wrigley Field, yet they seem so intent on eroding it in the name of a quick buck.
When Wrigley Field is nothing more than an old, crappy version of US Cellular Field and the Cubs are still a losing team, how are they going to attract new fans? Once word gets out that Wrigley isn't anything special except for the ivy on the wall, how many tourists are going to make it a summer destination? I think in the very near future, the Cubs are going to need the neighborhood even more than the neighborhood needs the Cubs because that's the only special thing going for them anymore.
/TL:DR Ricketts is cutting off his nose to spite his face.
if/when (probably when) the
if/when (probably when) the cubs leave WGN that will not help the national exposure, either...especially to future generations.
WGN is the main reason i'm a cubs fan...along with a lot of cubs/cubs-related things that came with the exposure of so many games.
Absolutely. This probably isn
Absolutely. This probably isn't as important now in the era of ESPN and cable packages with 5000 channels, but WGN was a huge reason for the Cubs' growth nationally.
I think the day games also played a huge role in developing younger, lifelong fans. I became a Cubs fan when I moved to IL as a 7 year old in the summer of '87 and didn't know anybody in town. My friends that summer were Harry Caray, Ryne Sandberg, and Andre Dawson. I could probably count on one hand the number of 7 year olds who give a crap about the Cubs these days.
Absolutely. This probably isn
Edited - double post
Fenway and the entire pink
Fenway and the entire pink hat brigade can take a leap into Boston Harbor. The Red Sox didn't even break 3MM in attendance until 2008, 4 years after their World Series win. If there's a more bandwagon town than Boston I've yet to find it. Maybe it's the overexposure on ESPN, but I wish that city nothing but the worst of sports luck.
Seeing Fenway on TV, it doesn't really look like that great of a place. It looks like what would happen if Disneyland made a Fenway ride and sold every square inch to sponsors. And "Sweet Caroline" is the worst "tradition" in all of sports. I'd rather listen to Ozzy Osbourne as guest conductor forever than hear Neil Diamond one more time. OK, maybe that's too far...
I almost wish you were right
I almost wish you were right but I just totally disagree with you on this. Cozy pure Wrigley Field was a wasteland regarding attendance for the better part of the decade prior to the 1984 team. Attendance was a disaster. Sure I enjoyed going to the games then in the way I enjoy seeing a great movie alone in the theater, but the environment sure as hell doesn't sell itself. It was the 1984 Cubs winning and with charisma - that's the wave we have ridden until recently.
Since that time the
Since that time the neighborhood has been revitalized and now the environment does sell itself. 2,500,000 tickets were sold last year at sky high high prices despite a last place team. Of course there have been down stretches, but that doesn't lessen the brand equity the Cubs have built, largely due to their unique ballpark.
So lovable losers for you.
So lovable losers for you. Got it. Next.
The pitching isn't as good,
The pitching isn't as good, but I think one could make a reasonable comp between the projected 2014-16 Cubs and the 1966-68 Kansas City/Oakland A's position players.
The A's were a hapless last-place team for several years until Reggie Jackson, Rick Monday, Sal Bando, and Joe Rudi arrived and established themselves as big leaguers (with Bert Campaneris the A's version of Starlin Castro, a young player already in place with the big league club just waiting for the arrival of the "Big Four"), with the likes of Darrell Evans, George Hendrick, and Manny Trillo further down the pipeline to be used as trade bait once the A's became serious contenders 1969-70 and a perennial playoff team 1971-75.
As it turned out, the A's eventually traded one of their "core guys" for an established MLB starting pitcher (Rick Monday to the Cubs for Ken Holtzman), but they still had a formidable lineup without Monday. The Cubs might ultimately have to do something similar with one of their projected Big Four, too, if the need for pitching remains an issue.
If the 1960's is too long ago to be relevant, the Atlanta Braves developed Chipper Jones, Javy Lopez, and Ryan Klesko at the same time about 20 years ago (plus Vinny Castilla, Melvin Nieves, Tony Tarrasco, and Mike Kelly, too), and Chipper, Lopez, and Klesko formed the core of the really good Braves teams of the 1990's. The 90's Braves had outstanding starting pitching, though.
So if the Cubs can collect (draft/sign/develop and/or acquire via free-agency or trade) a few decent arms (starters & relievers) to go along with the position player prospects they already have in the system, they could evolve into a 2017-23 version of the 1969-75 A's or the more-recent Atlanta Braves.
Unfortunately 2014-15 could be bleak, but with maybe some light beginning to shine through (.500?) in 2016...
"with Bert Campaneris the A's
"with Bert Campaneris the A's version of Starlin Castro"
so Castro is really 35 years old?
JACOS: Ha ha! Very good.
JACOS: Ha ha! Very good.
While I'm sure there will always be some dispute about the true age of certain Latin American players, Bert Campaneris made his MLB debut at age 22 and played until he was 41, so I don't think he is one of the ones whose age would be questioned.
Anyway, of course my point was that Campaneris was (supposedly) 24 in 1966, 25 in '67, and 26 in '68, while Starlin Castro will (supposedly) be 24 in 2014, 25 in 2015, and 26 in 2016, and Campaneris already had about three years of MLB experience when the A's "Big Four" arrived (very similar to Castro).
BTW, I mentioned the 1966-68 A's and the Atlanta Braves of 20 years ago in response to the Jim Callis tweet posted on the TCR left sidebar yesterday, where Callis wondered about the last time an MLB club had four premier position player prospects developing at the same time like the Cubs have now with Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Albert Almora, and Jorge Soler.
I neglected to mention the San Francisco Giants of about 40 years ago, when Dave Kingman, George Foster, Gary Matthews Sr, Garry Maddux, Steve Ontiveros, Ed Goodson, and Chris Speier all came up at about the same time, and the L. A. Dodgers of the same period, when Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Bobby Valentine, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, Tom Paciorek, Steve Yeager, Joe Ferguson, and Von Joshua all arrived together. (Now that is what I call player development!).
Thanks for the comps, AZ.
Thanks for the comps, AZ. Between that and Kaplan's callis tweets about the Cubs prospects, it's something to look forward to.
Phil- great as always.
Phil- great as always.
I was kid in 70's and it seem there were jokes on Campaneris' age.
Great write up, holy cow that Dodger team they built in 70's at all those positions, I remember that.
How does anything I've
How does anything I've written imply I'm cool with the Cubs losing? New TV deal plus massive stadium revenues from attendance and high ticket prices should be enough money to field a winning team. The revenue from a Jumbotron is pocket change.
They won't get massive
They won't get massive revenues from TV until 2019, when the Comcast deal runs out. Right now, I'm not seeing any evidence of teams knocking down the door to replace WGN. Also, I like Jumbotrons.
I have to agree with you that Rosemont isn't a great option, but there must be some sandbar on the lake front they could build on. AT&T Park in SF is a great park. That would be pretty awesome, with that skyline, especially if they could get the wind angles to favor Bryant, Baez, Soler, and Rizzo.
I became a fan during the Brickhouse era, and I have struggled with the whole Wrigley nostalgia thing myself, but I honestly feel that Wrigley has become a burden. The neighbors are dicks, the team's sleep schedule is all messed up and I think that it affects their play on the field so they've lost their home field advantage. All in all, I think Wrigley is just done. Spend some of that $500 million in renovation money greasing the palms of some lake shore aldermen and just build Wrigley LakeFront, and it will be a go to place.
@ Doug Dascenzo--you have
@ Doug Dascenzo--you have summarized my exact feelings. Grew up in the Midwest watching Cubs games during summer break on WGN, played 2nd base in little league and Ryno was my favorite player of all time. Went to several Cubs games as a kid on family vacation. Once I was in my 20's, my buddies and I would make the trip from Iowa City to Wrigley a couple times a summer. In my 30's I moved to Texas. Went back to Wrigley last summer for the first time since 2006 and it was nothing like I remembered. Guess I experienced all the "death by a thousand cuts" at once. Instead of feeling like a portal to the past, a chance to escape the constant barrage of modern marketing, it just felt like a half-assed attempt to be modern. Sort of like a minor league ball game experience created by a bad marketing director.
I would like to add, in the past 5 years I have been to multiple Rangers, Astros and Red Sox games (girlfriend is from Boston and family are die hard Sox fans) and if you are going to go modern use the Texas Rangers as an example. They make great use of their jumbo tron, even having a message encouraging people in a humorous manner to not engage in the ridiculous wave. Plus showing the video of Nolan beating Robin Ventura is always entertaining and fires up the crowd. They also show other clips of memorable Rangers moments which helps builds a tradition (something the Rangers need). Unlike the overly bombastic ADHD Astros experience, the Rangers have found a way to provide the modern conveniences in a way that enhances the game and the overall ballpark experience. At Red Sox games the entire stadium is doing the wave in the 6th inning of a 2-2 ballgame and getting pumped up to sing Sweet Caroline. I roll my eyes every time I hear someone talk about how "wicked hawd core" Red Sox fans are.
Thank God someone agrees with
Thank God someone agrees with me.
One last thing - my argument was never that Tom Ricketts shouldn't make money. My argument is that the Cubs are worth more money precisely because they're the only team that doesn't do all the advertising and modern stuff that's annoying to many fans. It's pretty much the only thing that makes them unique. I lived within shouting distance of Wrigley for 10 years, and hearing the organ and crowd through my open window are really happy memories for me. Hearing that goddawful Luna jingle over and over again made me feel like Kramer in the Kenny Rogers Roasters episode.
I have to agree on the organ
I have to agree on the organ thing. Keep the organ, ditch the recorded music. Maybe organs and jumbotrons aren't compatible, though.
What's better than roses on a
What's better than roses on a piano?
Mr. Marbles?!??!
Mr. Marbles?!??!
That Jumbotron's gonna to
That Jumbotron's gonna to screw up a lot of rods and cones.
fuckin a rught
fuckin a rught
Step 1: Add Jumbotron
Step 1: Add Jumbotron
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: World Series?
Isn't it pretty clear that Ricketts' credit cards are maxed out and he would sell Harry Caray's bones as relics if he could? This isn't about putting money back into the team - it's a cash grab.
I believe all sports franchises should be public trusts. There'd be no risk of the team skipping town and profits would be poured back into the team. The job of an owner should primarily be to act as a good steward for the franchise. For close to a hundred years, Wrigley has been a haven for baseball purists, and over the last few years ownership is simply erasing that as though no other owner ever had the idea that they could wring more money out of the stadium. Did the other owners really never consider they could make more money by selling advertising, or did they simply respect the culture and tradition of Wrigley Field?
I don't think it's clear at
I don't think it's clear at all. I think the strategy has been sound and they've been putting lots of money in the right places. Your version of reality is extremely skewed. Especially if you became a fan in the late 80's and are talking about purity in the era after the lights were installed and the rooftops got stands and sponsors. Like, man, life was so simple and perfect when we lived off the land, except for the plague and incest, reduced lifespans, and the fact that urban areas like Chicago were built on brutal work practices. But whatever. The most insulting thing is responding to Rob's post as if people here are so stupid we are trying to draw a line from a jumbotron to a World Series. Are you kidding me? I think most people think the line to the WS begins with the foundation of a strong minor league organization and extends to a lot of other factors which include a partial nod to updating the ballpark so the modern fan can enjoy a few perks, while trying to add a few bucks, and maybe even have a structure that treats the players like they were born in the 20th century. Nobody I know wants Wrigley to turn into Disney Land but I'm not sure that's what's being proprosed here.
You're right, I guess I'm not
You're right, I guess I'm not qualified to be a real Cubs fan because I wasn't born in the 60's. I just don't want Wrigley to turn into Miller Park. That place is absolutely miserable to watch a game unless you have ADHD. Maybe I'm overreacting, but it feels like it's going in that direction.
Giving up something I enjoy
Giving up something I enjoy immensely isn't really a great option. Unfortunately, if it continues down this path my enjoyment will be significantly diminished and I won't go to many games. That's the worst possible outcome, but also the likeliest.
And as for the public trust idea, I know it's not possible. It works really well for the Packers though.
Are the Ricketts not to make
Are the Ricketts not to make money?
Take a look back at Ebbets Field and Crosley Field, hell any field today and they have every inch of space covered in advertising.
Sure they can make money, I
Sure they can make money, I just wish they'd be more creative about it than gratuitous advertising. Also, IMO sports teams are like yachts. If you can't afford to buy ten, you shouldn't own one. The Ricketts are over-leveraged and they're making short-sighted decisions because they need the money now.
This might cheer you up on
This might cheer you up on losing out on Tanaka-
Thank you, jacos. That felt
Thank you, jacos. That felt good.
Rob, your thoughts sum up my
Rob, your thoughts sum up my feelings exactly. I mentioned in a previous comment that a 96-loss team doesn't stand pat. And I totally get the undesirability of most of the free agents out there, but Theo was brought in to be a savior, so expectations are appropriately high for a bit of creativity. So far, the creativity has been "let's hope the Yankees don't outbid us for Tanaka." Ooops.
There is a direct correlation to the Cubs' revenues here, I hope they realize. I really can't imagine them packing in Wrigley for BarneyBall. And I'm not going to bother renewing my MLB.TV subscription until they start moving forward in a quantifiable way that goes beyond the talk of prospects. Lots of teams have prospects. The Cubs are hardly alone there.
"So far, the creativity has
"So far, the creativity has been "let's hope the Yankees don't outbid us for Tanaka"
No credit for building a desolate farm system into # 2 farm system in 3 years?
No credit for building better interational scouting system when the older one was putrid at best.
No credit for having a plan rather then throwing money at Marlon Byrd type players and hoping for the best?
You're one tough customer, Old and Blue. :-)
I agree its boring, but I do
I agree its boring, but I do have high hopes for the kiddie brigade to come up and second half and watching that develop.
I'll give them credit for the
I'll give them credit for the prospects after a few of them actually contribute at the MLB level. Overall, I'm encouraged by their fixing the overall infrastructure. It was a mess, no doubt, and they seem to be on track to fixing it.
But I'm not thrilled with the idea of keeping the roster essentially the same in the wake of 96 losses, so I was hoping, as Rob said in his post, for something a bit more creative than what we've seen.
And, really? There isn't one major league second baseman out there that is available and can play better than Darwin Barney?
I don't even know who's in the outfield. I have to look that up. Nate Something, that kid from the Dominican with a possible Angel Pagan upside, and ... it's just awful.
I understand the overall plan, but they should still be fielding a better team than this while we watch the Cardinals roll over the division for another year.
Barney wont' be around long,
Barney wont' be around long, Baez will be up playing by June whenever like they did to Rizzo.
The Cardinals? You know how they roll over the division? The players they developed!!!!
I'm sorry, I don't mean to be crabby at you Old and Blue, but I'm listening to the radio here in Chicago and that's all everyone is complaing about.
I guess they could sign Michael Young to play second.
it'll be nice when one of
it'll be nice when one of these players they're developing actually contributes something other than hope and prospect rankings. the closest guy so far and all the kids up now except for rizzo are part of the old regime.
the true litmus test of this front office will come when they're not tanking seasons to get top-10 draft picks, not trading the team off mid-season for prospects, and actually have to make high draft picks work (like the cardinals do).
this is a good point...but
this is a good point...but how quickly do draft picks get to the majors in baseball? They've had 2 drafts right?
It will be a nice change of pace when trades are being made to improve the team, not pick up prospects.
I think Baez will be roy in
I think Baez will be roy in 2015, possible MVP.
/drinking it by the gallon!
Eloy Jimenez? Bring him up!!
Eloy Jimenez? Bring him up!!
That's generally true, but
That's generally true, but sometimes the real studs go flying through a lot quicker. Bryce Harper, Burt Hooton, Mark Prior come to mind. Bll Madlock also came up quickly but I don't think it was as fast as those guys. So it's not beyond the realm of possibility for Baez and/or Bryant to get here quickly if they are completely dominating their leagues.
They coulda had Brian Roberts
They coulda had Brian Roberts. Ducks.
As for the Cards, yes, that's how they do it. Time will tell if that's gonna work for the Cubs. Like I said, I like the approach, but I color my comments with years of observing Cubbery. The Cardinals succeed because they have great scouting and player development. They're obviously not relying on great top 5 draft picks. These kids they come up with come from all levels of their system. It's a testament to their scouting and development and whether or not Theo has built that kind of system can only be proven over time. I hope he has or is close, but Cubbery says it's about a 50/50 chance at best that he has.
You don't need to apologize. It's not like you're a pain in the ass or anything. I'm not in much disagreement with you here, anyway.
Regarding the rooftop owners,
Regarding the rooftop owners, I don't know much about the details either, but I do think the rooftop owners are freeloaders, and always have been. I remember when they just had a few folding chairs up there, then some greedy SOBs decided to freeload off MLB by putting in bleachers (bleachers!) on top of their roofs, and somehow managed to cut a deal to actually get it "legal". I like Pepitone's post. Just ditch the contract, and pay the restitution that results from it.
Not Surprised.
Not Surprised.
In. The. Least.
Obviously the plateaus for Tanaka's decision could have come to, "all bids being equal", then location/comfort factor of the City/Wife's opportunities, chance at a ring.
Item 1 - the Cubs got blown away with an offer.
The Yankees are the Yankees, and the brand name in Japan is bigger than all MLB teams. They have more Playoff appearances in their history than the Cubs had wins last year. Chicago, while a big deal in the midwest, has terrible weather, and a Cubs team that will be mired in/near the cellar three straight years. New York also has a solid features production business going on, large Japanese population, and...well, is New York. If I were Tanaka I would have wanted to go there too.
I just thought it was a long, long, shot. The fact is there is no #1 starter in the entire system and they will need one to get to the next level when all the "kids" are finally clicking together. What FA fits this bill in 2015?
Rumor is the Tanaka gets "out
Rumor is the Tanaka gets "out clause" after year four with Yanks. Cubs would not give it.
Still, less money, and the
Still, less money, and the Yankees. Cubs still would've lost this one.
His medicals must look like
His medicals must look like shit.
Interesting to look at the
Interesting to look at the WAR Rob!
It looks like Garza was still better in K/9, H/9, BB/9, K/BB, WHIP...
I dunno...Jackson geting to pitch for some pretty good teams 2009-2012 probably didn't hurt any...except the terrible Diamondbacks team.
Lol... Fielding Jackson >
Lol... Fielding Jackson > Garza< Anyone
Agree on Jackson in 2014.... I'd settle for a more Jackson-esque
There's a lot of money flying
There's a lot of money flying around this offseason. I thought he'd get a few more million per season.
medicals (shoulder and elbow)
medicals (shoulder and elbow) scared off a lot of teams. LAA (amongst others) probably would have already signed him if it wasn't the case.
that said, he's maintained his stuff coming back from every injury instance so far. if he stays healthy he's looking to be a hell of a good deal.
Classy indeed. He deserves
Classy indeed. He deserves something special, like a double headed plaque so he can wear both caps.
Yeah, Greg Maddux had much
Yeah, Greg Maddux had much more value and far more accolades with the Braves than the Cubs: WAR of 66, 3 Cy Youngs, 6 All-Star games, and 10 gold gloves vs. 33 WAR, 1 CY, 3 AS, 6 GG.
But, 11 years and 363 games with the Braves, 10 years and 302 games with the Cubs, which is more of a dual-team career than most hall of famers. Thinking about Hall of Fame elections for the past 30-ish years, the vast majority were players who played most of their career with one team. Or they were players who played for multiple teams but played a clear majority with one of them. Rickey Henderson, for example, only played about half of his games with the A's, but the other half were split between 8 teams. Same with Gaylord Perry and the Giants.
There have only been a few players with careers that were split and where the cap choice was at all in question:
- Carlton Fisk played 13 seasons with the White Sox and only 11 with the Red Sox, and went in with a Red Sox cap.
- Bruce Sutter played 5 seasons with the Cubs and only 4 with the Cardinals, and went in with a Cardinals cap.
- Dave Winfield played 9 seasons with the Yankees and only 8 with the Padres, and went in with a Padres cap.
- Jim Bunning played 9 years and 304 games with the Tigers, and 6 years and 226 games with the Phillies. His WAR per team was virtually equally (29 and 31). Two of those Phillies years were at the end of his career, but the 4 there in his prime were 4 excellent seasons. 30.2 WAR of his career 60.3 WAR came in those 4 seasons alone. He went in with a Phillies' cap.
- And Nolan Ryan has a Ranger's cap, despite playing just 5 season with them and more seasons (during the prime of his career) with the Astros (9 years) and Angels (8 years).
Legit that Olney said this or
Legit that Olney said this or legit that that the Ricketts were "blindsided and overwhelmed"? The latter would suggest that the accountants and lawyers they had advising them were absolutely terrible.
And a lineup that seems
And a lineup that seems obvious including the order:
Lou says we need to get more left handed.
One distinct advantage of
One distinct advantage of that much home grown talent is that it makes rooting for them a little easier than if you're the Yankees and just buying everyone. I found myself not cursing Castro so much last year as rooting for him to turn it around. "Come on, kid!!" instead of "you barf bag!".
"The Chicago Cubs and pitcher
"The Chicago Cubs and pitcher Travis Wood avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal Friday. The contract is worth $3.9 million, a source told ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers."
mlbtr...Cuban catcher Yenier
Per mlbtr...
Cuban catcher Yenier Bello has been cleared by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and is now free to sign with a Major League club, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
The 28-year-old Bello was cleared to sign by Major League Baseball back on Oct. 1 and has been scouted by as many as 15-20 Major League teams. Sanchez lists the Dodgers, Cubs and Blue Jays as teams that have been connected to Bello, who is said to offer some pop from behind the dish. He batted .274 with 13 homers in Cuba's Serie Nacional in 2011 -- a league in which the regular season is just 90 games long.
28 yr old catcher with some power. Minimal catching depth in the system. Hmmm.
Credit toJedstein and Jason
Credit toJedstein and Jason MacLeod, not necessarily in that order.
Cubs getting toughhttp://t.co
It seems to me that all we
It seems to me that all we are really talking about is large of a check (if any) the Cubs will need to write to the roof top owners. It seems unlikely that injuntive relief will be granted, and what better way to see how much damage is none to the roof top's business than to let the Cubs make the changes they want.
I'm wondering how Kaplan got
I'm wondering how Kaplan got to his "Wow" moment the other day.
David [email protected] Jan 24
I just reviewed the entire rooftop contract. It was sent to me and after reading all I can say is Wow.
David [email protected] Jan 24
The wow is because it looks pretty good for the rooftops.
The City Council's wording is
The City Council's wording is "Specifically, but without limitation, Applicant shall have the right to expand the Wrigley Field bleachers to install (i) a new video board in left field, which may include an LED sign, a neon illuminated sign above it and two light towers to assist in outfield lighting; and (ii) a neon sign in right field". The whole thing seems to be centered around the word "expansion".
I'm sorry, but anybody who thinks they can sustain a long term business by putting bleachers on the roof a building next to an outdoor stadium and charging for people to sit up there doesn't really deserve any sympathy, because that's a stupid business plan. I look forward to the day when all I see sitting on those things are pigeons.
In the long run, it seems
In the long run, it seems more likely that the Cubs will simply buy the buildings (which is what they should have done years ago), and if they don't agree their views will be blocked until they do.
I hope you're right and they
I hope you're right and they demolish them for high-rise parking garages.
Hopefully Illinois will
Hopefully Illinois will legalize weed soon and they can turn them into pot emporiums.
Hopefully the federal
Hopefully the federal government legalizes it and you can just purchase it at Walgreens.
Arbitration clauses are
Arbitration clauses are fairly typical in commercial contracts for a wide variety of reasons. Typically you see each side select an arbitrator and then those two arbitrators mutually agree on a 3rd one. Back when I litigated I had a few bigger arbitration cases (not the kind they force you to in Cook County Municipal Court) and they all came back with a 2-1 decision with each arbitrator ruling on behalf of the side that selected them and the 3rd arbitrator making the real decision. These tend to get resolved a little more quickly than state court litigation but the rooftops have a lot of incentives to delay this as much as possible which I imagine they will do so.
If the building permits are
If the building permits are approved by the Chicago, do you think the roof top owners have a reasonable chance of delaying the construction?
They can try. They'd likely
They can try. They'd likely go for a preliminary injunction to stop the sign from being built while the arbitration is pending. Whether or not they'd have success is another matter. Without getting into a more detailed legal discussion the Cubs would seem to have a decent argument against it.
Preliminary injunction is
Preliminary injunction is pretty hard to get. Have to show irreparable harm that money damages would not adequately address, high likelihood of winning (and a few other requirements I'm too lazy to look up right now). It's all about money in this case.
Adam Dunn, the great actor
will the cubs suk in 2014?
will the cubs suk in 2014?
per Roto...
Naver Sports in Korea reports that right-hander Suk-Min Yoon is in negotiations with two major league teams and could sign with one of them soon.
The 27-year-old has received four offers but has narrowed the field to two. It's not clear which two clubs they are, but the Cubs, Twins and Red Sox have all been connected to Yoon. The right-hander could potentially be used as a back-end starter or reliever in the big leagues.
cubs key offseason pickups:
cubs key offseason pickups:
john coleman (senior lawyer)
tim barrett (senior lawyer)
jd sulivan (advertising executive)
charles goode (junior lawyer)
jose veras (relief pitcher)
And Justin Ruggiano cries
And Justin Ruggiano cries himself to sleep.
i do like that trade with b
i do like that trade with b.bog being expendable and rugg coming with 3 years of club control, but like a lot of additions the past few years it's good support with a missing core.
he can make #6 on the list...just beating out dan slavoski (advertising assistant)
Pitchers' protective caps
Pitchers' protective caps approved
Their use is optional.
The company says the caps are a little more than a half-inch thicker in the front and an inch thicker on the sides -- near the temples -- than standard caps, and afford protection for frontal impact locations against line drives of up to 90 mph and for side impact locations at up to 85 mph. The soft padding, isoBlox says, is made of "plastic injection molded polymers combined with a foam substrate" and is designed to diffuse energy upon impact through a combination of dispersion and absorption techniques.
how the hell did rugg get
how the hell did rugg get settled for $2m in his 1st year arb?
a lot like $1.7m for valbuena last year it's high vs the market.
at least we're talking about a few 100K and not a few million, i guess.
Ernie Banks. Happy 83rd
Ernie Banks. Happy 83rd Birthday Mr. Cub
and many more!
and many more!
Bring him up!!
Bring him up!!
Recent comments
A left-handed one...
lester going for #20...cubs haven't had a 20 game winner since d.ellsworth in 1963.
J-Hey not finishing with an offensive onslaught.
If Geoff Blum could be a Playoff hero, there is hope still...
Giants scare me. I think you're wrong about Bumgarner, he would pitch on short rest for Game 2 and then full rest for Game 5. Cueto would go Game 1, then short rest in game 4. Add in some really tough outs in that lineup and I want nothing to do with them. With that rotation they can easily steal a series.
Cards are a tough matchup. The rivalry evens out their comparable lack of talent. And like someone said, they love HRs, which is how to beat the Cubs. The upside is that I would feel really good about Lester twice against STL.
j.buchanan with a nice start...5ip 2h 1bb 3k, 0r/er
zobrist with 2HR and a double through 8
heyward 0-4 :(
Mark Gonzales @MDGonzales
Soler likely to return Sunday, Maddon says
Right now, I'd like to see the Mets first, Giants 2nd.
I believe that since most of the team from last years' NLCS is on the squad this year, they will really amp their game up even more to kick their ass in payback for 2015.
The Giants just do not have the depth in years past, and I think all things equal - and at Wrigley - they could handle them.
I do not want to see the Cards, period. Or their fans, media, or Joe Buck.
I don't want to play Braves in the first round. Any friggin team in the league can win 3 of 5..I hate the first round. Furthermore, I wanted to play the Marlins in 2003 and the Mets over Dodgers last year.
With that said in reverse order:
3. Cardinals: It will be devastating to lose in the first round, but even worse to their main rival. It is increased incentive for the Cardinals, especially after last year. Cards would have nothing to lose, Cubs have everything to lose.
2. Giants: Rotation in the playoffs scare me a bit, but what a lousy team.
1. Mets--because of the losses in the rotation
2. Giants--because they're not the team they were BUT they maybe have bullshit even-year magic?
3. Cardinals--because rivalry and not making the playoffs hurts them more than losing in the NLDS plus getting eliminated by them in the playoffs would make for horrible sports commentary next throughout next season.
Who's asking?
CLE/DET rained out last night already, possible rain-outs in New York (vs. Baltimore), Boston(vs. Toronto) and Philly(vs. Mets) this weekend too.
Not only games involving playoff spots that would need to be played, but any that involve home field advantage.
I got the first one! Second one I'm not even sure what even/odd betting is.
any opponent preference for NLDS?
Mets are down to 1 great pitcher instead of 4. Syndegaard may pitch Sunday which means if Mets win the WC game, he'd be set up for Game 1. There's a chance they clinch a spot by Sunday so he'd pitch the WC and then we'd probably get Colon for Game 1. They've certainly had the hottest bats over the last week and month out of the WC options.
A couple of Cub related puzzles.
Can't teach height and thinness
Hopefully Pirates don't call up A. Lincoln.


text:
I've made various recipes over the years yet this one was hands down voted the best by every family member that had some.
The recipe is actually a combination of two separate recipes. I took the brine portion from one, and instead of continuing and cooking it as-is, I picked up another recipe to finish things off. The combination of flavors in the end, along with the moisture retained by brining results in an always moist and very delicious turkey for Thanksgiving. On top of that, its a fairly easy recipe to prepare. So without further adieu…
- 1 1/2 gal water
- 1 1/2c real maple syrup
- 1c Morton Kosher salt
- 3/4c brown sugar
Combine all ingredients in a brining bag. You may need to use a food grade bucket based on the size of your turkey. Brine the turkey overnight in the refrigerator or in a cooler filled with ice.
Some recommend boiling everything to help dissolve all ingredients but I don't bother. If you do boil as your normal brining routine, make sure to cool to room temperature and chill in the refrigerator before adding the turkey to the brine. I usually end up making 2-3 batches of brine to completely cover the turkey in the bucket.
- 1tsp salt
- 1tsp pepper
- 1 onion – quartered
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 Granny Smith apple – quartered
- 1c butter – at room temperature
- 2Tbsp rosemary leaves – fresh and chopped
- 2Tbsp thyme leaves – fresh and chopped
- 6 sprigs rosemary
- 6 sprigs thyme
- 3c apple juice
- 1c water
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Remove giblets from turkey cavity, rinse turkey and pat dry.
- Place turkey on roasting rack in roasting pan, breast side up.
- Salt and pepper inside and outside of the turkey.
- In a small bowl, combine butter with 2Tbsp of rosemary and 2Tbsp of thyme.
- Spread the butter mixture between the skin and the meat going as far up the breast as possible. Coat the outside of the skin with any leftover butter mixture.
- Place quartered apple, onion, garlic, rosemary and thyme sprigs in the cavity of the turkey.
- Tie the legs together using kitchen twine
- Pour the apple juice and water into the roasting pan and place the turkey in the oven.
- Cook the turkey until done (180°F in deepest part of the thigh), basting as needed. Don't over-baste because opening the door frequently lengthens roasting time. Note: With a brined turkey, it seems like the cook time is 15-20min/lb which is significantly shorter than an unbrined turkey.
- If the turkey browns too quickly, cover with a loose aluminum foil tent.
- When the turkey is done, allow it to rest for 20 minutes before carving.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Solo Exhibition Series of presentations was developed to provide our audience – GSU students, staff, and visitors – with the opportunity to encounter individual artists whose works are not included in our permanent collection.
Since their inception in 2009, these presentations of exceptional artwork by nationally and internationally recognized artists have been generously supported by BMO Harris Bank.
Solo Exhibition Series:HorizonsJune 30, 2009 – October 1, 2010Horizons was brought to the U.S. by the Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY for exhibition in 2007. The work was exhibited in Memphis, TN and San Antonio, TX, before its arrival in University Park. After its presentation at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, it traveled to the following venues:Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PAGeorgia Museum of Art, Athens, GAKnoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TNBirmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, ALConceived and executed in a spare, yet dramatic, Icelandic setting that combines an exhilarating combination of ocean, earth, and sky, the figures delivered a new, psychological tension from their placement in the prairie landscape that is northeastern Illinois.Each standing figure possesses a single, horizontal glass insert in their upper torso. The artist has said, "Glass as a material has a lot of different connotations. It can be fragile, yet dangerous. It can be translucent, or solid . . . It's like water, but also like air." She continues, addressing the base material with which she has forged the works, "The color of the iron signifies their primal quality – as if they are emerging from the earth." Peter Osborne, Director of the Berkeley Square Gallery in London, England has said, "Steinunn´s sculpture is elemental, extracted from raw material at its rawest; iron, glass, aluminum . . . There is solitude and pathos, but also strength and dignity. Great sculpture resonates with its environment, and Steinunn´s work is at its most powerful and provocative when it re-defines its natural surroundings."Checklist of the exhibitionHorizons 2007-08Steinunn Thorarinsdottir12 cast-iron figures, glass, dimensions variableLoan courtesy of the artistSteinunn ThorarinsdottirBorn: 1955, Reykjavik, IcelandSteinunn Thórarinsdóttir lives and works in Reykjavik, Iceland. The artist has studied at the Portsmouth Academy of Art and Design in England and the Accademia di Belle Arte in Bologna, Italy. She has completed commissions for the Icelandic and British governments and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, U.K. She is represented by Osborne Samuel Gallery in the U.K. and Europe and Scott White Gallery in the U.S.
Solo Exhibition Series: Neil Goodman in the Park
June 28, 2010 – October 31, 2011
(The essay below was written for the exhibition and has been modified to reflect the fact that the presentation is past)
If you thought you were familiar with Neil Goodman's large scale sculpture, then "Neil Goodman in the Park" proved to be a revelation. Goodman's work is often associated with the gritty industrial surroundings that he views on his daily trip to work – the iron and steel factories and refineries of northwest Indiana. It has been seen in galleries with strong architectural settings where its presence is signaled by a quiet assertiveness.
The installation at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park provided the viewer with an opportunity to re-assess the artist's hand. Goodman placed the work in an open, grassy glade interspersed with trees and flanked by shrubs near the university's east entrance. In this setting, contrasting with the riotous backdrop of the hedgerow, the sculptures revealed the artist's attention to detail and his unerring sense of original, yet quirkily comfortable, composition.
But first you had to find them. Goodman generally sculpts with a refined line, not mass. Beautifully controlled, modulated, and articulated line. The artist's energetic line, matte black and cast in fiberglass, might recall sumi e brushstrokes, almost calligraphic in their articulation of form against the lush green surroundings. Four of the five pieces are bravura displays of what the artist does best: creating sculptural presence from empty space. Never an outline; these linear pieces are forms consumed with defining space, and, more particularly, volume. And what volume!
As you approached the open side of "Wind," the artwork beckoned you forward and fairly begged you to step through its open "door." But the visitor hesitated as they stood between the sculpture's "leaves." Once you'd entered this area, the edges of the sculpture disappeared from your peripheral vision. You were forced to crane your neck to follow the line and in this process survey the space – the volume – in which you stood. Of course, this piece, like several others in the group, worked as a framing device as well, providing a focus for our gaze as we surveyed the entire installation.
"Ray" and "Alcance" (translated from Spanish, Alance means Reach) are the two most clearly related works. "Ray" appears pyramidal (and, indeed, it might be instructive to compare it to Richard Hunt's "Outgrown Pyramid II," which was sited not more that 30 yards away), but it is missing a third "foot" which would make it so. Goodman casually referred to the piece as 'jaws' and the gaping opening could be a stand-in for a toothless Great White's grin. Unlike "Wind," the scale of Ray discouraged entry; the space is uncomfortably angular and the apex of the vertical section stands about head-high on an adult. Again, the artist orchestrated our response to implied volume.
"Alcance is different altogether." It is significantly larger and its legs, catching the light on their softly curved flanks, seem to pulse. Modulated edges hint at interior movement of water or, perhaps, the growth pattern of some sort of stalk. Where "Ray" is all about open angles, "Alcance" is all about closing, as if the piece were about to snap shut if we ventured too close or too far inside. Its cantilevered, acute triangles seemed to push the limits of self support – seem to reach – to the point of uncomfortableness.
In the context of the aforementioned works, "Ballast" was almost the anti-Goodman work. Visually heavy, massed, and repeating, the piece made formal reference to Constantin Brancusi's "Endless Column" without quoting it. With "Ballast," the artist pushed himself, setting and reaching the goal of creating a work which sucked the viewer's attention into its solidity, into the black, articulated mass of the work, refusing to trade on the ethereal openness of his other pieces in the exhibition. "Ballast" provided an excellent opportunity to examine Goodman's surface treatment. We could see gentle scoring and scumbling of the original, wax surface that had been cast in fiberglass. This activates the matte black forms and reveals the hand of the artist.
Often, guileless simplicity can provide complex encounters. Take an 'X'. Find a way to articulate it in 3-dimensional space. Knock it off balance. The open/closed form of "Four Corners" built on a simple theme creating movement and surprise as you examined the many interrelationships of form that occurred as planes and lines overlapped, intersected, and rearranged themselves with one-another.
Walking among these works, the visitor quickly recognized an inviting presence in the consistently original, yet comfortable, forms Neil Goodman presented. In this setting, visitors began or renewed their acquaintance with this artist's sculpture and enjoyed the counterpoint of natural form which surrounded it. Experiencing "Neil Goodman in the Park" presented viewers with an opportunity unavailable within the confines of a gallery: the time and chance to search for and find these almost invisible artworks within the landscape. With his art, Neil Goodman asks us to move inside the work, to physically become part of his vision. We are happy to do so.
Checklist of the exhibition
Alcance 127 x 79 x 198Ballast36 x 175 x 36Four Corners 89 x 110 x 74Ray19 x 149 x 84Wind94 x 205 x 109All works cast fiberglass. All works were made in 2004.
Neil GoodmanBorn: 1953, Hammond, IN
EducationTyler School of Art, Temple University, (1977-1979) M.F.A. Sculpture and Ceramics, Philadelphia, PAKansas City Art Institute, (1977) Post Graduate Studies in Sculpture, Kansas City, MOIndiana University, (1971-76) B.A. Fine Arts, Religious Studies, Bloomington, IN
Neil Goodman has exhibited his work both nationally and internationally, and has had numerous one-person exhibitions throughout the country. His sculpture has been commissioned and collected by museums, corporations, convention centers, parks, synagogues, universities, and private collectors. Goodman's sculpture was included in the 1995 Museum of Contemporary Art's opening exhibition entitled the "History of Chicago Art 1945-1995." His work has been written about and reviewed in numerous catalogs and periodicals including Art Forum, Art in America, Art News and Sculpture Magazine.
Neil Goodman lives in Chicago. He is currently represented by Perimeter Gallery.
Solo Exhibition Series:Sophie Ryder's Upside Down, Kneeling
May 1 - October 31, 2012
This is not Peter Rabbit.
While Sophie Ryder's menagerie of iconic and mythical beings may, at first glance, seem simply whimsical, while her work clearly reflects a traditional British interest in the animal world (see George Stubbs, or Francis Bacon, or Gooch, Garrard, or Ferneley, or yes, even Beatrix Potter), there is a post-Feminist edge present which elevates her artwork well past the invaders of Mr. McGregor's garden.
The hare is a nocturnal animal and widely associated with the phases of the moon as well as lust and fertility. Ryder's Lady-Hares are a personal invention - a bit of British wit, myth, and Surrealist sexuality. They are the artist's response to the Minotaur, which currently populates a host of video games but whose most important predecessor in art appeared as a recurrent symbol in Pablo Picasso's graphic work. While Picasso and numerous adolescent males fill their Minotaurs with masculine threat, Ryder's re-invented Minotaur exudes an attitude of protection, more partner than aggressor.
The wire-bound Lady-Hares seem available, but always on their terms. The scale has something to do with this . . . coming upon a Lady-Hare so large that we are dwarfed is, well, intimidating. With Upside Down, Kneeling Ryder presents us with her conundrum: Is this a woman wearing a full-head mask, or a mythic creature ready to mate?
Another astonishing aspect is the artist's command of an unruly material. Recognizing the expense and sheer difficulty of creating works this size in bronze (her early work is executed mostly in bronze), Ryder struck out on her own, developing and then mastering an approach in which she first establishes a solid stainless steel framework and then somehow coaxes and hammers skeins of wire into sculpture that looks rock solid from a distance but dissolves into a riot of gestural line as we approach.
Her mastery is evident in the "alive-ness" that she brings to her figure. The hands, feet, and head are rendered with remarkable subtlety. This becomes particularly evident in early morning or late afternoon sun. Then, we can observe Ryder's understanding of anatomy and gain a deeper appreciation of her achievement - that is, creating a personal, monumentally-scaled mythological universe and sharing it with us.
Checklist of the exhibitionUpside Down, Kneeling 2008Sophie Rydergalvanized wire over stainless steel frameDimensions: 84 x 122 x 109On loan from Karen and Robert DuncanSophie RyderBorn: 1963, London, EnglandEducationRyder studied at Kingston Polytechnic and the Royal Academy Schools in London, England. Sophie Ryder's sculpture has been exhibited throughout Europe and North America. She is in the collections of numerous major museums and sculpture parks. The artist was the subject of Jonathan Benington's 2001 book Sophie Ryder, which includes interviews and extensive photography of both sculpture and the process by which Ryder creates.Sophie Ryder lives with her daughters on Lampits Farm, in Cirencester, United Kingdom. She is represented by Osborne Samuel Gallery in the U.K. and by Contessa Gallery in the United States.


text: Sheila M. (Zeigler) Scarpaci, 44, Duncansville, died Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, in Pittsburgh. Friends will be received at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, at Derman Funeral Home Inc., Tyrone, where a funeral service will be held. There will be no viewing. A complete obituary will appear in the Mirror at a later date.


text:
TOGAF Study Help - iPhone to the Rescue (perhaps)
By Pat Shepherd-Oracle on Jan 08, 2013
TOGAF study help?!?! There is an app for that!
There is a app out on the iTunes store that seems like a possible study guide. Have not used it and don't have a review of it yet, but thought it is intersting enough to point out.
p.s. Happy New Year Everyone!


text:
Personal Responsibility
February 23, 2013
A fellow named Vince recently explained to me that he had once been a Democrat, but finally concluded that his political leanings were the result of an unfortunate personal flaw — a tendency to blam......
Good one, Major.
You have not thanked me for the gift, yet.
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Is not.
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Sounds like Weight Watchers got their business model from Christianity.
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Contrary - "That is just not true, Kalva."
Is too !
( Now you come back and say "Is not !" ... and I'll respond "Is too !" ... and on and on . . . . )
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That is just not true, Kalva.
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Contrary - "Anti-capitalist demagoguery? Please tell me where that came from."
You might want to look up the word "demagoguery". It is an appeal to emotions, insecurities and the ignorance of the masses. In Marxist terms (for your benefit), it would be called the "class struggle" for socioeconomic leveling that we call class warfare and that is practiced to the hilt today by the demagogue in the White House.
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Kalvemposted this nonsense thinking it supported his point???
"Thanks to the suppressive policies of leftist big government and anti-capitalist demagoguey of a century or more"
Anti-capitalist demagoguery? Please tell me where that came from.
There are many failings of Capitalism. To point them out and try to correct them is not anti-capitalist demagoguery.
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There are probably a lot of people working at Walmart with degrees, and not just in management. Thanks to the suppressive policies of leftist big government and anti-capitalist demagoguey of a century or more, our market system is so bogged down in taxes, mandates and overregulation that capital and jobs have left for greener pastures. Flipping burgers and greeting customers at Walmart are the future for our college grads and the ones displaced just become wards of the welfare state.
But I was curiuos when I asked if you recall the name of the effect I spoke of in psychology. I guess if you don't know, I'll have to go back to the books and research it.
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And just as our fellow humans at the bottom of the evolutionary scale deserve our help, those at the top should expect, and be required, to help.
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Kalva, it is because I have studied Psychology that I can make such statements with confidence.
Most of the people who work at Walmart could not earn a degree in engineering no matter how hard they worked. Many of them are doing the best they can and should be admired for it. If they are working, obeying the law, then they deserve a little help if needed. Food stamps, Medicare, Earned Income Tax Credit are all programs I support.
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Contrary - "Most people who have IQs 10% below average are, through no fault of their own, unable to acquire the skills necessary to fully support themselves. I refer to employment skills as well as life skills."
This is just the attitude I mentioned below that has been called "the soft bigotry of low expectations". As a student of psychology Contrary, you should be aware of the perverse effect of telling people that they cannot succeed. I believe there is a name for it in psychology. Do you remember what that is called ?
"The United States isn't immune to Europe's madness."
Had there been a stronger opposition to the socialists is those countries that drove their debt far above their GDP, they might have avoided having to go to th World Bank and IMF and make concessions dictated to them by a bunch of unelected transnationalists.
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From Meyerson in Wash Post, after he discusses the failures of austerity in Europe.
"The United States isn't immune to Europe's madness. The sequester slated to begin taking effect Friday is a particularly mindless form of an already stupid policy, poised to inflict a kind of blindfolded austerity at a time when unemployment remains high.
Republican opponents of government spending, not to mention tea party activists, like to think of themselves as true-blue Americans while disparaging the Democrats as Euro-socialists. But it's the Republicans who are embracing Europe's failed economics while Democrats attempt to adhere to the American success story of the New Deal. Republicans might want to bone up on American history; it contains all kinds of valuable lessons."
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Capitalism depends on a poor under-class to perform the needed, but unpleasant, chores. Many individuals, due to physical or mental deficiencies, are unable to fully participate in a modern society.
Most people who have IQs 10% below average are, through no fault of their own, unable to acquire the skills necessary to fully support themselves. I refer to employment skills as well as life skills.
It appears that liberal Democrats recognize this and want to provide for these people. It appears that conservative Republicans want these people to fare for themselves.
Also, there are no lifetime welfare programs, although I think there should be programs to guide the below average through life.
By supporting people early and often, we may save the cost of caring for millions of them in jail.
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"A fellow named Vince"
I once knew a man from Boston who traded his Ford for an Austin..............
Maybe the guest writer can use that to start his next column. It will at least generate some interest because the rest of it will most likely be as meaningless as this one.
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All I want to know is what happened to Vince. He deserves a big pat on the back for realizing that IT IS INDEED all about "Personal Responsibility". I suggest that Sean O'Leary visit some of the countries mentioned so he can experience a culture of "Personal Responsibility" vs. a culture of " It's Owed to Me". Also the people of those countries would never mention allow the dumbing down of their culture as is happening in the USA. Berlin is thriving,Detroit is rotting.
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Finally, we shouldn't ignore the contribution America makes to these other countries that seem to have better social welfare systems. America has, in the past, and still today underwritten a large share of their national defense needs. A column appearing today from Pat Buchanan once again raises the question of how long America can afford to continue to do so. If America has to withdraw from that traditional role, what will the effect be on those countries of Europe, those cited by Mr. O'Leary, and more so those already in economic trouble, of having to devote a significant portion of their GDP to a new European defense structure ?
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The analogy to a weight loss program does not seem to add much to the point of the column. Ultimately, only personal responsibility and effort can result in one achieving the goal of weight loss. These programs have a long history of questionable practices and promises. The warnings to consumers have been around for decades. The analogy seems peculiar also in that it is not so different from the dynamics of welfare. It is "personal failure" that leads one into both programs and the attraction is a quick and easy fix to a problem. There is no substitute for personal responsibility, and only personal responsibility and effort will get one out of either problem. Sadly, both have become growth industries and both share the fault of being unproductive. They only address symptoms of deeper and largely "personal" problems.
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These mechanisms create what is called a "welfare trap". The more generous the benefits and the more they are tied to means testing, the less the gain, and thus the less incentive, to move from welfare to work. Those trapped in the welfare sysem generally only qualify for low wage and unskilled work. If one loses enough of those free benefits, along with the costs associated to take a job, and ends up with just a small percentage gain, they are likely to weigh the value of working for so little improvement. Other policies and activism has had perverse effects also. The constant class warfare rhetoric of the far left and antagonisms of labor vs. business does not endear the investors or job creators to the American work force. Along with costly over-regulation these policies make outsourcing jobs and factories to foreign countries more attractive.
0 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
To deliver the message to those who have obstacles to upward mobility, that only government can ensure you have a fair chance is another example of what has been called "the soft bigotry of low expectations". Would any decent parent teach their child to wait for the government's help instead of trying to succeed on their own ? I've asked many people why it is that income disparity is necessarily driven by the greed they attribute to the "haves" and not equally the fault of the "have nots" to not strive harder, and as Mr. O'Leary says, claw their way to prosperity. The reasons may be many and bad government policies are certainly among them. Like the weight loss program, many features of our welfare programs contribute to failure to escape from dependency.
0 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Our situation is closer to that of the PIGS at the moment. The combination of the current burden and the "unfunded liability" of our "entitlement" programs are pushing us toward the same economic conditions that are at the root of the failures in several countries in Europe. Contrary to the claim of the final paragraph, it is NOT a "... myth that equal, or at least sufficient, opportunity already exists for those willing to assume personal responsibility." The fact that so many do rise out of poverty and succeed proves that it can be done. The figures of 35 to 45 percent greater upward mobility in some countries for those born to the lowest quintile doesn't tell us what percentage here and there do make the leap.
0 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
This plea for still more income redistribution might make sense if America were not in the economic condition we are in. The examples offered as "successes" (Canada, Germany, Britain, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) don't answer for why others, such as those that have become known as the PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain, et. al), have seen anti-austerity demonstrations and riots in recent days. Mr. O'Leary points out that his successful nations "also provide universal healthcare." Just yesterday massive protests took place all across Spain and one major issue was the partial privatization of Spain's socialized health care system as part of that country's austerity measures. You can not spend your way out of financial collapse.
0 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Clarifications: My apologies. I did indeed forget to provide links to data sources showing that the US has less social mobility than the other countries, that it redistributes less income, and that early childhood education is a good investment. The version of the column on my blog has now been updated to include the links. The URL can be seen at the end of the column. With respect to other comments, I will only assure you that "Vince" is very real and I do have many conservative friends.
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
You know you're a REAL lefty when you criticize Tomblin as being too conservative for the state's good.
1 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Correction to my post: Sean didn't say he believed it, he had a mythical friend that converted. Somehow, I don't think Sean has any actual conservative friends, so I don't buy this for a minute.
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text: Roses to Salem council member Dave Nestic for this: "People at all income levels have the right to quality housing." His words came during Tuesday's city council meeting when rezoning requests were discussed regarding the proposed apartment complex on the east end. Might come as news to some but not everyone toiling for low wages is living via Section 8 subsidized housing which, incidentally, the proposed Salem Pointe development won't be. Low income doesn't mean no income. Low income housing isn't always slumming. Many of those with low incomes aren't bums or deadbeats. Most keep up with their homes and yard. There are hundreds of upstanding citizens - hard-working and good Salem people?- who don't make much money. But they pay their taxes. They raise their families just like some of our town's more affluent. Sometimes even better. They deserve to live where they want to live and can afford. Despite facing daily economic restraints, some somehow manage to squirrel away money to send kids off to college. They don't live off the government dole of so-called entitlements. The last time we checked there wasn't a caste or some kind of social strata - at least not officially - system in place in Salem. Although some out there would probably support one. Those passing unfair judgments on others all the time should expel their energies on more important goings on. Like the rampant drug problem in our city. It is affecting rich, poor and all in between.


text:
Closed Captioned
Machine embroidery guru Eileen Roche teaches you how to transform your T-shirts from simple attire to chic apparel. Prepare your shirt's fabric by stabilizing and hooping, then stitch your design using the embroidery machine. Once you have the basics down, jump into a variety of fun embroidery projects with Eileen. You'll embroider a cowl and sew it onto a T-shirt for a fabulous chic look. Then, learn how to combine multiple embroidery patterns into a large, decorative design and reshape your shirt's waist for a flattering fit. Master your machine and embroider like an expert with Eileen!
Eileen shows how to set up your machine and goes over basics of machine embroidery, including templates, target stickers, stabilizers and hooping.
Turn a regular T-shirt into a fashionable and comfortable cowl.
Learn how to combine two and even three machine embroidery patterns into the perfect design for your T-shirt.
Make a boxy T-shirt feminine and flattering! Eileen shows you how to reshape the neckline or hem and create an empire waist.
Decorate your T-shirt and add dimension and texture with appliqu� flowers and squiggles!
Add finishing touches to your T-shirt including free-standing flowers, pearls and crystals. You'll see just how original your designs can become!
What a pleasant, upbeat class. I have a number of embroidery machines, including my beloved Quattro 6000D. ... This class is the most "feel good" class I have taken at Craftsy, and Eileen's creative ideas and easy approach make this class a must for any machine embroiderer or newbie. It has made me question why I buy any embellished garments. I don't have the ability to go anywhere for classes now, and I absolutely love Craftsy. KUDOS!!!


text:
by Ellen R. Jordan
The author is a professor and extension dairy specialist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University system.
Research papers focused on heifer-specific reproductive issues were presented at the 103rd annual meeting of the American Dairy Science Association in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In this review, we will look at sexed semen performance, both conception and postcalving. What follows is a summary of the studies, comments, and author contact.
Sexed semen conception rates
Breeding information from approximately 1.25 million virgin Holstein heifers and 10.6 million Holstein cows was collected from 2006 to 2008 to characterize sexed semen usage. In addition, changes in fertility that should be expected when using sexed semen were quantified. Only 9.3 percent of heifer and just 0.23 percent of all cow inseminations were with sexed semen.
The average conception rate fell from 57 to 43 percent in heifers and from 31 to 27 percent in cows when sexed semen was used. Conception rates declined with increasing service number for both heifers and cows. The declines were similar between conventional and sexed semen. Of all sexed semen inseminations for heifers, 82 percent were on first service with an additional 14 percent on second service. For cows, 72 percent of all sexed semen inseminations occurred during the first two services in first- or second-lactation cows.
Comment: There has been greater sexed semen usage from 2006 through 2008. The drop in conception rate observed in heifers in initial studies was similar to that reported with this much larger database. Although industry recommendations are to only use sexed semen on heifers, there has been selective use in the lactating herd. The drop in conception rate for lactating cows with sexed semen was less than that reported in heifers. Due to lower conception rates, producers are encouraged to use sexed semen in the most fertile animals.
Contact author: H. D. Norman, Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory, Beltsville, Md.; phone: (301) 504-8334; e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Postpartum performance with sexed semen
The objectives of this trial were to determine whether virgin heifers bred with sexed semen at first insemination had differences in calving ease, calf sex, incidence of early lactation disorders, subsequent reproductive disorders, or milk production during the first lactation. The study was conducted in two herds with 343 heifers receiving first insemination with sexed semen. Conventional semen was used for 1,028 heifers.
As would be expected, fewer heifers conceived at first service with the sexed semen compared to the conventional semen; however, there were no differences in subsequent pregnancy losses. There were 85.7 percent female calves from the heifers bred with sexed semen and 47.7 percent female calves with conventional semen. There was a tendency (P<0.09) for heifers bred with conventional semen to have more dystocia when they delivered bull calves. Heifers bred with sexed semen were more likely to have stillborn calves. The incidence of early lactation disease and first-lactation reproduction and milk production were not impacted by using sexed semen. Heifers bred with sexed semen had higher rearing costs and greater income from calves; however, there was no difference in milk production, income over feed cost, replacement cost, or overall return.
Comment: Although more heifer calves were born to heifers bred with sexed semen, there were no differences in the incidence of disorders in early lactation or subsequent reproduction and production. That means greater costs associated with sexed semen must be recovered from the additional value of the heifer calves or from reducing the disease risk associated with introducing purchased heifers when expanding. There may also be additional value associated with genetic improvement if sexed semen is used for obtaining replacement heifers only from the top females in a herd.
Contact: Ricardo Chebel, University of Minnesota; phone: (612) 625-3130; e-mail: email@example.com


text:
When it
comes to in-car communications and entertainment systems, it's no secret that MyFord
Touch is the problematic one of the bunch. Consumer
Reports has said that the system is too complex and distracting due to
its lack of tactile buttons and knobs as well as its voice recognition system.
In addition, the fact that its screens are partially controlled by two
steering-wheel-mounted five-way switches doesn't help its case either.
Now, auto reviewers aren't the only ones hating on MyFord Touch, and MyFord
Touch isn't the only Ford technology being criticized.
Consumers are now throwing in their two cents, and it's not looking favorable
for some of Ford's newest technologies.
While not all consumers who have tested MyFord
Touch dislike it, many have complained that the system reboots randomly and
has trouble responding to voice commands. In addition, some of is features
confuse consumers, even though Ford dealerships offer courses on
how to use the system. The good news is that many revisions are in development
and will be "phased in" over the next year.
Aside from technical issues, safety advocates worry that the system will
distract drivers too easily causing accidents.
have also mentioned problems concerning Ford's PowerShift dual-clutch automatic
transmission, which can be found on the 2011 Fiesta and the 2012 Focus. The
PowerShift combines two manual transmissions where one clutch controls first,
third and fifth gears while the second clutch controls second, fourth and sixth
gears. The idea behind the system is to enable more efficient shifting in order
to improve fuel economy.
Despite its best intentions, the system isn't perfect. Consumers have noted
that the system overall is "jerky" with unexpected shifts. Also, the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that "huge metallic
noises" occurred when downshifting at low speeds, and "dangerous gear
changes" made the vehicle surge and eventually stall.
"The Focus is a little slow to find the right gear as you're slowing from
50 miles per hour," said David Champion, director of Consumer
Reports' auto test center in East Haddam, Connecticut.
But Ford spokesman Richard Truett assures that the PowerShift is just a "different type of
transmission" that uses actuators and solenoids to change gears
electronically, and that it just takes some getting used to.
"Consumers will hear different sounds and experience different
sensations," said Truett. "But that's normal. We chose the PowerShift
because it helps deliver outstanding performance and best-in-class 40 miles per
gallon fuel economy."
Ford and other automakers' newest technologies will be rated this Thursday when
J.D. Power and Associates releases its annual initial-quality study. The study
is based on consumer judgment after 90 days of ownership, and consumers are to
point out any problems they encounter.
quote: They are all incredably jerky, don't know what to do going up or down hill, take forever to downshift more than one gear (overstepping) and do not produce any better fuel economy than a slushbox...
quote: There are currently no STOP START vehicles on the road. Not one.
quote: DSG's are not high performance like people think, either. Infact VW recalled 14,000 vehicles (all A6's, S-series, and some diesels) because the DSG clutch packs were inadequate for the engine torque output.
quote: I do not agree that DCG are for high performance cars
quote: Why would anyone ever buy an automatic tranmission unless they had some form of disability?
quote: When well implemented (as apparently the Ford was NOT, but let's use a VW GTI as an example) the only objective downsides to a DCT are cost and complexity.
quote: Depends on what you consider implemented correctly. VW (and pretty much everyone else) utilizes a wet clutch system while Ford utilizes a dry clutch system.
quote: Standard transmissions are not hard to use and save tons of money on the purchase as well as maintenance and repairs.
quote: Sure they exist, but I didn't have any.
quote: Larger cars don't come with sticks, economies of scale level the cost playing field.
quote: Sure they do, in fact they are kind of making a comeback in recent years with many now equipped with 6 speed manuals. (now of course they are the minority, but they do exist)
quote: Then there are vehicles like Jeeps...
quote: Stick shifts make no sense if you do a lot of stop and go driving.
quote: I would have been on my 2nd clutch with a stick by now, if not a third.
quote: Unless you "launch" first gear constantly, I call BS on this. There are more people with 270k manuals out there than your automatic, I assure you.
quote: Translation - things outside your viewpoint don't necessarily constitute BS.
quote: and supposedly no maintenance
quote: The only car that got it right was the Veyron, probably because the transmission costs $123,200 dollars, is made almost completely out of titanium, and has dual 12" carbon ceramic clutches, simply gigantic. Most DSG transmission CASES aren't even 12" in diameter.
quote: I mean seriously, if consumers are saying they hate it I would think the boffins at Ford would listen to what they are saying.
quote: Also, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that "huge metallic noises" occurred when downshifting at low speeds, and "dangerous gear changes" made the vehicle surge and eventually stall.
quote: The only thing Ford is good at is making Ranger's and F-150's for uninformed rednecks. Notice they didn't put this trans setup in THOSE.
quote: Those uninformed rednecks probably buy older trucks so they can actually work on them at home resulting is massive savings in maintenance over the 10+ years they will own them.


text:
The 2012-13 Stetson Women's Basketball Digital Media Guide is now available. Get all of the latest information on your favorite Hatter players and coaches, review the 2011-12 season as well as the history and records section, check out the upcoming opponents, and read the latest on Stetson Univeristy and the Atlantic Sun Conference.
The media guide is designed in landscape format to better fit your computer screen and mobile device. The PDF pages can still be printed with an 8.5 x 11 page size.
Click here to see the media guide in flip book format on Issuu.com (requires flash).
Click here for a high-resolution PDF of the cover pages (30 MB).
Click here for a high-resolution PDF of the inside pages (25 MB).
Click here for a low-resolution PDF of the entire guide (7 MB). Best for smart phone users.
Stetson opens the season Nov. 9 vs. Hofstra at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.


text:
Interesting Decor Idea That Doesnt Cost a Fortune
Home décor ideas would never ever go stale. There is so much you can possibly do with the interiors of your home and you can get incredibly creative while you are at it. There are really no restrictions in this field you can just use your creative mind and even refer to some great ideas […] Read more


text: Thanks to a photovoltaic system that has been built into the southern façade and thanks to thermal solar collectors, the hut is self-sufficient for over 90 percent of its energy needs. Meltwater is collected and stored in a rock cavern. Furthermore, a micro filtering system bacteriologically cleans the wastewater and the gray-water is re-used for flushing the toilets. The interplay of the individual components as well as an elaborate and cleverly devised energy system are necessary so that the hut can achieve such a high level of energy independence. Software developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich) controls the technology of the building.


text:
If you have a parent, grandparent or other close relative with alcoholism, you may have problems with alcohol down the road. Many studies of children of alcoholics have found that they are about four times more likely to develop alcohol problems than people without a family history of alcoholism, says the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
But alcoholism isn't determined only by the genes you inherit. In fact, more than half of all children of alcoholics don't become alcoholics. Many factors influence your risk of developing alcoholism. These include how your parents raised you, your friends, your stress level, and how available alcohol is to you.
Knowing that you're at risk is important, though, because you can take steps to protect yourself.
According to the NIAAA, alcoholism is a disease that includes at least three of the following four symptoms:
Craving. A strong need or urge to drink.
Loss of control. Not being able to stop drinking or to control the results once drinking starts.
Physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, are experienced when you stop drinking.
If you're worried that your family's history of alcohol problems or your troubled family life puts you at risk of becoming alcoholic, here are some steps from the NIAAA to help prevent it:
Avoid underage drinking. The risk for alcoholism is higher if you begin to drink at an early age. This is because of social factors and genes.
If your family has problems with alcohol and you're concerned you may be heading that way as well, talk with your health care provider and substance-abuse counselor. They can recommend support groups or helpful organizations, or even treatment if needed.
If you're an adult who already has begun to drink, your health care provider can assess your drinking. He or she can tell you if you need to cut back and advise you how to go about it.
Online tools to help manage your daily life.
Learn More...
Quick Links
FIRSTCALL Employee Assistance Program 1-800-382-2377
Copyright ©2016 FIRSTCALL


text:
The Santa Fe Opera packs a serious economic punch for the state of New Mexico, bringing in more than $202 million annually to our region and drawing more than 80,000 visitors a year. We think you'll agree: linking your company name with ours just makes good business sense. Business Council members also enjoy opportunities to network and entertain at exclusive Opera events. Improve your bottom line—join today!
Special Gift Opportunities — Business and Corporate Donors of $5,000 or more can enjoy recognition with a more targeted audience by becoming corporate sponsors of various Opera activities such as our Opening Weekend, mainstage productions, Apprentice Programs, and award-winning outreach programs serving more than 60,000 children and young adults in our community each year. or (view all Donor Benefits at a glance)Become a Business Council member by making a gift on-line today—or for more information, contact Paula Hunter, Business Campaign Manager, at (505) 986-5929 or at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Just in time for Valentine's Day, a flowery scented body cream from bodycology. From their new Sweet Love Fragrance collection, the Nourishing Body Cream contains notes of sweet mandarin, sparkling red pear and vanilla orchid. Fruity top notes dry down and give way to a floral heart of sweet rose and amber. If you like very feminine fragrances, then this body cream will definitely appeal to you.
I generally prefer clean, light fragrances but did not mind the Sweet Love Fragrance. I would however, only use one product at a time from this collection and would definitely not layer them as they might be too overpowering when used together. When I first applied the Sweet Love Nourishing Body Cream, the fragrance was pretty strong, but throughout the day it became much softer and lighter. I would certainly use this body cream when I want to embrace my girly, romantic side. Read more


text:
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
For Dr. Preston Wendell, emergency medicine is a passion. So it's not surprising that he is taking on two important leadership positions in his field. This month, Dr. Wendell started as director of the Emergency Department for Summerville Medical Center. In addition, he serves as president elect of the South Carolina College of Emergency Physicians, helping to make advancements at state and national levels. Emergency medicine has quickly gained respect in medical circles, and Dr. Wendell enjoys it not only for the variety of challenges it brings but also because it allows him to provide immediate aid to people in a true time of need. "I like being on the front lines, and I like being there for my patients in the middle of the night when no one else is around. I think that's a really cool part of what we do."
Medical School : Medical University of South Carolina
Residency : Palmetto Health Richland
Fellowship : Palmetto Health Richland – Emergency Ultrasound For medical questions or a free physician referral, please call 843-797-3463.
© 2016 Trident Health.


text:
Nissan is now looking to put its name
up near the top of the list when it comes to zero emissions vehicles
to Autoblog. The company this weekend announced its new
2010 LEAF EV which melds Nissan/Renault's current design theme with
an electric-only vehicle.
As with most next generation electric
vehicles, the LEAF uses an advanced lithium-ion battery pack (48
modules, 90kW) and has electric motors which deliver 80kW (107 HP).
The combo allows the LEAF to have a driving range of 100 miles and a
top speed of 87 mph according to Nissan. By Nissan's estimates, the
100 mile driving range is enough to satisfy the daily commute
requirements of 80% of American drivers (Nissan says that the average
U.S. driver has a daily commute of less than 62 miles).
When it comes to styling, most would be
hard pressed to call the LEAF "another Prius knockoff"
which has been a label affixed to the Honda Insight. Instead, the
LEAF takes its design direction from a few vehicles already in the
Nissan stable including the Murano, Rogue, and Versa -- albeit with
more aerodynamic curves and surfaces.
Given that the LEAF is a fully electric
vehicle and doesn't have an "extended range" gasoline
engine/generator like the Volt, the vehicle will rely heavily on a
robust electric charging infrastructure. As a result, Nissan will
initially market the vehicle in U.S cities which have taken the
initiative to provide charging station for EVs including Phoenix, San
Diego, Raleigh, and Seattle.
"Nissan LEAF is a tremendous
accomplishment – one in which all Nissan employees can take great
pride," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "We
have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality – the
unveiling of a real-world car that has zero – not simply reduced –
emissions. It's the first step in what is sure to be an exciting
journey – for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the
Nissan expects to market the LEAF in
the U.S., Europe, and Japan next year. Pricing has not been
announced, but Nissan describes the vehicle as "affordable".
quote: this would be quite a sensible solution for the buyer.
quote: While it hasn't committed to anything yet, Nissan officials say they are shooting for similar warranty coverage to that of their more conventional offerings. Those vehicles come standard with three years/36,000 mile coverage, and powertrain coverage of five years/60,000 miles, and it will be interesting to see if Nissan can match those figures for the vehicle, it's electronic motor, and the expensive battery pack (estimated replacement cost: $10,000).
quote: and the rest would say "FARK PLANET EARTH" and get a gas powered car when it comes down to money.
quote: Geez try to point something out and people jump all over you for it. If I'm wrong, say I'm wrong in a mature fashion. I know not to ever post here again.
quote: Geez try to point something out and people jump all over you for it. If I'm wrong, say I'm wrong in a mature fashion. I know not to ever post here again.
quote: The linked article states that the battery pack replacement alone is $10,000.


text: r China | Digital Scrapbooking at Scrapbook Flair Home Galleries Groups Challenges Blogs Forums Members Downloads MarketPlace Store Archive Join Login offline Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Last Logon: May 8, 2011 China's Home Page www.scrapbookflair.com/China I have been married to the same wonderful man for almost 24 years. We have no kiddies but are owned by an 8 year old Maltese/Terrier. I am very new to Digital Scrapbooking. I enjoy working in Paint Shop Pro, Animation Shop, DAZ/Studio which I am fairly new at, and I would like to learn Poser. I have a "million" things on the go at the same time because I have to stay busy and I love to be challenged. China is from ON, Canada China's Scrapbooks There are no scrapbooks from China yet. China's Favorite Scrapbooks There are no favorite scrapbooks chosen by China yet. China's Friends There are no friends added by China yet. China's Fans China has 9 fans » view all China's fans Renew/Upgrade Membership Gallery Groups Blog Friends Favorites Tags Post and Share this page on Blogs and other Websites by copying and pasting this link: http://www.scrapbookflair.com/China China's home page has been visited 4313 times. About Us Bookmark Contact Us Designer Members FAQs Fan Mail Help Link to Us Membership News Privacy Search Site Rules Suggestion Box Tell a Friend © 2006-2016, Patent Pending, Aurora Digital Imaging, Ltd. Beta 5.0 The most fun digital scrapbooking site on the Internet. Free digital scrapbooking software, scrapbook templates, scrapbook embellishments and backgrounds. Beautiful scrapbook prints and photobooks.


text:
Celebrity News
See the Downtown Dallas views from inside Ross Perot Jr.'s $11M Victory penthouse
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See where Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom lived during their short stay in Dallas
See famed broadcaster Pat Summerall's recently listed Southlake mansion, featuring a private lake
See Dallas' highest-priced home of 2013, a University Park mansion recently sold for $16M
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