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A little tougher than the rest
By CASEY OLSON
Sports editor
Nick Batkoski isnt the flashiest guy on a baseball diamond.
The 2001 Federal Way High School graduate just goes out every day and does his job. Batkoskis workmanlike attitude has been a big reason why his University of Washington baseball team has a solid shot at advancing to the College World Series.
Nick is one kid a normal person can identify with, said Federal Way head coach Eric Fiedler. His physical abilities are good, but not great. He just has an edge over anyone else because he is more mentally tough.
Batkoskis Huskies finished second in the Pac-10 and are ranked No. 14 in the latest Baseball America poll. Batkoski and the rest of the Washington baseball team (37-18-1 overall, 15-9 in the Pac-10) started their postseason run yesterday against Tulane in Oxford, Miss. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies and Tulane are joined in the region by host Mississippi and Western Kentucky.
This whole ride has been awesome, Batkoski said. I am looking forward to playing in the postseason and putting Washington baseball on the map. We want to show some of the schools on the east coast that we can play. I think that we have a team that can go all the way.
The winner of the Huskies double-elimination Oxford region, which will conclude tomorrow, will play the winner of a regional in Fullerton, Calif. in a best-of-three Super Regional June 11-13. The winner of that series will advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. The Fullerton region includes Cal-State Fullerton, Arizona State, Minnesota and Pepperdine.
He has been a very productive guy for us, Washington head coach Ken Knutson said about Batkoski. Especially late in the season.
A big reason for Batkoskis success may be due to Knutson giving him a chance at playing the same position every day a luxury the junior didnt have his first two seasons at UW.
Batkoski became the Huskies everyday shortstop on April 12 before the opener of a two-game series with Oregon State. Knutson moved regular shortstop Brent Lillibridge to center field.
At the UW, I have played every position but center field and catcher, Batkoski said. But I think shortstop is my best position and the one I like playing the best.
Since Knutson inserted Batkoski at shortstop, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has started 24 of the last 25 games for the Huskies and the team is an amazing 19-5 in those contests.
He is very sure-handed, Knutson said. He catches everything hit at him and makes all the routine plays. He is so steady and we needed another bat in our lineup. He has been a key to us getting hot.
On the year, Batkoski hit a respectable .291 with two home runs and 33 RBIs, even with a recent 0-for-20 streak. But more importantly, he had a .960 fielding percentage at shortstop.
His true love has been shortstop, Fiedler said. He is kind of an unnatural athlete and he might not have the nimbleness of other guys, but he gets the job done.
During his days at Federal Way, Batkoski was the starting shortstop and ace of the pitching staff on a team that won the Class 4A state championship during his senior season in 2001. He was named All-State and the South Puget Sound League Player of the Year.
He is a highly-intelligent player, Fiedler said. One guy he kind of reminds me of is Willie Bloomquist (Seattle Mariners utility player).
Batkoski is one of a plethora of homegrown players at the University of Washington. The Huskies have just four out-of-staters on their 35-man roster and only two have seen any significant playing time. And a bulk of the Washington kids werent highly recruited by other schools coming out of high school.
Our goal is to keep all the Washington kids here, said Knutson, who graduated from Evergreen High School in White Center.
That is something I really enjoyed about the Huskies, Batkoski said. We want to keep the players in state because we play some pretty good baseball up here.
We dont need to bring in all those flashy California kids.
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In order to keep Saturday Salon as a 2013 Federal election-free zone, here's a separate news-cycle week-ending thread where you can talk about anything related to current politics of the upcoming election.
132 responses to "Weekly Election 2013 Roundtable"
It's difficult, nay immoral and heartless , to blame Rudd for his affliction.
He obviously has inherited ( the newly discovered ) arsehole gene.
It's an affliction poor thing, like ADHD, not his fault or in his control.
I just hope and pray it's covered by the NDIS.
And more funding for the scientific heroes to find a cure.
Let's see how Rudd handles the media and Opposition playing hardball (without the accompaniment of misogyny and a leaking Minister ala Julia's treatment) now that the gloves are off. If the latest ABC efforts in the production of The Drum and 24/7 News and evening News are anything to go by. Oh and the rumour of a Murdoch softening? Ha ha ha, Yeah right!
The Greens are claiming Milne should be a part of the leaders debates even though she has no serious chance of becoming PM, which is what the debates are for.
The media and the opposition have been playing games today and trying to politicise the tragic loss of lives associated with the Home Insulation Program following the release of the Coroner's findings :
It is a despicable attempt to damage Kevin Rudd who was PM at the time and try and find a link between the deaths and the federal government although none exists.
Whilst the Coroner makes findings and criticisms that implicate the Federal Government for the speed of implementation and popularity of the HIP scheme the principle criticism was levelled at the employers who failed in not providing adequate training and not carrying out their statutory Workplace Health & Safety obligations (criminal action against the employers may follow). He was also highly critical of the Qld state government who are responsible for overseeing workplace safety.
David @ 3
Don't bet on it.
Despite the resuscitation of Kevin Rudd, there is still so much loathing, disgust, hatred, fear and distrust towards the two main political parties by the electors who are beneath the view of political commentators that all things are possible.
Even a Prime Minister Katter or a Prime Minister Willkie or a Prime Minister Joyce.
David @ 3, I can't find any info as to whether a leaders debate is defined by potential leaders or leaders of parties.
Have you got a problem with the Greens, as a significant part of Australian politics, being included in leaders debates?
Before the last British election the debate was a threesome of Brown, Cameron and Clegg. So a threesome has precedent.
Last weekend (June30) Rudd attended the tribute to Yotha Yindi front man Mandapoy Yunipingu the subject of an extended telecast on ABC TV. It was a wonderful rambling fusion of state funeral and indigenous wake roughly steered by resigning federal minister and muso, Peter Garrett. During the lengthy tribute Rudd would have had plenty of time to ponder the unmistakable reminders from indigenous participants of the need for a treaty. They were constant yet there appears to have been little mention of them in national media. God knows what impression they made on PM Kev, giver of the Apology. Could it become an election promise, a restoration of 'the balance' as singer Paul Kelly implored last weekend? Over to you Kevin.
Possum has this interesting analysis of state by state polls and the implications for actual seats won. His conclusion:
My election simulation produces a similar result 76 seats to the ALP vs. 72 to the Coalition, with 2 Independents.
You need to follow the link to see how he comes to this conclusion. The big thing is the effect of the strong swing to Rudd.
there was a five way debate in canada in 2008. one party with candidates in only one province (bloc quebecoise) and the greens leader, with no seat, in parliament was included because they got 4.5% of the popular vote in 2006. btw, the greens were the only party in 2008 to increase its popular vote (6.8%) but they still didn't get a seat, they got a seat in 2011 on 3.9% of the popular vote. first past the post !
all leaders should be in the debates, including the nationals leader who for better or worse should have to argue his party's position himself. he shouldn't get a free ride on the liberal leader's performance. and if clive palmer gets a seat he should be allowed a chance to embarrass himself as well. -a.v.
How about a series of debates?
ALP and Libs are seeded so they make the semi finals.
Minor parties hold a qualifier round with eliminations resulting in 2 clear qualifiers
Q1v ALP,= winner A
Q2 v Lib, = winner B
AvB in the Grand Final.
( my money would be on Lib v Nat in the GF. Outcome a draw.)
This intervention by Rudd is very dramatic, but it also strikes me as being similar to times in the past when the NSW Labor Right invited, yes, invited, intervention from the federal party and/or reorganisation; first when they were going through de-Langification; once again during the fifties, when they were keen to prove they'd rid themselves of Grouper influence; and finally during the early seventies, when John Ducker proposed intervention into NSW as a counterbalance to intervention into Victoria.
I expect there will be non-ALP Leftwingers who will slam this a charade, but they'll do so without understanding that history having placed them outside Labor sort of places them at a disadvantage. I also expect the media to crow about this being a good way to get rid of factions, because terrible factions like the NSW Right have never done anything worthwhile for the party like, say, promote Chifley, Whitlam, or Keating to national leadership.
(b.) I wonder if this very necessary type of inhouse reform, without which Sydney Labor can't make a serious effort at the election, was ever on offer to Gillard?
If they never coordinated anything like this with her, then that goes to show she never had a chance.
(c.) Peter Beattie did something like this in Qld after corruption scandals circa 2000, and he reaped massive political rewards. Of course he didn't have the same levels of slime to get rid of…
Is Rudd snookering Abbott over asylum seekers? Really, at his best Kev (and I'm not being disrespectful there, but affectionate) is a delight to watch.
The Libs must be shitting themselves wondering which of their slogans he's going to dismantle next. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Mr. Rabbit's office. Bloodied knuckles from boxing walls, I'd say.
John D @ 9
I think Possum's predictions are far too optimistic for the ALP, in particular in Queensland. Rudd may be a Queenslander, but lets not forget the State election results 15 months ago. In NSW, Labor is still very unpopular and so it is in Tasmania where it is likely that there will be a backlash against the sitting State Labor/ Greens coalition:Federal Labor may lose 3 ( may be 4) of the 4 seats it is currently holding there.
I think some commentary about a possible Labor win ( see Barry Cassidy's piece in The Drum) overlooks the fact that labor has been unpopular for about three years. In another Drum posting, Chris Uhlmann reminds us that overall the ALP is still perceived as dysfunctional and has indeed deep divisions. How can a party in such a position win seats?
Before Rudd took over, it was all about " saving the furniture", now we hear about a possible win. I think we are getting ahead of ourselves. If we achieve a Senate without a Coaltion majority, the progressive side of politics will have scored a big win. But we are not there yet. There is still a lot of anger and hate against Labor out there, and this is bound to resurface once the"honeymoon" is over. (Wait and see the reaction to the insulation story)
PhilL Things have changed quite dramatically in Queensland with the $57,000 pay hike that our pollies must have or they'd be breaking the law.
All of Newman's blustering has come down to the fact that he won't amend a simple piece of legislation to correct this appalling grab for money.
There are a lot of people throughout Qld who are regretting that they gave the LNP such a massive majority and I don't think they would do the same again on a federal basis. Having said that, I agree it's not going to be easy and the Labor party will have to work very hard to retain government.
PS: after Rudd's interview on 7.30 Leigh Sales said that they expected to get Tony Abbott on the next evening but it didn't happen. I emailed them and was told that he had been invited but declined and they hope to get him on next week: what is it with this guy ?
what is it with this guy ?
Never interrupt the enemy when their making mistakes.
Yes, the LNP are about as popular as necrotising dysentery in Queensland. If the ALP does indeed have the sense God gave geese, they'll already be preparing the mother of all in-sadness-rather-than anger election campaigns for the state.
Possum's Prophecy from 2010 has held up remarkably well, except for his hopes for the Liberal moderates.
Nick @ 17
Yes, the LNP are about as popular as necrotising dysentery in Queensland.
Do you have any poll results to back that statement up ?
One of the key things that has resulted from the return of Rudd, and its impact on the polls, is its impact on momentum. For as long as it was generally assumed that the Liberals would win, various parties were working on teh premise that an Abbott government was inevitably who they would be dealign with after September.
This is true of industry lobby groups of course, but it also has an impact within government departments: once it is sensed that the Minister in question will not be around for long, key people start to "go slow" on anything they are proposing.
It particularly impacts upon the media. Journalists have an eye to who they may be dealing with when they are in government, and start to go soft on them while in opposition if they expect them to be in office, and hence dependent on them in the near future. Moreover, with the current climate for journalism jobs, a number have their eyes on media officer positions when the staff numbers are increased after they become ministers.
It is early days yet, but if the "Ruddmentum" is sustained, I expect more critical coverage of the opposition, as some of these journalists start to contemplate that they may yet be dealign with Rudd, Albanese, Bowen etc. after September. Journalists have a pack mentality, and when they expect a landslide result one way or another, they quickly fall into line behind the perceived winners.
Former Liberal PM Malcolm Fraser campaigning today in Adelaide for the re-election of Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Supposedly he's been copping a lot of abuse from right-wingers on Twitter for it.
I was a member of the Libs (and YLibs) back in the 70s and early 80s, Jacques, (I left because of Howard – took a major dislike to him even back then) – branch vice-president, delegate to state and federal conventions or whatever they were called. I still look back at a party that, in a general way, was definitely left of what the ALP is today.
I have no trouble seeing Fraser in the role he's in these days.
I'm not sure I got this right, but is the Opposition policy on refugee boats now we'll send the boats back even if it risks a war with Indonesia?
I'm not sure I got this right, but is the Opposition policy on refugee boats now we'll send the boats back even if it risks a war with Indonesia?
Paul the flaw in your question is that it presupposes its own answer – classic begging the question.
There is no reason to believe that however much the Opposition's policy on refugee boats pissed the Indonesians off that the Indonesians would go to war with Australia over it.
They didn't go to war with Australia over East Timor in 1999, and this is a tenth order issue to Indonesia compared to that.
Aside from that if they were really pissed off with Australia they would not need to go to war with us. They could just close off the Sunda Strait and the Bali Strait to shipping out of Australia and deny overflight rights over their airspace to aircraft out of Australia.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop would be working overtime to see a rapid U-turn in Liberal party policy.
paul burns @ 23: this was the coalitions position, it's all done with 'winks & nods' and faceless Indonesian diplomats who talk exclusively to Julie Bishop:
It seems Indonesia is playing ball with Rudd against Aboott and Morrison. The Coalition's talking point to rebuke all this is pretty sad, IMO; they're declaring that 'turning back the boats' isn't unilateral action, because you no what was unilateral action? The Labor government's attempt to end Howard's policy when they got into power. Unilateral action against the wishes of the Silent Majority, that's when you use the language of diplomatic incidents!
Victoria's state Coalition government is making serious noises about signing up to Gonski-that-isn't-called-Gonski-anymore. This is surprising. If it happens, then it means Dennis Napthine has decided his own reelection in 2014 is of greater importance than whatever Abbott is up to in 2013.
Labor's campaign operation wants to fight across more territory now that their electoral anti-Midas has been replaced by KRudd.
And about that importance of preferences we were talking about earlier: the Libs are poised to preference Labor in Melbourne, against Green Adam Bandt, in exchange for ALP preferences in the open seat of Mallee, which is now open because of a National retirement. If Rudd takes Melbourne back, and Abbott takes another safe seat off his Coalition partners (the third in Vic in 15 years, I think) then this will be how it's done.
There was a good piece behind a paywall about the dynamics of cross-factional coalition building in Labor leadership battles. Deputy senate leader Jacinta Collins is now the only fullterm Gillard loyalist in the party's leadership team at Canberra (Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese supported Rudd in the decisive fight), because she decided on a whim to oppose Rudd number's man Senator Kim Carr in the sudden ballot for that job that occurred once Wong ascended to the position left open by Stephen Conroy. Collins, btw, is a social conservative Catholic Rightwinger, pro-life, anti-gay marriage. The Victorian Carr is an oldschool Leftwing Marxist fellow traveller, albeit a realistic one.
She beat him with a super majority; presumably all the other Gillard deadenders voted for her, plus a bunch of Rudd backers gave her their votes, too.
Rudd got he wanted from his trip to Indonesia which was a headline Indonesian statement that they oppose tow-back.
But it will not shift votes.
Coalition voters do not care if Asylum seekers drown, could not care less if it is woman and children drowning, and indeed would support a policy of mandatory drowning of Asylum seekers.
The Coalition statement of they are Indonesian boats so not our problem provides welcome fig leaf moral cover for the macabre anticipation of gruesome satisfaction in watching brown skinned people die on TV at our hands.
By the by, Ray Hadlee and Scott Morrison have an uncanny similarity in vocal intonation and delivery – sustained and unrelenting hostility – which makes me thing that Morrison, Thatcher-like and a marketing professional, has deliberately cultivated it.
What is it with ALP politicians having different surnames to their spouses ?
""The reforms I announce today will give more power to everyday members of the Labor Party. They will ensure that power will never again rest in the hands of a factional few," Mr Rudd told reporters in Canberra."
How many ALP members are union members? In W.A. we have a campaign going on by one major union to sign up enough of its members to the ALP that they will be able to control it. So would this change mean that the party became even more a union party, because I thought the idea was to broaden the party to the wider (non-union) community.
I prefer Westminster cabinet style government to the presidential model so this change doesn't impress me. If the person chosen to be leader can't do the job well when they become PM, then try someone else.
I agree Russell.
Rudd's proposals are a return to the unreconstructed, megalomaniacal Rudd of 2008-2010.
This is the Grocery Watch of political leadership.
Why shouldn't they?
Who suggested or inferred they shouldn't ? certainly not me.
It just seems that the practice is far more prolific in that group that almost any other I can think of.
ABC media people is another but I admit there is a crossover with those two groups.
I give you Peta Credlin, Jumpy.
Further to tigtog @35, when Catholic conservative commentator Miranda Devine was married she was mortified when her employer (which was then, as now, News Ltd AFAIK) insisted that she continue to be known by her birth name to maintain the name recognition factor, rather than doing the good Catholic thing and taking her new husband's name.
[email protected]
What is it with ALP politicians having different surnames to their spouses ?
Like The Greens, their politicians have moved with the times and no longer look back fondly to the days when women were chattels. These days they can vote, even. Isn't that remarkable?
The only women I know who change their names tend to do it after having children and being ground down by multiple instances of "that can't be your child, it has a different sire-name". No shit sherlock, I'm not its father. How remarkable that you should be able to notice that but not the fact that the child addresses me as "mum". Repeat ad nauseum.
What's interesting is a number of friends where it's gone the other way – Mr Whatsit has changed his name to match Dr Whosit because changing her name would screw up an already fragile academic career. And think of the children!
How generous of you but no thanks. She always reminds me of the Shawn Mullins lyrics in Lullaby
'cause even her smile
looks like a frown
she's seen her share of devils
in this angel town
@35 & 36
Thanks, that would explain some of it. Actresses and Business Women for the same " name recognition " reasons.
Moz @37
Well then, because of you tone, I give you Lee Brown/ O'Gorman/ Rhiannon or even Doris Bagshawe
your tone
How many ALP members are union members? In W.A. we have a campaign going on by one major union to sign up enough of its members to the ALP that they will be able to control it. So would this change mean that the party became even more a union party, because I thought the idea was to broaden the party to the wider (non-union) community.
Russell, okay, so you were posting this soon after the news broke, I understand that, but your conflation of Rudd going for something that's actually much closer to the UK Tory leadership election model than what British Labour does for its contests (!), with vague allegations of union block conference stacks, that's a non sequitur.
No doubt it sounds pleasing to Liberal ears, though.
"Calm down" — Tony Abbott.
Tones' inability to handle a persistent line of questioning from a journalist is quite something.
OK Jumpy, you've lost me completely. As far as I can tell you're referring to a single individual with that list, and she's 62… she has lived through the times when women were pressured to change their names. Doesn't change my point about the women I know who've changed their names, and the backward-looking types who struggle with women who don't.
Yeah Moz, @43
Nickws – I have never voted for, and can't imagine ever, voting for the Liberal Party. I have stopped voting for the ALP in W.A. because they are just beyond the pale.
You can Google up stuff about my vague allegation
I don't know what the answer is re getting a wider sample of the community to join the ALP, but I don't see Rudd's proposal as actually getting more community input into the leadership, but possibly delivering it into even more concentrated hands.
Brian, interesting ….. Giddings was saying she wouldn't agree because of the regulations/conditions giving some control to Canberra. She now says "Tasmania wanted to ensure … that there is ongoing consultation with the states over the regulations that will govern the reform process. " Has someone backed down?
I like the little anti-Canberra kick at the end of the press release: "The Government will work closely with principals, teachers and school communities to determine how these additional funds should be spent because ultimately they know what is best for their kids."
Russell @ 45
You can Google up stuff about my vague allegation
Ah, it's not vague at all; it's the WA branch of the MUA bignoting itself as being more powerful than the national executive of the ALP, i.e. the body that can easily intervene to prevent any ruckus in state conference.
My advice to you is not to believe the propaganda of any union that says it's genuinely, realistically committed to rolling the dominant factional alliance in its state branch. That stuff is kabuki theatre. In fact, it's called an ambit claim in IR. : – )
I don't know what the answer is re getting a wider sample of the community to join the ALP, but I don't see Rudd's proposal as actually getting more community input into the leadership, but possibly delivering it into even more concentrated hands.
I reiterate—Rudd's proposal sees the union movement structure having no formal vote in this process. It sees national conference having no formal vote. That makes it the same as what Conservative and Liberal parties in Britain & Canada do, it's actually quite different than what the labour parties over there do (surely there will be Left critics who will raise this point).
Of course it seems individual members of all affiliated unions across the country will be able to vote, as per their rights to vote in those states that already let ordinary subbranch members vote in preselections.
If you want to rabbit on about a mass of union bosses being bound to pervert this process, because LOOK AT THE HORDE, then knock yourself out. The ideological culture war is over that way {points to, I dunno, conservative think tanks, perhaps odd Rightwing Greens; but at least they're not actual Liberals}.
Nickws, your advice seems a bit dodgy … we have read for years about the steadily declining membership of the ALP and Libs, and now we read about a campaign to stack the W.A. branch of the ALP:
"In the past 12 months, the number of MUA members who are also Labor members has increased more than fivefold to 850, up from 150 a year ago. This means one in four of the 3500 members of the ALP is now aligned to the MUA."
That was in April – do you know what the numbers are now? Presumably these will be the members who would be voting for the leader of the party. Given what we see go on over Senate pre-selections – a fairly nasty business of union dealing and double-crossing – I'm not sure why you're so sanguine that this branch-stacking campaign is unimportant.
Brian – you seem to have a very low opinion of Premier Giddings.
You say that "I have no idea what the real reasons were .." yet you're now prepared to believe that just one of the three that she gives might be valid – because that one isn't a criticism of the deal that was being offered.
Why would she make this up: "Tasmania wanted to ensure … that there is ongoing consultation with the states over the regulations that will govern the reform process." ?
Why isn't the most obvious explanation acceptable to you – that state premiers don't see why Canberra should be able to impose requirements via school plans on their state schools?
AFPs behavior over Slipper and Ashby seems highly compromised and worryingly politicized . We need a federal anti police corruption watchdog, just as we have in the states.
This really is important: an exception to normal parliamentary expenses practice was made for Slipper's $900. Abbott got to repay 10 TIMES AS MUCH ($9000) for example. And thats before we even start on why the much more serious charges surrounding Ashby have not been moved on.
As Kingston concludes
The AFP is compromised when it comes to investigating politicians. Always has been, always will be. Federal politics needs an independent body to investigate alleged political corruption, as in ICAC in NSW and the CMC in Queensland
The question of what is the appropriate weighting of treade union influence over Labor Party decision making is by no means a uniquely Australian issue. In the UK, Ed Miliband has announced plans to reform party voting rules to reduce power of union-dominated factions, leading to much criticism from trade union leaders.
This sounds vaguely familiar?
Ed Miliband had better check there are no videos of him swearing at Chinese translators, and that he has always been nice to airline cabin staff.
Barnaby Joyce at work.
At about 35,000 there are 10 AFL clubs with more members.
AFL membership gets you a season's ticket to see 11 home games.
ALP membership gives you the right to attend monthly branch meetings in a cold and draughty hall where you get to hear the Secretary read the minutes and correspondence, debate motions which if passed will be ignored by the Party, and hand out how to vote cards on election day to punters who are at best indifferent and at worst hostile.
There is no comparison about which one is better value.
ALP membership.
But then again, I don't like sport.
the same as what Conservative and Liberal parties in Britain & Canada do, it's actually quite different than what the labour parties over there do (surely there will be Left critics who will raise this point)
i'll jump. actually, the left party in canada is the ndp (new democratic party) not the liberals. its pretty weird & varied in canadia, this summary is from wiki articles.
every ndp biennial convention is a leadership convention, if members vote for it. at ndp conventions unions allocate 1/3 of delegates and members 2/3. ballot is "exhaustive ballot": low scoring candidates at each round of voting withdraw and endorse one of the high scoring candidates until there are two candidates left.
liberal party
delegates at the liberal party leadership convention are elected by (1) riding (electorate) associations, (2) women's associations, and (3) young liberal clubs. Each electoral district was allocated 100 points, with points in a district allocated in proportion to each candidate by the number of first preference votes received. hundreds of other ex-officio delegates are automatically awarded delegate spots at the convention, including liberal mps, senators, riding (electorate) association presidents, past candidates and members of provincial or territorial association executive boards. only liberals who join the party at least 90 days before the delegate-selection meetings could vote for delegates. voting takes place over a week and is preferential ballot, online or by phone.
conservative party
Each of 308 ridings (electorates) has 100 points which are distributed among leadership candidates by proportional representation according to votes cast by party members in the riding.
green party
convention every 4 years. ballots are mailed to "members in good standing". one member one vote, proportional ballot system
bloc quebecois (also a left party)
one member one vote. proportional ballot at which members list 1st, 2nd & 3rd choices only.
Rudd is holding a special caucus meeting on July 22. If this meeting is to discuss more than rule changes for electing an ALP leader, then it will most likely be about election strategy. Given the problem he has with one of the 102 caucus members leaking a later date if he mentions it at that meeting, there is a theory that he will use this as an announcement to go early, August 24 or 31.
But couldn't he discuss election strategy in caucus, and avoid specifying a date? I reckon he'll go later.
I'd like him to go later. Depends on how much he trusts the caucus. My source for this is a Canberra press gallery type.
You didn't have dinner with The Sphere, did you Terry?
Finished way too early.
No, well below The Sphere in the pecking order. And it wasn't Richo either.
I wonder if The Sphere has blackballed Latho from being part of the Nine Election team this time around?
"Pyne is correct" say Anne Twomey and Cheryl Saunders.
"she's [Giddings] only got to Google the Better Schools site to know what she's talking is crap". Apparently not – I think we can trust Twomey and Saunders. I always thought it more likely that the government's website was cr*p.
Right. Giddings is ignorant, and so is Barnett (who was previously an impressive education minister), their higher echelon departmental officials don't have the time or perhaps the specialist knowledge to understand what's going on, Twomey and Saunders aren't educators, Garrett is impressive, and the governments PR website is well-written.
We're not discussing the needs-based funding system which everyone agrees on, but on the grab for control of the administration of schooling which the government has tied up with it.
Saunders and Twomey confirm that it is a grab for increased control: "the new laws, regulations and related agreements signify unprecedented federal power over schools at a far more detailed level than previously"
That fool Garrett is quoted :"But former schools minister Peter Garrett insisted before he quit the ministry that it was not shift in power: "In fact our plan specifically requires state governments to increase the decision-making powers of local school principals." Our plan REQUIRES state governments ….
Perhaps I've read too much Andrew Norton but I agree with him that it's not a bad thing to have different state systems that are able to try new things and learn from each others' progress, rather than have Canberra decide how education is going to go right across Australia. As Saunders writes:
"each school authority, including the participating states, must have an "implementation plan" setting out "activities, programs and initiatives" in relation to which the federal minister may give "directions". The legislation makes it clear that this is a unilateral and not a co-operative exercise.
The states are concerned because this legislation makes major inroads into their primary responsibility for the running of schools and collaborating with each other on joint policy objectives. It also overrides what they argue is their experience and local knowledge in running schools and their capacity to deliver services more effectively than the Commonwealth. And it weakens the opportunities offered by a federal system for particular states to experiment with new initiatives in response to new ideas and to respond to local needs"
There was an article in the Communist Party's august journal The Guardian by Anna Pha in which she wrote of the ideology the govenrment has wrapped up with Gonski:
"give principals the power of a CEO
to hire, fire, promote and reward teachers and
other staff, and to manage budgets for recurrent
and minor capital expenditure. State schools
will gain autonomy similar to that of private
schools, paving the way for their privatisation.
They will be encouraged to raise additional
funding through corporate partnerships and
from parents and other sources."
Sounds like Robert's nightmare vision of the LNP policy! There's another article on The Conversation today about a new report which critiques the ideas that inform Gillard's policy: "This agenda, which is informed by market-based notions of choice, competition, accountability and standardisation, has been replicated unsuccessfully by a number of Western countries, none of which are high performers internationally," the report said.
"These policies are based on an argument that schools, like businesses, should thrive depending on their ability to meet or create consumer demands. This leads to providing autonomy to local schools, enhancing choice for parents, and the provision of more information, so that consumers can drive out the bad schools and support development of good schools. While this approach may seem logical, it has a number of issues."
I don't accept the argument that 'short term there is a need to be pragmatic and go with the flow if you can't change it.' By not agreeing to $300 million W.A. has been offered $900 million. By not being pressured by the government's stupid deadlines the state governments will hopefully be able to put the terms of the regulations/conditions up for negotiation, rather than just signing up to Canberra control of the education system.
wow, you're really into this, westerner. kudos for sticking to your guns. i think gonski is indicative of shift in the country towards a more unitary state and away from a federal state. i think that's regrettable as i am a federalist through and through. -a.v.
the Communist Party's august journal The Guardian
Fair crack of the whip, Russell. If there is a Communist Party journal in Australia its Green Left Weekly, and that's absolutely more democratic socialist than communist.
Bloody rightwing drongo who has no idea what either communism, socialism or leftwing liberalism really are.
But I'm really glad to see the new Guardian has got your nose out of joint. Now you realise what we felt like reading rightwing garbage from the Murcoch Empire year after year.
And just little online left wing rag gives you apoplexy. Didums!
Paul, your comment is wrong on many levels. Follow this Link
I might accept a lot labels, including confused, but rightwing isn't one of them. I certainly feel quite a bit left of the ALP – the party which boasts of being a low-taxing government. Lord, I still think that universities should be free!
Paul, Russell isn't confused or making it up. There is in fact a newspaper called The Guardian, sometimes handed out in the street in WA, which is a staunchly doctrinaire Marxist-Leninist publication. Last time someone gave me a copy, it identified itself on the cover as the newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia. It is completely unrelated to the English publication sometimes known as the Grauniad, which has recently added an Australian wing. I'm not sure if it's available outside WA though, or if the said Communist Party is the same entity Paul Norton used to be associated with.
I could have left the quote from The Guardian out, but I sort of liked including it together with my reference to Andrew Norton – does this not signify catholic tastes in blog-reading?
Alf – I thought of you recently when reading a subscription mining industry database/blog – they are sooo glad to see Kevin back. They think he is, and will be, much more anti-union than Julia. Even if the ALP lose the election they want Kevin there so the Senate won't block any Abbott IR rollbacks.
I guess Russell's link cleared up any confusion.
BTW mods, nothing controversial in my moderated comment. Just backing up Russell's claim about The Guardian (not the Grauniad).
Paul [email protected] The Guardian, the Worker's Weekly is the name of the organ of the Communist Party of Australia , formerly the Socialist Party of Australia, aka the Stalinists. It has wonderful articles such as "Lenin on Australia Still Relevant" with a quote from Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1977, Moscow, Volume19, pages 216-217 (which makes pretty good reading by the way, and is as true now as it was when it was written) about the ALP in the1913 Australian election.
Do not confuse it with the Guardian of the UK, Australian Edition, a recent interloper which is the newspaper of lefty bien pensants.
As for quality journalism I think that the CPA product has the edge but then even the Green Left Weekly is better than the UK Guardian.
The author of the quoted article in The Guardian may have been demonstrating "revisionist and liquidationist tendencies".
Terry – that takes me back: during my China years I would start each day with The People's Daily and my dictionary – didn't do much for my conversational Chinese!
yes, i agree, university should be free, and billionaires ought to endow research scholarships, instead of casinos or media that run interference with climate change responses. -a.v.
the j. d. packer chair of mathematical probability. -a.v.
I think university education should be free too.
But only for students that, after completion, perform a vital service society.
Some of the courses available ATM should not.
It takes me back too. 20 years ago I used to live around the corner from the now National Secretary of the CPA. I wish I was still in contact with her, as she would have plenty of stories about the many past lives of Senator Rhiannon.
Ah. Grovelling apology Russell for having it wrong on so many counts. An obscure Communist paper from WA. Perhaps I should be better informed, but you can understand how I got it confused. I guess. Twenty grovels.
That quote of Lenin's on the ALP is famous.
Meanwhile back in the real world, ICAC or the SMH meander on:
psst. which obscure word put me in moderation? For future reference so I don't use it again.
Maybe it was Green Left Weekly?
Paul @85, I think it must have been "didums!"
But it could have been:
Fair crack of the whip (a Ruddism bound to set any spamometer off)
Communist Party
Green Left Weekly
democratic socialist
Murcoch Empire (sic)
Your post was very rich in possibilities.
It can't have been didums, because it's diddums.
Must have been drongo then.
Terry 84
That would be the Combined Pensioners Association?
I think this post needs a Norto contribution if we are to discuss CPA and CPA (the sequel).
No, Didums was a notorious Trotskyite renegade traitor. Coulda been that.
GregM, wouldn't the PM say "fair suck of the whip"?
OK, I'll suggest a Norto topic:
The PM wants to revisit "the Accord" without according it that name. To what extent did the widespread acceptance of 'the Accord' depend on the public support given by Laurie Carmichael – and other prominent CPA union officials [?].
Can this support be attributed to Bob Hawke's relatively cordial relations with such officials, dating from his presidency of the ACTU?
Or did the 'militant' union officials sense that the era of militancy was already waning?
(I reckon there's a thesis or two in the area.)
Two things I'd like to add about education. I've read an education academic who stated that Gillard would have liked to take over state government education, but she recognised it wasn't politically possible. He thought it was fairly obvious given the manner of the recent reforms and I agree. (No link, sorry)
I've also read that state education departments cannot cope with the size they have become. NSW for example, administers far more schools than they were originally intended to, and principals have been inundated with department emails during term breaks. Often this correspondence is paper shuffling, arse covering stuff.
So, to me the question is, how would a federal primary and/or secondary education department deal with this problem of size? I don't know the answer.
One difficulty with Accord Mark Rudd is that NO ONE hates Kevin Rudd like a trade union official (with the possible exception of Christine Milne). Whereas Bob Hawke was clearly one of the clan – Keating was always the hate object for union officials in those days.
Other issues:
(1) in the early 80s, industrial action could genuinely bring Australia to a standstill. I am no longer sure that is true.
(2) the unions used to maintain significant research offices at that time – I do believe a young Dougie Cameron may have been an AMWU researcher back in the day;
(3) there was always the threat of "Thatcherism" in the air as the progeny of overly militant unionism and failure to support a Labor government.
The other problem may be the caliber of the union leaderships themselves. I am struggling to think of anything a leading union official has had to say over the last three years on any subject other than the Labor leadership or how many delegates they should have at the ALP National Conference. As if on cue, Tony Sheldon threw in his thoughts on that subject yesterday.
GregM, wouldn't the PM say "fair suck of the whip"?
Ambi, the Ruddism for that is "Fair suck of the sauce bottle"
He toyed with "Fair suck of the saveloy" but decided not to go there.
i think everyone should be supported to uni level study of anything they're attracted to. monetary remuneration will attract enough to law, economics and accounting. if you want more nurses and teachers and fewer art restorers then pay the nurses and teachers as much as lawyers, economists and accountants. -a.v.
i think everyone should be supported to uni level study of anything they're attracted to.
Macramé? Homeopathy? Chiropractic? Ptolemaic astronomy? Alchemy? Intelligent Design?
Not with my taxes, thank you very much!
Alf – can I quickly add to your proposal, that you then have a good progressive income tax, so those that have profited so handsomely from their education do in fact pay back the cost of it (and more).
a progressive income tax should be the bottom line for any civilization worthy of admiration. -a.v.
let me more clearly put my point. people should be supported to study anything however obscure or arcane that is taught at a university not just what is "useful to society". -a.v.
Fair dinky-di #97,
that's one fair suck for a man,
one giant, you know, negativity for personkind.
….. perform a vital service society.
"useful to society"
Apocryphal postmodern memes, as in …. social constructionists view knowledge as constructed as opposed to created?
On one hand, Rudd promised to re-examine university funding cuts. On the other, Mr Abbott signalled a hands-off approach to the university sector.
….. perform a vital service society.
"useful to society"
Apocryphal postmodern memes, as in …. social constructionists view knowledge as constructed as opposed to created.
On one hand, Rudd promised to re-examine university funding cuts. On the other, Mr Abbott signalled a hands-off approach to the university sector.
I also saw Rudd at the National Press Club and it was refreshing to hear a politician speak clearly and answer questions frankly. I'm not surprised that Abbott is looking worried, the small target strategy worked well while the Labor Party was engaged in internal fighting but now that we are seeing unity and policy direction the coalition need to regroup with a new strategy.
It seems that the coalition are committed to waiting until the election date is announced before they unleash their costed policies, start engaging in debate and reveal their vision for Australia: risky strategy to leave it so late in my view.
rudd also said something in his first pass on lateline i think it was that makes me think he'd be a friend of libraries. he spoke inter alia about the importance of well stocked research libraries with deep collections. i know when i was at uni i benefited greatly from a well stocked research library with journal collections that went back to 1800 and earlier in some cases. -a.v.
Annabel Crabb reckons that Rudd is in it for the long haul, and those grumblings from the AWU and the Shoppies about what he is going to do to the ALP may have some substance. The fact that Richo is now getting defensive is a sure sign that something is on.
Yes, Terry. Labor is in the highly uncomfortable position of having a leader they loathe. Well good on Rudd, if he stops Abbott from getting up. But, I do find this all grimly amusing in a despairing sort of way.
In other news, Rudd shows what a patronising fool he is when it comes to disability issues. That's right Kev. Pat the poor little cripple on the head.
Liz, is it "Labor", or some of the privileged factional incumbents? Some of those folk would rather lose power as long as they retain their sinecures. And most of them are male, as you would no doubt be aware.
I'm not privy to all the manoeuvring and whispering that goes on, Terry. What I am aware of, is that they didn't turn to Rudd until their situation was desperate. There's an awful lot of backbenchers who would know they'd lose their seats with Gillard.
Liz @ 114
From that linked article:
I often joke to shocked friends who witness these incidents that it's because I have the kind of luscious hair you see in shampoo ads. Or because I'm just so f***ing adorable.
In reality, it's because I'm a disabled person.
Still, we celebrated. We know what an important reform this is. Advocates and politicians alike have fought long and hard. We all deserve a pat on the back.
But no-one deserves a pat on the head.
I don't dispute that people find this behaviour patronising, however, I wonder how much of it is to do simply with disabled people's heads often being a lot lower down (because they are in a wheelchair) rather than someone being condescending towards them. Does the pat on the head happen to disabled people who are tall and standing? Do they get a pat on the head, or a pat on the back as the author would like.
I think part of Rudd's public popularity is because of his unpopularity amongst some sections of the ALP, both inside and outside of the parliamentary party. For example he was seen as battling the power of the factions even though that led to the downfall of Rudd mk1.
Chris, sure it's done in an unthinking, lazy way. That's the point. Think about what's it's like to be patted on the head. Then you wouldn't do it because it's disrespectful. But, disabled people are treated with a lack of respect constantly. Rudd should be better than that, especially launching Disabilitycare, which is all about disabled people living full lives that they're in control of. Patting the cute crip is the opposite of that.
I wonder if the moment has come to stop navel gazing about what is wrong with our own side, and to focus on Abbott and the LNP
I wonder if the moment has come to stop navel gazing about what is wrong with our own side and to focus on Abbott and the LNP
That reminds me of an old joke.
Why is it better for Labor party members when the Labor Party is in government?
Because it's easier to send letters of condemnation to your own side.
Ambigulous @94:
OK, I'll suggest a Norto topic:
The PM wants to revisit "the Accord" without according it that name. To what extent did the widespread acceptance of 'the Accord' depend on the public support given by Laurie Carmichael – and other prominent CPA union officials [?].
Can this support be attributed to Bob Hawke's relatively cordial relations with such officials, dating from his presidency of the ACTU?
Or did the 'militant' union officials sense that the era of militancy was already waning?
The left unions (including crucially, Carmichael's AMWU) were induced to support the Accord by the inclusion of social wage and industry policy commitments. The CPA's "interventionist strategy" developed in the 1970s was invoked in support of left union agreement to an accord that would moderate real wages growth in return for the labour movement being in a position to shape wider social and economic policy. This meant that the entire spectrum of labour movement opinion, apart from the far left, was more or less supportive of the Accord, although left, centre and right unions had different understandings and expectations of the Accord.
As to Bob Hawke, one of the pivotal moments of the Hawke/Hayden leadership struggle was the ACTU leadership's decision to stall on reaching an Accord with the ALP while Hayden was leader, in contrast with the alacrity with which they sealed the deal with Hawke. I think it's probably more accurate to say that Bill Kelty was the key link within the ACTU as the person who cultivated good relations with, on one hand, union officials across the spectrum including Carmichael and Tom McDonald from the communist left, and on the other hand key ALP figures like Hawke and Keating.
There is, I think, also a lot of truth in the last point. I think that at the time the Accord was signed some of the more thoughtful left union officials were conscious of the limitations of traditional industrial militancy as a means of achieving their goals (especially during the 1982-83 recession under a Coalition government) and increasingly looked to the "democratic class struggle" as a more promising alternative.
I know what you mean, Terry. But, it's interesting that that was rarely argued here when Gillard was PM. Many discussions were all about heaping odium on her for her awful right-wingness, and pining for that wonderful Mr Rudd.
So, I'll end up voting for with the Greens or Labor. But, it's a bit beyond me to ignore the negative when it comes to Rudd.
I wonder if the moment has come to stop navel gazing about what is wrong with our own side, and to focus on Abbott and the LNP
If its just navel gazing then its not particularly useful. But actual reform like has been proposed? That's worth doing now. The window of opportunity for getting reforms accepted and there's a good chance that if the ALP lose the next election enthusiasm for reform will disappear as people make a grab for power.
Gillard threw away the opportunity for real pokie machine reform and its likely that it will never happen as significant sections of the ALP don't want to really do it, and the prospect of having a hung parliament where the right person has the leverage in the future is pretty low.
In my comment above "The window of opportunity for getting reforms accepted " should have been "The window of opportunity for getting reforms accepted is small"
Paul 122
A lot of people believe that the Accord was the catalyst (if not the actual case) of the precipitous fall in union membership that took off during that time (and has since kept on going). Why join a union when your wages and conditions are determined in a deal between the umbrella union and employer groups?
Sam @126, the problem with that proposition is that during the same period there were other developments (structural economic and workforce changes, aggressively anti-union State governments, cultural change in more individualistic directions, etc.) that also impacted on union density. The question then becomes one of identifying the effects of the Accord over and above that of other factors, and also of what other strategies were available and likely to be pursued by Australian unions in that period that might have produced a better outcome.
Why join a union when your wages and conditions are determined in a deal between the umbrella union and employer groups?
But that was the case before the Accord and the industrial reforms that flowed on from it.
Prior to the Accord wage fixation was the province of the Australlian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, and what a wonderful mess it made of it.
The Accord ushered in an era of wage outcomes negotiated between peak employer and union organisations and coordinated by the ACTU, with the AC&AC in a rubberstamping role -and heaven help any union that decided to step outside that model, as the airline pllots found out to their great expense.
That was followed in 1989, though, by enterprise bargaining of a sort, with the second tier negotiations on wage increases for productivity tradeoffs, supposedly between individual enterprises and their workforces. That was the opportunity for the unions to shine before their members. Some did, some did not.
Since the 1991 Industrial Relations Act the emphasis has been on enterprise bargaining as the primary vehicle of negotiating increases in pay and conditions and that is supposed not to allow pattern bargaining which might involve umbrella employer and union organisations. The individual unions have effectively had the field to themselves to bargain for outcomes for their members.
I think however, as Robert has alluded to, there have been massive changes in society and the economy since the 1980s which have rendered the traditional union industrial model less and less relevant so that they have representation mainly in smokestack industries in the private sector.
Sam @126: that sums up my view. In addition, under the conditions of The Accord, unions and their personnel became managers of labour; unions lost their relevance when they forgot to point out that union membership underpinned even the existence of The Accord. People stopped joining because as they became little more than a type of industrial insurance scheme for individuals in difficulty.
My last experience of the NSW PSA was complete shit when, as a workplace delegate, I was hung out to dry by an organizer who didn't understand or care about the issue which was racist staff and practices with the statutory NSW child protection agency.
I'm not sure why you'd bother joining a union like that.
Going back a long way I was part of a comprehensive left renewal in the NSWNA in the early eighties. I swore after that experience I'd never get in that deep ever again. But that is what is needed to democratise the unions. I wouldn't ask anyone to do that. Their progressive period, for those that had one (not the shoppies,ever) is over. Now most of them are rumps of conservative social values and no action.
as a workplace delegate, I was hung out to dry by an organizer who didn't understand or care about the issue which was racist staff and practices
This was always going to be a problem for the unions in the washup from the New Left movements, regardless of the Accord. The unions are there to protect their workers, and a lot of unions see that role as including a refusal to open up the industry to new sources of labour (especially women and migrants). Unions also don't exist to facilitate wide-reaching cultural changes that might improve the quality of service provided by their members. They exist to protect their members from a rapacious capitalist class. Which puts them in a bind when the employer is asking the unionized workforce to drop out-dated beliefs in order to improve service quality.
I don't think you can blame the Accord for the many and varied failures of the organized industrial old left to throw out their conservative social values. That really depends on how effective the new left has been within specific unions at getting those changes understood and implemented. I would suggest, if anything, that Hawke and Keating were broadly supportive of those social movements and it's possible that the Accord helped, rather than hindered, the process of carving off those "rumps of conservative social values."
Labor sacks Bennelong candidate over corruption claims.
The dumping of Jeff Salvestro-Martin, a Ryde councillor accused of accepting political favours from a local newspaper, is a setback for Kevin Rudd's bid to clean up NSW Labor before the election.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-sacks-bennelong-candidate-over-corruption-claims-20130712-2pud5.html#ixzz2YnsTPFl1


text:
Take a look inside Precinct Pizza in Tampa, Florida. Owner Rick Drury talks about the pizzeria's expanded menu and its food cost.
Pizza Today on the Road: Wood Fired Pizza and Nightlife, Tampa Florida
Tour Wood Fired Pizza and Nightlife, Tampa Florida. Owner Peter Taylor shares keys to running a successful business.
Pizza Today on the Road: Coals Artisan Pizza, Louisville, KY
Owner Mark Peters describes his unique pizza and dough process at Coals Artisan Pizza in Louisville, Kentucky. For more on Coals, read Coals Artisan Pizza, Louisville, KY — Turning coal into gold
Pizza pride on display at Expo
Operators from around the world showed off their pizzeria t-shirts at International Pizza Expo.
Day One Images From Pizza Expo
Instagram Takeover
I absolutely love International Pizza Expo. This is my eighth show, and I'm just as excited for this one as the first. As a part of my duties this year, I will be taking over Pizza Today's Instagram account. For six days I'll take you behind the scenes with photos and videos of Expo, from … More »
1 Week: 30th Birthday Bash
Wednesday, March 26, celebration of three decades of Pizza Expo. Block party setup with two entertainment stages, specialty food booths, craft beer, martini bar, game stations, contests and prizes. Live music and Acrobatic Dough-Spinning finals. Free for all attendees.
2 Weeks: Who's Who of Industry Suppliers and Distributors
Nearly all major food and equipment distributors exhibiting. Booths with virtually every important supplier and manufacturer serving the pizzeria industry. New products, specialized ingredients, POS systems, ovens, furnishings and décor, beverage options. Items you've never thought of. All on one Exhibit Hall floor.
3 Weeks: 30 Big Tips From Big Dave
Thursday morning Special Seminar: Big Dave's List of 30 Secrets of Pizzeria Success. Most essential lessons learned by top operator turned top consultant with more than three decades in the pizzeria business. Free two-day, on-site consultation with Big Dave—a $5,000 value—to be given away at the session.
4 Weeks: Pizza Styles Taught by the Pros
Demonstrations of pan pizza (Jeff Smokevitch, Brown Dog Pizza), the classic Neapolitan (Tony Gemignani, Tony's Pizza Napoletana), whole-wheat and gluten-free pies (Mike Rutledge, Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza), Sicilian style (Laura Meyer, Tony's Pizza Napoletana), seafood pizzas and chicken pizzas (Theo Kalogeracos, Little Caesars Pizzerias, Australia) and meat-topping specials (Jeff Varasano, Varasano's). Plus pizza-making workshops by … More »


text:
Head coach Bob Toledo to focus on play of Anthony Scelfo and Kevin Moore with an eye on the future
NEW ORLEANS, La.-With two games left on the 2007 schedule, the Tulane University football coaching staff will look to get an idea of what the future holds for the Green Wave program - primarily the quarterback position - over the next two weekends.
Sophomore Anthony Scelfo has started the last seven games under center, but redshirt-freshman Kevin Moore has seen his fair share of time calling the signals as well as the pair rotated in and out in four of the last five ballgames. Scelfo leads the team with 1,200 yards and six touchdowns on 94-of-173 passing, while Moore has passed for 277 yards and two scores while completing 20-of-34 throws.
"I'd like to put them both in a pot and stir them up," Tulane head coach BobToledo said. "I like a guy that has a little more size than Anthony. He doesn't have to be 6-4. It's nice. I like a guy that has mobility and Kevin has some mobility. He doesn't have quite the mobility that Anthony has.
"I don't get enamored by the big arm. Some people are enamored by a guy who can throw the ball through that wall. I've seen guys throw the ball through the wall, but they can't hit a wide receiver that's open. I want guys that have a quick arm, that know where to go with the ball and get rid of it and are accurate. That, to me, is so important."
Scelfo stands at just 5-10 and tips the scales at 189 pounds, but his hard-nosed, tough attitude has allowed him to maintain a stronghold on the starting position. He has shown steady improvement throughout the season - his first as a starter - and has been able to make plays with his feet as well as the New Orleans native ranks second on the club with 110 yards and a touchdown.
Moore, meanwhile, has the size at 6-foot-4, 232 pounds, but entered the year lacking the experience Toledo felt necessary to be the starter. Since Toledo's arrival in January, Moore has shown a solid grasp of the offense and his arm strength is second to no one currently on the Green Wave roster.
Like Scelfo, Moore has shown steady improvement as the season has gone along and only a shoulder injury suffered in the Memphis game on Oct. 27 kept him out of the Tulsa contest the following week. Playing two weeks after suffering a grade-two shoulder right shoulder separation - his throwing shoulder - the Highland Village, Texas, native put up his best numbers to date last week against UTEP, throwing for 110 yards and a score while completing nine-of-10 passes.
"What we wanted to do is we wanted to find out if Kevin Moore could play," Toledo said of the two-quarterback rotation. "We've seen him in practice and he really hadn't had an opportunity. We felt that the SMU game (on Oct. 20), we were going to force the issue. We were going to give him an opportunity to see if he could fish or cut bait, and I think he's done a nice job.
"He's coming back off a shoulder injury a week ago. Most people wouldn't have played last week and I would have liked to see him play last week against Tulsa, but he got that shoulder separation and wasn't able to play. It's a matter of us trying to find out for the future who is capable of playing and what we have to do with recruiting and that type of thing. That's why we did what we did."
While Scelfo and Moore battle it out on the field during Saturday's contests, one other player who has caught the eye of the Green Wave coaching staff in 2007 is true freshman Joe Kemp, who is redshirting the season. A native of North Richland Hills, Texas, and a 2007 graduate of Richland High School, Kemp passed for 4,250 yards and 37 touchdowns during his prep career.
As a senior, he claimed honorable-mention All-District 5-5A recognition and was an Area Top 25 Recruit. In 2007, Kemp has been running the Tulane scout team and has shown a to be a quick study as he runs the opponents' offenses against the Wave's defense each week in practice.
"I'm excited about seeing him in spring," Toledo said of Kemp. "He's got a lot going for him. He's 6-4, he's mobile, he's faster than every quarterback we've got out there, he's got a strong arm, and he's got an accurate arm. It's going to be a very interesting spring.
"That's one of the reasons we're playing Kevin. I want to see if he could play. And right now he's proving that he's got some ability. So, it will be a competitive spring. Joe Kemp is going to get a chance in the spring."
The Green Wave return to action on Saturday, Oct. 17, when they travel to Houston, Texas for a 2 p.m. C-USA showdown at Rice before closing out the 2007 season on Nov. 24 at East Carolina. Both games will be broadcast on the Tulane ISP Sports Network (local station, WIST AM 690) and both live audio and video are available via the internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com to registered members of the All-Access Pass. Live stats are also available free of charge on the official website of Tulane Athletics.


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Later on today, we will post a closer look at the Yankees-Indians series, which starts tomorrow night.
This layoff is so long it feels like the Bombers went home with the Mets.
Anyway, here are my quick picks for the record.
Phillies over the Rockies in a wild 5-game series.
Cubs over D-Backs in 4. Never underestimate the Lou factor. Look for Soriano to have a big series.
Red Sox over Angels in 4. The Angels may own the Yanks, but the Halos wet the bed when they see the Sawx.
Yanks over Indians in 4. I've maintained that this is the most complete Bombers roster in years.
In the Championship series, I see the Phils edging the Cubs in seven and the Yankees beating the Red Sox in 6.
Finally, in a rematch of the 1950 World Series, the Yanks capture their 27th title, defeating the Cheese Steaks in 6.
The Bombers win it for Phil Rizzuto, who by the way, was MVP back in 1950.
If only it was that easy.


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I used to eat cheeseburgers and corn things. They make me sick so I don't anymore.
I used to eat cheeseburgers and corn things. They make me sick so I don't anymore.
I don't see the need to eat them anymore... I just never exactly want one. I don't eat any grain product at all, so if I'm at a Mexican place, I ask for a "burrito bowl" which is the filling, in a bowl.
So I stopped viewing the conventional way of eating as "normal".
I eat burrito bowls. All the insides of the burrito with none of the unnecessary outsides. I eat my burgers as a salad if I must have one. Otherwise I prefer steak and chops.
Think of it this way. Even if you had the means to grow all your food, what would you realistically do? Would you plow acres of land, plant corn and wheat with seeds you either purchased or saved, irrigate the land, harvest the crops, dry the crops, separate the grain from the chaff, store the grain so that vermin and mold can't get to it, grind the grain and now eat it? Or would you keep some chickens, pigs and cows and grow a small vegetable garden and some fruit trees?
Basing your diet on "whole grains" is really basing your diet on cheap fossil fuels, unless you have access to slave labor.
Female, 5'3", 50, Max squat: 202.5lbs. Max deadlift: 225 x 3.
Its hard to view bread and grain as this sort of evil that it seems primal enthusiasts seem to consider it. I suppose that if I could stick with the diet long enough to notice the differences in how my body does with grains I might be able to see it that way, but its hard if you haven't had that experience.
A lot of people don't realize that they react until sometime after they've gotten their diets clean of the things they were sensitive to.
It is hard, just got to break through and then you start to "feel" it
Again, very lucky here in Australia and commercial food preparation.
If you are uneasy about why, how much, is this safe, etc., maybe you should consider taking the time to actually read the book that you are going to base your diet on.... just a suggestion.
It's based off a diet called The Zone that was published in the late 90s.
It's not so much that grains (that includes corn) and legumes are evil, it's just that in the grand scheme of things, they are nutritionally pretty pathetic. Almost "empty calories" if you will.
Now soy and the crap they sell as vegetable oil? That s**t is evil.
"Right is right, even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it." - St. Augustine
Who says back fat is a bad thing? Maybe on a hairy guy at the beach, but not on a crab.


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Bridges To Hope is again helping families get their children ready for the coming school year.
Derek Winsor, program director for the Bag To School Program, says the program has grown for the sixth straight year and now more than 707 children are registered.
Winsor said in a news release, Bridges To Hope is again partnering with 13 community and neighbourhood groups to distribute the bags and supplies.
"Over the past six years, this program continues to grow and help families get ready for school and ensure all students have the materials to begin the school year," Winsor said.
This year, the program is in need of the following items:
– 500, one-inch, three-ring binders;
— 7,000 duo tang folders;
— 600 erasers;
— 500, 12-inch rulers;
— 300 geometry set;
— 300, six-pack coloured markers;
— 300 four-pack exercise books;
— 500 glue sticks;
— 300 pencil cases;
— 300 pencil sharpeners.
Donations can be made this week to the Bridges To Hope office at 39 Cookstown Rd. The bags will be packed on the weekend for distribution to the families next week.


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On February 9, 2012, an historic joint state-federal settlement was reached between Arizona and 48 other states, the federal government and the country's five largest residential mortgage loan servicers—Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. The settlement will provide as much as $25 billion in relief to distressed borrowers and direct payments to states and the federal government. It's the largest civil settlement reached by the Attorneys General since the tobacco settlement. Arizona's share is over $1.3 billion.
The agreement settled state and federal investigations finding that the country's five largest loan servicers engaged in unacceptable and sometimes fraudulent mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices. These practices violated state and federal law. The settlement provides benefits to borrowers whose loans are owned by the settling banks as well as to many of the borrowers whose loans they service. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia signed and entered Consent Judgments reflecting the terms of the settlement on April 4, 2012. Copies of the Complaint and Consent Judgments can be found at the bottom of this page.
- Aid to homeowners needing loan modifications, including first and second lien principal reduction. The servicers are required to work off up to $17 billion in principal reduction and other forms of loan modification relief nationwide within 3 years of entry of the judgments.
State attorneys general anticipate the settlement's requirement for principal reduction will show other lenders that principal reduction is one effective tool in combating foreclosure and that it will not lead to widespread defaults by borrowers who really can afford to pay.
- Aid to borrowers who are current, but underwater. Eligible borrowers will be able to refinance at today's historically low interest rates. Servicers will have to provide up to $3 billion in refinancing relief nationwide.
- Direct payments to borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure with no requirement to prove financial harm and without having to release private claims against the servicers or the right to participate in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency review process. An estimated $1.3 billion in benefits will be realized by some 750,000 borrowers nationwide under this program. See www.independentforeclosurereview.com or www.occ.treas.gov for further information about the OCC review process, which is separate and apart from relief under the multistate settlement.
- Payments to signing states to help fund consumer protection and state foreclosure protection efforts. Arizona has received $47.7 million to be used for state foreclosure prevention programs, attorney general's office costs and fees, and to remediate the effects of the foreclosure and housing crisis in Arizona.
- First ever nationwide reforms to servicing standards; something that no other federal or state agency has been able to achieve. These servicing standards require a single point of contact, adequate staffing levels and training, better communication with borrowers, appropriate standards for executing documents in foreclosure cases, ending improper fees, and ending dual-track foreclosures for many loans.
- State AG oversight of national banks for the first time. Something no court could award.
- The servicers, 4 of whom are national banks, are required to regularly report compliance with the settlement to an independent, outside monitor who reports to state Attorneys General.
- Servicers will have to pay heavy penalties for non-compliance with the settlement, including missed deadlines.
- Banks are still accountable for other claims not covered by this settlement. The Consent Judgments hold the servicers accountable for their wrongdoing on robo-signing and mortgage servicing. The judgments do not seek to hold them responsible for all their wrongs over the past five years, and the judgments and their releases preserve legal options for others to pursue.
- Governmental entities and private parties may pursue securities cases against the banks.
- A joint federal-state task force has been formed to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the collapse of the mortgage lending and investment markets.
- Individuals may still pursue private claims.
- The judgments include absolutely no criminal immunity for any individual who violated the law.
- Settlement negotiators for the states have selected an administrator to handle the logistics of the cash payments to borrowers who were foreclosed on.
- The settlement administrator, attorneys general and the mortgage servicers are working to identify homeowners eligible for the cash payments, as well as for principal reductions and refinancing. Those eligible should receive letters, but they can contact this Office or their servicer to ask to be included.
- It is hoped that the cash payments will be distributed in mid-2013. Any question or comments may be directed to the claims administrator Rust Consulting at (866) 430-8358.
- This settlement will be executed over the three years following entry of the judgments.
- The servicing standards reform were implemented in phases and were to be fully implemented by October 2, 2012.
Because of the complexity of the mortgage market and the judgments, which will be performed over a three-year period, borrowers may not immediately know if they are eligible for relief.
For loan modifications and refinance options, borrowers may be contacted directly by one of the five participating mortgage servicers. Keeping in mind the timeline above, contact the banks directly if you need additional information about your eligibility for relief under the settlement:
- Bank of America: (877) 488-7814
- Citibank: (866) 272-4749
- Chase: (866) 372-6901
- GMAC/Ally: (800) 766-4622
- Wells Fargo: (800) 288-3212
For cash payments to foreclosure victims, a settlement administrator designated by the attorneys general will send claim forms to eligible persons. You may be eligible if you were foreclosed upon by one of the settling banks between 1/1/2008 and 12/31/2011. If you are not contacted, and your loan was foreclosed upon by one of the settling banks during that time period, or if you have further questions, you may contact the claims administrator Rust Consulting at (866) 430-8358. You may also visit www.NationalMortgageSettlement.com for more information, or write to: National Mortgage Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 8043, Faribault, MN 55021-9443.
If you believe you may be eligible for relief under this settlement but are concerned you will be difficult to locate, please contact the claims administrator, Rust Consulting, at (866) 430-8358. We will collect and forward your information to the appropriate person to ensure you are contacted if you are eligible.
If you are in bankruptcy and want to find out how the settlement will affect you, information is available on the U.S. Trustee's website at:http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/public_affairs/consumer_info/nms/index.htm
More information will be made available on this website as the settlement programs are implemented.
For more information on the settlement:
Loans owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are not eligible for all of the benefits of this settlement. You may visit the following websites to learn if your loan is owned by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac:
These sites will also include information about mortgage and foreclosure programs you may be eligible to access.
Consumers who feel they have been a victim of consumer fraud, or who would like to report consumer fraud, may file a consumer complaint with our Office. To file a complaint online, consumers can visit our complaint section. Consumers can also contact the Arizona Attorney General's Office Consumer Information & Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 / (520) 628-6504 / (800) 352-8431.
Press Release: (2/9/2012) AG HORNE ANNOUNCES ARIZONA TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $1.6 BILLION AS PART OF NATIONAL MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT AND SETTLES SEPARATE LAWSUIT WITH B OF A FOR OVER $10 MILLION
Press Release: (4/24/12) AG HORNE ISSUES NATIONAL MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT CONSUMER ALERT TO ARIZONANS
Joint State-Federal Mortgage Servicing Settlement FAQ
Highlights of Servicing Standards
Consent Judgment B of A - Signed 4-4-2012
Consent Judgment Wells Fargo - Signed 4-4-2012
Consent Judgment Citi Group - Signed 4-4-2012
Consent Judgment JPMorgan Chase - Signed 4-4-2012
Consent Judgment Ally-Residential-GMAC - Signed 4-4-2012
Help on the Way for Distressed AZ Homeowners (video)


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I had a chance to talk with one of the rising juniors in Pennsylvania, James Conner of McDowell High School in Erie, Pennsylvania. Conner is a great all-around football player with the ability to play multiple positions. He made most of his impact on defense as an outside linebacker and defensive end. Conner racked up 12 sacks to go along with 46 tackles. He tallied almost 400 yards of total offense and 4 touchdowns from the running back and wide receiver position. He's listed at 6 foot 2 inches and 220 pounds, making him a very attractive prospect to college coaches.more
J. Cleezy: You were invited to the Semper Fidels Proving Ground Combine earlier this year in January. How was that experience for you?
J. Conner: It was a lot of fun. There were some good kids there. I feel I did especially good in the one on one's because of my height advantage. I caught pretty much every ball. The experience was fun. It let me know how hard I have to work because kids are hungry and want it as bad as I do.
J. Cleezy: That's great. This is the time of year where there's a lot of combines, camps, 7 on 7's. What are some of the things that you will be doing to try and get your name out there to college coaches.
J. Conner: I'm going to the Pittsburgh, Illinois, and Ohio State camps. I also will go to any Junior Day camps if I get any more invitations. I've already went to Buffalo's Junior Day.
J. Cleezy: Tell us what you feel is your best attribute as a football player?
J. Conner: My best attribute is my mental approach to the game. When it's game day, it's no other feeling in the world. I'm just ready. I know exactly what I have to do. I have a strong will to win and I never give up. I'm also very physical. Having older brothers beat me up makes me a beast! I'm a lion!
J. Cleezy: I see. Is there anyone that you try and emulate on the field or have learned from?
J. Conner: On defense I try to imitate Hugh Green and Dwight Freeney. On offense, I try to run the football like Herschel Walker.
Below is James Conner's 2011 Season Highlight video, courtesy of Finest Preps.


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- CrackBerry Genius
07-01-14, 01:54 PM Thread Author #1
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FTC accuses T-Mobile of making millions off bogus charges {Fox News}WASHINGTON � The Federal Trade Commission is alleging that T-Mobile USA, Inc., made "hundreds of millions" of dollars off its customers through bogus charges.
In a complaint filed Tuesday, the FTC says the mobile phone provider billed consumers for subscriptions to "premium" texts such as $10-per-month horoscopes that were never authorized by the account holder. The FTC alleges that T-Mobile collected as much as 40 percent of the charges, even after being made aware that the subscriptions were scams.
FTC Chair Edith Ramirez said in a statement that the agency's goal is to ensure T-Mobile repays its customers. She said there were, quote, "clear warning signs the charges it was imposing were fraudulent."
- CrackBerry Genius
07-01-14, 01:55 PM Thread Author #2
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Ironic that the "Uncarrier, we're your bro" T-Mobile has been screwing people. Absolutely ridiculous. Glad I am not a TMo user. Wonder how Sprint feels about this.
- CrackBerry Genius
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This has been going on awhile since Tmob stopped allowing premium SMS 3rd party services to charge on carrier billing since last fall. They've instituted refund program
Beginning in July and running through September, T-Mobile will notify current and former customers who paid for Premium SMS services and have not already received a refund to let them know the process to request a summary of these charges and then request a refund for charges that were not authorized. A special website will also be available in July to provide more information.
- CrackBerry Genius
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The kabuki theatre will continue for a while and they will eventually settle.
- CrackBerry Genius of Geniuses
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- With Needle
Karma works!
- CrackBerry Genius
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People are funny. I had this happen to me on T-Mobile. I pay attention to my bill every month. I called immediately about it and they took the charge off my account. Never again have I saw another one. It's actually on point every month unlike other bills I have where they raise it for no apparent reason... Again, I pay attention so as not to get nailed with late charges.
Also, every carrier has done this in the past, it's nothing new. T-Mobile gets nailed because they are changing certain aspects of the industry.
- CrackBerry Abuser
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Good I hope they get sued and we get some kind of refund. I doubt we would see a dime tho
Posted via CB10
- CrackBerry Genius
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All the US wireless providers will eventually have to pay restitution or have done already. Interesting story involving a BB customer in 2013 and AT&T.
In early February, I received texts on my BlackBerry inviting me to subscribe to two different short message services. One is called Gossip and the other is called HoroscopeGenie. I don't believe in horoscopes and don't care about celebrity gossip, so I deleted both texts without opening them.
But when I checked my latest AT&T bill, I discovered that I was charged $9.99 for a month for both. I called AT&T and spoke with a very nice representative who informed me that I would have to open the text message in order to read the fine print at the bottom, which would give me the option to opt out of the default subscription.How does a company like Wise Media wind up on an AT&T bill? A member of the public relations team at AT&T, Mark Siegel, handed the Haggler off to Mari Melguizo, a spokeswoman-for-hire at Fleischman-Hillard, a P.R. firm. The Haggler sees nothing wrong with a company outsourcing its vocal cords, but it was soon clear that Ms. Melguizo knew next to nothing about Wise Media in particular or cramming in general.
She correctly noted that AT&T would refund the money of anyone who complains about a third-party SMS charge. But the problem isn't that people notice these charges and get stuck with them. It's that an unknown number of people never realize that they are being charged in the first place.
Why does AT&T allow Wise Media to show up on its bills? Is it because AT&T is taking a cut of the revenue generated by Wise Media?
Nope, said Ms. Melguizo.
Really, asked the Haggler?
Really, said Ms. Melguizo.
Could you double-check that, asked the Haggler?
She could, she said.
The next day she sent this e-mail, also quoted in its entirety:
"AT&T has no further comment at this time."
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