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The best evolutionary designs are brought about by a balance between change and consistency.
Artwork by Piper Thibodeau. You can view more of her work here.
I don't even think E4 and the Champions are difficult, even though the Champions use a greater variety of Pokemon types. It's only with Battle ___ rules that I sense a detectable increase in AI difficulty.
The best evolutionary designs are brought about by a balance between change and consistency.
Artwork by Piper Thibodeau. You can view more of her work here.
The best evolutionary designs are brought about by a balance between change and consistency.
Artwork by Piper Thibodeau. You can view more of her work here.
I would love the leaders to have pokemon from all across the reigonal/National Dex with 4-6 Pokemon.
Dammit, I've been practically dead. Too busy fighting demons and shadows.......* points evoker at head*....... back to work...* fires*
I am a Christian and proud of it! Copy and paste this if you are too.
I personally love the new Gym orientation... & the fact that challenge mode was inserted: My only question is - Is the water Gym Leader a White dude or Black?
You should be able to rebattle gym leaders.
Spoiler:- Pokemon that I can breed and trade.:
Dw female
Dark Pulse
and Heal bell/Seismic toss Emerald Clones
Spikes/Leech seed
Outrage/Dragon dance
All Non-DW breedable Pokemon
DW females not listed
0 speed IVs
Pm or VM me for a Trade.
Character BRANDON FC 3869 2640 3022
No, AuraTH - Marlon is ambiguously brown like IRIS XD.
Notice how his feet and lower waist are white. It's clearly a tan.
I thought his white feet was just an error with the official art.
Well I'm a Nubian princess. YO GURL WHAT UP?
This is the color a tan should be? Hahaha!
It's not always black and white, But your heart always knows what's right.~
I'm dissapointed that only Elesa & Cheren had a uniform change... Skyla & burgh deserve their costumes to be changed too!
This is how I won the Champion Iris at least:
Had Cobalion at Lv. 50 with Leftovers and Hydreigon used Flamethrower: It's super effective! Cobalion had been left weak, but Leftovers gave it an advantage. Cobalion used Sacred Sword for two times - Hydreigon fainted! I changed to Excadrill and Iris sent out Druddigon. Excadrill used Earthquake. Druddigon used Focus Blast! Excadrill avoided the attack! Used Hyper Potion on Cobalion. Druddigon finished off Excadrill. I used revive while using Cobalion. Cobalion survived, so Excadrill could as well destroy Druddigon with Earthquake. Iris sent out Aggron. Excadrill used Earthquake - it's HYPER EFFECTIVE! Aggron fainted, Iris sent out Haxorus. I sent out Swanna and tried to make powerful risks. Haxorus was dragged out and Lapras sent out. Swanna's attack did miss Lapras. I changed for Cobalion and used Sacred Sword against ice type. That managed to finish off Lapras and I fought with Swanna against Haxorus again to be safe from it's Earthquake. But Surf wasn't effective and Excadrill had to do the ending. Iris sent out Archeops, and I changed to Cobalion. Archeops couldn't do anything... Cobalion used IRON HEAD! Archeops: X(
I: ....!! Head for the PWT!
All the gym leaders besides Roxie are jokes when it comes to their Pokemon teams.
<TLCNU> Escavalier literally is 2HKOed by Stoutland Fire Fang, Metang was undoubtedly the much better choice.
SuperSkarmory | PokeCommunity
Hitler learns that Genesect, Deoxys-D and Landorus-I are ubers!


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PITTSBURGH, PA -- The Allegheny County Airport Authority is advising passengers of increased security measures at the Pittsburgh International Airport security checkpoints due to a US Department of Homeland Security directive prohibiting liquids in carry-on baggage.
This new directive went into effect at Pittsburgh International Airport at 4 am today. This morning, more than 5,600 people passed through security with the new restrictions in place.
The Average Normal Wait time was 12 to 15 minutes. The Longest Average Wait time was 46 minutes. The Airport Authority is advising that passengers arrive at the airport two hours before their flights.
The Transportation Security Administration at Pittsburgh International Airport was able to process so many people due to optimum staffing and the availability of additional security lanes at the Alternate Security Checkpoint located across from the airline ticket counters in the former commuter terminal.
Once in the Airside Terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport, passengers may purchase beverages which need to be consumed prior to boarding the plane.
In the AIRMALL, many specialty retailers are shipping products for passengers who shop in an effort to comply with the guidelines of the security directive as well as serve the customer. AIRMALL stores including Clinique, the Body Shop, Perfumania, Victoria's Secret and L'Occitane, which offer many bath, body and cosmetic items, have established a shipping program to meet the new requirements for air travel.
The Department of Homeland Security has raised the threat level to Orange for all commercial aviation in the United States. In response, the Allegheny County Airport Authority is working closely with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and airline officials to ensure the safety and security of passengers and aviation employees.
Effective immediately, all liquid and gel items -- including drinks, perfume, shampoo, contact lens solutions, etc., are not permitted in carry-on baggage through screening checkpoints or onto any aircraft; however, these items are allowed in checked baggage. Exceptions to this ban are baby formula and prescription medications (in passenger`s name on label), but passengers will need to present these items for inspection at security checkpoints. For a listing of banned items, go to www.tsa.gov.

subset: commoncrawl


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With an impressive 11 branch network and industry leading website we have the ability to reach clients nationally and internationally. We are members of all the accredited professional bodies associated with rentals and sales; ARLA, NALS, NAEA and the Property Ombudsman.
Along with client money protection and PI insurance, all of our staff are fully trained and have a passion for the industry. We pride ourselves on our customer service and recently picked up an award at the Estate Agency of the Year awards, our 4th award in as many years - surely proof that we are good at what we do!
Established in 1997 by Will Linley and Nick Simpson, Linley & Simpson are now in their second decade of successful trading. The company originally opened offices in Horsforth and Roundhay before later expanding into Harrogate, Wetherby, Leeds City Centre, Wakefield, York, Ilkley, Ripon, Saltaire and most recently, Chapel Allerton.
Building on our excellent customer service and modern approach to Lettings, we now offer this excellent service to buyers and sellers, our main aim is to make moving easy for all our customers.
Contact us today to discuss your Completion Satisfaction and request your FREE market appraisal and valuation. For more information on our Completion Satisfaction campaign please visit www.linleyandsimpson.co.uk/completion-satisfaction
12 Station Road, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5NR


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When the all new Frozen short, 'Frozen Fever,' was announced at the tail end of the tail end of the television special, 'The Story of Frozen: Making An Animated Classic,' speculation ran rampant that it would be attached to Disney's live action Cinderella despite only being told it would arrive in 'spring 2015.' It was always our assertion that not only this would not be the case, but it hinted at a still possible home video release of a 3D Blu-ray for Frozen which we originally anticipated for this month (prior to the Sing-Along edition announced for November). While we were put on blast for being the site that cried wolf, new evidence points to this possibility.


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Learn How Perfect Dark Came to Be in this Behind-the-Scenes Video
Rare was going to make a Tomorrow Never Dies James Bond game, but was "dramatically outbid."
Rare was going to make a Tomorrow Never Dies James Bond game, but was "dramatically outbid."
We could have had more Perfect Dark on N64.
Rare is responsible for some of our most fondly remembered games--but what year did the developer hit its peak? And what is the essence of a Rare game?
Video Game History Month 2014: Tom imagines how video games would have changed if Perfect Dark had come out on the GameCube instead of the Nintendo 64, and believes everyone ...
Four former staff members from the Kinect Sports maker have formed their own development studio; first title to be published on Xbox Live Arcade.
Develop 2010: Rare's Kinect development director talks about developing for physical play, prototyping motion controllers, and the studio's 25-year history.
Four players and several bots shoot each other.
A player snipes at a villa.
A player runs across evil women with shotguns.
A player finds alien technology at Area 51.
A player shoots her way into a secret military warehouse.
A player takes down a special security team.
A player shoots through guards.
It's a busy week at retailers with God of War III, Metro 2033, Resonance of Fate, and more hitting store shelves.
Huge week at retail also sees launches of Metro 2033, Dragon Age Awakening expansion, Pokemon HeartGold/Soulsilver, and Resonance of Fate.
We took a trip down memory lane with the Xbox Live Arcade port of Rare's classic shooter.
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Posted by Richard KuchenritherMarch 5, 2013
The water profession is facing four significant challenges. These challenges include water renovation, infrastructure (pipelines and treatment plants), sustainable and renewable technologies, and the need for new water professionals. These four challenges are forcing the water profession into a new era.
The need for renovation and new infrastructure is a tremendous global issue. The United States alone has a significant amount of plants and pipelines that are more than 100 years old. These structures need expansion, replacement, or to be brought up to new code in some cases. The exponential growth of the world population requires continual placement of new infrastructure which could require more than a trillion dollars over the next 25 years! In developing countries, there are two billion people without access to water and any type of sanitation and hygiene facilities. The basic principles for providing infrastructure for large utilities in the U.S. and very small villages in developing countries are the same. The needed solutions, skills, and tools are very similar, but on very different scales.
Water is a valuable and critical resource. Human existence is dependent on it. We must ensure that we create ways to sustain and renew water sources so it remains a resource that is available to support life. Water reuse requires public acceptance and protection, regulatory approval, and a focused concentration on new sustainable technologies.
The challenge is to ensure that new technologies can convert waste into a reusable and renewable resource. Success requires that power and energy are extracted from the transport and treatment of water. Additionally, that heat and power are extracted from wastewater treatment and biosolids. The goal is that all treatment facilities are positive energy producers, not consumers.Success ensures that the water treatment profession can be confident that water resources are available and growing.
In the early 1970's, Congress passed two important acts, The Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The two acts provided significant funding for investment in new treatment facilities and educating new water professionals. Forty years later a large percentage of the water professionals, who designed, constructed, and operated the water facilities, and provided fantastic healthyand clean water that we now enjoy in the United States, are approaching retirement. There are over 45,000 water and wastewater facilities in the United States. The need for a replacement workforce, currently estimated at nearly 300,000 water professionals, with nearly a third of these eligible for retirement, increases daily.
Workforce retirement coupled with the need for renovation and new infrastructure, along with the need for new sustainable and renewable technologies, provides clear evidence of the need for many new water professionals. The new cadre of professionals is called upon to meet the water challenges of the 21st century. The old challenges, faced by the existing water professionals, have been accomplished. The new challenges make this a great professional field to enter. You are challenged to carry the new water era forward!
Excerpted with permission of the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Posted by Richard KuchenritherMarch 1, 2013 The water profession is facing four significant challenges. These challenges include water renovation, infrastructure (pipelines and treatment plants), sustainable and renewable technologies, and the need for new water professionals. These four challenges are
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Posted by Jonathan Byus at 03/01/2013 03:39:02 PM |


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Various herbs have been used for centuries to help keep mosquitoes from landing on skin and biting. However, over the last century with the emergence of new products containing synthetic chemicals such as DEET, many common herbs with insect repelling qualities are no longer being used. However, plants can be used to repel many biting insects.
To keep away mosquitoes during picnics outdoors burn Citronella candles. Lemon grass, Cymbopogan nardus, a course grass-like plant, contain Citronella oils. As well as its essential oil repelling insects it also may help to deter unwanted cats in the garden. Burning candles with wicks saturated with the herb, myrrh is also quite effective at keeping many insects away. Egyptians used myrrh as a fumigant.
Indoors try placing the scented geranium, Pelargonium citrosum Vanieenii at strategic locations such as near doors and windows. "Vanieenii" has a good reputation for warding off bugs. Many other scented geraniums besides "Vanieenii" also contain Citronella oils which help repel insects.
If insects such as mosquitoes have already become a problem many herbs can be used directly on the skin as repellents. Infusions of 50% Chomomile and 50% Elder leaves dubbed on skin are effective for up to 20 minutes. Infusions are much like making tea, boiling water is poured over the herb and the herb/water mixture is then left to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. The remaining liquid is strained and used as the repellant.
As well as infusion, other properties of herbs such as their essential oils can be used as repellents. Essential oils such as Lavender, Tea tree oil and Citronella from the stone root, Collinsonia canadensis an be worn on the skin and in hair to effectively keep mosquitoes away. It is best to dilute these powerful essential oils in a little olive oil and test this new mixture on a patch of skin before applying to ones entire body. Pennyroyal has also been used throughout history to repel insects. However, the oil of Pennyroyal is extremely toxic and should only be used by certified herbalist.
In the event mosquitoes were not repelled effectively, many herbs can be used to relieve the itching from bites. Wash insect bites with a Tea tree oil based soap and rinse with witch hazel. Next, dab freshly washed bites and lemon juice or cider vinegar. Before bedtime, apply lavender oil or cinnamon oil by rubbing on the affected area. As well as helping repel mosquitoes these oils also take away itching from bites.
Photograph courtesy of Digital Frog International.
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South Korean navy ships have found what appeared to be debris from the rocket launched by North Korea this week. NBCNews.com's Alex Witt reports.
SEOUL - This month's rocket launch by reclusive North Korea shows it has likely developed the technology to fire a warhead more than 6,200 miles, South Korean officials said on Sunday - putting the U.S. West Coast in range.
North Korea said the December 12 launch put a weather satellite in orbit but critics say it was aimed at nurturing the kind of technology needed to mount a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile.
North Korea is banned from testing missile or nuclear technology under U.N. sanctions imposed after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear weapons tests and the U.N. Security Council condemned the launch.
North Korea: Detained American tourist has 'admitted his crime'
South Korea retrieved and analyzed parts of the first-stage rocket that dropped in the waters off its west coast
"As a result of analyzing the material of Unha-3 (North Korea's rocket), we judged North Korea had secured a range of more than 10,000 km in case the warhead is 500-600 kg," a South Korean Defense Ministry official told a news briefing.
North Korea's previous missile tests ended in failure.
North Korea, which denounces the United States as the mother of all warmongers on an almost daily basis, has spent decades and scarce resources to try to develop technology capable of striking targets as far away as the United States and it is also working to build a nuclear arsenal.
David Guttenfelder / AP
In this 2011 file photo, a girl plays the piano inside the Changgwang Elementary School in Pyongyang, North Korea.
But experts believe the North is still years away from mastering the technology needed to miniaturize a nuclear bomb to mount on a missile.
South Korean defense officials also said there was no confirmation whether the North had the re-entry technology needed for a payload to survive the heat and vibration without disintegrating.
Despite international condemnation, the launch this month was seen as a major boost domestically to the credibility of the North's young leader, Kim Jong-un, who took over power from his father who died last year.
Apparently encouraged by the euphoria, the fledgling supreme leader called for the development and launching of "a variety of more working satellites" and "carrier rockets of bigger capacity" at a banquet in Pyongyang on Friday which he hosted for those who contributed to the lift-off, according to North Korean state media.
More world stories from NBC News:
- At Egypt polling stations, strong sentiments for and against
- Germany's latest big export: Christmas markets
- Six-year-old girl shot in face by Taliban and left for dead gets free surgery in US
- Media circus performs at French 'doomsday' village of Bugarach
- Engel, NBC crew believed they wouldn't leave Syria alive
- UN calls for ban on 'grotesque practice' of female genital mutilation
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook


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"I am a convert to the Catholic Church and barely knew the basics about the faith. I have learned so much since I have been listening to Catholic Answers Live. Thank you for answering my questions and helping me better understand my faith."
Subscribe to Catholic Answers Magazine
"In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then may hear by his deeds what he is to do [in the way of penance]."


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Difference between revisions of "Steps To Applying"
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Latest revision as of 12:02, 23 August 2016
Applying to the Peace Corps is a process involving several steps, with details and paperwork at each point along the way. In a nutshell:
- You submit the application.
- We contact you for an interview.
- You get medical and legal clearance.
- You qualify based on skills and suitability.
- We contact you with a placement.
Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? While it's not quite that easy, it doesn't have to be difficult. This section is designed to give you an overview of the process of becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. When you're ready to apply and need specific guidance about completing the application, visit Apply Now.
Step 1: The Application
A step-by-step overview of the application and how to complete it. This is your opportunity to tell Peace Corps why you should be in the Peace Corps.
Step 2: The Interview
Your recruiter contacts you to set up an interview. How to prepare for this important step.
Step 3: Nomination
Your recruiter's recommendation. What it means, and what comes next.
Step 4: Medical and Legal Clearance
Health and background screening. What to expect and what you'll need to do during this time.
Step 5: Invitation and Preparation for Departure
Congratulations! Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
External Links
Steps To Applying Official US Peace Corps Website


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Heroin: Treat the addicted; shrink the demand
If you haven't noticed, the world has changed in a dangerous way.
The price of heroin has followed all the rules of basic economics of supply and demand. The supply has increased to meet an unfortunate spike in demand, and the price has made this dangerous narcotic "affordable."
Affordable, that is, in price per hit, but not when one considers the price in human suffering, societal damage and lost potential.
Affordable until one considers how pervasive the drug has become, when a symbol of American childhood, a fast-food child's meal with a toy, can become a vehicle for the drug trade, as alleged in the Pittsburgh area.
Affordable until one considers deaths from high-powered heroin, more than 20 in recent weeks in the Pittsburgh area.
High-profile deaths such as talented actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman's call the drug into sharp focus.
Anyone is vulnerable. From Cleveland to New York to Pittsburgh to the streets of our local communities, the drug is available and doing its damage. It's not just the "gritty industrial heartland" that's vulnerable, either. Seemingly idyllic Vermont has been declared so badgered by heroin that the governor there dedicated much of his State of the State address this year to the heroin epidemic.
He cited the fears everyone should have, including the growth of the drug problem from prescription painkillers to a "full-blown heroin crisis."
There is a cost in illnesses, overdoses, deaths, accidents and lost time for employers. There is a cost in thefts, broken families and relationships and violence. And there is a cost in treatment and redemption for those who try to fight the habit.
The reasons for heroin's rise are many, but it's as much a result of the ongoing prescription painkiller problem as it is from a people living without hope, or without caring for themselves or others enough to avoid the needle.
The solution remains, unfortunately, in trying to curtail the market and treat the addicted.
And, unlike the situation with marijuana, where the market appears poised to declare prohibition as ineffective as it was with alcohol, there is no medical study showing heroin has a benefit to any human life.
It is a scourge that destroys.


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There was a long delay but the Canon EOS-1D X has finally arrived. Has it been worth the wait? Find out in our Canon 1D X review
Canon EOS 1D X Review
Inheriting the speed characteristics from Canon's EOS-1D models and a full frame sensor as typically found in Canon's EOS-1DS DSLRs, the Canon EOS-1D X is designed to merge the best into one camera to provide an impressive balance between high resolution and high speed. It promises an excellent performance for professional photographers who seek nothing but the very best so it's about time to find out if the Canon EOS-1D X can live up to its high expectations.
Canon EOS 1D X – Features
Rather than featuring an APS-H CMOS chip such as that found inside the EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon has fitted the Canon EOS-1D X with a full frame CMOS imaging sensor that delivers an 18MP resolution. Full frame is physically larger than APS-H and to give you an idea of the surface area of the 1D X's sensor in comparison with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV's, it measures 36x24mm as opposed to 27.6×18.6mm.
With the sensor reflecting the same dimensions as 35mm film it means the 1D X's focal length is equivalent to exactly 1.0x the focal length of lens. This is unlike the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, which has a 1.3x multiplication factor to take into consideration when attaching EF lenses.
The 1D X's full-frame sensor also permits an extremely wide ISO range of 100-51200, with the option to expand it to ISO 50 at the low end and an equivalent of ISO 204,800 in the H2 setting. At present this is the highest ISO range to be offered by any Canon DSLR and gives it a two-stop advantage over the EOS 1D Mark IV when comparing native ISO ranges.
To process the large files the Canon EOS 1D X features not one but two DIGIC 5+ image processors, which are the same type as found within the Canon EOS 5D Mk III and Canon EOS 650D.
By having a pair of processors running in tandem the Canon EOS 1D X has the power to process image data more quickly and provide an extremely fast burst rate that's demanded by the professional photographers it's aimed at.
Capable of a 12fps burst (or 14fps in Super High Speed mode) the Canon 1D X is up there as one the fastest DSLR's available and is fractionally faster than one of its closest rivals – Nikon's D4 that's capable of 11fps.
Metering is looked after by Canon's 100,000 pixel RGB AE metering system and it offers the choice of evaluative, partial, spot or center-weighted. Exposure compensation can be set to +/-5 EV in 1/3 or ½ stop increments and auto bracketing offers a +/-3 EV range for 2,3,5 or 7 shots.
The focusing system the Canon EOS 1D X uses is virtually identical to the 61-point AF system used by the EOS-5D MkIII and the only major AF-related difference involves the two cameras metering systems.
The Canon 1D X's metering system not only measures exposure, it can be used in combination with automatic AF point selection to assist the AF system, following moving subjects around the AF area. On the EOS-5D Mk III it uses a different metering system which is not linked to the AF system.
From the menu there's a multitude of AF presets to cover a range of subjects for AF tracking. These vary the responsiveness of the AF to suit different subjects entering or passing through the frame and there's the option to fine-tune these using the image protect button.
The viewfinder provides 100% frame coverage, a 0.76x magnification and dioptre correction control. Beneath this lies a large 3.2in Clear View II screen that offers a 1,040k-dot resolution. It's an identical display to the Canon EOS-5D Mk III and much like its stable mate in the current EOS lineup, it has the option to star rate images and apply Raw image processing in playback mode.
The video mode records in H.264 MOV (quicktime) and offers a full 1080P resolution (1920 x 1280) at 30, 25, or 24 frames per second for a maximum of 29min 59secs per clip.
Functionality is limited to manual focusing but for those who'd like to enhance audio there's a 3.5mm mic port. On the subject of ports, there's also an Ethernet port allowing fast and easy transfer of images directly to a PC or network and there's an HDMI mini output too for linking up to an HDTV.
Canon EOS 1D X – Design
A quick glance at the 1D X's body from the front and it would appear there hasn't been many design chances. Inspect it closely from the rear however, and you'll notice some practical revisions. The most significant of these is the new AF toggle for moving AF targets when it's used in the portrait orientation. This transforms the way the camera performs in portrait mode and will be of great benefit to anyone who shoots as regularly in the portrait format as they do in landscape orientation.
Handling the camera in portrait mode is made more comfortable too. This is down to the way the bottom corner of the body has been profiled, leaving the thumb to rest comfortably over the card slot cover release handle. Never before has a Canon DSLR been as comfortable to hold and as practical to operate in both shooting orientations.
Other revisions include the repositioning of buttons. Playback, zoom, erase and protect buttons are now orderly arranged beside each other, Live View is activated by a miniscule button beside the viewfinder and the Quick Menu displaying most of the shooting information is activated by a separate small button above the quick control dial.
As for the menu system, it's practically identical to the EOS-5D Mk III's. Autofocus gets its own sub menu, making it extremely quick to access the six combinations of subject-tracking and the menu system is brightly colour coded too, making navigation both simple and clear. Setting AF point selection is made by hitting the AF point selection button and using the M-Fn button.
A handy autofocus icon is indicated at the bottom right of the viewfinder to confirm correct focusing and our only minor grievance regarding AF is when you're changing drive mode as this isn't indicated through the viewfinder meaning you're required to pull your eye away from the camera.
AF aside, the overall build and robustness of the body can't be faulted – it's truly sublime. Though pros will be accustomed to a weight of 1.3kg, it will feel heavy to anyone that's accustomed to using a lighter body. The 1D X's bulk factor combined with full weather sealing also offers reassurance that it'll survive the brunt of any demanding conditions or knocks it's faced with.
Canon EOS 1D X – Performance
Performance is a key criteria where the 1D X must excel if it's to win professional photographers votes. Subjecting the EOS-1D X to the sport of Speedway gave it two significant challenges to overcome. First the AF system would be given a serious workout tracking moving subjects at subject speeds of well over 70mph and then the sensor had its work cut out to deliver excellent image quality as darkness fell and the ISO sensitivity was increased.
In use, the 1D X's AF system tracked our subject exceptionally well in AI Servo mode, both in daylight and floodlit lighting conditions. After some experimentation with the six cases of subject-tracking sensitivity we identified Case 3 that instantly focuses on subjects entering AF points was best for our chosen sport once we'd customised the responsiveness to +2 in the menu. The AF settings we used won't be best for every sport and it leaves some experimentation in the hands of the photographer to find the best optimum AF setting for his or her situation. The hit rate of pin-sharp results in a burst of images as the subject entered the frame was extremely high and the zoom in and scroll approach to reviewing images is quick once you appreciate that the two buttons at the top right of the body no longer control this function.
Loaded with a Lexar 32 GB Professional 1000x UDMA 7 Compact Flash card in the twin bay slot, we rattled out a breathtaking burst of 17 Raw+JPEG(L) files at 12fps. With the file format set to RAW only, 31 frames were taken at 12fps before the buffer required a breather. Seven seconds later it was ready to record an identical burst. The astonishing speed at which the 1D X shoots is one thing, but to be able to process such a high volume of data at the speed is does is a remarkable feat.
As for the 1D X's screen, it's a sizable display for reviewing images. Pin sharp, full of clarity and bright colour, it's another part of the camera that can't be faulted. If we were to pick apart anything from using the 1D X it would be the way images are star rated. Whereas on the EOS-5D Mark III you have an independent rate button, there's no such feature on the 1D X. Instead you're required to scroll through the in-camera processing menu, which is neither as quick or as intuitive.
Canon EOS 1D X – Image Quality
To view our test images taken with the Canon EOS 1D X, click here.
Tone and Exposure
Subjecting the EOS 1D X to a variety of different lighting situations would give the metering system a real test. In low-light scenes we experienced no issues at all and even under floodlights the exposures were spot on and there was no need to adjust exposure compensation. Backlit scenes can often fool a metering system but in the case of the 1D X they didn't. With the metering set to Evaluative for most of our shots, it managed to produce pleasing levels of detail in the brightest highlights.
Thanks to Chynna at Mission Models
White Balance and Colour
Testing the 1D X through its ISO range in front of our colour chart is an excellent test of White Balance and helps to identify how well the sensor resolves different colour tones. Set to Auto White Balance and photographed using a continuous daylight balanced light source revealed that the CMOS sensor resolves faithful colour even at super high ISOs.
Thanks to Chynna at Mission Models
Sharpness and Detail
To find out precisely how well the 1D X's sensor resolves detail we took several exposures throughout the ISO range in front of our resolution chart using Sigma's 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens. The results from this test were very impressive indeed. Inspecting our ISO 100 results at 100% revealed that we could still distinguish incredibly close horizontal lines at number 14 on our scale. Just as impressive is the way the 1D X's sensor manages to resolve detail at high ISOs, particularly up to ISO 25,600.
Thanks to Chynna at Mission Models.
ISO quality
Colour was consistent throughout the range right up to ISO 51,200 and only beyond this point did the saturation of colour decrease ever so slightly. Working our way through the range from ISO 100 through to ISO 204,800 revealed a jaw-dropping ISO performance and it's only really when you push beyond ISO 6400 and 12,800 that a fine grain structure of noise starts to become apparent. Results at ISO 25,600 and 51,200 are by all means usable and the noise that's produced isn't too dissimilar to a very fine film grain. It's only when we pushed to the expanded settings that higher frequency noise and a slight reduction in saturation was evident.
Canon EOS 1D X – Value for Money
Given the £5,299 body-only asking price for the EOS-1D X it's undeniably a huge expense. If you were to compare this cost with the price of the EOS-1D Mark IV at the time of its launch you'd find that the prices are identical.
Surely the question to answer here is: are you getting more for your money with the EOS-1D X? Consider the fact the EOS-1D X is jack of all trades in the way it offers an ideal balance between resolution and high-speed, and yes you are. The EOS-1D Mark IV might give you a bit more reach with its 1.3x crop factor but the 1D X's performance and image quality is superior, particularly at high ISOs. There's no denying the fact it won't meet everyone's budget but if you're a pro that regularly makes money from your photography, it's up there as the best that money can buy.
Canon EOS 1D X – Pro's View
Speaking to Jeff Davies, Coventry Speedway Photographer and user of a Canon EOS 1D X, he spoke highly of the camera and told What Digital Camera 'I like to keep up with the latest camera technology and have always had two cameras. I sold my EOS-1D Mk III, which contributed to the cost of the 1DX and retained my Mk IV.
The first noticeable feature of the 1DX is its full frame sensor. Specialising in Speedway photography, I normally use a 300mm f2.8 lens for pictures taken from the outside of the track. My previous 1D's effectively made that a 390mm lens with the 1.3x magnification, which I found an ideal focal length. In comparison the 1D X is a bit short but manageable and if I require the extra length, it still works well with a 1.4x converter.
I prefer the new style menu and changes to the functionality of the camera, such as using the zoom button and then the top plate scroll dial to assess image sharpness. With regard to the autofocus system, I'm still playing around trying to fine tune the settings but it is pretty impressive.
The thing I've been most impressed with however is the low noise. With my EOS 1D Mk IV, I was always reluctant to go beyond ISO 6400 but with the 1DX noise is perfectly acceptable even at ISO25000. It gives me the opportunity to continue shooting bursts at 12 frames per second whereas I would previously have been restricted by having to use flash. Flash – who needs it when you've got the EOS 1D X'?
Canon EOS 1D X – Verdict
What Canon has achieved with the EOS-1D X is remarkable and we have no hesitation in saying it's the best Canon DSLR we've ever used. The way it produces acceptable results even at ISO 12,800 and 25,600 is extremely impressive. We weren't hesitant at any stage to push above ISO 6400 by a stop or two for the fear of image noise severely degrading image quality in low light situations.
Then there's of course the speed at which it shoots and records, which sets a new benchmark for pro-spec DSLRs. The way in which the pair of DIGIC 5+ processors work together in the way they do to provide such blazing processing speeds is astonishing.
Canon has not only paid close attention to the features and performance, they've looked at the bigger picture and the finer details too. A good example of this is remodeled vertical grip to improve handling in the portrait orientation and even the neck strap features gold lettering and a high end feel.
Yes it's expensive and for most people other than the professionals it's aimed at, it's going to take a lot of justification to spend this amount of money.Many professional photographers will be fortunate enough to have one supplied to them from their agencies at no personal expense and for everyone else it's a camera that many will aspire to own.
We can happily say you're getting everything you could ever need with the Canon EOS-1D X. The old saying of good things come to those who wait certainly applies in regard to the EOS 1D X and a 93% score sees it pick up a Gold award.


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I'm going be honest with you; I think I'm depressed. I'm sad, dejected, beaten down and feeling empty inside when it comes to the Phillies. This is what Ruben Amaro Jr. – and the Phillies as a whole – has done to me. I'd like to imagine that I was ever the optimist when it came to the Phillies – posting such wise things as the quote below. I said this after a September 2008 loss left the Phillies 4-games back of the Wild Card leading Brewers just as the Brewers came to town for a 4-game series.
"What if they sweep the Brewers this weekend?? That gives us crazy momentum with two weeks to go."
I believed in this team, I argued for this team, spent my time, money, and a ton of emotion on them –and they rewarded me with a championship in 2008. Those were the glory days, but this feels like rock bottom. They aren't contenders, but they aren't rebuilding. "Cross your fingers and hope for the best" seems to be the GM's plan for 2014.
When it was clear to most fans that the 2013 Phillies couldn't contend, the wise move was to start the rebuilding process. That roster had an aging core, and the attempted patch of Michael Young, Delmon Young, etc, just didn't work. Did Ruben Amaro Jr. learn his lesson? No.
The Phillies brass simply continues to add older players that aren't anything like the pieces needed to put a winner on the field. Marlon Byrd and a healthy Ryan Howard aren't the key difference between a 73-win team, and the 90-ish wins it takes to win a Wild Card spot, let alone the NL East title. This team is nowhere near contending, and it doesn't matter which other moves they make.
Because paying attention to the Phillies was so depressing in September, I don't know if many people remember that this club actually finished 4th in the division, just behind the New York Mets. The only teams in the National League that the Phillies bested in the standings were the Miami Marlins and Chicago Cubs. That's it. But somehow Ruben Amaro Jr. believes this team is built to contend in 2014.
Day after day I keep thinking about this quote in a Jayson Stark article from a few weeks back, when he talked to an unnamed American League executive about the current state of the Phillies:
"I just don't understand exactly what they're doing, " said one AL exec. "If you're seriously trying to win, you don't do it this way. And if you're trying to get younger, you don't do it this way. At some point, they've got to pick a direction and go with it."
If that isn't depressing to read, I don't know what is. It's like a punch in the gut. And what makes it hurt the most is that it's 100 percent accurate. This organization has no plan. When they kept Chase Utley, and resigned Carlos Ruiz, I thought for certain that they'd go after some of the big name free agents on the market – if you're trying to win, you should go all in. But in keeping with the poker terms, Ruben Amaro Jr. keeps checking and checking and will soon be out of chips, having never really played a solid hand.
Sorry to bring you down, but hopefully Phillies fans can still have a Happy New Year!
55 Comments
It's fascinating to compare the letdown of Phillies baseball that is and the emotional attachment it carries in each fan. Different personalities, backgrounds, and a number of other factors that make the attitudes that are.
But maybe the one separating factor is age. Not that even younger Phillie fans didn't experience the drudgery of the 90's, but what's happened over the past however many months (27?) is something each person must deal with. For myself, this is all too familiar dating back to the post perils of 1964. Perhaps a matter of fortunate conditioning based my introduction to the Phils are in your blood with indoctrination to this crap with at least a consciousness of the dreadful 1961 season. Personally, I see a lot of humor in the frequent patheticness that permeates club history.
But I still think the funniest is yet to come. That'll be when some yahoo searches their mind for a pre season guess on what fate 2014 has in store, and looks across the street, and thinks if it can happen there, why not here? I'm not insensitive to the human frailty of delusion, but it is a rather humorous commodity.
It's a tough cycle when you care, but at the same time don't. Don't let nobody kid you when they say it's just a game.
I couldn't even read your Tanaka story because it sounded like the depressed elephant from Poo wrote it. Let's try and look at the bright side here if you were the Braves right now and watched Hudsonn and McCann walk with no real replacement I'd be worried.
I want to find reasons to be optimistic too, but the Hudson/McCann thing aren't good reasons. Evan Gattis seems like a decent replacement for McCann to me. Plus McCann would be an overpriced risk moving forward anyway. And Hudson wasn't a major part of ATL last year and they did fine. The Braves only real concern to me is can BJ Upton bounce back and perhaps 2B. They are loaded with young talent, including young pitching. Like we used to be.
Christian Bethancourt will eventually replace McCann. Gattis is fine as a one season stopgap. The Braves would have made a huge mistake if they had tried to bring McCann back – especially in the NL with no DH.
Lie down. Try not to cry. Cry a lot
A lot of fans seemed to be fine with the moronic emotional extension of Utley and even Hamels. Instead Amaro shouldve traded Utley this summer when his value was up. The following players should've all been traded hadnt Amaro been like a childish fan boy.
Admittedly, some of these players would need Phillies to eat part of their contrzcts in order to get anything in return.
But Phillies aint getting into ghe playoffs anytime soon anyway.
So the bigger overhaul the better.
But he couldnt trade Howard and halladay because of the DL and no way rollins accepts a trade i agree though, but since they didnt trade away utley i'm glad he's still a phillie
What a major letdown. After feeling like we would finally spend like the big boys in 2009 and stay in contention for years to come,something crazy happened and we're back to 1999. So now it's time for raj to make something crazy happen and being us back to contender status……
You'll get used to it Pat – most of us old timers already are. It could easily be another decade before this team contends again. The scary thing is that if the average fan could see how detrimental the Howard & Papelbon contracts would turn out to be and the lunacy of the Cliff Lee to Seattle trade, how can the clown in charge be oblivious to it all?
As this team is presently constructed, we're looking at 68-72 wins in 2014.
Well….all I can say is "GO EAGLES"
To stick with the poker metaphor a bit longer, the Phillies are limping into the upcoming season with seven deuce off suit.
Sorry you feel this way Don, I don't.
I feel that for the past two off seasons there is a plan in place to correct past mistakes. It's true they haven't been able to let go of their now declining heroes. But maybe it's not so easy, maybe they found that out in the Pence and Victorino trades- where it doesn't appear that they got close to equal value for them.
They remind me a lot of the the Yankees the last few years, who have had to allow ballplayers to walk, curb spending, and clear space to re-tool. They don't have any spectacular new young players either, but they had the ability this off season to make moves that appear to make them serious contenders again.
I'm not holding any pie in the sky visions that this year's Phillies club will contend, but I think they are doing some good things in attempting to rid themselves of past mistakes. We heard all fall that they are at least trying to unload the Papelbon contract. And they do have some young players in the system that may contribute soon starting with Asche, Franco, Hernandez, and some young pitchers that may be just about to blossom.
As for the comments of the un-named "AL Exec" source from Jayson Stark, how do we know it's not the GM of a team that also doesn't contend on a regular basis? It's easy to talk about what someone else is doing, no so easy to put your own solid ball club together every year.
I give this off-season a Meh, but am I depressed, sad and dejected?? No way. Whatever lies ahead for next season, – bring it on- and the sooner the better.
I agree with Lefty. The times to be depressed were when RAJ extended Howard, signed Papelbon and overpaid for Pence. It was at those times that a clueless front office made short-sighted moves that cut short the greatest (or 2nd best) era in the team's history. They (and we as fans) must now pay for their sins of 2010 and 2011, lest they extend the misery even further. The idea is to try to catch lightening in a bottle with the aging core over the next few years without doing any damage to 2017 and beyond.
In a weird way, the Phillies got younger this off-season by getting older. While that sounds oxy-moronic, the Howard extension, the seemingly unmovable Papelbon contract and the Lee contract have made the team pot committed (to take the poker analogy further) for the next few seasons. If they had gone all in and signed Ellsbury, McCann and Garza instead of Byrd, Chooch and Hernandez, they would have increased their chances at the post-season in 2014 (and probably even 2015 and 2016), but how much so? I don't think enough to be considered a top 5 team in MLB. In addition, signing those three players would have most likely left them with a new group of overpaid, declining players in 2017 and beyond at the same time that Lee, Papelbon, Howard, Rollins and probably Utley are gone and hopefully Biddle, Franco, Asche, Crawford and a few others are starting to emerge into productive players.
To me, it was a good off-season in that I think they finally realized that bad moves in 2010 and 2011 led the team into the current abyss and they're no longer throwing good money after bad chasing something (contention) that seems unlikely, but not impossible. If they do catch lightening in a bottle and everything goes right – a healthy Howard returns to his 2010 form, Utley stays healthy, Rollins rebounds, Asche's defense saves runs that Michael Young gave away, Cliff and Cole pitch like Cliff and Cole, MAG is a legit #3 starter, Papelbon maintains his velocity and the young bullpen supporting bullpen is strong – maybe then they'll spend money and assets to go for it, but otherwise, it looks like they'll continue building towards the day when their albatross contracts will be gone and their improving system will hopefully be producing players who make meaningful contributions.
hk, Your poker analogy is spot on IMO.
Lefty and hk — very well said.
So we're depending on "catching lightening in a bottle", a lot of "ifs", and a lot of "hoping" this year. Maybe throw in a dash of guys "playing to the back of their baseball cards". Just like the past two seasons. It's a great plan I guess.
Just for fun, how do you think a guy like Andrew Friedman would have guided this franchise if he had been the one to take over in 2009 instead of Ruben Amaro Jr.?
Much better, no doubt, as would probably a handful of other top GMs. But to me the pertinent question at hand is how would the best GMs have handled this particular off-season better, given the same constraints (even if some of those constraints were a result of past mistakes)?
in my view, his biggest PAST MISTAKE.. was not trading guys this year at the deadline. He should have accepted whatever value they had, and decided to make the move to rebuild. You wouldn't contend in 2014 had you made that move, but we likely won't contend in 2014 anyway…
What would you have done as GM over the past 6 months?
I feel like they haven't chosen a direction and that's their biggest problem. If you were going to rebuild, do it. If you were going to try to put together a contender in 2014, do it … they haven't done either, and it's going to waste a season,
@ Justin McElroy,
Yes, hoping to catch lightening in a bottle is unfortunately where the team finds itself now. I blame RAJ (and Montgomery) for mishandling the team over the past 5 years and leading it into the current bleak-looking situation and I wish he (they) had been replaced at the halfway point, or the end, of last season. However, I do give him (them) credit for avoiding the temptation to sell out more of the future – 2017 and beyond – to incrementally increase their slim chances at contention in 2014 through 2016 by signing the likes of Ellsbury, McCann and Garza. I do think that Tanaka is different and I hope that they make a legitimate play for him. Tanaka is 25 and may be reaching his peak in 2017, so I have no problem with them paying big money for him.
Obviously my post was largely for dramatic effect, but the point was that I'm simply not excited for next season – that's ridiculously rare for me. This actually came about as I was talking to a coworker yesterday, saying how exciting it was that the Eagles are where they are, the Flyers have rebounded, and that the Sixers, while terrible, are actually following a plan to rebuild. I wanted to then say how there was only 6-8 weeks until Spring Training and that I was excited, but the truth is that I'm not.
I agree that NOT spending all that money on Free Agents was the right move, but the problem is that now we're stuck in mediocrity. I've read comments that say "if everything goes right" …and… "they'll continue building." … I don't think that hoping everything goes right should be the organizations only hope, when you have a payroll of $165 M, you need to put a solid contender on the filed, and I don't see that with this roster. Also, why aren't they maxing-out the payroll to $189 M?
My problem with the Phillies is that I already consider 2014 a lost season, a year of average-at-best, but because they didn't trade anything last year, they also haven't actually started the rebuilding process. I would LOVE for the 2014 season motto to be "continue to rebuild" – to at least be excited about the future – but by not trading any pieces at the deadline last year, they didn't bring any prospects (even if they aren't "TOP PROSPECTS") back in return. So the organization is stuck in this no-mans-land of not contending, but not really rebuilding.
As they're praying everything goes right, I'm praying I'm completely wrong about the 2014 season. I'll give them credit for some smart moves and cheap options to improve the bullpen, but outside of that, I don't see any way this team makes up the 17 games between the 73 they won last year, and the 90 it takes to make the playoffs.
I'm not depressed. I'm disappointed. I expected more from Ruben. I thought he had a plan. It seems he does but not what I envisioned anyway. I agree with a lot that you've said Don. Personally I think there is a chance we could contend for a wildcard. But to do so there's so many question marks that it seems improbable. When so many things have to go right for his plan to work? That usually means it's not going to happen. I'll watch and root for them as always but I can foresee an awful lot of cursing the TV out. Along with the pom pom boys Wheeler and the mouth that never quits.
I have no problem with the off-season moves to date and agree with Lefty, Schmenk and hk. I can't feel that this season is lost until I see how Howard performs. A healthy and effective Howard changes the dynamic of the everyday lineup. Also, having watched the Red Sox struggle with the Matsuzaka contract I really would prefer that the Phillies shy away from Tanaka and what could be another gigantic albatross. In fact their experience with Gonzalez should have shown them that already.
The only issue on which we disagree is that I would have no problem if they sign Tanaka for 5 or maybe even 6 years. He's 25 years old and, with no potential #2 starter projected to be coming up from the system any time soon, he may be the only chance that the Phils have at securing a young #2 in the foreseeable future. In that regard, I think he's worth the risk. If they take a shot and it doesn't work out, I would not criticize the move in hindsight because, unlike the Howard extension and the Papelbon signing, I agree with the thought process behind the signing.
I'll still watch, and root for them to win … this is just the least excited i've been before a season since probably 1998/1999 …
I just don't see how we're going to magically get better with the same core group that's been declining. And like the Sixers, I think we should've said that if our best case scenario is mediocrity and an outside chance at the playoffs – that's not the right path to be on … and so they switched course. I don't even like the NBA, but I respect the hell out of that logic. They traded their best player, knowing that they wouldn't contend with or without him ( = Utley).
Ryne probably said it best, i'm just disappointed … I want to have a team I feel like is either contending, or rebuilding/improving, and I really don't see how any can say that this team is doing either of those things next season.
Hey Don the only thing positive this off season was watching the Eagles gel into a playoff team with all that young talent. I'm shocked actually, in fact the game against the cowgirls when the girl got the ball back with 2 min. left I walked out of the room still in a Phillies don't come back mode from the baseball season and I heard my sons screaming when Boykin intercepted the ball. hopefully they can ride this a lot further. It'll make waiting for spring training much more enjoyable and shorter. And I don't watch the Sixers or the Flyers! Not because I don't like them, it's because being an Eagles and a big Phillies fan I'm kind of drained, you know? But I do read the papers about those two and root for them, I just don't watch.
That's just not the phillies….I feel that way about Every team from Philly…always watching and waiting for them to choke…but always watching nonetheless
And you are so right tis draining…but when they succeed man it's worth it…although I'm probably only feeling this way because the Eagles made the playoffs
I'm not depressed because of the Phils. I'm depressed because of the constant negative comments and Amaro bashing on this site. The team won for five straight years. Now that they've had one losing season in a row, everbody is complaining?
I think if a person asked any GM in the business how long it would take to regroup, he'd tell that person so0mething like, "Well, you can't do it overnight."
And for those who are griping that Amaro didn't make any deadline trades in 2013, I say "Who should he have traded?" Howard and Papelbon were untradeable, Rollins and Utley have 5-10 no trade priveleges, Mayberry or M Young might have brought back a low level quasi-prospect, D. Youngs wasn't worth even a low grade prospect, the bullpen had no one to speak of, Brown is young and possibly someone to build around, Revere, also a kid, was injured, Lannan was out. That leaves maybe Lee and Hamels, who are both nearly irreplaceable, and Ruiz, who could have been replaced with…whoopee…Kratz.
Two thoughts for the Phillies to start 2014 on a positive note:
1. Except for the 30 years 1919-1948, before most of us were born, the Phillies franchise has a winning record in its other 101 years of existence.
2. Current projections for 2014 show about a 75 win team on paper as the most likely scenario (Steamer projections add up to 72, Oliver projections to 78). However it's good to keep in mind that 15 game errors are not unusual on those projections. So while pessimists should plan on as few as 60 wins, the other end is not out of the question either.
My disappointment is with RAJ but also the entire ownership group. This team is obviously being run on a cap. The reason why we can't be compared to the Yankees of last year,or the last couple years, is that ownership will not allow this team to go over the cap. That being said what is the teams plan going forward? Playing for now? We did nothing to upgrade a rotation with Kendrick ( ineffective and injured at end of season) MAG ( total unknown) and Petttibone ( injured and partial season makes him a question mark). Bullpen is going to again rely on youth and a closer who was either hurt or ineffective when playing for a non-contender. So we aren't really going for it this year. How about rebuilding? Well we kept Utley, Chooch and Lee. Trading all three could have freed up enough cap space and brought in enough talent to cut the rebuild time to maybe this year alone. There are no openings for Galvis or Hernandez and Brown was put up for trade. This is why so many are down on this team in my opinion. The problem is this isn't poker where you can bluff and win. At some point you will put your cards on the field and your hand will be exposed. I would be happy with either path if they would just choose. This being said I'm ready for the season to start. GO PHILS!!
Most of you don't know me.
While I'm fairly new to this site, I've been a Phillies fan since the only things to be proud of were Ashburn, Curt Simmons, and an aging Robin Roberts. I remember being glued to the old GE television in the basement watching the last game of 1958 when Whitey was fighting it out with Mays for the batting title. When he got that third hit (just inside the 3rd base bag if memory serves—but I could be wrong) I had tears in my eyes. I just checked and the Phightins had 69 wins that season, but on *that* day I was a happy fan. I made do.
The older among us all had moments like this; we had to make do with them because we were too young to remember 1950. And for a long time, until 1964, we had no idea what it was like to even think about going to the World Series. That season, while ultimately gutting and depressing, gave us a taste of what fans in other cities experienced.
And we liked it.
Then in the 70s we kinda got used to winning. And in the 80s we learned about winning, rebuilding, and winning again and we did that again and again. And by now we all were used not just to winning but to playing deep into the fall. And boy did we like it. We were hooked.
So now we're in a down phase of one of the cycles. While it was bound to happen, I think we can all agree that part of the downward momentum is the result of a truly extraordinary string of injuries to key players. If those injuries don't happen then some the "crazy" contracts don't look quite so crazy. Desperate moves like the Youngs don't happen. In short, we had some bad luck and, yes, maybe that wasn't managed ideally.
We all have 20-20 hindsight. I like to think that RAJ is not to blame for everything. He's not perfect but who among us is. I'm giving him another season including the next offseason and FA crop. I've got my fingers crossed. I don't think he's an idiot; I do realize that you don't win every year. Even the Yankees know that.
Happy New Year to you all!
Great post, Don! It's good to see you on here again!
I agree that the CONSTANT "Amaro" bashing on this (and probably every other site) is over-the-top at times. And, up to recently, I've been one of the man's biggest supporters and defenders (probably too much so).
HOWEVER…. when Ruben said very recently…maybe at the Winter Meetings?… that the Phillies were "built to contend" I just about lost it. Really?? There is NO WAY … unless, as schmenk points out, that 15 game margin of error comes into play. And while I am certainly no expert, I have a feeling that the chances of that happening are fairly slim.
Am I depressed about it? No. Cause it's baseball and it's the Phillies. I'll watch most of the games and go to a few…just like I always do. But I will say that I'm not super excited or confident at all that they will have a good year.
Chuck, I really don't know what he's supposed to say under the circumstances. From a PR and managerial standpoint he can't just say the upcoming season is going to be a bust. On a positive note, there were no "unmanageable" contracts handed out this year. I for one look forward to positive return for Ryan Howard and perhaps a more open-minded use of platooning him when appropriate. I look forward to positive performances from Asche, Ruf Revere and Brown. I like a return to form for Hamels and Lee and perhaps the addition of another starter. If it all breaks down then you can sell off some pieces if need be.
DTD – What is he supposed to say?? Maybe the better question is "What SHOULD'T he say?" And for starters that answer shouldn't have the words "built to contend" in it. I mean, seriously, I get the fact that he has a PR image or stance to make. But we as fans aren't fools. I'm not buying into this man's bullish!t anymore.
Chuck, to be honest I don't have a problem with what he said either. Things he could have said but didn't:
"built to win a championship"
"built to go deep in the playoffs"
"built to win a division"
"built to get to the postseason"
"built to contend" is frankly not a very high bar. Any team that winds up with 80 wins, give or take, is probably contending in September, and 80 wins is not a far-fetched scenario even as they're currently constructed. It's not the most likely scenario, but not far-fetched either.
I don't think you've come to grips with a few realities:
1.The Phillies probably won't be particularly good for a while.
2. Amaro's mistakes have already been made, and unless some fortuitous sucker appears, he and we will have to live with the consequences of those mistakes.
3. Those mistakes were made largely because he was trying to keep the fanbase happy. Philly likes having folks around for a while. We grow attached to players. He took some gambles on some familiar, well-liked faces and lost. You can't wish that away now.
4. There aren't many fortuitous suckers around any more. No one is offering very much for those big contracts. At this point trading *all* the tradable pieces probably wouldn't reap any future stars or even many future solid starters. The idea that we can become the 09 Braves by trading away all these contracts is as illusory as the idea that the current team can contend with the 14 Braves.
5. So at this point, why dump guys if you'll get little in return by way of "prospects" or payroll relief? Because it's a ritual? Because some AL GM would really like to pick up Cliff Lee for a couple of B- prospects or a couple guys he (and we) don't want anyhow?
6. and why the hell make a bunch more big signings at this point?
7. so what do you do? sign the catcher you'd like to bring your next catcher forward, fill obvious holes on the cheap and wait to see if someone else's situation forces them to be a sucker for you. right now I'd say amaro is playing his losing hand about how it should be played. do I wish someone else had his job? someone more likely to see undervalued prospects out there? yes. but do i think he needs to make a bunch more big dumb moves to appease our reality-denying tendencies? No, i think he's done enough.
I like your comment Eric Hines. For the most part, I agree.
You can try to predict with metrics but you really don't know how this season will play out. If we were sure about how a team would perform we would have seen the Nats run away with the division last year because that's what the pundits predicted. Really,why play the games?
The real gambles were taken in 2010 and 2011 when this team was assembled to win "then." They just didn't however.
As far as recent mistakes go Papelbon was the most glaring. Maybe you're referring to Rollins or Utley. But really who was out there, available and better than those two?Every other move since 2011 has been relatively short term and low cost omitting the Hamels deal.
I don't comment too often, but I have to chime in and agree with Eric and Del.
While I am not terribly excited about the Phillies moves this off-season, I don't see the point in bashing Ruben Amaro for not making any major moves. They are a team that will be competitive if their "core four" (Howard, Rollins, Utley and Ruiz) can stay healthy and productive. If not, any added players won't make a difference. Besides do we really need to sign another high-dollar value, older player? I think we have enough as it is.
Like Del mentioned earlier, moves were made in 2010 and 2011 to "win now". The fact that they didn't was more due to players under-achieving, rather than anything Amaro did or didn't do.
A lot of folks seem to overlook this, but the main reason the Phillies didn't do well in 2012 and 2013 wasn't anything the front office did, but rather injuries to your best players. Your best pitcher (Halladay) and your most productive power hitter (Howard) were lost for most of the past two seasons. When they were in, they seemed to be shells of their former selves.
Take away the best pitcher and power hitter from any team and see how well they do. (Example; imagine the Tigers without Verlander and Caberea; the Dodgers without Kershaw and Gonzales; Boston without Lester and Ortiz)
Admittedly with Halladay and Howard you are dealing with older players, and injuries are a possibility, but no one could have predicted they would fall so far, so fast. Howard had completed another 30+ HR and 100+ RBI season in 2011 (then he blew out his tendon) and Hallday was 1 year removed from a Cy Young season.
Having said all that, I'm not sure there is much that the front office can do right now. Amaro is playing a losing hand (or at least not a very strong one) and about the only thing you can do is wait for a new deal of cards and see what the new season brings.
In 2014, if key players can stay healthy the Phillies will be competitive. I admit it's a small chance, but that's why I'm a fan. If the Philies don't get off to a good start and are not in a play-off postion by the All-Star break, then its time for a fire-sale and start the rebuild then. Exactly what that entails, well that's another post for another time.
Nobody is overlooking injuries. In fact, it's just the opposite. Most people are saying that by continually going into a season with an aging lineup, Amaro is foolish in his hopes to get one more contending season out of this "core" group. Common sense and history tells us that older players get injured more often and take more time to recover from those injuries. Plenty of people predicted Howard would decline quickly. As an example, just go back and look at Keith Law's analysis on the day that the contract extension was announced. He examined, point by point, a laundry list of red flags in Howard's metrics.
To say that the team's failures over the past two seasons are "surprising" or the result of "bad luck" is just not true. In fact, given the way that the 25 man roster has been constructed, this downfall was predictable.
Rags, you are confusing "decline" with "injury," at least in the case of Howard. Even the diety keith Law didn't predict that Howard would miss nearly two seasons, and if he'd only declined, he would still most likely have been productive.
I'd also point out to you that there are plenty of older players on every team, including the World series champs, who had as key players Ortiz, who's even older than Howard, and Victorino, who nearing his mid-thirties, is certainly a candidate for decline and even showed decline in his last season in Philadelphia. It also didn't seem to bother them to sign a player with degenerative hips.
It's probably true that in many cases older players are injured more, and they certainly recover more slowly, but that doesn't really explain the Phils' problems. Revere, Brown, Galvis, Lannan, Pettibone, Stutes, Horst, etc. have all suffered injuries in the past two seasons, and every one of those players is under thirty.
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I wasn't bashing Amaro for not making major moves … I was bashing Amaro for having no plan … either contend, or rebuild, and he's doing neither with this roster.
IF you want to go for it, go for it ..
IF you want to rebuild, rebuild..
IF you want to have .500 team, with an aging core, and no real prospects to get excited about, do exactly what the Phillies have done for the past year.
Tom from South Philly said, "If the Philies don't get off to a good start and are not in a play-off postion by the All-Star break, then its time for a fire-sale and start the rebuild then."
…… That's exactly what they should have done at the break LAST season. They entered the month of July 9.5 games back in NL East … July 31st, they were 12.5 games behind.
The time for the fire-sale was last year, and now they'll waste another season instead of starting down the road to rebuilding.
Don, I think they started down the road to rebuilding in July 2012. You can try to rebuild quickly and endure a few terrible seasons (with no guarantee whatsoever that there will be a winning team on the other side), or you can rebuild more slowly while trying to remain competitive.
I believe there is a plan, and it's the latter one. It's just a plan that some fans aren't satisfied with. The 2013 team was slightly younger than in 2008 and with Halladay and M.Young replaced by Gonzalez and Asche that trend will likely continue (despite Byrd replacing DY).
They have contracts that are difficult to unload, and they know that veterans-for-prospects deals are a roll of the dice that may or may not get anything of value in the return.
I have to agree with Schmenkman. The Phils ARE rebuilding, whether anybody wants to acknowledge it or not. They now have youth in center field and third base, the bullpen, and the bench. It might be argued that they should have traded Utley or Lee, but there were no clear upgrades at either spot, and who knows what would have been the return?
A rebuild can be done quickly, and sometimes it actually works quickly, but usually doesn't because with haste comes the inevitible waste or the inevitible jumping to erroneous conclusions about an available player's value. Better to do it more carefully, filling holes where one can, and waiting for big contracts to come off the books and a better free agent crop than the overpriced and aging players that have been available the last two years.
Schmenkman – Doesn't 73 wins qualify as a "terrible" season? How much worse would they be if they tried to rebuild "quickly"? I don't think the fans will differentiate much between a 65 win team and a 70 win team, any rebuild that includes signing a 37 year old outfielder and a 35 year old catcher to multi-year deals is flawed, no matter what rationale you try to concoct.
George – You wouldn't trade Lee or Utley looking for an immediate "clear upgrade" at those positions (or any current 25 man roster slot for that matter). You're looking for three or four years down the road. You know that as well as anyone. If you're doubting that RAJ has the ability to pull off a trade of that sort, then you're probably right. That's part of how they've reached this point – their inability to project the future performance of players (at any and every level).
No fan cares if this is a 65 win team, a 70 win team, or a 75 win team. They only care about fielding a contending team. Right now, they have an extremely expensive 70 win team. Teams like Tampa Bay are contending with a payroll of under $60 million in a much tougher league and division. I admire you guys and your need to defend Amaro every step of the way. I do hope to live to see the day when you can admit that he's an awful GM though.
Scotty, I've never claimed that Amaro is good GM. Or, more accurately, that it's a good front office, since we don't know to what extent Amaro's hand has been forced, and it's been reported that it's been quite a bit, such as in extending Howard early.
But the comparisons to the Rays or the A's are not that cogent, IMO. The Rays and A's never could have signed expensive long term contracts even if they wanted to, and so they operate in a completely different mode. Comparing to the other top-5 payrolls in the game is much more meaningful, and frankly not much more flattering for the Phils at the moment (they looked much better in 2009, 2010, and 2011).
BTW, their being an awful FO doesn't change my opinion that they've had a pretty good off-season.
Just curious, instead of Byrd, who would you have play RF in 2014? Instead of Ruiz, who would you have catch? And how would those different choices position them better for 3-4 years down the road?
I'm sort of questioning the Byrd signing (not sure who I would have play RF and i hope to have my questions positively answered)….
…but I TOTALLY defend the Ruiz signing. NO to McCann (lefty bat, too expensive and will be better suited to do 1B/DH duties at some point). NO to Salty (again, too expensive and overrated in my opinion). NO to Navarro (just not enough there). NO to Pierzynski (he's older, too, and not the catcher that Chooh is). Ruiz is needed RIGHT NOW for this staff, especially when you have $25ish MM pitchers in the rotation.
As for Ruben Amaro, I don't think he's a particularly good GM, either. I have defended a lot of his moves (some i probably shouldn't have) but he has made some that have been completely senseless. If we're even comparing the situation to the A's, I wonder how Billy Beane would fare with this payroll???
Mr. Ingerton, please realize that although fans don't care much whether it's 73 wins or only 65 wins, they DO care when that lack of winning continues over several yeras, which in many cases it does when a team dumps all it's tradaeble assets for prospects. Prospects don't always develop, or sometimes take years to do so. I really doubt if those fans would wish to wait while the four prsopects the team might get for Lee finally turned into something usable. I'll also point out that in EVERY Lee trade so far, the return has been underwhelming. Ther's just NO GUARANTEE that selling off Lee, Utley, or anyone on the 25 man roster will make for a quality team 3-4 years hence. A prospect or three is not always a clear upgrade.
Also, I was not complaining about Amaro when I mentioned "erroneus conclusions."That's something that has occured in every front office in baseball, going back to the very beginnings of the sport. Bad trades are made every year right along with the good ones, and it's usually hindsight, not foresight, which tells us which ones are which.
Not trying to force people into saying Amaro is good or bad as a GM …
I just think that when you're team has gone from among the best in baseball, to among the worst in baseball over a two year period – it's clear to me that the current pieces aren't working … some people blame injuries and that's fine, but even when fully healthy I don't see how this team can compete .
And because I don't see how they can compete (unless they would've added Granderson, Garza, Jimenez, etc..) … then I think to expedite a rebuild was the smarter move. Someone pointed out that there isn't much difference between a 73 win season and a 60 win season, while I won't go that far, I think the point is valid … if you aren't going to really contend (and I don't think the 2014 Phillies will, just as EARLY into last season we knew the 2013 Phillies wouldn't) .. then it would've made sense to trade Lee, Utley, etc for whatever you can get..
From all I've read, it's the Phillies targeting "MLB-ready talent" that made teams balk at any trades with them – if the Phillies were better at identifying low-level prospects, we could go the route of acquiring 3-4 players that were a few years away … sure you'd suck in 2014, 2015 … but from what I can see, we're going to suck these next two seasons anyway.
And I know this is a 180 from my usual stance on the Phillies – I'm just really frustrated by the way the organization is operating… because it hasn't been working, but they don't seem to changing the course. ….Again – the 76ers are more exciting, because at least you can see what the plan is .. I really think the Phillies plan is "hope Howard and Utley stay healthy and play well enough to keep us around .500, and keep putting butts in the seats." … as a fan, that doesn't excite me in any way
Don, it's a 180 because the organization has done a 180 in the past few short years. I blasted Amaro last week for making the recent comment "we are built to contend". NO we are not. Maybe he's saying that because he has a lot of "hope"…like you say… but I'm just not buying that way of thinking. There is too much to have to "hope" for right now…too much has to go right…for them to be a competitive team.
First off all, I have to admit I like the discussions here on Phillies Nation, even the opinions I may not agree with. Unlike some other sites, "you can disagree without being disagreeable." I just wish the folks in Washington could adhere to that. And I don't mean the Nationals.
That being said, I don't think we are all that far apart. Eventually every team needs to go through a rebuild. The differences we have seem to lie in the timing and degree. I tend to agree with schmenkman/George in that the Phillies have done some rebuilding and sometimes making moves for the sake of making moves can be counter-productive.
Since 2008, there has been a lot of turn-over in the team. You have the "core four" (Rollins, Howard, Utley and Ruiz) you add Hamels and Kendrick (?) and that's all that is left from the World Series team. In 2014, the Phillies fortunes will rise or fall with this group. For better or worse, these are the cards we are holding. Adding more chips to the pot in the form of adding an older, high-price free agent probably will not make a difference. I would like to play one more (last) round with this group. Can the Phillies be competitive with the team as it is? I think (hope) so; that's why we're fans. Would I bet my child's college fund on it? Well, probably not.
I still want to give it one last chance, and then go for the full-blown rebuild. As Dean Wormer put it, "I'm going to put these guys on DOUBLE-SECRET PROBATION. This means one more slip-up… one more mistake, and this fraternity of yours has had it at Faber!"
Not sure if anyone saw my other comment… there's an ESPN Insider article that names the Phillies as "in" on Tanaka.


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Home List of Titles The FKBP families of higher plants: exploring the structures and functions of protein interaction specialists
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/235670
- Title
- The FKBP families of higher plants: exploring the structures and functions of protein interaction specialists
- Author(s)
- Gollan, Peter J.; Bhave, Mrinal; Aro, Eva-Mari
- Abstract
- The FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) are known both as the receptors for immunosuppressant drugs and as prolyl isomerase (PPIase) enzymes that catalyse rotation of prolyl bonds. FKBPs are characterised by the inclusion of at least one FK506-binding domain (FKBd), the receptor site for proline and the active site for PPIase catalysis. The FKBPs form large and diverse families in most organisms, with the largest FKBP families occurring in higher plants. Plant FKBPs are molecular chaperones that interact with specific protein partners to regulate a diversity of cellular processes. Recent studies have found that plant FKBPs operate in intricate and coordinated mechanisms for regulating stress response and development processes, and discoveries of new interaction partners expand their cellular influences to gene expression and photosynthetic adaptations. This review presents an examination of the molecular and structural features and functional roles of the higher plant FKBP family within the context of these recent findings, and discusses the significance of domain conservation and variation for the development of a diverse, versatile and complex chaperone family.
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Environment and Biotechnology Centre
- Source
- FEBS Letters, Vol. 586, no. 20 (Oct 2012), pp. 3539-3547
- Publication year
- 2012
- FOR Code(s)
- 0304 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry; 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- Keyword(s)
- FK506-binding proteins; Immunophilin; Molecular chaperone; Phosphorylation; Plants; PPIase; Prolyl isomerase; Stress response
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- 0014-5793
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2012 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.
- Peer reviewed


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