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Financial Metrics Shenanigans
by Howard Schilit
Newly minted doctors are required to take the Hippocratic oath and pledge their commitment to practice medicine ethically.
Perhaps corporate managers should be made to study the Hippocratic oath and apply it in earnest when they communicate with investors. In so doing, they would pledge to never knowingly harm investors and always refrain from showcasing metrics that misrepresent performance. That day seems way off in the horizon. Until it arrives, however, investors must be alert to the following three techniques that management can use to obfuscate:
- Highlighting a misleading metric as a surrogate for revenue;
- Highlighting a misleading metric as a surrogate for earnings; and
- Highlighting a misleading metric as a surrogate for cash flow.
Misleading Revenue Surrogates
Many people consider revenue growth to be an important and straightforward measure of the overall growth of a business. Companies also frequently provide additional data points to supplement revenue, providing investors with more insight into product demand and pricing power. Investors should welcome this additional information and analyze these supplemental non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) revenue metrics to better assess the sustainable business performance. However, sometimes these revenue surrogates provided by management can be misleading and can harm investors if appropriate safeguards have not been put in place.
Same-Store Sales
Revenue growth at retailers and restaurants is often fueled by the opening of additional stores. Logically, companies that are in the middle of a rapid store expansion show tremendous revenue growth, since they have many more stores this year than they had the prior one. While total company revenue growth may give some perspective on a company's size, it gives little information on whether the individual stores are performing well. Therefore, investors should focus more closely on a metric that measures how the company's stores have actually been performing.
To provide investors with that insight, management often reports a metric called "same-store sales" (SSS) or "comparable-store sales." This metric establishes a comparable base of stores (or "comp base" for short) for which to calculate revenue growth, allowing for more relevant analysis of true operating performance. For example, a company may present its revenue growth on stores that have been open for at least one year. Companies often prominently disclose SSS in their earnings releases, and investors use it as a key indicator of company performance. Many consider same-store sales to be the most important metric in analyzing a retailer or restaurant. We agree that if it is reported in a logical and consistent manner, same-store sales is extremely valuable for investors.
However, because same-store sales fall outside of GAAP coverage, no universally accepted definition exists, and calculations may vary from company to company. Worse, a company's own calculation of same-store sales in one quarter may differ from the one used in the previous period. While most companies compute their same-store sales honestly and disclose them consistently, "bad apples" try to dress up their results by routinely adjusting their definition of same-store sales. Investors, therefore, should always be alert to the presentation of same-store sales to ensure that it fairly represents a company's operating performance.
Compare same-store sales to the change in revenue per store. When a company experiences fairly consistent growth, same-store sales should be trending up consistently with the average revenue at each store. By comparing same-store sales with the change in revenue per store (i.e., total revenue divided by average total stores), investors can quickly spot positive or negative changes in the business. For example, assume that a company's SSS growth has been consistently tracking well with its revenue per store growth. If a material divergence in this trend suddenly appears, with same-store sales accelerating and revenue per store shrinking, investors should be concerned. This divergence indicates one of these two problems: (1) the company's new stores are beginning to struggle (driving down revenue per store, but not affecting same-store sales because they are not yet in the comp base), or (2) the company has changed its definition of same-store sales (which affects the SSS calculation but not total revenue per store).
This framework was used by the Center for Financial Research and Analysis (CFRA) to successfully identify problems at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD) in 2004 and Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) in 2007, and to warn investors before these companies unraveled. As shown in Figure 1, Krispy Kreme maintained its high SSS level in 2003 and 2004, despite a tremendous drop-off in total revenue per store.
Watch for changes in the definition of same-store sales. Companies usually disclose how they define same-store sales. Once the definition is disclosed, investors should have little difficulty tracking it from period to period. Companies can manipulate same-store sales by adjusting the comp base in two possible ways. The first involves simply changing the length of time before a store enters the comp base (for example, requiring a store to be open for 18 months, versus 12 months previously). The second trick involves changing the types of stores included in the comp base (for example, excluding certain stores based on geography, size, businesses, remodeling, and so on).
Watch for bloated same-store sales resulting from company acquisitions. The comp base can also be influenced by unrelated company activities, such as acquisitions. For example, from 2004 to 2006, the universe of stores in the comp base of Starbucks kept changing each quarter as the company continuously bought up its regional licensees and put them into the comp base. As a result, Starbucks calculated same-store sales using a slightly different universe each quarter—hardly a comparable metric. If Starbucks had been purchasing its strongest licensees, this acquisition activity would have had a positive impact on SSS performance, thereby misleading investors about the company's underlying sales growth.
As with Krispy Kreme, Starbucks' 2006 same-store sales trend began diverging from its revenue per store trend. The gap widened in 2007, and in September 2007, Starbucks reported that U.S. traffic had fallen for the first time ever. When same-store sales in the United States turned negative in December, Starbucks announced that it would no longer disclose same-store sales, stating that it would "not be an effective indicator of the Company's performance."
Be wary when a company stops disclosing an important metric. Just as Starbucks stopped disclosing same-store sales when business went sour, Gateway stopped disclosing the number of computers sold when times were tough in late 2000. This metric had been an important data point provided to investors, and Gateway's change in disclosure led the SEC to censure the company and label its actions "materially misleading" because it obscured the softening consumer demand for computers.
Look for strange definitions of organic growth. Affiliated Computer Systems (ACS) had an odd way of presenting its organic growth, or what it called "internal growth." Rather than simply excluding all revenue from acquired businesses when calculating internal growth, ACS calculated a fixed amount to remove based on the acquired business' revenue for the previous year. This meant that ACS was able to include in its own internal growth any large deals that the acquired company booked just before the acquisition.
Average Revenue per User
When comparing key non-GAAP metrics across a peer group, it is important to ensure that these metrics are being calculated in the same way. For example, in the broadcast industry, a common metric analyzed is average revenue per user (ARPU), calculated as total subscription revenue divided by average subscribers. Calculating the average revenue per subscriber sounds like it should be simple; however, varying definitions of ARPU abound. Consider, for example, the different definitions at competitors Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. before they merged in 2008. Sirius's calculation of ARPU included revenue from subscriptions, advertising, and activation fees. XM Radio, on the other hand, calculated ARPU using only revenue from subscriptions.
Subscriber Additions and Churn
Since subscription-based businesses (e.g., research providers, telephone companies, newspapers, fitness clubs, and so on) rely on new subscribers for growth, it is helpful for investors to monitor subscriber levels in order to get a sense of the most recent trends in the business. Logically, the number of new subscriber additions each quarter is often a good leading indicator of upcoming revenue. Similarly, the level of cancellations (called "churn") is important to know when assessing a business. If a company shows a healthy subscriber base with growth in new subscribers and shrinking churn, investors can expect strong revenue growth ahead. That is, unless the company is manipulating these metrics.
Consider AOL Time Warner's (AOL) scheme to inflate the number of subscribers to its online Internet service. One of the ways in which AOL sold subscriptions was to sell "bulk subscriptions" to corporations, which would then distribute these subscriptions to employees as a perk. AOL did not include these bulk subscription sales in its subscriber count because it knew that many of these subscriptions would never actually be activated. When employees did sign up, they rightfully entered the subscriber count.
In 2001, AOL was struggling to meet its subscriber targets. So, the company began including the number of bulk subscriber sales in its subscriber count, despite the fact that the majority of these subscriptions were never activated. Moreover, AOL would ship these bulk subscription membership kits to customers immediately before the quarter end in order to meet targets for subscriber count.
Bookings and Backlog
Many companies disclose their quarterly "bookings" or "orders," which are supposed to represent the amount of new business booked during the period. Companies may also disclose their backlog, which essentially represents their outstanding book of business or, in other words, all past orders that have yet to be filled (and recognized as revenue). "Book-to-bill" is also a common disclosure that compares current-period bookings to current-period revenue and is calculated as bookings divided by revenue.
If they are presented accurately, bookings and backlog are important indicators, as they provide investors with extra insight into upcoming revenue trends. However, since they are non-GAAP metrics, companies have plenty of leeway in how they define and disclose bookings and backlog. You would think that the calculations would be pretty straightforward, but indeed there are plenty of nuances in what should and should not be included. For example, different companies include the following types of orders differently in their presentation of bookings and backlog: cancelable orders, orders in which the quantity purchased is not defined, bookings for longer-term service or construction contracts, contracts with contingencies or extension clauses, bookings on noncore operations, and so on.
The varying definitions of bookings and backlog across companies make it extremely important for investors to understand exactly what the metric represents before putting any faith in it. Moreover, if the metric is a key performance indicator for a company, investors should use extra diligence to ensure that the company does not change its own definition of bookings in a way that flatters the metric.
Misleading Earnings Surrogates
Investment guru Warren Buffett (chairman of Berkshire Hathaway) has long poked fun at management teams that create dishonest pro forma metrics. He memorably compared this practice to an archer who shoots an arrow into a blank canvas and then draws a bull's-eye around the implanted arrow.
EBITDA and Its Variations
Consider the bull's-eye drawn by the archers at Global Crossing (GLBC). The company reported a net loss of $120 million in the March 2007 quarter. Desperate to show a profit, management removed expenses using a pro forma concoction reminiscent of its bad behavior during the dot-com bubble. First, management removed $97 million in expenses for interest, taxes, depreciation, and some other items to get to a metric it called "adjusted EBITDA" (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Then, it removed $15 million in non-cash stock compensation expense, bringing the company to an "adjusted cash EBITDA" of negative $8 million. Close, but not all the way to profitability, management then removed a host of charges that it deemed one-time in nature, propelling the company to a positive $4 million in what it called "adjusted cash EBITDA less one-time items." Bull's-eye!
|Quarter 1, 3/2007
|($ Mil)
|Net income
|Provision for income taxes
|Other expense
|Interest expense
|Depreciation and amortization
|"Adjusted EBITDA"
|Non-cash stock compensation
|"Adjusted cash EBITDA"
|One-time item: regulatory charges
|One-time item: Asian earthquake
|One-time item: customer defaults
|One-time item: severance
|One-time item: cash portion of retention bonus
|One-time item: utility credit
|One-time item: maintenance charge
|"Adjusted cash EBITDA less one-time items"
|Source: RiskMetrics Group.
It is easy to be skeptical about Global Crossing's three levels of pro forma, and it is hard not to laugh when looking at some of the "one-time" charges that the company removed (see Table 1). Last time we checked, expenses for "maintenance" are a normal cost of doing business and therefore should never be excluded from a pro forma calculation. Ditto for customer defaults (bad debts), employee retention bonuses, and routine regulatory charges. Do not be fooled into thinking that these items will not recur just because management decides to present them as one-time in nature.
Now you see it, now you don't. On its June 2007 earnings call, flash memory manufacturer Spansion (CODE) proudly stated that EBITDA grew to $72 million from $61 million the quarter before. The following quarter, Spansion reported that EBITDA fell to $71 million; however, the company soothed concerned investors by claiming that EBITDA actually increased by $8 million if you excluded a one-time real estate gain received in the previous quarter. Conveniently, this one-time gain was not excluded from EBITDA when earnings were reported the previous quarter. So, Spansion essentially included the one-time gain to help show strong EBITDA growth in June, and then excluded the gain the next quarter in order to show strong EBITDA growth in September. You can't have it both ways!
Pro Forma Earnings/Adjusted Earnings/Non-GAAP Earnings
What's in a name? That which companies call earnings, by any other name would smell as sweet . . . or so management would like you to think. Sometimes management insists that a foul-smelling "pro forma" or "adjusted" earnings metric (or any other earnings metric with a qualifying name) is a sweet and pure measure of earnings.
Pretending that recurring charges are one-time in nature. Peregrine Systems had so many bogus receivables that it also used pro forma tactics to hide the evidence of its chicanery. In addition to pretending to sell these receivables, Peregrine also took charges for these receivables, but inappropriately classified those charges as nonrecurring and related to acquisitions. This classification gave Peregrine the cover to exclude these charges from its pro forma earnings presentation so that investors would not be concerned (or at least those investors who always took the company at its word).
Pretending that one-time gains are recurring in nature. Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts also chose not to remove large nonrecurring gains from its adjusted income. Trump opened an All Star Café in its Atlantic City Taj Mahal Casino in 1997. All Star Café signed a 20-year lease; however, just two years later, its parent company (Planet Hollywood) went bankrupt. As a result, the lease was terminated, and all of the sports memorabilia and real estate improvements in the All Star Café became the property of Trump. Trump valued this property at $17 million and, in September 1999, recorded a one-time gain. (Shockingly, Trump put this gain in revenue!) However, when releasing its earnings results to Wall Street, Trump conveniently forgot to tell investors about this one-time benefit and failed to remove it from its pro forma numbers. As shown in Table 2, had Trump been more truthful in communicating with its investors and reported an honest measure of pro forma results, the company would have reported declines in both earnings and revenue—in contrast to the reported growth in both metrics.
as Reported
Q3, 9/99, Excluding
One-Time Gain
|Pro forma revenue ($ Mil)
|Pro forma net income ($ Mil)
|Pro forma EPS ($)
Changing the definition of adjusted earnings. In late 2005, Openwave Systems (OPWV) changed its definition of non-GAAP net income twice in two consecutive quarters. In the September 2005 quarter, Openwave began excluding expenses for restricted stock grants from its non-GAAP net income. According to a CFRA report in November 2005, this change added $0.04 to Openwave's earnings, without which the company would have missed Wall Street's expectations. Then, the very next quarter, Openwave changed the definition again, this time to exclude acquisition-related hedging costs from non-GAAP net income. The two changes combined to add $0.04 to earnings in the December quarter as well.
Misleading Cash Flow Surrogates
Non-GAAP cash flow metrics are less common than non-GAAP revenue and earnings disclosures; however, they do exist.
Sometimes companies create a pro forma cash flow metric in order to exclude a nonrecurring activity, such as a large litigation settlement. However, other times, companies may be looking to artificially enhance their cash-generation profile.
"Cash Earnings" and EBITDA Are Not Cash Flow Metrics
Companies sometimes present metrics like "cash earnings" or "cash EBITDA" (as we just saw with Global Crossing). Do not confuse these metrics with substitutes for cash flow! Many companies and investors alike believe that these metrics (as well as plain old EBITDA) are good surrogates for cash flow simply because the calculation includes the adding back of non-cash expenses such as depreciation.
A company's cash flow consists of much more than just net income plus non-cash expenses. Ignoring working capital changes when calculating cash flow will provide you with a fictional portrait of a company's cash-generation abilities, in the same way that ignoring accruals for expenses such as bad debts, impairments, and warranty expenses will give you an illusory sense of profitability. In reality, metrics such as EBITDA and cash earnings are poor representations of performance.
Moreover, for capital-intensive businesses, EBITDA is often an illusory measure of performance and profitability because all of the major capital costs run through the income statement as depreciation and therefore are excluded from EBITDA. Some companies abuse the investment community's acceptance of EBITDA and use the metric even though it is completely unwarranted to do so.
For example, rent-to-own retailer Rent-A-Center, Inc. (RCII) purchases inventory (such as furniture and home electronics) and then rents the merchandise to customers for a monthly fee. Rent-A-Center records the rental fees as revenue, and the rental merchandise is depreciated over the rental life and recorded as "cost of rentals" on the income statement (similar to cost of goods sold). However, when presenting its EBITDA, the company excludes the impact of these costs because they can be considered depreciation. We find it completely inappropriate to exclude these costs from any legitimate measure of profitability, since they are indeed the cost of inventory.
Non-GAAP Cash Flow Metrics Put There to Confuse
Management at Delphi liked to mislead investors by presenting tricky cash flow metrics. For example, Delphi routinely talked about and headlined its "operating cash flow" in its earnings releases. No doubt, many people thought that Delphi was discussing its cash flow from operations; however, this was not the case. "operating cash flow" was actually Delphi's deceptively named surrogate for GAAP cash flow from operations. Since the name is so close to its GAAP compadre, you can imagine how many investors were confused into thinking that this pro forma metric was Delphi's actual cash flow from operations. In truth, this surrogate barely resembled GAAP cash flow from operations. As shown in Table 3, it was calculated as net income plus depreciation and other non-cash charges minus capital expenditures plus some huge mystery item labeled "other."
|($ Mil)
|Net income (GAAP)
|One-time charge for in-process R&D
|Depreciation and amortization
|Capital expenditures
|Other, net
|"Operating Cash Flow" (non-GAAP)
|Cash flow from operations (GAAP)
Free cash flow (GAAP cash flow from
operations less GAAP capital expenditures)
In 2000, Delphi's actual cash flow from operations (as reported on the cash flow statement) was $268 million, but its self-defined "operating cash flow" (as presented in the earnings release) was $1.636 billion—an astonishing differential of almost $1.4 billion. Since this cash flow surrogate includes the impact of capital expenditures, it may be more relevant to compare it to Delphi's free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital expenditures) of negative $1.0 billion—bringing our differential to an outrageous $2.6 billion.
In 2003, Delphi was still up to the same tricks, but the company was now showing a reconciliation between its "operating cash flow" and cash flow from operations as reported on the cash flow statement. Delphi's "operating cash flow" was $1.2 billion in 2003, versus $737 million in cash flow from operations and negative $268 million in free cash flow. The primary differences included routine operating uses of cash flow, including pension plan contributions, payments to employees, and a decline in the sales of accounts receivable.
Any serious investor who looked at this presentation, as shown in Table 4, would be aghast at seeing such normal operating expenditures excluded from the calculation of operating cash flow. The old adage "where there's smoke, there's fire" is very applicable when searching for shenanigans. Delphi's ridiculous cash flow surrogate deception was the smoke. The fraudulent revenue and cash flow was the fire.
|($ Mil)
|"Operating Cash Flow" (non-GAAP)
|Pension contributions
|Cash paid for employee and product line charges
|Cash paid for lump-sum contract signing bonuses
|Decrease in sales of accounts receivable
|Capital expenditures
|Cash flow from operations (GAAP)
Free cash flow (GAAP cash flow from
operations less GAAP capital expenditures)
Funds From Operations
The real estate investment trust (REIT) industry uses the funds from operations (FFO) metric as a standard for measuring company performance. While this metric was not promulgated by GAAP, it is widely viewed as a gauge of a REIT's ability to generate cash flow and is often viewed as being more useful than traditional GAAP earnings or cash flow measures. In order to promote the consistency and legitimacy of this performance metric, the industry's main trade group, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), laid out a strict definition of funds from operations. NAREIT defined FFO to be net income excluding depreciation, gains or losses from the sale of property, and income from unconsolidated joint ventures.
Some companies, however, are not really interested in conforming to voluntary industry standards, especially when they benefit from going rogue. American Financial Realty, for example, shunned the industry standard definition in 2003 and instead used its own more favorable definition, which, of course, inflated performance and helped management reach its bonus targets. The primary difference between American Financial Realty's definition and the industry standard was that the company decided to include its gains from the sale of property, whereas NAREIT explicitly prohibits this. Had American Financial Realty excluded these gains from the calculation as dictated by the industry definition, the company's 2003 funds from operations would have been cut by nearly half.
By now you should know that any time a company reports an important non-GAAP metric, you need to read and monitor the definition to ensure that you understand exactly what information that metric conveys.
This article is excerpted from Howard Schilit's book written with Jeremy Perler, "Financial Shenanigans," third edition (McGraw-Hill, 2010).
Ric from MO posted over 6 years ago:
I loved this article, it could also be titled "Another way to cook the books". As I see a big push in companies to become more "metric"/"performance" based, these same issues identified in this article will also crop up in internal management metrics
Walter from TX posted over 6 years ago:
A great article filled with examples why one should always "ask the second question." Unfortunately one learns the hard way that all is not as it seems.
Edna from Virginia posted over 5 years ago:
It is very hard to monitor these various companies and try to "interpert" their various devious ways to mask problems. Articles like this really help to keep us alert to various shananigans and not be fooled so easily.
David from NC posted over 5 years ago:
Even GAAP data can be suspicious. I have noticed that the cash flow devoted to working capital changes in many annual reports does not match the data shown on balance sheets. This often shows up as changes of inventories and receivables. As these numbers affect the operating cash flow, I wonder which is correct: the cash flow statement or the balance sheet? The apparent discrepancy casts doubt on the entire report, GAAP and Sarbox not withstanding.
Jerry from AZ posted over 5 years ago:
A wonderful article, very useful information with good examples, thank you
F from OH posted over 4 years ago:
Clearly, it is useful to monitor deviations from accepted standards as a means of detecting impending problems. However, it appears unlikely that the average person, however knowledgable, would be able to detect such deviations unless willing to expend substantial time/effort.
One simple alternate approach: any change should be considered suspect!
One unfortunate implication: financial reporting has returned to wild-west ethics, inspite of all the alledged standards in place. I have to wonder why such deviations from standards are permitted at all. Either you have rules, or you don't!
Kenny G from CA posted over 4 years ago:
This makes me wonder about the financials being reported by Salesforce.com and Concur Technologies. Very cryptic revenue recognition and adjustments.


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No. 8 Louisville wears down Cincinnati, 67-51The Associated Press | March 05,2013LOUISVILLE, Ky. Russ Smith scored 18 points and No. 8 Louisville gave Rick Pitino his 300th victory with the Cardinals by beating Cincinnati 67-51 on Monday night.
Pitino, who earned his 650th career win earlier this season against South Florida, picked up this milestone against Cincinnati counterpart Mick Cronin, a former Cardinals assistant in 2002 and 2003.
The Cardinals (25-5, 13-4 Big East) picked up their sixth straight win and drew within one-half game of first-place Georgetown, which plays at Villanova on Wednesday. Louisville followed up last seasons victory over the Bearcats in the conference championship game that sparked a Final Four run.
Louisvilles trademark defense ignited this victory, as the Cardinals forced Cincinnati (20-10, 8-9) into a season-high 21 turnovers. Seven came during the first 10 minutes of the second half, including Kevin Wares steal and dunk for a 53-42 lead, part of a 23-4 run that put the game away.
Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng added 11 points each for Louisville, which shot 48 percent (28 of 58). The Cardinals scored 23 points off Cincinnatis mistakes, with several coming during that run after the game was tied at 37.
The surge sealed Pitinos 300th win, an achievement marked by a video tribute and the coach offering a hoarse gratitude to the crowd.
Cashmere Wright scored 15 points and Sean Kilpatrick and JaQuan Parker had 12 each for the Bearcats, who shot 18 of 51 from the field (35 percent) in losing for the sixth time in eight games.
It was a typical Big East game defined by defense.
Despite their recent slump, the Bearcats still rank in the top 30 in field goal defense (18th, 38.5 percent) and scoring (28th, 59.2 per game).
Louisville remained one of the top defensive teams, ranking third in steals per game (10.7) and turnover margin (plus-6). The Cardinals were coming off Saturdays 58-52 win over No. 12 Syracuse, where both teams shot 36 percent; Louisville won it by outscoring Syracuses bench 22-15, hitting a couple more 3-pointers and taking 12 more free throws.
That victory moved Louisville up two spots in the latest poll, and the Cardinals objective was using familiar home surroundings to boost their offense.
Their plan worked for the most part in the first half, as the Cardinals shot a respectable 44 percent (15 of 34) and outscored the Bearcats 22-8 in the paint. Louisville moved the ball around well and it helped Siva bounce back from a scoreless game at Syracuse, as he scored 11 points on five field goals including a 3-pointer.
Louisvilles defense was key, scoring 12 points off 12 turnovers while holding Cincinnati to 11-of-27 shooting (41 percent). But the Cardinals struggled against the Bearcats 6-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc, helping Cincinnati stay close and trail just 35-31 at halftime.
A 13-9 run over the final 7:12 of the half provided Louisvilles cushion, but that disappeared early in the second half as the Cardinals went nearly 5 minutes without a field goal. Cincinnati rallied to tie the game at 37 by the first media timeout.
Louisville followed with a 9-1 run that eventually became a 60-42 lead.
No. 4 Kansas 79, Texas Tech 42
LAWRENCE, Kan. Jeff Withey scored 22 points and every senior had a big night at their last home game, leading No. 4 Kansas past Texas Tech 79-42 at Allen Fieldhouse on Monday night.
Kevin Young had 14 points and Ben McLemore and Travis Releford added 13 apiece as the Jayhawks (26-4, 14-3 Big 12), who took a half-game lead over No. 9 Kansas State in their quest for a ninth straight conference title.
Fueled by Young and Withey, Kansas unleashed a 19-2 run and seized a 45-20 halftime lead. Withey and McLemore combined to score the first 10 points in a 16-3 run to open the second half. Elijah Johnson had 12 assists for Kansas, giving him 22 in the last two games.
Jordan Tolbert had 16 points for Texas Tech (10-18, 3-14), which lost 60-46 at home to Kansas earlier this season.
The lopsided victory was the 30th straight for Kansas in its home finale and ensured the Jayhawks of at least 26 wins for the seventh consecutive season.
With one regular-season game left and then the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments, the four seniors Withey, Young, Releford and Johnson have a combined 463 victories.
Withey had baskets on Kansas first two possessions of the second half, then McLemore dropped in two free throws and another basket as the rout got worse and Texas Tech called a timeout in a futile try to stem the tide.
But Perry Ellis scored four quick points and Johnson dunked after Kansas stole the ball and the Jayhawks suddenly had a 61-23 lead.
Kansas scored on seven of its first nine possessions in the first half but then hit a lull and scored on only one of their next six while the Red Raiders 23-point underdogs crept within 13-10. Young, the most unheralded of the four seniors, triggered a 19-2 run that let the sellout crowd of 16,300 relax and enjoy one more easy home win by their beloved Jayhawks.
Taking a pass from Johnson, Young got the run going with a behind-the-back dunk, then got a putback on McLemores miss and with, another assist from Johnson, slammed home another dunk on the next possession.
Johnson tossed to Withey for another slam, then the 7-footer made in two free throws and a few minutes later brought a thunderous roar from the crowd by pulling up just inches from the line and making a feathery 3-pointer for a 32-12 lead.
To the delight of the crowd, the Red Raiders had three players put up air balls in the first half Ty Nurse, Josh Gray and Jaye Crockett.
Texas Tech, losing to Kansas for the 24th time in 28 games, finished its conference road schedule 1-8 under first-year head coach Chris Walker.MORE IN Wire SportsORLANDO, Fla. Full StoryOXON HILL, Md. Wade Davis already had closed out a World Series. Full StoryBOSTON New Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale said he isnt worried that he might not be the ace... Full Story
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Love Is In The Hair1 of 15
Looking to impress a special someone on New Year's Eve, or just want a new look for date night? From sultry waves to soft, sexy braids, top celebrity stylists reveal how to copy seven runway-inspired hairstyles that are quick, easy and romantic.
Make Waves2 of 15
To get the soft waves at Diane von Furstenberg, begin curling your hair with a 2-inch curling iron starting at the nape area, leaving the ends out, but hold the curling iron more horizontal. Make sure to twist the sections under instead of up and down.
The Final Look3 of 15
"Holding the curling iron vertical creates uneven beachy curls, while twisting under will create more soft, consistent waves," says Suave Professionals celebrity stylist Jenny Cho. "Release the hair and gently pull down on the curl, relaxing it while it's still hot."
Crimp Your Style4 of 15
Want a hairstyle that's a little more dramatic? Opt for tighter, crimped strands, as seen at Anna Sui. "First, apply two to three golf-ball-sized dollops of a creamy mousse, distributing evenly all over the hair," says Cho. This will condition the hair so it stays soft and beautiful.
The Final Look5 of 15
"Next, start braiding individual sections of your hair—about eight to ten sections total—all the way to the ends," says Cho. "Use a diffuser to dry your hair a little so the heat helps set the braids, then go to bed." Wake up the next morning and unwind the braids to reveal soft, crimped locks.
Flower Power6 of 15
Going out for the night? Try this stylish look from Dolce & Gabbana's runway. "Part your hair down the center and begin curling with a 1 1/2-inch curling iron, twisting one section away from the face and the next toward the face—switching back and forth to create texture," says Cho. "Rub a dry shampoo, like Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo, into your hands and apply to hair, breaking up curls with your fingers." Then starting at the nape of your neck, create a low braid and secure with an elastic.
The Final Look7 of 15
"Wrap the braid like a bun and anchor with bobby pins, then gently pull out pieces around the face to create a slightly disheveled look," says Cho. As for adornments, think subtle: "Add a floral hair pin to one side and tuck it slightly under the hair. The asymmetry will prevent the style from looking costumey." Complete the look with a lightweight hairspray.
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Pretty Plaits8 of 15
"You need texture and volume for this Alberta Ferretti look," says Fabrice Gili, Frédéric Fekkai's creative director of the Melrose Place & Soho salons. "First, apply a mousse like Frédéric Fekkai Full Blown Volume Mousse to the roots of damp hair. Using a blow dryer, dry hair with your fingers to bring out the natural texture. If it's too polished, it'll look conservative, so it's best for the style to look a bit messy."
The Final Look9 of 15
"Part hair down the middle and gently pull hair back or leave a few wisps framing the face. Again, the part doesn't have to be perfect as the unevenness is what makes this look sexy," says Gili. "Next, create a loose braid at the nape of the neck and secure with an elastic. Finally, spray a small amount of lightweight hairspray in your hands and mess up the braid by slightly pulling at the strands." The result? A sexy, slightly undone look.
Smooth Move10 of 15
To get this sweet half-up style from Elie Saab's runway, start by creating a sharp middle part. "Divide hair into a triangle from the front of the forehead to just behind the ear, excluding the top portion of hair that will lie naturally," says Gili. "Then roll the section to the back of the head to form the first twist and gently pin underneath."
The Final Look11 of 15
Repeat on the opposite side and then pull twists together at the crown of the head, combining and securing with an elastic. "Lastly, use a single drop of Fekkai's oil to smooth the hair that's hanging down and push it behind the shoulders," says Gili.
Weave Around12 of 15
"This style, seen at Nicole Miller, is made for girls with long hair who want to pull it up into more than just a ponytail," says Gili. "Pull hair over to one side and create a loose braid just behind the ear, securing the end with a small elastic. Take the braid over the top of the head, keeping it closer to the forehead than the crown, and pin it behind the ear on the other side."
The Final Look13 of 15
Use your fingers to gently pull out a few strands. "This is an important step because if the braid is too tight or doesn't lay flat, it won't look easy and effortless," says Gili. "Finally, lightly mist the style with hairspray."
Get Twisted14 of 15
"Valentino's chic buns work great on clean or dirty hair and look stylish with a red lip," says Paves. "Make a bold center part on dry hair and brush hair thoroughly to avoid bumps. Loosely section the back into two sides, as if you were making low, loose pigtails. Starting on your left side, behind your ear, start twisting your hair at your scalp area. Be sure to allow the front of the hair to cover your ear, which helps the style look more fashion-forward. Continue twisting."
The Final Look15 of 15
"Once you reach the center of your nape, work on twisting your hair through to the ends. Then use a small elastic or bobby pin to secure together so it doesn't untwist while you work on the other side," says Paves. "Repeat the same steps on your right side, then grab both sections and twist them together until they start to collapse back onto the nape of your neck. Remove your previous fastener and replace with a small elastic to hold both sections as one. Roll your ends into the twist and secure with pins."
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Werth-less Trash Talk and a Bum Knee
Yesterday I posed a question about Chase Utley and his health. Today, the Phillies finally spilled the beans and admitted that Utley has tendinitis in his right knee. An MRI revealed the issue which requires rest in order to heal.
While Utley has agreed to take things slow, the injury is still worrisome. According to the Mayo Clinic, knee tendinitis can involve a grocery list of complications including weakened leg muscles due to overcompensation, tendon tears and chronic pain. The recovery time is anywhere from weeks to months.
In my own personal experience, tendinitis can be chronic and linger for years. Utley has already stated that this is a condition he has dealt with in the past, so it appears to be an ongoing issue. How much it will hamper his future performance remains to be seen. But for now, it is not good news.
On to another sore subject, Jayson Werth made a very bad error in judgment this week when he trash-talked his former team. The Washington Post reported that Werth stated, "I hate the Phillies, too," during a conversation with his new GM, Mike Rizzo.
Rizzo said, "I hate the [expletive] Phillies." The GM then listed what he termed "dirty plays" by the Phillies, prompting the "I hate the Phillies, too," remark from Werth.
I wonder which parts he hated. Could it be his 2008 World Series ring? Or maybe it was all the attention from fans who routinely professed their admiration of him? No, I'll bet it was that the Phillies signed him when every other team in baseball assumed he was a washed-up, injury prone discard.
Then again, Werth is a National now. And I suppose all Nationals hate Philly for winning four straight division titles while they have done nothing but suck since moving to DC in 2005. Sounds like sour grapes from an underperforming club that has to beg fans of opponents to come to their ballpark just to sell tickets.
In another interview about Phillies fans outnumbering Nats fans in DC, Werth also said, "The reason why those people come over here is they don't have a chance to watch their team in Philadelphia and as soon as we fill the seats with Nats fans those people are going to go away and we are going to regain homefield advantage and I am looking forward to that day too."
News flash Werth – We see our team in Philly all the time. The reason most of us go to DC is because Nats tickets are super easy to get. And we do not mind the drive because we love and support our team, unlike most Nats fans who cannot be bothered to show up.
I will be honest; Werth has never been a favorite of mine. I have seen him treat fans badly and even watched him make rude, ignorant comments to small children who were politely asking for an autograph during a previous spring training. So frankly, the "hate" comment does not shock me.
But if Werth thinks his $126 million paycheck is going to fill seats in DC, he is in for a rude awakening. And if he is expecting a Pat Burrell-like greeting upon his return to Philadelphia, I am not sure that "rude awakening" would even begin to cover what Philly has in store for him.
Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
*Read more about the Phillies at my other home page, Phightin' Phils Phorum in the My Team Rivals network*
2 Comments
Sorry to hear about Utley. Hopefully the fact that they are aware of the issue and able to begin treatment now will mean a strong healthy season for him.
I don't like it when players leave and then bad mouth their old team (or the other way around either). It's a really small world, even in baseball, and it's not like it costs anything to be classy.
Jenn: Excellent points- I'm one of those Phillies fans who go to Nationals Park, because I live in the Metro DC area, and Werth will soon find out that money may buy you lots of things, but it won't create any real excitement in Nationals Park beyond opening day. There are not many real Nationals fans down here- even those who root for them obviously have had only a few years to even learn about the team and it has not been a pretty experience. Very few extra fans are going to show up to watch Jayson hit some home runs while the team continues to stink- and even when they MIGHT become respectable- perhaps in three years- it will be because of other players, not Werth. Of course, in the end, not sure he will really care, since it seems he has taken the Boras course and decided money is more important than winning, and it really is all about him.


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Whitney Houston Critics Called Her 'Too White' — Black Republicans Can Relate
Whitney Houston died at the age of 48. Most articles about her death said something like, "Houston struggled with drug and alcohol problems for years …"
But Houston also struggled with something else that black Republicans and black non-Democrats can understand: ridicule and ostracism for "selling out," or "acting white," or not being "black enough."
Ebony, the black monthly magazine, wrote about the then-27-year-old: "Black disc jockeys have chided her for 'not having soul' and being 'too white.' … She was booed at the Soul Train Music Awards. … It's enough to drive a good Christian girl to drink, drugs or at least to cursing. But not Whitney. Though it hurts her deeply, she handles it all with aplomb."
Did she?
After Houston's marriage to Bobby Brown, and after years of Houston's erratic behavior and rumors of drug abuse, I spoke to singer-actress Della Reese, a longtime Houston family friend. Reese and I were in the greenroom of a television studio, and we talked about Reese's career. I told her that my mother remembered having seen a young Reese at a Washington, D.C., nightclub called either "The Cave" or "The Cove."
She laughed and said, "The Cave."
We talked about then-current Whitney Houston/Bobby Brown headlines. "I have a theory about Whitney Houston," I said. "I've been called 'Uncle Tom,' and I know how that feels. I think Whitney was so hurt by being called a 'sellout' and 'acting white' — and crap like that — she wanted to change her image. What better way to do that than to marry a bad boy? And the drug abuse makes her a flawed person fighting to overcome her demons. Makes her relatable."
Reese, a close friend of Cissy Houston, Whitney's mom, said: "I know the family well. And there's a lot of truth in what you're saying." Reese gave me permission to discuss our exchange, as long as I made one thing clear. Reese said: "The human voice is very forgiving, and Whitney is working things out. And she will come back."
Black Republicans can relate to the name-calling.
A black St. Petersburg Times columnist wrote this about black Republicans: "Some creatures are just plain strange, making us do double takes because their compositions or habits or appearances defy our sense of logic and our way of viewing reality. Take the wildebeest, the warthog, the hyena, the brown pelican, the Shar-Pei. These animals, seemingly wrought by committee, make us laugh or shake our heads.
"Another such creature, of the human kind — and perhaps the strangest of all — is the black Republican. … Black Republicans fail to understand that white Republicans will never accept them as equals. Although they will not acknowledge the truth, white Republicans, like most other whites, view black Republicans as strange creatures."
The 27-year-old Houston, in Ebony's 1991 interview, admitted being called "too white" hurt her: "'Picture this,' she says. … 'You wake up every day with a magnifying glass over you. Someone always is looking for something — somebody, somewhere is speaking your name every five seconds of the day, whether it's positive or negative. …
"'And don't say I don't have soul or what you consider to be 'blackness.' I know what my color is. I was raised in a black community with black people, so that has never been a thing with me. Yet I've gotten flak about being a pop success, but that doesn't mean that I'm white. … Pop music has never been all-white.'"
Black Republican Michael Steele was a lot older than 27 when, during his 2002 Maryland campaign for lieutenant governor, he was derided as "Simple Sambo" and depicted as a black-faced minstrel. At a gubernatorial debate, Oreo cookies were distributed by the opposition. The Washington Times later wrote: "Delegate Salima Siler Marriott, a black Baltimore Democrat, said Mr. Steele invites comparisons to a slave who loves his cruel master or a cookie that is black on the outside and white inside because his conservative political philosophy is, in her view, anti-black."
You don't have to be black to demean a black Republican.
The tea party supported Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., a black man who denounced Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, and urged them to "get the hell out of the United States of America." Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., a white man, said that West is "not representative of the African-American community." About West, a former Army colonel who saw action in Iraq, Moran insultingly said: "(West) just seems clueless now that he has climbed aboard ship. He's climbed this ladder of opportunity that was constructed by so many of his ancestors' sweat, sacrifice, blood. You know they did everything they could for his generation to be successful. But now that he's climbed on board ship, instead of reaching down and steadying the ladder, he wants to push it off. You know — 'I'm up here, if you're not with me, too bad.'"
So, a white Democrat — whose party hasn't carried the "white vote" in nearly 50 years — tells West, a black Republican, that he is not "representative of the African-American community."
Bet Whitney could relate.
Larry Elder is a best-selling author and radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com.
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US judge blocks Wis. Chippewa's night deer hunt
A federal judge has blocked Wisconsin's Chippewa tribes from hunting deer at night for this season.
A commission that administers the bands' off-reservation rights authorized tribal hunters to go after deer at night in November. The move runs counter to the state's ban on the practice, but the commission and the tribes argue they could operate outside that ban because the state allowed wolf hunters to take to the woods at night.
But U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb issued an order Monday saying the tribes overstepped their authority when they issued the authorization without state approval.
Tribal attorney Colette Routel didn't immediately return telephone and email messages.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Rutina Wesley My Favorite Things
- Next1 of 15Glo
- Previous NextWant It!2 of 15Courtesy of Dermalogica
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- Previous NextWant It!13 of 15Courtesy of Minimus.biz
- Previous NextWant It!14 of 15Courtesy of Hugo Boss
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Force Of Nature2 of 15
By Amy Elisa Keith
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"I definitely can't live without my espresso machine. It saves a lot of money in the long run, and we have the delicious Intelligentsia coffee shipped to us, which we love."
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In her Los Angeles home, the one thing she can't live without isn't a towering pair of designer heels or even her People's Choice Award. It's her mattress. "It has just the right amount of firmness, but then it's soft enough to cradle you like a baby."
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The True Blood star's secret must-have that she won't leave home without? "A travel-size pack of toilet seat covers! My husband got them for me as a stocking stuffer joke, but they actually come in handy."
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Instead of a live-in barista, Wesley makes her own cup of joe and tops it off at home. "This hand milk frother from Sur La Table does the trick, and it was only $25 bucks!" All of her friends are secretly jealous, she adds.
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In The Bag13 of 15
If Wesley dumped her purse out on a table, what goodies would we find? "Lavender hand lotion, a mirror, blotting papers, hand sanitizer, tissue, makeup remover wipes, lipstick and gloss, perfume, gum, Aleve, Tylenol and a Sharpie. Yes, I know, my bag is way too heavy!"
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NEXT ON GLO: Niki Taylor's Favorite Things


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An orphaned baby rhinoceros insists on being snuggled to sleep after he was found crying inconsolably next to the body of his mother who had just been killed by poachers.
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By Sharna Johnson: Freedom New Mexico
Straddling her black 2005 Triumph with the visor of her full-face helmet flipped up, Senior Airman Bobbie Tenney tightened the strap under her chin. Checking the zippers on her two-tone leather jacket, she slipped leather gloves onto her hands, adjusting the fit.
Tenney's routine is the model of the Air Force motorcycle safety regimen and, like dozens before her, she learned much of it from fellow Cannon Air Force Base bikers.
In an effort to increase and cultivate safe riding practice, the 27th Special Operations Wing Riders' Group was born as part of an Air Force initiative, according to Master Sgt. Glen Pugh, who oversees the group.
"We were losing too many (Air Force) people to motorcycle accidents," he said.
Between 1999 and 2003, 72 Air Force members were killed in motorcycle accidents, according to Air Force Times.
Tenney said though she grew up around motorcycles, she has been riding for less than a year.
"It's something to do, something to pass the time," she said.
The information and skills she gained from the safety course and through the riders group have been invaluable, she said.
In 2004, the Air Force chief of staff called for the mentoring program out of concern over motorcycle related deaths among airmen, according to Air Force Times.
Each Air Force installation has instituted the mentoring program with variations on how it's run, Pugh said.
Cannon's program serves as an information sharing network and fellowship outlet for around 150 Cannon bikers, Pugh said.
Under Air Force rules, all active duty members who choose to ride and all civilians who ride on base are required to complete a motorcycle safety course.
Pugh said he maintains an e-mail list of all riders on base, letting riders know about new regulations, different types of safety gear, tips, event schedules and items of interest.
A rider himself for about 10 years, Pugh said making sure riders understand everything from the basics of how their bike works to safe riding is critical and gives them a foundation to build on for a safe and fun riding experience.
As one of three motorcycle safety instructors in Clovis, Pugh said he has taught riders age 13 to 72.
"I use it every day," Maj. Ryan Rowe said of the lessons and skills he learned in the class. "Search, evaluate, execute … It's not about accident survival, it's about accident avoidance."
The bottom line is to enjoy riding safely.
Tenney said she also enjoys knowing there is a group she can share riding with. "It's so much better to ride with people than ride alone."


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CHICAGO – The White Sox end their opening homestand today against the Mariners, hoping to take the series.
After today's game, the Sox travel to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals. Their trip also includes three game at Cleveland and four games at Toronto.
Chris Sale (1-0, 0.00 ERA) starts today against Seattle looking to continue his success at U.S. Cellular Field. Sale is 10-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 15 starts at home since the start of last season.
The Sox currently lead the American League with a 2.54 ERA. According to Elias, Alex Rios' homer off Felix Hernandez on an 0-2 count during yesterday's win was the first 0-2 home run Hernandez had allowed since Sept. 18, 2011 (Adrian Beltre).
The Sox are breaking out the 1983 "Winning Ugly" throwback uniforms today for the first time. They will wear the jerseys during every Sunday home game this season.
Right-hander Hisahi Iwakuma (1-0, 1.50) takes the mound for the Mariners.
Mariners lineup
1. Franklin Gutierrez, CF
2. Jason Bay, LF
3. Kendrys Morales, DH
4. Michael Morse, RF
5. Jesus Montero, C
6. Justin Smoak, 1B
7. Kyle Seager, 3B
8. Robert Andino, 2B
9. Brendan Ryan, SS
White Sox lineup
1. Alejandro De Aza, CF
2. Alexei Ramirez, SS
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Adam Dunn, 1B
5. Paul Konerko, DH
6. Dayan Viciedo, LF
7. Conor Gillaspie, 3B
8. Tyler Flowers, C
9. Gordon Beckham, 2B
-- Meghan Montemurro


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Although today people are accustomed to receiving healthcare from professionals, this is not necessary with Reiki [4]. No special background or credentials are needed to receive Reiki training. Reiki originated as a folk healing practice, and if you have a friend who is trained and who practices on himself/herself regularly, you may want to receive Reiki from your friend. If you are happy with that experience, you can continue with your friend or contact your friend's Reiki master.
If you don't have a friend who does Reiki, you can look for a Reiki practitioner in private practice or a healthcare environment. In recent years, Reiki practitioners are increasingly setting themselves up as professionals in private practice or offering Reiki in healthcare environments. In addition, more healthcare institutions are incorporating Reiki into their model of care. According to the American Hospital Assocation, over 800 U.S. Hospitals offered Reiki as part of their hospital services in 2007. The Center for Reiki Research [5] web site provides a list of 71 hospitals, medical clinics, and hospice programs where Reiki is offered as a standard part of care. Many nurses and other healthcare professionals offer Reiki as part of their patient care, either through integrating moments of Reiki touch into routine care or through longer Reiki sessions. A hospital stay may offer the first opportunity to experience a Reiki session.
One good strategy for finding a practitioner is word of mouth. Local practitioners of complementary therapies (such as acupuncture [2], shiatsu [3], reflexology [6], massage [7], herbalism [8], homeopathy [9], etc.) usually know one another by reputation and sometimes they share offices or cross-refer.
As with finding a Reiki teacher, you can also try looking at community bulletin boards in yoga [10] studios and health food stores. In addition, your local hospital may have a complementary or integrative medicine service. Since Reiki is used by many people to cope with chronic illness, any local organization that offers services to people with illnesses such as cancer [11], HIV, fibromyalgia, or diabetes [12] may have a list of community resources or even sponsor a Reiki clinic.
Once you've found a Reiki practitioner, how can you gauge qualifications? What should you look for? Because the Reiki profession has grown out of a grass roots movement rather than emerging from academic healthcare programs, many different perspectives and practice styles have developed without oversight, and there are no common standards of education or treatment that are agreed upon across all practice styles.
Although Reiki masters often give their students certificates, these certificates are not supported by educational standards that have been agreed upon throughout the Reiki community. Therefore the possession of a certificate is no guarantee that the practitioner has thorough training. You need to ask some specific questions to determine training and experience.
If you decide to seek Reiki from a professional, look for someone who has been trained over a period of time and who has ample experience giving Reiki to other people. Most important is that the practitioner practices Reiki self-care every day, as this is how the practitioner develops her relationship with Reiki and deepens her/his understanding.
Professional practitioners usually create a brochure and/or website that explain their training and practice guidelines. Look for the answers to the following questions, and any others you might have:
|Answers to Look For
|What is your level of training (First or Second degree or Reiki master)?
|You can receive hands-on Reiki from someone at any level of Reiki training. If you are looking for distant healing, you need a Second degree practitioner. If you want to learn how to practice Reiki yourself, you need a Reiki master.
|When were you trained?
|This will give you a sense of how long the person has been practicing, although it also depends on how much she practices. For example, someone who learned Reiki five years ago but uses it infrequently would be less appealing than someone trained more recently who practices daily.
|How long were the classes?
|Eight to twelve hours for First degree and another eight to twelve hours for Second degree training allows time for both instruction and actual practice in class. Classes offered in a 2-3 day format provide more practice time.
|For Second degree practitioners or Reiki masters: were you trained to each level in separate classes, and if so, how far apart were the classes?
|Preferably, the Second degree training occurred a minimum of three to six months after the First degree class. This would give the practitioner ample time to become grounded in hands-on practice before learning the more involved and abstract distant healing techniques. Some Reiki masters require a minimum of 1 year between First- and Second-degree Reiki classes.
Practicing an additional one to two years before becoming a Reiki master is the minimum desired; traditional Reiki masters often require students to have even more experience.
What is your clinical experience-to whom have you given treatment, in what settings, and for how many years?
|If you are looking for a professional practitioner, it is reasonable to expect years of experience giving Reiki, not only to family and friends, but to people beyond the practitioner's social circle who are experiencing varying levels of health and wellness. Some Reiki practitioners may have worked as Reiki hospital volunteers before starting their own practices.
|How do you describe Reiki?
|This should not be a difficult question for a professional practitioner to answer. You don't want to sense that he or she has never thought about this before. The practitioner hould be able to describe the practice clearly and authoritatively.
Be wary of practitioners who make claims of curing disease or who disparage conventional healthcare.
The practitioner's response to this question is often when you start getting a good sense of the practitioner as an individual and if you will feel comfortable with him or her.
|Describe your sessions, including length of time and fee.
|You'll want someone who clearly describes the process and how he or she structures the session so you have an idea of what to expect. (An experienced professional will repeat this information at your initial appointment.)
Ask if the practitioner includes practices other than Reiki in the session and specify if you want Reiki only. (Consider: if you don't have a Reiki-only session, how can you tell if it is Reiki that is benefiting you?)
|Do you practice Reiki on yourself everyday?
|This is the most important question. Look for someone who practices Reiki self-care every day, as this is how the practitioner's relationship with Reiki continues to expand and deepen.
If the above information is not readily available, it is reasonable to briefly interview a prospective practitioner on the phone or through email. A credible practitioner will welcome this inquiry.
Currently Reiki is only covered by health insurance when it is part of a treatment such as physical therapy, massage, or palliative care that is covered by your insurance or when it is delivered by a nurse or licensed care professional as part of routine care during a hospital stay. So, if you visit a Reiki practitioner, plan on paying out of pocket.
The cost of a session varies according to the experience of the provider, whether or not they are professionals in full-time public practice, and the local economy, but fees are generally upward of $50-75 for a session. Reiki students may offer Reiki for a lower fee as they gather clinical experience, and there are also Reiki clinics or community circles where sessions are available by donation or for a low fee.
[1] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/navigate-healthcare-system/how-can-i-find-good-provider
[2] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/acupuncture
[3] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/shiatsu
[4] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/glossary/3#term34
[5] http://www.centerforreikiresearch.org/
[6] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology
[7] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/massage-therapy
[8] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/herbal-therapies
[9] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/homeopathy
[10] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/yoga
[11] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/conditions/cancer
[12] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/conditions/diabetes
[13] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/glossary/3#term42
[14] http://www.reikialliance.com/
[15] http://www.religionandspirituality.com/view/post/11709123755600/Reiki_Learning_to_do_it/
[16] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/our-experts/pamela-miles
[17] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/our-experts/deborah-ringdahl-dnp-rn-cnm
[18] http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/activities/-visit-reiki-practitioner


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Olympic 2728G Kiln stuck at 974°C
Posted 04 November 2012 - 07:52 PM
I'm using propane. When I assembled the kiln, I checked the gas jet size and it was according to factory specifications for propane. I also cleaned each of the jets. I have the air control valves on all 6 burners all the way open. It seems obvious that I need to get more air into my burners but it is less obvious how to do that given that the air valves are already all the way open.:(I
Suggestions please
Thanks Larry
Posted 04 November 2012 - 08:56 PM
Is that a 2 or 4 burner trash can kiln? sounds like plenty of fuel I'm thinking to much.
Posted 04 November 2012 - 09:01 PM
Posted 04 November 2012 - 09:10 PM
what are the chances you had it turned up to much?
I'm thinking to much fuel that reduces so much you loose temperature and cannot gain.Just a thought.
With a two foot flame with damper all the way open thats I have.
How about turning it down some and and controlling the reduction with the damper-thats my suggestion.
Posted 04 November 2012 - 10:50 PM
Thanks for your suggestion. I carefully adjusted the manifold pressure up and down to even get to 974°C. I was only able to get to that temperature by keeping the manifold pressure less than 1 inch of water, though I have 11 inches of water available.
thanks Larry
Posted 04 November 2012 - 11:28 PM
I have some experience with propane but more with 1/4 # or 7 inches of water with natural gas.
My thought is if you have two feet of flame and the oxy probe #s are high and damp is wide open then either the load is such that its impeding the flow or the fuel is to much hence the reduction. When I have say a bag wall collapse or I stack the flue to dense then the kiln no mater what I do reduces to much. The only other point is- I have put to much gas into the kiln for it to climb and the by product is reduction to the moon. This is a small kiln ( I looked it up) and will not need much to get it to climb.
You can always call Torchbearer and talk about pressures.
Hope this helps
Posted 05 November 2012 - 08:46 PM
a bit of help
Posted 06 November 2012 - 02:44 AM
(Original pipe burners replaced with MR-750 Venturi burners.)
I have 4 of these on my salt kiln and they rock.
Posted 06 November 2012 - 12:30 PM
What is the difference/advantage of the MR-750 Venturi burners over the original burners. I have one of the early versions of the Olympic 2728G Kiln which has six burners versus the current model which I think has four. Axner sells these burners for $43.50. With shipping I will be into this almost $300:huh:. I only paid $500 for the kiln, hood and furniture. I wonder at what point I start over with another kiln.
I think my core problem is that my current burners are unable to mix enough air with the propane. Is there any way to get them to mix even more air or is there something that happens to them over time that restricts their original ability to mix air. (The air valve is wide open on all 6 of them)
I have contacted great kilns, the manufacturer, and sent them detailed descriptions and pictures. Hopefully they will have some brilliant insights into how to fix this thing cheap.
Does anyone know if this is a regular problem with this kind of kiln? Or, is this unique to my particular kiln?
Thanks Larry
Posted 06 November 2012 - 01:25 PM
Neil Estrick
Kiln Repair Tech
L&L Kilns Distributor
Owner, Neil Estrick Gallery, LLC
[email protected]
Posted 06 November 2012 - 03:44 PM
I have been corresponding with Olympic. They recommended 8 inches of water maximum pressure. If I even got to 1 inch, the reduction flames were huge. I sat for a long time fiddling with the gas pressure valve and watching the pyrometer. At something under 1 inch ( my manifold pressure gauge does not read well under 1) I was able to get to a maximum temperature of 974°C. If I increased the manifold pressure, the temperature actually started going down because the increased reduction.
Posted 06 November 2012 - 05:16 PM
Neil Estrick
Kiln Repair Tech
L&L Kilns Distributor
Owner, Neil Estrick Gallery, LLC
[email protected]
Posted 06 November 2012 - 05:48 PM
I took my burners out and disassemble them. the piece of pipe screwed in the top of each one of them had a significant flange on the inside, both top and bottom, from the pipe cutter that was originally used to make them.... 30+ years ago. This would appear to restrict airflow significantly.
I took a reamer and cut this out of each of them and have reinstalled the burners. I am running a test right now, bringing the kiln, with some junk pots in it, up to temperature fairly quickly to see if this solved the problem. I am only at 400°C so far but things are looking better.
thanks for your input
Posted 06 November 2012 - 08:00 PM
Posted 06 November 2012 - 09:59 PM
Posted 06 November 2012 - 10:07 PM
If you do repower in the future maybe 4 burners would do you.
Posted 06 November 2012 - 11:02 PM
One thought I have is that the orifice is to big for these burners-I realize you said it is a propane size but it sounds like smaller one would work better-less gas more air and a better mix overall. This test is cheap and easy to do. Get 6 small orifices and progressively drill them out till they purr. I would change these out before considering new burners- Have 6 burners on this small kiln means it should heat even and fast-maybe to fast. All I can think is to much gas -so choke it down at the orifice.
If you do repower in the future maybe 4 burners would do you.
That's a good idea? How would a smaller orifice be different than just keeping the manifold pressure lower? At this point, about 1/2 inch of water seems to be optimal for this contraption.
Posted 06 November 2012 - 11:04 PM
would Ward Burner Co help? i think his name is Mark, too. this guy is awesome.
I will call ward tomorrow morning.
Posted 06 November 2012 - 11:36 PM
Posted 07 November 2012 - 11:15 PM
This thing presents quite a puzzle for such a simple machine.
What do you suggest?
Thanks Larry
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oneworld global route map
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text:
Soft options for great tone
Software guitar amp/effect modelling is a serious business, with each manufacturer trying to outdo the rest when it comes to tone, features and feel. For players, this is great news: it means that you have a wide range of high quality VST, AU and RTAS plug-ins to choose from.
But which, ultimately, should you choose? It's worth noting that many of the big DAWs now come with high-quality amp and effect sims, but if you do decide that you need to look beyond what you're already got, you might require some guidance.
Enter MusicRadar's latest poll: we asked you to nominate your favourite guitar amp/effect modelling plug-ins, and based on your nominations we drew up a shortlist. From this, we asked you to vote for a winner.
Now, with the results in, we can tell you what that winner is… and its identity might come as something of a surprise. We're not just here to talk about one product though: read on for a rundown of the 11 best guitar amp/effect modelling plug-ins in the world today.
FIRST: Simulanalog Guitar Suite
Simulanalog Guitar Suite
It might not look like much – in fact, its interface basically comprises just a list of parameters and faders to adjust them – but Guitar Suite packs in more tone than its appearance and freeware status might make you suspect.
There are five stompbox emulations and two amps (modelled on the Fender Twin 1969 and Marshall JCM900 Dual Reverb). If you can live without a flashy GUI, it might be all you need.
DOWNLOAD: Simulanalog Guitar Suite
Studio Devil Amp Modeler Pro
Studio Devil made its name with the Virtual Guitar Amp, a simple valve amp sim that focused less on features than it did tone. Amp Modeler Pro ups the ante by offering not just valve preamp and power amp modelling, but also four stompbox-style effects, impulse-based cabinet emulations, a 7-band graphic EQ, 1-band parametric EQ, compressor, gate, echo, reverb and wah-wah.
Despite this broadened remit, Amp Modeler Pro still covers less ground than some of its rivals, but what is here sounds great. What's more, everything is presented on a single, easily-tweakable screen.
READ: Studio Devil Amp Modeler Pro
Magix Vandal
Magix is perhaps best known for its entry-level music making software, but this guitar/bass amp sim actually made its debut in the company's pro-grade Samplitude DAW. So, how does it fare when considered as a product in its own right?
Pretty well, it has to be said; a variety of virtual amps, cabs, miking configurations and effects is on offer, with the amp models being a particular highlight. The effects are more of a mixed bag, but low CPU usage and a simple interface pull things back in Vandal's favour.
READ: Magix Vandal
Overloud TH2
TH2 might just be the best amp sim you've never heard of. It offers unofficial emulations of gear by Fender, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Vox, Peavey and Soldano, and badged versions of kit from Randall, Brunetti and THD.
That's a pretty impressive roll-call by anyone's standards - TH2 is a tonally impressive and flexible beast that also comes with a good selection of effects (the spring reverb is particularly impressive). On the downside, we've heard better cab sims, but taken as a whole, TH2 is up there with the best of them.
READ: Overloud TH2 review
Waves GTR
Waves knows plug-in effects better than most, and its GTR suite is of predictably high quality. 25 guitar amps, seven bass amps, 29 cabs and 26 stomps can all be used either within your DAW or standalone, and there are multiple mics and mic settings, too.
If you want the full GTR experience you can also buy the software in a bundle with the Waves Guitar Interface, which was co-created with PRS. This promises to get the best possible signal into your computer.
READ: Waves GTR3 Software Edition review
Peavey ReValver
Originally developed by Alien Connections, ReValver is now wholly owned by Peavey. It's a rack-based affair - you can re-order modules simply by dragging them, and they're processed in series from top to bottom.
As you'd expect, the emulations of Peavey amps are top-notch, but you also get gear from other manufacturers (stompboxes and effects are included too). You should note, too, that ReValver can actually host VST effects, giving you almost infinite tone-shaping potential.
READ: Peavey ReValver Mk III
LePou guitar plug-ins
If you're a regular reader of our free music software round-ups the LePou name will be familiar - the company seems to exist to create guitar amp and cab simulations that anyone can download for nothing.
Which is fine by us and, based on the feedback we've had from users, fine with you, too. Both PC and Mac plug-ins are available, so head over to the LePou website and have a browse.
DOWNLOAD: LePou guitar plug-ins
Line 6 POD Farm Platinum
Line 6 is rightly acclaimed as a digital amp modelling pioneer, and its flagship software product covers just about all the tonal bases you could wish for. An eye-catching interface makes it easy to browse the supplied amps, preamps, cabs and effects, and the signal path is shown visually.
POD Farm has the sounds to back up its looks, too - the clean tones are particularly impressive. The only stipulation is that you'll have to buy either a Line 6 interface or an iLok to run the software, and if you use the latter, there's no standalone operation.
READ: Line 6 POD Farm 2 Platinum review
IK Multimedia AmpliTube
The AmpliTube brand has become synonymous with high-quality software amp modelling, and with good reason. IK has worked hard to create a great-looking, meaty-sounding suite of stomps, effects, mics, cabs and amps (more than 160 components are included in AmpliTube 3), also releasing several spin-off editions (including versions for iOS devices).
If you're an AmpliTube virgin, the good news is that you can now download a free version of AmpliTube 3, and this can host modules from the all-new Custom Shop. Rest assured that if you do choose IK's software, you'll never be short of tone-shaping options.
READ: IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3 review
Native Instruments Guitar Rig
If you want a multitude of options for tweaking your tone, few products can compete with Guitar Rig. As well as offering a wide range of amps, cabs, effects and mics, the software also features a Control Room that enables you to specify exactly - and we do mean exactly - how you want your cab mics to be mixed.
The downside for some is that Guitar Rig can feel quite techy, and we've heard it said that its tone doesn't quite match some of its rivals. But you certainly can't argue with the software's wide range of features, and if you're a producer as well as a player, you'll find many of them to be invaluable.
READ: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 4 review
Kuassa Amplifikation One
Maybe that headline should read 'Kuassa Amplifikation what!?', for there's a good chance that you're not familiar with this amp, cab, distortion and mic emulator. Admittedly, some aggressive social media marketing has helped to push the software to the top of our chart, but we can assure you that this is a highly versatile plug-in that's also easy to use and keenly priced.
When it comes to 'feel', Amplifikation One falls just short of its rivals, and it doesn't quite have their organic tone, either. But at this price, it's certainly worth considering: try the demo and decide for yourself whether or not Kuassa's faith in its product is justified.
READ: Kuassa Amplifikation One review


text:
Amazon has a new commercial out for its Kindle Paperwhite, but if you didn't watch it all the way through you would have missed out on a great twist ending.
The commercial starts off as a pretty standard Kindle ad:
- Guy sitting on the beach is reading a glare-prone iPad
- Girl sitting next to guy is reading a Kindle
- Guy asks girl about the Kindle
- Girl tells guy all the great features of the Kindle
When they're done talking about the Kindle, the guy makes his move on the girl and says they should go out and celebrate.
"My husband's bringing me a drink right now," says the girl.
Guy's reponse: "So is mine!"
And both the guy and girl turn around to wave to their respective husbands.
Watch Amazon's pro-gay Kindle ad below:
Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.


text:
This is (daughter) Maggie and (Dad) Sidney
Dad and Daughter
By: ltalbotSubscribe Channel: Pets & Animals Location: Chaumont, NY
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Tag Archives: art my kid made
Treasure kids' artwork with Artkive and Art My Kid Made
Posted on September 24, 2012 by Jennifer K
For our last bit of visual fun online, let's look at two apps that take real-world visual art and turn it into a digital treasure. What Is It? Art My Kid Made and Artkive are apps for iPhone or iPad … Continue reading →
Posted in This Week on LLO, Tools | Tagged apps, art my kid made, artkive, artwork, kids, sharing, social networks | Leave a comment


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Palm Beach Money
Tag: Thanksgiving Day Reminder for Investors
An Investor's Thanksgiving Reminder
- 10:05 pm Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 by Dian Vujovich
Thanksgiving happens to be one of my favorite holidays. It's a day that requires no special affiliation with respect to religion, race, gender, income level or socio-economic status. It's a kind of one-size-fits-all holiday that suites everyone who has a heart and has found within themselves the ability to see—and look– beyond the obvious. Sometimes we need a little reminding of that last point. So with all investors in mind, here is my Thanksgiving reminder.
If you are able to read this or anything in written form, whether it be a statement from your broker, financial advisor, bank, hedge fund, or [More]


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I have a 3 week old and exclusively breastfeeding her. Her weight gain has been good, latch is good at times, other times not so good (usually at night).
My question is .... How do I know when my let down happens, if I don't feel it? I don't feel the pins/needles as descibed. I may have felt it in the opposite breast a time or two, but it isn't noticable.


text:
The Filibuster
the Julio Lugo trade has left you despondent. But here's the question.
If you were cast away on a desert island and could choose only one
Cardinal, past or present, to be with you, who would you choose?
Charlotte, NC
While the human condition often leads us to fantasize about achieving maximum fame — to be known throughout the world as easily as a McFlurry, the Bible or Michael Jackson — the truth is, most of us would be extremely lucky just to get that fifteen minutes everyone talks about. So when posed with a question of such magnitude, of course, my initial list of suitors would already seem to be set in stone. My grandfather's generation would say Stan Musial. My father's would say Bob Gibson. Mine, Ozzie Smith and today's would most assuredly go with Albert.
But here's the thing: with any one of those St. Louis Cardinal icons, there is no question that I would cower from awe, go silent from my insecurities, shy away with humbling woes of unworthiness. In other words, I would hardly be good company, especially for someone on a deserted island.
Which would lead me to choose that St. Louis Cardinal who isn't quite the paragon of baseball supremacy — the one who I feel like I could carry on a legitimate conversation with sans all the slobber, the one who all Cardinal fans know, but aren't likely to jump at spending any hang-time with. And that man's name, dear readers, is Fernando Tatis.
Despite playing in just 300 games for the Cardinals between 1998 and 2000, Tatis is as recognizable a name in St. Louis as Hornsby, Brock and Herzog; and his name is known for one thing and one thing only: making history on April 23, 1999 by becoming the only Major Leaguer to ever hit two grand-slams in the same inning!
Clearly, this accomplishment is almost as intriguing and noteworthy as creating a number one hit single called "Jesus Hates the Cubs", so I am satisfied that Fernando and I would get along just swell on our little deserted island with plenty of ways to relate.
And considering Fernando's consistent injury issues, I feel like my role in keeping us alive would be much greater than if I were stranded with King Albert, who might just eat me to make things easier. Plus, I'm pretty sure I could get my slider by Fernando which would go a long way in keeping my spirits high.
So go ahead and hate me 'cuz I'm so unpredictable, just don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
Something on your mind? Want to see Jeff and Al sweat (separately, not together, eww)? Think you got a real stumper? Send us your Filibuster question(s) by commenting or emailing them to us at email@example.com.
***Pictures of a skinny Bartolo Colon also welcome but we don't think such a thing exists.
19 Comments
For me that is an easy question and answer.
It would be Stan Musial, and he better bring the harmonica.
I got to know him as a kid, but did not really get to enjoy him until I hit 10 and read all about him.
Hopefully we can have a shortwave radio and we can chat about the game past, present and future.
I think we could talk enough for two lifetimes before we got rescued.
But then again, the days would fly by, and we could fashion a glove out of palm leaves and a coconut ball.
Rays Renegade
RR — And at Stan's age, you could probably whoop him if he hogged all the coconuts🙂
Renegade just stole my thunder. I was about to say that if I were stranded on an island with a Cardinal (not my first choice, obviously), I'd pick Musial after hearing him play the harmonica earlier today. He was really good!
It would be more like a Philly ball girl, but since thats not allowed it would depend on how long, if it was going to be a long stay on the island then it would have to be…… Scott Rolen..simply because I would NOT feel bad about killing him for food… oh and…9-2 is all that needs to be said…
Outside the Phillies Looking In
I'd say Ozzie. He might be able to use his magic to get me off the island. Although Tatis might be able to make a good sandwich. He just has that look.
Tatis is all yours if you want him back.
One thing you can say with relative certainty about Lugo, he can't be any worse with the Cards than he was with the Red Sox.
Jane — He is good at it! He's a pretty cool dude, but again, I'd barely get a word out: he's bigger than Jesus.
Devilabrit — *Tear. Funny, we almost like Rolen as much as you… though he did give us his best year (2004).
Homer — Yeah, that deer in the headlights look.
Prince — No, don't want him back. You keep him. And yes, that's the saving grace of the Lugo acquisition. Can't be much worse.
Haha🙂 Imagine that!! Hey, we have won 4 in a row & have swept the Mariners. & Outscored them quite a bit. Seems they still have something to prove to you. *cough* Jeff.
Hopefully we can win tommorow & break this year's record.
Ok, the thought of being eaten by Albert is giving me a real fun mental picture…thanks :O) LOL
I think I'd like to be stranded with Tyler Greene, he's cute!-Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.blogspot.com
Are you sure the Julio Lugo you got was the one we were looking to trade? He hasn't done so bad for you so far.
TC — I'm all for it… they could start by whooping the Tigers.
Jenn — You're welcome! Maybe we'll bring some J-Rol smurfs along,🙂
Erin — You can have him… I think he's back in Memphis now.
Julia — It's amazing what the STL can do to a player (an aging Shawon Dunston comes to mind).
I would want you to be stuck with Pujols, so that I could sneak over from the other side of the island, steal him, and leave you with Vicente Padilla.
Jonestein — That's a SCARY thought. Padilla's on my short-list of ppl I'd NEVER want to be stranded with.
Ok then, how about Padilla, a one year supply of Dharma Initiative supplies, and two nubile natives to be named later? Plus, Padilla has a bitchin Lamborghini I'll through in for grins.
Jonestein — Make him get a haircut and shower three times a day and it's deal.
Crap! That hygiene thing is a show-stopper every time. Damn, you're good, Jeff!
Hey, Jeff…if I'm not mistaken, weren't Tatis's 2 GS's off the same pitcher? You're absolutely right, Pujols would eat you, but at least he'd kill you and cook you first. Padilla? I'm not so sure.
Lori — Yes, both of Chan Ho Park. Speaking of GS, you see Willingham go off last night? Wow. What a game!