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The Individual Investor's Guide to Exchange-Traded Funds 2013
The exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry marked its 20th anniversary this year.
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) was incepted on January 22, 1993, after being conceived and championed by the late Nathan Most. According to Institutional Investor Magazine, Most came up with the idea while seeking new revenue opportunities for the American Stock Exchange (Amex). Using commodities as a basis, he thought of a product where a depository would hold blocks of securities and issue receipts for them, which in turn could be divided into many small pieces tradable on the exchange. (SPDR is an acronym for Standard & Poor's depositary receipts.)
In this article
- It's About the Index
- Competition Leading to Reduced Fees
- The Largest Funds
- How to Use This Guide
- Which Funds Were Included
- Ultra and Contra ETFs
- A Key to Terms and Statistics
- ETF & ETN Contact Information
The genius of Most's creation was that it allowed institutional investors a mechanism for hedging their portfolios, while offering individual investors an easy way of buying and selling shares in an index. This was an important point because, as Institutional Investor Magazine notes, the 1987 crash made the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) more receptive to proposals for what were then new hedging products. Nonetheless, it took Most six years to get approval from the Amex and then the SEC before the SPDR S&P 500 fund was launched.
|ETF Downloads
From this small beginning has grown a very a large business. As of June 30, 2013, the exchange-traded fund industry, which includes both exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs), had $1.44 trillion in assets under management (AUM). In addition, there are currently 1,479 ETFs and ETNs listed in the United States.
Business success brings competition, and competition makes it harder to be profitable. The ETF is a good example of this, where the biggest funds are getting bigger, partially due to both market performance and investors' willingness to stay with them. The SPDR S&P 500 had $133.3 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2013, compared to $103.7 billion a year prior. At the other end of the spectrum, Russell Investments liquidated 25 of its ETFs. The liquidated funds cumulatively had approximately $310 million in assets as of July 31, 2012. Since fund sponsors earn a percentage based on the amount of assets managed, low total assets make it harder to justify a fund's continuance from a business perspective.
Jason Zweig and Joe Light, of The Wall Street Journal, noticed another side effect of the ETF industry's growth: a lack of new ideas. They based this observation both on the number and the type of funds launched this year. Just 70 exchange-traded funds launched during the first half of 2013, versus 126 during the first half of 2012, according to IndexUniverse. This year's list of new funds includes a fund tracking the Nigerian market, a fund based on forensic accounting analysis and a fund designed to give leveraged exposure to the Brazilian market.
It's About the Index
The challenge many ETF sponsors are starting to face is deciding what else can be indexed and how an existing index can be reconfigured.
A passively managed exchange-traded fund tracks an index. Since the widely followed indexes already have existing funds, there is little demand for a new fund tracking the same index in the same manner. For example, iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (IVV), SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) all track the S&P 500 index. The three funds combined have $185.5 billion in total assets. Add in the existing mutual funds that also track the large-cap index and it's easy to see how an additional product designed to do the same thing would have limited appeal.
There are twists on how to track a particular index, but with a popular index, these options have largely been covered as well. In the case of the S&P 500, there are the Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP), the iShares S&P 500 Growth Index ETF (IVW), the iShares S&P 500 Value Index ETF (IVE) and the PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV). There is even the UBS E-TRACS S&P 500 Gold Hedged Index ETN (SPGH), which tracks the results of investing equal amounts in the large-cap index and gold futures. There are other S&P 500-tied ETFs besides what is mentioned here.
As the primary ideas have been incorporated into ETFs, a fund sponsor has to come up with a new idea to attract additional investment dollars. With a mutual fund, the fund's objective can be tweaked or written broad enough to take advantage of current conditions and adjust to future conditions. An index, conversely, is designed to adhere to a specific strategy. This makes passive investments, including ETFs, more rigid from a portfolio management standpoint than actively managed funds. An adherence to the strategy is also required to show any results about how the index would have performed in the past if it had actually existed.
The quest for new ideas has led some ETF providers to create products with a limited appeal. This was exemplified last November when PureFunds launched its Diamond/Gemstone ETF (GEMS). The fund tracks global companies engaged in the gemstone industry. The narrow nature of the index is a big contributing factor to why the fund has less than $1 million in total assets, a very small number.
The lack of demand for new, unexploited passive ideas is a big contributing factor to why the overall number of ETFs is essentially unchanged from a year ago. All 1,479 ETFs and ETNs are covered in the expanded spreadsheet versus 1,475 in our 2012 ETF guide. The number of funds tracking passive indexes is barely changed as well: 1,161 this year versus 1,150 last year.
Competition Leading to Reduced Fees
Two years ago, we talked about the emergence of commission-free ETFs. This was a positive breakthrough for individual investors. An even more positive event has now emerged: lowered expenses. Since April 2012, Vanguard has reduced the annual expense ratios on 56 of its ETFs, including 41 during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2013.
BlackRock responded by introducing the iShares Core. These are specific ETFs within the iShares family with low expense ratios. Some of the funds within this group are renamed existing funds. The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and the iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH) previously were named iShares S&P 500 Index and iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index. Though the names were tweaked, the expenses on the two funds were cut to 0.07% and 0.15% from 0.09% and 0.21%, respectively.
A week before we went to press, State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) joined in the fray. The company launched the SPDR Russell 2000 ETF (TWOK) in the small-cap stock category. The new ETF's expense ratio of 0.18% is below the 0.23% charged by iShares Russell 2000 Index ETF (IWM) and the 0.21% charged by Vanguard Russell 2000 Index ETF (VTWO). The new fund's launch date of July 9, 2013 was beyond the June 30, 2013, cut-off date for this guide; those who want to learn more about it should visit the SPDR website at www.spdrs.com.
SSgA also renamed and lowered expense ratios on three funds: SPDR Russell 3000 ETF (THRK, formerly TMW), SPDR Russell 1000 ETF (ONEK, formerly ELR) and SPDR Russell Small Cap Completeness ETF (RSCO, formerly EMM). The new expense ratios of 0.11%, 0.10% and 0.16% compare to the previous expense ratios of 0.20%, 0.20% and 0.25%, respectively. The reductions come with a change in the indexes tracked. The new indexes for the three funds are Russell 3000 Index, the Russell 1000 Index and the Russell Small Cap Completeness Index. (We have incorporated only the name changes to these three funds. The SPDR Russell 3000 ETF appears in the print guide; data on the others is available in the downloadable spreadsheet at www.aaii.com/etfguide.)
The reduction in fees may seem minimal on an absolute basis, but they add up to a sizeable amount of savings over the long term. Every reduction of one basis point in an expense ratio equates to a savings of $10 annually for every $100,000 invested ($100,000 × 0.01% = $10). Over a period of five years, a five-basis point reduction in fees on a $100,000 investment would result in $250 in savings. The actual amount of savings realized would likely be higher due to the power of compounding.
Always consider fund expenses when determining what fund to invest in. A commission-free fund may save you $8 or $10 up front, but cost you more year after year because of a higher expense ratio. For a major index, there is often little reason not to opt for the lowest cost fund if you can make the change without incurring capital gains taxes.
The Largest Funds
This year we have added a new table showing the largest 15 funds (Table 1). The funds are ranked by total assets. Cumulatively, nearly $4 out of every $10 invested in ETFs (37%) is in one of these funds. The concentration increases as total assets rises. The five largest funds control more than $2 out of every $10 invested in ETFs (21%). Nearly $1 out of every $10 invested (9.2%) is controlled singularly by SPDR S&P 500 ETF.
Among the changes from last year, three bond funds lost their top 15 ranking: iShares Barclays TIPS Bond (TIP), iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond (AGG) and iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond (HYG). Yields jumped in the second quarter of this year, pushing down bond prices and causing outflows from bond funds. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) incurred a $28.6 billion drop in its AUM. A sharp drop in gold prices led to devaluation of the fund's underlying assets.
|ETF Name (Ticker)
|Total Assets ($ Mil)
|Expense Ratio (%)
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO)
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)
iShares MSCI EAFE Index (EFA)
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM)
PowerShares QQQ (QQQ)
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
iShares Russell 2000 Index (IWM)
iShares iBoxx $ Invest Grade Corp Bond (LQD)
iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index (IWF)
iShares Russell 1000 Value Index (IWD)
Vanguard REIT Index ETF (VNQ)
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH)
Source: Morningstar, Inc. Data as of June 30, 2013.
Five of the 15 largest funds lowered their expense ratios from last year, a sign of how the war on fees is playing out. Those funds are Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO), the renamed iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), iShares Russell 2000 Index (IWM) and the renamed iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF. Only one of the largest 15 funds increased its expense ratio from last year, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM). The fund's expense ratio rose from 0.67% to 0.69%.
How to Use This Guide
Exchange-traded funds have lowered the cost and increased the accessibility of investing in a wide variety of securities, including large-cap stocks, emerging market debt, precious metals, currencies and even agricultural commodities. However, more choice does not necessarily equate to higher returns. Therefore, investors should tread carefully.
Financial goals, diversification needs and risk tolerances should be the primary determinants when selecting an exchange-traded fund. Specifically, ask what asset classes and categories need to be included in your portfolio and then look for ETFs that match those requirements. Asset allocation ideas can be found in the Financial Planning section of AAII.com. Our Model Fund Portfolio provides an idea of how to build and manage a diversified portfolio using a mix of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. (We believe investors should compare both types of funds and use the one that provides the best exposure to a specific asset class or investment strategy.) The Model Fund Portfolio is reviewed in the March, May, August and November AAII Journal issues; the latest commentary, in this issue, starts here. Monthly updates are available here.
Once asset class and category are determined, use this guide to find an appropriate exchange-traded fund. Most funds are named based on their underlying index (e.g., SPDR S&P 500 tracks the performance of the S&P 500 index). Understand that the construction of the underlying index will have a significant impact on the fund's performance. For example, Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) has a far larger weighting in iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF than it does in Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight. The bigger the weighting, the greater the influence on an ETF's performance. The column labeled "percent of portfolio in top 10 holdings" shows how much weight is allotted to a fund's largest positions.
All ETF sponsors list current holdings and the weighting of those holdings on their websites. This information not only provides additional insight into how dependent a fund is on its top two or three holdings, but it can also help improve an investor's portfolio diversification. Specifically, pay attention to whether a specific company accounts for a large position in two or more funds you are interested in. Expenses matter, and lower expenses are preferable. Expenses are influenced by the underlying securities; funds that use foreign securities, invest in commodities, or use aggressive long or short strategies carry higher expenses. Some brokers waive commissions on select ETFs, but the savings on the commissions need to be weighed against the annual expense ratio and the suitability of the ETF. In other words, selecting an exchange-traded fund solely because commissions are waived may actually turn out to be a more expensive decision.
Again, be sure to look at a list of the fund's current holdings and read through the prospectus before buying any exchange-traded fund. A listing of ETF sponsor websites is included with the online edition of this guide.
Which Funds Were Included
The funds listed in the print version have at least $250 million in total assets, a $50 million increase from the minimum total assets used in last year's guide. The rule was relaxed for funds held within the Model Fund Portfolio, which is why you will see Guggenheim S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value (RFV), Guggenheim S&P SmallCap 600 Pure Value (RZV) and iShares MSCI Frontier 100 (FM) in the guide.
This year, we instituted a requirement that funds be in existence for at least six months. Last year, the time requirement was dropped, but previously we had required funds be in existence for at least 12 months. The change was made to limit the number of funds included in the print version of this guide for space reasons, while still allowing newer funds with sizeable amounts of total assets to be included.
A comprehensive listing of ETFs and ETNs with performance data and additional information is available on AAII.com at www.aaii.com/etfguide. This expanded spreadsheet includes funds of all sizes and covers all 1,479 ETFs and ETNs.
Ultra and Contra ETFs
For members following aggressive trading strategies, ultra market (long) and contra stock market are two of the categories included in this guide. The ultra category includes funds that are designed to move in the same direction as their underlying index, but to experience two to three times the price movement. The contra categories (stock and bond) contain funds that are designed to move in the opposite direction as the underlying index. Some of these funds may experience inverse price movements that are two to three times greater than those of the underlying index.
Funds that move with a greater magnitude than the index they track use leverage. For every dollar invested, an investor has the potential to earn double or triple the return he would otherwise earn. At the same time, the magnitude of potential losses is two to three times greater. In other words, these are very risky investments.
In addition to the considerably higher level of volatility, these funds have a much greater potential for tracking error. Tracking error is the extent to which a fund's actual return differs from the index's return. It can result in actual returns being significantly different from what an investor anticipated based on the performance of an index. ProShares, one of the providers of ultra and contra funds, clearly warns investors not to hold such funds for longer than one day. Specifically, ProShares states, "Due to the compounding of daily returns, ProShares' returns over periods other than one day will likely differ in amount and possibly direction from the target return for the same period."
This warning applies to both ultra and contra funds. These ETFs are suitable only for speculative trading for the time period listed in the prospectus (typically a single day); they should not be used for a longer-term holding.
Investors concerned about market risk will be better served by maintaining proper diversification across asset classes, staying focused on long-term financial goals and conducting a thorough analysis of all investments.
A Key to Terms and Statistics
Most of the information shown in the listing is provided by Morningstar Inc., or calculated from the data they provided. Any data source has the potential for error, however. Before investing in any exchange-traded fund or exchange-traded note, you should read the prospectus, annual report and quarterly reports.
When a dash appears in an ETF listing, it indicates that the number was not available or does not apply in that particular instance. For example, the three-year annual return figure would not be available for funds that have been operating for less than three years. We did not compile bull and bear ratings for ETFs not operating during the entire bull or bear market period.
Return numbers that are in the top 25% of all funds within the investment category are shown in boldface. When the risk is in the lowest 25% for the category, this number is also bolded.
Figures given for the category averages are calculated based on the entire universe of ETFs.
The following provides an explanation of the terms we use in the ETF listings. The explanations are listed in the order in which the data and information appear in the listing.
Index Fund: The letter "I" before a fund's name indicates that the fund is designed to mimic the performance of an index, such as the S&P 500; the amounts invested in each security are proportional to its representation in the index that the fund tracks. (Some funds may hold fewer securities than the actual index if they believe the same return characteristics can still be achieved.) The online version of this guide reports on the indexes tracked by these funds. In some cases, an index has been specifically created for the fund and may have different return characteristics than other indexes with similar names.
Enhanced: The letter "E" before a name indicates that the fund is designed to outperform its underlying index by improved security selection or following a strategy that reduces comparative volatility.
Exchanged-Traded Note (ETN): The letter "N" before a fund's name indicates that the investment is an exchange-traded note. An ETN is a debt security designed to mimic the performance of an underlying index. The credit quality of the issuer needs to be considered when researching an ETN.
ETF Name: The exchange-traded funds are presented alphabetically by name within each category.
Ticker: The ticker symbol for each exchange-traded fund is given in parentheses for those investors who may want to access data online or through a touch-tone phone.
Total Return (%): Returns are based upon changes to a fund's net asset value (NAV) or, where designated, share price (market return), assuming the reinvestment of all income and capital gains distributions (on the actual reinvestment date used by the fund) during the period. The return calculation is net of expenses. The year-to-date, 12-month, three-year and five-year returns are calculated through June 30, 2013. The three- and five-year returns are presented on an annualized basis. Returns that are in the top 25% of all ETFs within the investment category are shown in boldface.
Bull Market Return: Reflects the ETF's net asset value performance in the most recent bull market, starting March 1, 2009, and continuing through June 30, 2013. Returns in the top 25% of all ETFs within the investment category are shown in boldface.
Bear Market Return: Reflects the ETF's net asset value performance in the most recent bear market, from November 1, 2007, through February 28, 2009. Returns in the top 25% of all ETFs within the investment category are shown in boldface.
Yield (%): The total annual income distributed by the ETF divided by the period-ending net asset value. Calculated on a per share basis, this ratio is similar to a dividend yield and would be higher for income-oriented funds and lower for growth-oriented funds. The figure only reflects income; it is not a total return.
Tax-Cost Ratio (%): Measures how much an ETF's annualized return is reduced by the taxes paid on distributions, assuming the maximum marginal tax rate. A tax-cost ratio of 0.0% indicates that the fund did not make any taxable distributions. If a fund had a 3.0% tax-cost ratio, it means that on average each year, investors lost 3.0% of their assets to taxes. The lower the ratio, the more tax-efficient the ETF. The ratio is calculated using the last three years of data.
Risk Index—Category and Total: The category risk index is the standard deviation of an ETF's return divided by the standard deviation of return for the average ETF in the category. The total risk index is the standard deviation of an ETF's return divided by the average standard deviation of return for all funds. Standard deviation is a measure of return volatility and is computed using monthly returns for the last three years. A risk index of 1.00 denotes average risk. Values above 1.00 indicate greater risk than average while values below 1.00 indicate less risk than average. Risk numbers that are in the lowest 25% of all funds within the investment category are shown in boldface.
Total Assets ($ Mil): Presented as millions of dollars, this is the amount of total assets an exchange-traded fund has under management. This is the total value of the fund's portfolio. Size can be affected by the age of the fund, the index it follows and the number of competitive funds.
Average Daily Trading Volume (Thousands): Average daily volume of shares traded for the last three-month period through June 30, 2013.
Portfolio (%)—Stocks: The percentage of assets held in common stocks, both domestic and foreign. Bonds: The percentage of assets held in debt securities that are not convertible into common stock. Other securities: The percentage of assets held in futures, options, preferred stock, trusts or other alternative securities. Cash: The percentage of assets held in cash or cash equivalents.
Percent of Portfolio in Foreign Issues: The percentage of the ETF's assets that are invested in foreign stocks and foreign bonds.
Portfolio Turnover Ratio (%): A measure of the trading activity of the ETF, which is computed by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales for the year by the monthly average value of the securities owned by the fund during the year. Securities with maturities of less than one year are excluded from the calculation. The result is expressed as a percentage, with 100% implying a complete turnover within one year.
Number of Holdings: The total number of individual securities held by the ETF. These can include stocks, bonds, currencies, futures contracts and option contracts. This figure is meant to be a measure of portfolio risk: The lower the number, the more concentrated the fund is in a few issues. Some ETFs may hold fewer shares than the index's name would suggest if the ETF's manager believes he can mimic the returns of the index without holding all of the securities that comprise it.
Percent of Portfolio in Top 10 Holdings: Investments, expressed as a percentage of the total portfolio assets, in the ETF's top 10 portfolio holdings. The higher the percentage, the more concentrated the fund is in a few companies or issues, and the more the fund is susceptible to market fluctuations in those few holdings. Used in combination with the number of holdings, this figure can indicate how concentrated an ETF is.
Expense Ratio (%): The sum of administrative fees and adviser management fees divided by the average net asset value of the ETF, stated as a percentage. Brokerage costs incurred by the fund are not included in the expense ratio, neither are the commissions you may pay to buy and sell shares.
More on ETFs
ETFs and ETNs: Knowing What You Own
Active Funds and Other Changes in the ETF Industry
Using ETFs in a Tough, Sideways-to-Bear Market
Building & Managing Your Portfolio
How to Safely Navigate Through Crowded ETF Waters
The EZ Approach to ETF Portfolio Building
Nine Timeless Rules for Investing in Mutual Funds (and ETFs)
Trolling for More Data
Websites for Exchange-Traded Funds
Choosing an ETF: Pointers to Keep in Mind
Tom Lydon of ETF Trends offers these tips for investors when investigating an ETF for purchase:
- Understand what the underlying index represents: 99% of ETFs follow an index, and holdings and percentage of holdings are very transparent.
- Understand the ETF's structure: Some ETFs are securities-based where others—such as commodities and currencies—represent futures or physically backed holdings.
- Know the costs: Some ETFs have expense ratios as low as eight basis points, others can be 90 or 100 basis points. With more creative ETFs coming to market, don't assume all ETFs are cost effective.
- Understand liquidity: ETFs trade like stocks and have bid/ask spreads. Tracking volume and the spread is easy but requires monitoring.
Arnold Chong from IA posted over 3 years ago:
Written well for average investor to understand world of ETF.
Don Anderson from CA posted over 3 years ago:
Incepted???? (In very first paragraph of article.) Presume the author means introduced, not ingested. Where are the editors when you need them!
Greg Mckelvey from GA posted over 3 years ago:
The (downloadable) expanded ETF listing provides very useful information for researching and selecting ETFs for investment. In addition to being sortable and searchable, the categorization is also helpful. However, the information is a wasting asset, which for me, would not be a reliable resource very long, certainly no longer than a calendar quarter. I would urge you to offer regular updates at least quarterly, and even more frequently if resources permit.
It is information that any AAII member that uses ETFs in their investment portfolio can benefit from, and it becomes more valuable when the information remains more current.
Anthony DeMaria from GA posted over 3 years ago:
Good article but - - - -
How can ETFreplay.com (which provides very good info to a free subscriber) be used in evaluating ETF's.
AAII officials as well as members please provide assessments and what we should use/do.
Thanks AA DeMaria cumming GA
Charles Rotblut from IL posted over 3 years ago:
Hi Anthony,
I'm not familiar with the website you mentioned, but I looked briefly at it. There are various websites touting strategies and showing results designed to make their performance look good. This does not mean the strategies work in a real world environment or will work in the future.
I can't speak to how ETFreplay's strategies will or will not work. I can tell you that any strategy that requires more trading will result in higher tax and transaction costs. It will also require more attention on your part.
Alfred Hess from NC posted over 2 years ago:
Any chance that AAII will give the same type of detail to the performance of ETFs as it does to MFs? Such as the 50 top performing ETFs of 2013, etc. with details of the past 4 years as well at the average performance for the past 3, 5 and 10 year? Thanks
Charles Rotblut from IL posted over 2 years ago:
The expanded listings spreadsheet contains up to 10 years of data, but most ETFs are far younger than that. Many foreign and sector funds weren't even five years old at the time we put together last year's guide.


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The Salvation Army officially kicked off their coats for kids campaign on Monday.
Over the next month, the Salvation Army is collecting coats, hats, mittens, and other kinds of winter gear.
It's not just for kids, the program also collects winter gear in adults sizes, with large men's jackets and gloves being in high demand.
"Last year we handed out about 1,000 more jackets than we had the previous year so the need has definitely grown and we certainly anticipate that the need will be great again this year," says Julie Nelson with the Salvation Army.
The organization says the need for winter gear has grown recently.
The coats for kids campaign runs through November 9th.
Anyone can drop off new or gently used items at Kwik trip locations or at the Salvation Army, located at 223 North 8th Street.
The items will be distributed in early November.


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Yield: 4 servings. 4 large eggs, beaten 2 Tbsp. lowfat milk 3/4 cup chopped broccoli florets, blanched 3/4 cup California Ripe Olives, halved 1/2 cup diced red onions, 1/4" 1 medium russet potato, peeled and grated 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp. olive oil Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Mix in broccoli, California Ripe Olives and red onions. Season with salt and black pepper to taste and set aside. Drain out all of the water from the grated ...
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Men in tights; Trockadero dancer Philip Martin-Nielson guest teaches at The Dance Center
The spoofs are many. When a dancer accomplishes the difficult feat of doing the dreaded 32 fouettés, seen in "Swan Lake" and "Don Quixote," they just want to pump their fists and cheer. So, that's what they do in Trockadero. A ballet dancer falls, a lot. So, they put that in. During a pas de deux (a dance with two people) the female dancer will dramatically run toward the male dancer. Instead, in Trockadero, they somersault toward them. They are all at once subtle and theatrical, and always hilarious (just watch some YouTube videos). Martin-Nielson said that during his first performance he almost had to go off stage because he was laughing so hard.
Another big aspect of the company is the hair and makeup, emphasis on the big. Martin-Neilson says they have artistic freedom and can do it themselves. They can choose the color of their wig and have their lashes as long as they want, but they have to wear red lipstick. After his master class, he taught the students how to do stage makeup. Katie Krause of Matamoras, PA, said it was "A much-needed stage makeup session and another wonderful learning experience."
Don't be fooled, behind the wigs, makeup and jokes are renowned dancers who have had extensive training and are world-class ballet dancers.
The students at The Dance Center enjoyed Martin-Nielson's class. Margaret Polatnick, a 13-year-old from Shohola, PA, said, "I had a really fun time. It wasn't scary; he was extremely fun to be around and made a lot of jokes." After the class, they watched him tie up his pointe shoes and rehearse some of his repertoire, such as "The Dying Swan." Martin-Neilson served as an inspiration to them, proving it's possible to do what you love.
"I'm going to stay with Trockadero for a long time because I'm very happy here," he said. "I get to see the world, and I get to do what I love and have fun doing it."


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An official publication of the American Academy of Neurology, Neurology Now® is an award-winning magazine written for people with neurologic disorders and their caregivers. Neurology Now features the latest information on the advances in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic diseases, expert advice about wellness and disease prevention, discussions of new medications and therapies, and strategies for coping with neurologic disorders and the life changes that may accompany them.
|Departments: From the Editor
|conflicts of interest.
|letters: chiari malformation. - Carter, Julie
|letters: financial and estate planning. - Slater, Guy
|martin shenkman responds.
|letters: neuropathy in the shower. - Leonard, Edward
|Departments: The Waiting Room
|this way in: drug infusion reduces "off time" in parkinson's disease. - Shaw, Gina
|neurology news: treating infantile spasms. - Shaw, Gina
|Features: Neil Cavuto
|business as (mostly) usual: multiple sclerosis hasn't stopped fox anchor neil cavuto from doing what he loves. - Childers, Linda
|Features: Meditation
|meditation as medicine. - Paturel, Amy
|Features: Conflicts of Interest
|who else is paying your doctor?. - Avitzur, Orly
|Departments: Your Questions Answered
|ask the experts: epilepsy. - Morrell, Martha
|ask the experts: adhd. - Denckla, Martha
|Departments: Eye on Therapy
|handling vertigo. - Valeo, Tom
|Departments: Living Well
|living wills and health proxies. - Shenkman, Martin
|Departments: New Frontiers
|the love hormone. - Talan, Jamie
|Departments: Photo Essay
|pictures of you: adrian and pamela rodriguez. - Levy, Annie
|Departments: Resource Central
|find a neurologist.
|meditation resources. - Paturel, Amy
|assistance directory.
|speak up: the mother i knew. - Fales, Corinna


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|Molehill Mountain Equipment's mission is to promote family cohesiveness by providing children's gear and apparel that enable, encourage, and enhance family participation in year-round active lifestyles. Our products allow families to escape from the rigors of everyday life with the kids. MME products will inspire families to live more rewarding, balanced lives through participation in a year-round active lifestyle...as a family. Parents and children using Molehill Mountain Equipment, Inc. products will develop healthy, rewarding, lifetime bonds through experiencing the outdoors together. To achieve these goals, we offer the best kids gear on the planet, period.
Molehill Mt. Equipment began operations in 1994
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New Gear From Molehill Mt. Equipment This Season
|Winter 2007/2008 brings exiting new Molehill products. Our new All Weather Gear provides waterproof breathable protection from the elements. These taped-seam rain jackets and pants can be worn in the downpoar or as shells on the slopes. We reinforce the knees, butts, and shoulders with tough dobby nylon. We redesigned and expanded our most popular winter accessory items this year offering a new shelled bootie (the Sno-Moc), Glacier Mitts, and the new Shelled Bomber Hat. All feature warm 17 ounce fleece linings and waterproof breathable nylon exteriors. Updated styling is available in out popular waterproof breathable Shelled Snowsuits and Snow Jackets. Our PowerDry performance long underwear from size 3/9M through 14 continues to be one of our most popular lines. We strive to consistently solidify our reputation for offering the greatest kidswear available.
Where to Buy Molehill Mt. Equipment Online
You can also purchase Molehill Mt. Equipment directly from their website
Molehill Mt. Equipment - Their Specialties
|We have offered the finest technical outerwear and gear for children for over 13 years. Our products stress performance, function, and design to help keep kid's comfortable during outdoor activities. We promote a layering concept with wicking base layers for moisture management, technical middle layers for heat retention, and waterproof/breathable outer layers for control of the elements.
Molehill Mt. Equipment Service
|All of our products come with a full lifetime warranty against manufacturing and materials defects. Since we expect Molehill gear to be handed down multiple times, when you are finished with it you can return it to us to be donated to the needy. Anyone recycling their Molehill merchandise wil get 10% off their next Molehill purchase.
Molehill Mt. Equipment Certifications
|We have won the Apex Award for Design Excellence from Malden Mills (the maker of Polartec Fleece). We were the only 3-time winner in the outdoor industry at the time of our last award. In 2005 our Shelled Snowsuit was chosen as a Mother-Approved "Gotta-Have Gear" from Parenting Magazine.
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text:
The emperor has new clothes. Cessna's latest incarnation of its midsize Sovereign fits advanced technology and improved interior design into a fuselage tube cross section introduced by the Citation III back in 1979.
Business Jet Traveler
May 15, 2014
May 15, 2014
Magician David Copperfield is the highest-grossing solo entertainer in history, with upwards of $4 billion in ticket sales. In collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola, he performed Dreams & Nightmares in 1996, which still retains the Broadway record for most tickets sold in a week. He has won 21 Emmy Awards and holds 11 Guinness World Records. His chiseled face adorns postage stamps in six countries.
May 14, 2014
David Copperfield has spent his life mastering unbelievable, otherworldly illusions that take people's breath away, and that combined with international stardom can make you forget that he is, in fact, a human being like the rest of us. For me the most poignant moment in Margie Goldsmith's interview with the magnificent illusionist comes when he tells her the story about his finger being severed during a botched rope trick. A surgeon reattached it, and it grew back. "That," he says, "is magic."
May 4, 2014
A century ago, Nebraska's greatest novelist, Willa Cather, gave voice to the raw nature and overwhelming scale of the state's landscape. No one who has ever read her books, O Pioneer! (1913) or My Ántonia (1918), would mistake them for golf writing. But in drawing attention to the stark beauty and unremitting power of Nebraska's vast open spaces, she identifies what makes a place like the Prairie Club so compelling.
April 29, 2014
You don't have to buy or lease a Lamborghini to get behind the wheel. Just arrange a rental.
April 20, 2014
Because the science of flight hasn't changed, designers must still balance the desire for cabin enhancements with the need to minimize weight. Every ounce they save through creative use of technology adds range and performance to the airplane, helping passengers fly higher, faster and farther.
April 13, 2014
Hopscotch Air, a small charter operator that uses five-seat single-engine Cirrus light airplanes, just celebrated its fifth anniversary, a notable accomplishment in this economy. The company—which focuses on short flights, primarily within a 300-mile radius of New York City—serves destinations throughout New England and as far south and west as Washington, D.C., and most of Ohio.
April 8, 2014
Here's why the model sold poorly—and why you might want to buy it.
April 7, 2014
You may never charter a business jet that requires a flight attendant. No chartered aircraft with 19 or fewer passenger seats needs one, according to U.S Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency regulations.
March 26, 2014
Housed inside the lovely Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit Resort, just north of Puerto Vallarta, Piaf Restaurant presents French fare with a nod to fresh Mexican ingredients in a stunner setting.
"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem. "
-psychiatrist and author Theodore Isaac Rubin
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Client Services
Our Client Service Associates provide the 'window' into the organization that keeps customers appraised of the status of their assay programs. These staff have comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of our scientific services which enables them to give informative updates to customers or direct them to the relevant Study Director for answers to technical questions.
At the start of any program, the Client Service Associates facilitate the customers' initial contact with the appropriate Study Director, and coordinate components such as agreement on assays, protocols and pricing. Upon completion of the testing program they ensure all the final reports are completed, wrap up any outstanding financial matters and ensure that the program was completed to the customers' satisfaction.
To have a Client Services Associate contact you regarding your testing needs please contact us here to submit your request.


text:
Sanders sees a White House run as a way to pull Democrats leftStaff File Photo
Sen. Bernard Sanders speaks to a State House audience in Montpelier in April 2012.
WASHINGTON Sen. Bernard Sanders has been calling activists and traveling the country with a question: Could he vault from his U.S Senate seat representing what is fondly called the Peoples Republic of Vermont to the White House?
His next stop in search of an answer is the first presidential primary state of New Hampshire, where this weekend he is bringing his campaign complaint about America becoming an oligarchic society.
The senator, who is possibly the most liberal of all members of Congress and the only one to call himself a democratic socialist said in an interview that he is sincere in his quest to pull the presidential campaign dialogue hard to the left.
He said he will make a decision about getting into the 2016 presidential contest by January.
It would be a serious campaign, said the independent, who was elected to the House in 1990 and the Senate in 2006. What I am proposing is a political revolution in this country.
His chances of winning the nomination would be rated as slim, at best, if he got in. But Sanders undoubtedly would inject liberal passion into a Democratic primary. He also could challenge Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, for unofficial leadership of the nations progressives.
The 72-year-old former mayor of Burlington said he sees a yearning, even among Tea Party Republicans, for a candidate who recognizes that working peoples standard of living is declining under the grip of monied elites.
At the least, the blunt-spoken Brooklyn native, known for his wispy gray hair fluttering above his head and his rumpled suits, could add some excitement and unpredictability to the Democratic primaries.
Some on the left are hoping a liberal will enter the party nominating race to ensure that Hillary Rodham Clinton, the presumed Democratic frontrunner if she runs, will adopt a more populist tone and talk about the growing disparities between the middle class and the wealthiest 1 percent.
Most of the speculation about a primary challenger from the left has centered on Warren. But Warren has said she is not going to run.
Sanders said he is not factoring in any of those calculations.
Nothing to do with Elizabeth. Nothing to do with Hillary, he said of his deliberations.
For activists on the left, income inequality could be as important in 2016 as the debate over the Iraq War was in the 2004 and 2008 Democratic primaries.
Progressives are hungry for somebody whos willing to fight on these issues, said Ilya Sheyman, executive director of the political action committee for MoveOn.org, one of the largest liberal political groups. And they provide a pathway to win.
Sanders has long campaigned as a populist. He said he is more concerned than ever about income gaps, climate change, and the unfettered power of Wall Street to influence elections following Supreme Court rulings that have stricken down all but a few limits on political donations.
This year he has traveled to town halls full of activists, union meetings, and college campuses in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina campaigning for liberal candidates and causes.
In addition to speaking this weekend at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., a popular stop on the presidential campaign circuit, he plans to visit Minnesota, South Carolina and Northhampton, Mass., in the coming weeks.
Few count Sanders as a threat to win; a former Sanders campaign adviser laughed when asked if Sanders would be the next president. But Sanders said no one should wake up in the morning thinking he should be president.
Anyone wanting to be president has got to be a little crazy because its an absolutely impossible job, Sanders said. But given the severity of the problems facing this country, it is absolutely imperative that we talk about the reality of whats happening to working families.
Sanders said he has differences with Democrats, but is working to help the party retain its majority in the Senate this year.
Sanders also did not rule out running as an independent, although he pledged he would not play the spoiler in the 2016 election if the election were close.
Many Democrats still fume at consumer activist Ralph Nader, whose 3 percent support in the 2000 election may have helped George W. Bush defeat Al Gore.
I will not play a role of electing a right-winger, Sanders said. If, if, if you run as an independent, if the campaign is not going well, there comes a point where you can say Well, you know what, Im not going to elect a right-wing Republican.
Many Democrats are hoping to consolidate support for Clinton without a protracted primary. But other names have been floated, including Vice President Joe Biden, Governor Martin OMalley of Maryland, former Montana governor Brian Schweitzer, and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York.
Republicans are hardly worried about a Sanders wave.
The fact of Bernie Sanders entering the race is not a big to-do in and of itself, but I think it shows people are not ready to get behind a Hillary Clinton or a Joe Biden, said Ryan Mahoney, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee.
Sanders does have some following among a niche of voters who could be influential in a Democratic primary.
In an online survey of more than 100,000 MoveOn.org members taken earlier this year, Sanders was the third-most popular choice among named candidates, with 6 percent support, following Clinton, with 32 percent, and Warren, with 15 percent. (The most popular response was its too early, with 39 percent.)
Many activists say the liberal wing of the party remains open to Clinton, but not committed.
The Clinton era saw the rise of the corporate Democrat. You saw a lot of people in big business, all the sudden, getting in on the Democratic side, said Jim Dean, chairman of Democracy for America, the political action committee founded by his brother, Howard Dean, another former politician from Vermont who ran for president.
Many in Clintons large network of supporters say that she has long championed middle-class concerns and that a raucous primary could squander a key Democratic advantage over Republicans, who continue to fight over their partys direction.
This is Politics 101, said Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat who endorsed Clinton in November. To have the open territory to get your message out, preparing for the fall, would obviously be a big benefit.
Regardless of whether Sanders seeks attention on a larger stage, he is unlikely to change his style.
When asked during an interview whether he planned to get a fashion makeover, Sanders looked and sounded befuddled, noting that he was wearing one of his best suits, dark pinstripes, even as he slumped in his chair.
Then his tone rose a bit pridefully as he pointed out that he had been named worst-dressed senator by Washingtonian Magazine.
I think more than one year in a row, an aide interrupted.
It was at least three times.
Right away, were clear, Sanders said. If the American people want the best-dressed president in history, Im probably not the guy, not the guy.MORE IN Central VermontMIDDLEBURY According to WebMD, Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes a persons muscles ... Full StoryTiffany Briggs and Kayla Jackson eyed each other across the table, clasped hands, and then it was... Full StoryMARLBORO Police are investigating a burglary on Higley Hill Road. Full Story
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This item is no longer available for purchase.
(based on 10 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
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1 Stars
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Best Uses
Reviewed by 10 customers
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Great for movies
By gbmahili
from New Jersey, USA
Comments about Samsung Galaxy Tablet 10.1" Desktop Dock:
When you wanna watch a movie and work while on easy, go for this one.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Great Dock station
By ProfessorGR
from Athens, GR
It work very good. You connect your galaxy tab charger and your HDMI cable (mini-hHDMI male to HDMI male, not included thats bad) to the samsung Dock station, connect it to your TV and ll work. SO SIMPLE and works good. Design is awesome.
(3 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
It Does its work!
By Honduras12
from Dallas, Tx
Don't know why people complain about this accessory for me it does what it promised.
(0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
By mskelbel
from Kansas
I understand it's a dock, but it should have come with a cord. The cord that comes with the tablet is frustratingly short. It doesn't have a dock mode like my HTC Amaze does so I won't be using it as much as I had hoped. It is extremely overpriced for what you get. It does fit the tablet well, but you have to remove any case to use it. I haven't had the same problems with peeling my screen protector as another lady did, but then maybe she's using it more than I am.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
(1 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Too much problems!!!
By Cyber2steve
from Wilmington, DE
Can not charge Tab in Dock without removing from case... Have to take it out of cover every time to charge... That's just senseless... Couldn't you guys have also built a real wireless charger that works like a charging mat???
(23 of 27 customers found this review helpful)
By Tremor
from Orlando, FL
IF you have a screen protector for your Tab 10.1 and you try using this? It will peel the two bottom corners of your screen protector. This dock was designed with NO screen protector in mind, it is not the same designed dock as you will find using the OEM keyboard dock. I would have given it 4 stars on features but it is only as good as a charging dock with a 3.5mm audio jack. Samsung would have sold a lot of these if they integrated the HDMI port with this product.
(7 of 9 customers found this review helpful)
Not Worth The Money
By Diyogee
from Undisclosed
Prior to the touchwiz update I was very satisfied with this dock. When plugged in, the tablet would display a digital alarm clock that could be set as needed. Since the touchwiz update the multimedia dock no longer displays the alarm clock. All you get is a dark screen that doesn't even indicate if the tablet is charging . IMHO it is no longer worth the purchase. Charge the tablet with the charging cable and use your money for a more worthwhile purchase.
(23 of 32 customers found this review helpful)
Flawed docking accessory
By sps1
from San Jose
Talk about not meeting expectations. (1) I expected the dock to come with the required USB cable or built in power -- I did not expect to have to use the USB cable that came with the original tablet. Samsung might have saved a few dollars with this move, but It has seriously diminished the out-of-box experience of this accessory. (2) I expected that the dock would work well with Samsung carrying case, but no, these two accessories from Samsung don't play well together. You seriously expect me to take the tab out of the carrying case to dock it each time I come home, and conversely when I take it out? Again did not meet expectation-- by a long shot. I'm very disappointed.
(13 of 18 customers found this review helpful)
Great idea...poor execution
By turbonerd
from Arlington, VA
I bought three of these...one for my bedroom, so I could use the Galaxy Tab as my alam clock. One for my kitchen so I could drop it in when I get home from work and could see family images and do light web work while it charges. I also go one for the office to better sync with my PC. All in all...looked great and promising, failed to execute on any of these items well... 1. When you stick it in the cradle in the bedroom, you would expect the clock to simply appear and have all of the controls to then dive in and make it usable. Well, clock does not always appear (the one installed with the device), the music player does not interface correctly when the device is in sleep mode, etc. So, I downloaded a bunch of 3rd party apps and got a little better, but not as good as a trusty alarm clock. This needs to be easier than an alarm clock. When it drops into the cradle, it shoudl automatocally launch a cradle desktop mode like the old Droids...and all of this should execute flawlessly every time. I am never quite sure if the alarm clock will wake me up. 2. In the kitchen, the photo viewed does not stay on after the device goes into lock mode, so it does not work as a photo viewer 3. Yes, I can use it in my office, but for what. Samsung does not have a gracefull Windows or Apple integration. Consequently, after you could get to the drivers, you download those form the samsung website, then you can access the device storage from your PC. It is little more than that - no music or photo sync. The advantage of having this for HDMI output exists whether it is in the cradle or not, it is the 30-pin adapter. This product needs to be rethought. I gave it good grades for weight and balance...it won't tip over easily (a problem with iPad implementations.
(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Doesn't Work With Screen Protector
By SassiestEel
I have a similar dock for my phone and i love it, but this accessory is not what i was hoping for at all. I put my tab into the dock and it separated my screen protector from the screen....not helpful for protecting my screen. There are two tabs on the inside of the cradle that are there to support the device but they dug into the screen protector. The screen protector is high quality and was installed correctly. The cradle is also made of light weight plastic and doesn't hold the device as securely as I would expect. It needs to be more sturdy and hold the tablet more firmly. I love my tab but not this dock.
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The Iraq war in pictures
Published On: Mar 18 2013 02:08:23 PM CDT Updated On: Aug 08 2014 12:23:26 AM CDT
Look back at more than a decade of war in Iraq, which is now once again the target of U.S. airstrikes.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to our Terms of Use.


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I wrote about a week ago about my 9mo not being interested in solids. That day I tried her with some avocado. I don't think that she actually ingested any, but she did get some on her chin. The next day her chin was red. On Friday I decided to try her with some mango. Everytime she put it in her mouth she spit it out. So I grabbed a banana and gave her a hunk of that. She winced everytime she put some in her mouth. The banana ended up getting pretty soft and she smeared some by her eye. Well, her skin got all red around the eye. That night she was up screaming and itching. She has always had dry skin and always been an itcher, but this was way worse. I finally got up with her about 4AM because I was afraid she was itching herself raw. Her face was all red I read about eczema and it seems that she fits that. Anytime I have tried lotions on her dry skin they have made things worse. At the suggestion of Ask Dr Sears I tried Aquafor and that seems to be helping her. So, last night we were having sweet potato fries for dinner. I thought I would try her on some. She actually seemed to not totally hate them. Well, she has been up fussing all night. Lots of itching again. And it can't just be normal dry skin because I put lotion on her before bed. She has had gas and it is stinky. She couldn't have eaten more than an 1/4 of a teaspoon, but her gas smells like she ate the whole tray of sweet potatoes. Also, her chin and cheeks are red. This is probably where the sweet potato had the most contact. The sweet potatoes were unadulterated except for some olive oil to keep them from sticking to the tray.
Is this child just allergic to everything? I am totally afraid to try her on anything else because these sleepless nights are horrible. She is so sad and uncomfortable. I plan to put a call into the ped this AM and get his take on this, but I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience. Is it possible that she isn't interested in solids because she has some food sensitivities? Oh, and btw, I haven't noticed any real issues with what I eat, but maybe I just need to pay more attention.
Thanks for any insight.


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text:
We the family of Randy Roessler, would like to thank each and everyone for their support during our time of grief.
The list is endless. Your presence, prayers, phone calls, food, etc., was greatly appreciated and meant a lot to all
of us.
We also give special thanks to Father Ralph Baidoo and the Reverend Dan Fultz for their message.
God Bless Everybody!
Family of Randy Roessler


text:
This document deals with the main problems encountered when implementing Linux binary compatibility for PowerPC-based NetBSD ports. It is intended to document various parts of the emulation subsystem, and to highlight some architecture-dependent issues that can arise in argument passing, signal handling, and with the way some system calls work. I hope it will help potential developers to do further work on the NetBSD binary compatibility framework.
Most, if not all, of this paper is intended for technically oriented readers. It is assumed that the reader has some understanding of the C programming language and has a good understanding of how processes are managed on a Unix system. Information about this, and much more, can be found in Design and Implementation of the 4.4BSD Operating System, or The Linux Kernel.
In this part, we will introduce Linux emulation and the way it is implemented. Then we will describe the different steps required in order to run statically linked Linux binaries on a NetBSD/PowerPC system.
Some programs such as Netscape or Sun's JDK are not distributed with
source code, so it is not possible to port them to NetBSD. We have to make
do with a Linux binary, sometime a FreeBSD binary, but never a NetBSD
binary. Nevertheless, users want these kind of applications to run on
their NetBSD machines. To address this problem, Linux compatibility was
developed on NetBSD. This Linux emulation is available through the
COMPAT_LINUX kernel option on the NetBSD ports that support it (i386,
alpha, and m68k). The compatibility subsystem emulates Linux system
calls, and not the program itself. From the Linux program's point of
view, the NetBSD kernel just looks like the Linux kernel. The Linux
binary is thus able to run on NetBSD, at normal CPU speed. All its
system call are intercepted and mapped to native NetBSD system calls.
The overhead of Linux compatibility is hence very small.
A userland executable interacts in only two ways with the kernel. On one hand, we have calls from the executable to the kernel, which are system calls. On the other hand, we have the interaction from the kernel to the executable, which is signal delivery.
In order to emulate Linux binaries, the NetBSD kernel must mimic Linux kernel behaviour for system calls and signal delivery. Signal delivery is the trickiest part of the job, and not all executables actually need signals for normal operation, so we will keep signal handling for later. On the other hand, system calls are mandatory. If you want your program to do simple operations, such as reading a file or writing some text to a terminal, you need to make system calls. You might build an executable that does not make any system calls, but I am not sure that running it will be actually of any interest. So let us talk about system call emulation.
The main idea is to translate system calls. Each system call has a
system call number and some arguments. If you run a Linux binary on
NetBSD without writing any compatibility support in the NetBSD kernel, it
will not work, because the executable will use a system call number
that is incorrect for NetBSD. For instance, let us assume that our
program uses the
nice() system call, which is syscall #43 on
Linux/PowerPC. If you run it as a Linux binary on NetBSD/PowerPC, it
will actually call
fchflags(), which is the syscall #43 on
NetBSD/PowerPC. And even if the syscall is the same, the arguments will
probably not fit. For instance, Linux will use a 32-bit long where NetBSD
uses a 64-bit long long for the same argument, and this will cause the
program to fail.
The NetBSD kernel must therefore first match the Linux executable. That is, it must recognise it as a Linux binary and not as a NetBSD binary. Then, when the program makes a system call, the NetBSD kernel will translate the Linux system call to a NetBSD system call. Of course, executables matched as NetBSD binaries have their system calls unchanged.
For this step, we will need the kernel sources of both NetBSD and Linux. NetBSD kernel sources can be found here, but if you plan to actually work on the kernel sources, you would do better using CVS (see the documentation to learn how to use CVS to track NetBSD-current). You can also browse the source files using CVSWeb.
Linux sources can be found on various FTP sites, for example,
ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.4/linux-2.4.0.tar.gz for the
2.4 kernel. Grab the latest kernel, which will certainly be something
other than 2.4 when you read this paper. It is not mandatory to get
the latest kernel, but it is better to do so.
First, let us have a look at NetBSD syscalls. They are defined in the
machine-independent part of the kernel sources, in
sys/kern/syscalls.master. This file is used to automatically create the
sys/sys/syscall.h, and
Each syscall in
syscalls.master is basically the system call name with
sys_" prepended to it. Here are a few lines from the
sys/kern/syscalls.master file:
0 INDIR { int sys_syscall(int number, ...); }
1 STD { void sys_exit(int rval); }
2 STD { int sys_fork(void); }
3 STD { ssize_t sys_read(int fd, void *buf, size_t nbyte); }
4 STD { ssize_t sys_write(int fd, const void *buf, \
size_t nbyte); }
Now, the Linux syscalls: Here the job is a bit more complicated, since
the system call definitions are architecture dependent on Linux. The
different architectures supported by the Linux kernel are in
Each architecture has its directory. For instance, the PowerPC port of
Linux has its machine-dependent source code in
linux/arch/ppc/. The
syscalls definition file lives in the kern subdirectory of the
architecture directory, but the name of the file is not the same on all
Linux ports! If you are working on another
LINUX_COMPAT port, you can
find the file by
greping on system call names, such as
mmap() or
uname(). For the PowerPC, the file is
linux/arch/ppc/kernel/misc.S. Here
are a few lines from that file :
.long sys_ni_syscall /* 0 - old "setup()" system call */
.long sys_exit
.long sys_fork
.long sys_read
.long sys_write
This Linux file lists all the syscalls, using the syscall number order.
The arguments to the syscalls are not shown. To find out the arguments
of a given system call, you will have to grep for its name in
linux/arch/ppc/kernel and/or
linux/kernel, find the function
implementing the system call, and look at the function parameters.
And now, let us move to the compat directory in the NetBSD sources,
which is where we will have to write a few files. For Linux
compatibility on the PowerPC, it is
sys/compat/linux/arch/powerpc. Here
we must create a
syscalls.master file and fill it with the Linux system
call numbers and the function that implements them in the NetBSD kernel.
The easiest way is by grabbing the
syscalls.master file from another port
(I used the
syscalls.master from i386 Linux compatibility, which can be
found at
sys/compat/linux/arch/i386/syscalls.master), and modify it so
that it reflects Linux syscalls on our target port, here PowerPC.
open() system call (syscall #3) is implemented by the
linux_sys_open() function. Here is the
open() system call definition in
Linux compatibility, from
5 STD { int linux_sys_open(const char *path, int flags, \
int mode); }
linux_sys_open() wrapper function lives in a file in the
sys/compat/linux/common directory. Its job is to do appropriate argument
translation, and then to transfer control to the
sys_open() function of
the NetBSD kernel.
Other Linux system calls are implemented directly by the corresponding
NetBSD system call. This is the case for
exit() or
fork() (syscalls #1 and #2), which are defined by the
sys_exit() and
sys_fork() kernel
functions. Here are Linux
exit() and
fork() definitions, from
1 NOARGS { int sys_exit(int rval); }
2 NOARGS { int sys_fork(void); }
Most of the job is quite straightforward: It is just about reordering
system calls. But sometimes, you will find that a given syscall has no
equivalent for the target port. This is true, for example, for the
vm86() system call, which is left unimplemented in the
sys/compat/linux/arc/powerpc/syscalls.master, using the
UNIMPL option in
the second column of the file.
Some other syscalls do not work the same way on different architectures,
due to different argument sizes or different argument transmission
mechanisms (in registers vs on stack). For some of them, there are
already alternative implementations of the wrapper function. For
instance, a call to
mmap() is implemented by
linux_sys_mmap() on the
Alpha, and it is implemented by
linux_old_mmap() on the i386.
Now, the idea is to get a good but not perfect
syscalls.master, and to
fix problems as they arise later. So once
syscalls.master looks good, we
build the
linux_syscalls.h by typing "make" in
sys/compat/linux/arch/powerpc, and we can start trying to build a
Now when we try to build a kernel, of course it will fail, because most of the required source code is still missing, but the idea is that a failed build will tell us which gaps to fill.
First, we want to tell the
config(8) tool that we added files to
the kernel. Here we will work on the NetBSD/macppc port, but everything
remains true for other ports. In the
sys/arch/macppc/conf directory, we
have a file called
files.macppc that lists the files used to build a
kernel for
macppc. In order to modularize the compatibility code in the
kernel, we will just add two include statements. These statements will
config(8) to include the file describing what is needed for the machine-independent part of Linux compatibility (
and the file describing what is needed for the machine-dependent part
# Linux binary compatibility (COMPAT_LINUX)
include "compat/linux/files.linux"
include "compat/linux/arch/powerpc/files.linux_powerpc"
There is also the OSS audio compatibility framework, which is required in order to link a kernel with Linux compatibility. This is included by the following lines:
# OSS audio driver compatibility
include "compat/ossaudio/files.ossaudio"
We then have to create the latter
files.linux_powerpc file, and fill it
with all the source files created in
sys/compat/linux/arch/powerpc so far.
Again, the idea is just to grab the i386 version of that file from
sys/compat/linux/arch/i386, and to comment out or remove every line
referencing files that are not yet in the powerpc directory.
Then we can add the
COMPAT_LINUX option to our favourite kernel config
file, and start a kernel build. (If you need some documentation, please
read the documentation here).
Of course it will fail; we expected it. During the various failures, we
can discover that the source code in
sys/compat/linux/common needs a lot
of macros prefixed with
LINUX_ and a lot of typedefs and struct
definitions prefixed by
linux_. The idea is always the same: to
grab the i386 version of the file containing the requested
macro/typedef/struct definition, and to adapt it for the PowerPC.
During this work, the
linux/include/asm-ppc and
directories from the Linux kernel sources will be useful. It is
essential to avoid just copying the i386 version of the different files
needed in the powerpc directory such as
linux_termios.h or
linux_types.h. There are very few differences between most of the i386
version and the PowerPC version of the Linux includes we need to define,
but a careful check of every value will avoid lots of trouble finding
out what went wrong later.
After adding a lot of header files, the
directory starts looking like its i386 counterpart. There are only a few
.c files missing. We then have to define a few functions that are
defined in
i386/linux_machdep.c and
i386/linux_ptrace.c, else the kernel will not build. Most of the
linux_machdep.c file holds functions related to signal delivery, whereas the
linux_ptrace.c file holds functions that
enable Linux's gdb use on emulated binaries. Obviously, we don't need
most of this now. So the idea is to write empty functions that just
return zero without actually doing anything. The goal is to have a
kernel that builds, and to add the missing code later.
Remember that each time a
.c file is added to the
sys/compat/linux/arch/powerpc directory, it has to be added to
sys/compat/linux/arch/powerpc/files.linux_powerpc, and then, the
config(8) utility must be rerun. This integrates the new file into the
kernel build process. Otherwise, the new file will be ignored.
Once we have a working kernel, we can try our first Linux binary on it. To
do this, we go on a LinuxPPC machine and compile the following
program, linked as a static binary. This is done using the
-static flag
* hello.c -- A hello world test
* Build with gcc -static -o hello hello.c
#include <stdio.h>
int main (int argc, char **argv) {
printf ("Hello world!\n");
return 0;
Then we try to run the compiled binary on the NetBSD system. Normally, it shouldn't work. Most likely, we get a strange message explaining that a syntax error occurred after a "(", and this sounds like the kernel decided this was a shell-script and gave it to the shell to execute. The dynamic version should just crash, but we will take care of it later.
Our problem is that the kernel was not able to recognise the executable
as a Linux binary. This can be outlined by running
ktrace(1) and
kdump(1) on the executable. If the kernel had matched the
executable as a Linux binary, then the kernel trace should contain a
EMUL "linux" record.
So we have to get a working Linux binary-matching mechanism. When
starting a new binary (on
execve() calls), the NetBSD kernel performs
some probe tests to find out what to do. Practically, the kernel
maintains a list of
struct execsw (
struct execsw is defined in
sys/sys/exec.h) describing the available ways of executing a program:
native ELF, native a.out, shell scripts, Linux emulation, and so on.
This list is initialized from
sys/kern/exec_conf.c, and is used in
sys/kern/kern_exec.c. A member of the
struct execsw is a pointer to a
probe function, whose job is to return 0 if it matches the executable.
For Linux ELF32 emulation, this function is
linux_elf32_probe(), which
is implemented in
This function performs several tests. The first test is the
linux_elf32_signature(), which looks for an interpreter name specific to
Linux. The interpreter is a helper program used to run the executable.
This is the
ld.so program used to launch dynamically linked programs.
linux_elf32_signature() looks in the ELF headers for an interpreter
/lib/ld.so or
/lib/ld-linux.so, which is really Linux-specific. For instance, a NetBSD ELF program uses
/usr/libexec/ld.elf_so, and a
System V Release 4 system should use
This test is good for dynamically linked binaries, but it fails for
statically linked binaries, for which there is no interpreter name in
the ELF header. To fix this flaw, there is a second test, enabled by the
LINUX_GCC_SIGNATURE macro,
linux_elf32_gcc_signature(), which looks for
a GCC signature in the
.comment ELF section of the executable. This is
not a very good test, since this GCC signature is specific to GCC but
not to Linux. Anyway, for some unknown reasons, this test failed on the
We therefore have to find an alternative way of matching statically
linked Linux binaries. The
objdump(1) command is useful to investigate
for such a new method:
objdump -h program will dump the ELF section
headers of the program, and
objdump -j .name -s program will dump the
content of named section
.name. Here is an example of
objdump -h output
for a statically linked Linux binary:
$ objdump -h hello
hello: file format elf32-powerpc
Idx Name Size VMA LMA File off Algn
0 .text 00030930 018000a0 018000a0 000000a0 2**4
1 .init 00000080 018309d0 018309d0 000309d0 2**2
2 .fini 00000028 01830a50 01830a50 00030a50 2**2
3 .rodata 00003f8c 01830a78 01830a78 00030a78 2**3
4 __libc_atexit 00000004 01834a04 01834a04 00034a04 2**2
5 .sdata2 00000000 01834a08 01834a08 00034a08 2**2
6 .data 00000cb8 01874a08 01874a08 00034a08 2**2
7 .got2 00000010 018756c0 018756c0 000356c0 2**0
8 .ctors 00000010 018756d0 018756d0 000356d0 2**2
9 .dtors 00000008 018756e0 018756e0 000356e0 2**2
10 .got 00000010 018756e8 018756e8 000356e8 2**2
11 .sdata 0000011c 018756f8 018756f8 000356f8 2**2
12 .sbss 00000024 01875814 01875814 00035814 2**2
13 .bss 000008b8 01875838 01875838 00035814 2**2
14 .stab 00000cfc 00000000 00000000 00035814 2**2
15 .stabstr 00000fba 00000000 00000000 00036510 2**0
16 .comment 00002060 00000fba 00000fba 000374ca 2**0
Dumping the ELF section header, we can see that all statically linked Linux
programs have a section named
__libc_atexit. This is specific to Linux,
and as far as we know, it does not occur on any other operating system.
A good point is that this
__libc_atexit section does not seems to be
Linux/PowerPC specific: We can find it in Linux/i386 static binaries as
We therefore have to write a new test in
sys/compat/linux/common/linux_exec_elf32.c, enabled by the
LINUX_ATEXIT_SIGNATURE macro. This test just checks if there is a
__libc_atexit section in the ELF header. With this test, statically
linked Linux binaries are matched. We can check this by enabling the
DEBUG_LINUX macro and looking at what the kernel outputs when we try to
run the binary. With this new test, it is very likely that the hello
world program now runs in compatibility.
In the event it does not work, the way of solving the problem is running
ktrace(1) on the program on the NetBSD box, and the Linux equivalent
(which is
strace(1)) on a Linux box, and see what is going wrong.
Possible issues are badly translated syscalls. For instance, if we
incorrectly translated
mmap() to
dup2(), this shows up immediately on a
kernel trace, because we see that
dup2() is called instead of
We need to rebuild
kdump(1) if we want it to display the system
call names and arguments when running emulated binaries. Generally
speaking, we need to recompile
kdump(1) each time we modify any
syscalls.master file.
Now that statically linked binaries work, we can try dynamically linked
binaries. Note that you need to download a set of Linux libraries from a
PowerPC Linux box in order to run dynamically linked programs. For the
hello world program, you need at least
ld.so.1 and
On the PowerPC, dynamically linked programs were immediately matched by
linux_elf32_signature() test, but running them did not work, either
because it crashed, or because we got a Linux
ld.so message saying
that we invoked
ld.so without arguments. We will focus on these dynamic
binaries-specific issues in part 2.
Emmanuel Dreyfus is a system and network administrator in Paris, France, and is currently a developer for NetBSD.
Return to ONLamp.com.
Copyright © 2009 O'Reilly Media, Inc.


text:
Power Sequencing, Intel® EP80579 Integrated Processor: Note
In the earlier days of Intel Architecture (IA), system designs for power sequence and reset circuitries were simpler and used fewer components to monitor power and power control signals. With fewer power rails, the power sequence was also less complicated. Currently, due to an increased need to support a variety of logic voltage levels—some being legacy, some being new lower levels for supporting higher speeds such as DDR, and some being high speed differentials—the number of required power rails has increased dramatically. These factors have caused the power sequence and reset to become far more complex. Therefore to bring a processor out of reset, the number of power monitors and sequences between supplies requires careful design to meet the specified timings required by the chip set or system-on-chip (SoC) devices.
Since there is currently no off-the-shelf power supply brick capable of generating the power sequence and all of the required power good signals, designers are required to design with discrete components. This requires a good understanding of how the power sequence and reset functions.
This document will help designers meet the required sequence and timing specified in the datasheet. There are also three main points of focus in this application note. The first one is to provide design considerations when implementing power sequence and reset for the Intel® EP80579 Integrated Processor with and without suspend power management. The second is to provide an alternative solution that can eliminate the Super I/O in designs that do not require additional peripherals supported by Super I/O and BOM cost reduction is important. The third point of point of focus in this document is to present relevant information and considerations for successfully bringing out of reset the processor.
Read the full Power Sequencing, Intel® EP80579 Integrated Processor Note.


text:
Wordsmith Talk
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#316 - 03/16/00 09:29 AM Distance words
Registered: 03/16/00
Posts: 1
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I'm puzzled by the behaviour of distance words such as inch, foot and mile. Their use of plurals seems odd. For example, one would say "a three-inch nail" but it's "three inches long"; a twelve-foot wall is twelve feet high; a four mile run covers four miles. What is the rule here?
#317 - 03/16/00 09:55 AM Re: Distance words
Registered: 03/16/00
Posts: 218
Loc: Mountain West, USA
I'd venture to say this occurrence is not related to "distance." For example, we commmonly refer to basketball teams as five-man, though there are 5 men. A three-woman singing group has three women. In English, we have the ability to convert a plural-oriented adjective into a singular form. Wish I had a two-screen computer.
#318 - 04/07/00 04:28 AM Re: Distance words
old hand
Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 1027
Loc: Switzerland
Hi Brandon,
Further examples are five-dollar bill and two-bedroom house. But your formulation of the RULE doesn't satify me. The rule should say something like "nouns preceded by numbers are put in singular if..." if what?
Best regards
#319 - 04/07/00 07:47 AM Re: Distance words
old hand
Registered: 03/16/00
Posts: 1004
Loc: London, UK
Isn't it about the 'head' word? If run, wall, team, etc are treated as singular, then the adjectival forms for them - 4 mile, 12 foot, 5 woman, will simply agree with this singular.
While we may not see the particular 'logic' in this, it appears to be a consistent rule. Even when the head noun is pluralised, we seem to remember this rule - "There were 12 five-foot walls around the courtyard".
the sunshine warrior
#320 - 04/07/00 06:28 PM Re: Distance words
Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 81
The distance is a singular distance. Five foot, three inch, &c. The unit used to measure the distance is what is being pluralised. The nail has a single length, this length is not three units. The measurement of the nail is three inches. A five feet wall would be a wall of five levels each a foot in height. In the same way a five men side of would consist of a team of five groups of men of unknown size (but greater than one), a five man side consists of one side of five singular men. Completely logical and straight forward when you realise that a team of several people is one team and a length of several units of measurement is one length.
#321 - 04/08/00 12:11 PM Re: Distance words
Registered: 04/08/00
Posts: 1
To add to Philip Davis' explanation, you can charecterize those hypenated words as resembling collections, in that they have a singular form. Instead, they are descriptive nouns or adjectivized nouns. (Am I coining new phrases here?)
So, in a collection of Nails, (computer geeks would call it a class) one has, among others, Three-inch nails and five-inch nails(sub classes). IF I look, I may find a three-inch nail (an instance of the subclass) measures just 2.8 inches long because of a manufacturing defect.
To use the other examples, a five man team may actually have 9 men including reserves, but only five of them will play in the three-legged race.
Am I killing it to death?
#322 - 04/08/00 07:37 PM Re: Distance words
Registered: 04/03/00
Posts: 81
HSallim has expressed it well. The example given above of the 5 dollar note is another very good example. It is not five one dollar notes but one five dollar note, one of many notes of several values.
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International Students
Conducting a job search as an International student can be challenging, but not impossible. It is important to begin your research early to identify your career goals. Career Services can assist you with many of the steps you'll need to take in your search.
International Services is also an invaluable resource for you. They will provide important information regarding your visa status, curricular practical training, optional practical training, and employment options for on and off campus while you are here as a student and immediately following graduation. It is important that you thoroughly understand your visa requirements and limitations before beginning your job search.
Preparing for the Job
There is a great deal of preparation involved before you actually begin applying and interviewing for employment. Hopefully you have engaged in exploration of your interests, values, and skills to help you find a career path that is a good fit for you. The Career Services staff is available to help you with this exploration process. Some other considerations in preparing for the job search:
1. Master your communication skills. Participate in a mock interview with a Career Services staff member, and seek other opportunities to improve your fluency in speaking English. If you want to interview in the U.S. and do not speak English well, you will need to practice seriously and regularly.
2. Participate in extracurricular activities such as clubs, volunteer service, and other student groups. This involvement can help you develop leadership and interpersonal skills, and give you a chance to get to know people. Employers also value participation in these kinds of activities.
3. Gather as much information as you can related to your career interests. Attend Career Fairs, visit Career Services, and identify resources for information on employment opportunities in your home country, if you plan to return home to work. These resources can include professional organizations and journals, embassies, web sites, international organizations, family, and friends.
4. If you are trying to remain in the U.S., you will need to research what organizations may consider hiring non-U.S. citizens. Career Services can assist you with this research. Our office has a copy of the Directory of Foreign Investment-St. Louis from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, which can be helpful in learning what companies have overseas holdings. We can also share with you whatever information we have regarding specific companies that have hired international students in the past.
5. Seek out work experiences related to the career you want to pursue-internships, co-ops, or volunteer work. This type of experience also helps you build your skills, and gives you a chance to try out a career to see if it's something you like. These work-related experiences will also improve your chances for full-time employment.
6. Understand the differences between your cultural practices and those in the U.S., if you are planning on seeking employment here. Some of these differences as they relate to the job search include:
- Communication styles. In the U.S., you are expected to be direct and assertive, including a firm handshake, eye contact, and a confident posture.
- Self-disclosure. Many cultures consider personal questions about your likes and dislikes or strengths and weaknesses as an invasion of privacy. However, questions like these are very common in interviews in the U.S.
- Self-promotion. You will need to be confident in discussing your accomplishments and goals, and assertive in contacting employers and following up with them.
- Career self-awareness. In the U.S., you are expected to demonstrate knowledge of yourself and your career goals.


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text:
I arrived yesterday at Coca Cola Park well before game time. I introduced myself to Jeff Skversky of Channel 6 ABC and Comcast SportsNet's Leslie Gudel. Their news trucks were piled up at the front gate near the ever-growing piles of fans. I've been to IronPigs games since the beginning and saw Raul Ibanez, Pedro Martinez, and Brad Lidge rehab here. This was much different.
While some fans were at the park early for the John Mayberry Jr. bobblehead giveaway, about 20 were lining the right field fence. No, not the colorful, filled-with-ads fence located at the back of the park but rather the large, black fence that establishes the boundaries of the park. They were trying to get a glimpse of Chase Utley.
I caught up with Michael LoRe (@MichaelLoRe) of the Express Times and Jeff Schuler of the Morning Call in the dugout when Utley began to throw. They cover each and every IronPigs game and have never seen anything like this. Finally, I asked the voice of the IronPigs, Matt Provence (@PigsRadio), who has also seen it all, what his thoughts were on Chase Utley's impact.
One number he gave me said it all: 2,000 tickets were sold in 20 minutes.
"(Chase's rehab) has a huge effect. We've had other rehabs before but this one is special because he has been with the Phillies his whole career and what he has meant to the Phillies' dynasty period that they have had," Provence said. A man of such impact, however, could not even get his own number. No, mascot Ferrous was unwilling to relinquish his jersey. "Unless Chase gains another 300 lbs., he's not fitting into that number 26," joked Provence.
It didn't matter that Utley has been secretive on the health of his knee and the fans weren't scorned by his absence. Utley's 2-5 night with a home run to help the Pigs move into a tie for first was much more symbolic than that. You could see it in the volume of fans who were at the gate by 5 PM, the ones that didn't have tickets trying to grab a view of the greatest second baseman in Phillies history watching from behind the black bars in right, or even the twinkle in Pigs manager Ryne Sandberg's eyes when asked about Chase.
Sandberg replied "Oh yeah," with a smile only a father would have when talking about his son when asked if he saw any of himself in Utley."He's a hard-worker, he's dedicated to the game, he's dedicated to the organization."
Sandberg thinks he's ready to contribute to Philly, too. "I saw a good quickness; a good first step. He looked like Chase Utley to me. It looks like he's excited to be here, that's what I see."
After hearing Sandberg talk and watching the look in his eyes, seeing the thousands of fans lined up, an assumption I have carried for years was finally clear: Chase Utley is the Phillies. Sandberg indicated that Utley was among the first players there to stretch and warm up and Utley looked serious as he ran the bases during BP. His home run to put the Pigs ahead was the icing on the cake.
This is beginning to feel like a turning point in the Phillies season. Chase Utley has already made his impact off-the-field in Allentown, it is now time to see the impact he brings to Citizens Bank Park.
To check out all of what Ryne Sandberg had to say about Utley, check out the video below:
Sandberg on Utley, Brown, Cloyd
0 Comments
Great piece. I can't wait to see Chase back (tonight, right?)! With Chase on board I have no doubt in my mind that we'll continue to right the ship and be serious contenders.
I love Utley, who doesn't? But he will not improve the pitching.
bob i agree. he won't improve the pitching physically, but the mental part is what i think will change! the phils pitchers all year seem to be pitching or trying to pitch like they need to throw a shutout! with chase and hopefully ryan back that part of their game will change. they need to throw like they're capable of and let their stuff work! if that happens and the lineup solidifies, whew! i'm salivating at that thought! the bench will improve in late game situations also cause now the guys they got in the offseason will be able to do what they were brought here for spot start to give rest to the regulars and pinch hit late in the game. when nix gets back also the whole team will be mor solid in every aspect. i didn't mention the pen but i think if things go as in the past rube will add a pitcher in the pen. then the rest of the division can do what they've been accustomed to. lookin up at the phils! GO PHILS
If you mean fixing the pitching is more important, I disagree. If on the other hand you mean the Martinez to Utley improvement won't be enough, you're probably right.
Right now, the Phils' pitching does need to be fixed more than the hitting. I'm not referring to the starters, because they will improve when Halladay returns (even a bad Halladay beats a Kendrick).
But the bullpen is a shambles. Some of the rookies might improve with more experience, but they might not, and two of the injured guys will probably miss the entire season, so they're not going to help. Qualls and Bastardo are too inconsistent. The offense has proven they can supply a decent lead, but no lead has been safe when those BP guys come in.
I agree with Bob. A quick look at the Phil's stats compared to the division show the offense is 1st in BA and hits and 1st in home runs. They trail only the Braves in runs scored. They're still the best offense in the division even without Utley and Howard. It's the pitching and errors that's killing this team.
They might be the best offense in the division (though not based on the stats you quoted, since the only purpose of hits and HRs is to score runs, and they're second in that), but a run is a run. Reducing runs allowed is no more important than scoring more.
I assume you watched the game last night?
How huge was that 8th inning hr by Chooch –
Well known quote in baseball: "Good pitching always beats good hitting"
I did. Scoring that run was just as important as not allowing a 5th run in the 9th.
Let's give it 20-30 games before we decide if he has much of an impact. My gut is telling me that he doesn't have a whole lot left but, if by that it's meant that if he only hits .250, then that's a WHOLE lot better than MiniMart. So, almost by default, he should have some kind of an impact. Plus, it enables the lineup to be set better, etc….
Schmenkman, you're funny –
that 8th inning HR by Chooch would have meant nothing at all if Papelbon could have shut down that second string catcher, hitting .220 at the time
If, if, if. And furthermore, a run is a run is a run.
a saved run is a saved run is a saved run. tomato-tomato
defense and pitching-offense
Sorry – that was flippant. A team's won lost record can be predicted pretty reliably by its ratio of runs scored to runs allowed. If a team scores 100 and allows 100, it's a .500 team. It's true that allowing 10 fewer runs will result in slightly more wins than scoring 10 more. 10 more runs scored is roughly as valuable as 9 fewer runs allowed.
Seriously??? We're now splitting hairs over what's more important…scoring runs or giving them up?? Wow.
I think one thing some of you are overlooking with Chase coming back is the effect he will have on the team off the field. I know he has been around, and he is not rah rah talk it up type of guy in the club house. But I think when he speaks people will listen but he has not played yet once he is on the field I think his mental approach and "playing the game right" mentality will help this team.
Off the beaten path, all the concerns about the Phillies offense where a little overstated I think, they have been scoring runs better then last year and I think if you look at games with 3 runs or more they are above where they were last year. And how this team is put together with their pitching 3 or 4 runs a game should be enough to be over 500.
True about the offense. They're slightly behind the overall 2011 numbers (4.34 per game vs. 4.40), but ahead of where they were at this point last year. fyi, I report on this before each series here: http://www.thegoodphight.com/2012/6/25/3115437/phillies-stat-notes-june-25-2012 (about half-way down).
They dont have 20-30 games to waste to see if he has anything left in the tank.
Wish the old man would put him towards the bottom of the line up at least to start.
But he is incapable of that.
I do love Utley and think after Chooch is inducted to the wall of fame from this team he should be player #2.
Just dont know what if anything he has left in the tank.
There will be a chill in the air when Utley comes up to bat tonight for the first time
I agree with George. The bullpen is a hot mess and needs our attention stat. Unless Utley can Chuck Norris their a$$es into shape, which he cannot, the bullpen needs to call the Red Cross.
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