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Skip to comments.Tesla: 3 employees killed in Calif plane crash
Posted on 02/17/2010 12:52:50 PM PST by SmithL
EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) -- The three people killed on board a small plane that went down in a Northern California neighborhood were all employees of Tesla Motors Inc.
The twin-engine Cessna 310 crashed in a residential area of East Palo Alto on Wednesday morning after hitting some power lines. It had just taken off from Palo Alto Airport in heavy fog.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I know, inappropriate.
Tesla motors is in deep trouble with their planned production. Losing some top execs certainly won't help. RIP
Sounds like a VFR pilot operating in IFR conditions. That's never a good idea.
It was a twin too, though an old one. Will be interesting to hear about the cause. Sad story, RIP.
Tesla tragedy ping
They found a mode of transport even less safe than those tiny foot-tall (3' 8") cars (which are very cool looking but not much safer than a motorcycle, I'd imagine).
I wonder if there'll be anything left of the crash to investigate. What's the salvage price of aluminum theses days?
More telling is the report of heavy fog. I'm surprised they aircraft was cleared for takeoff under those conditions. As a VFR pilot, I recall the minimum acceptable being around 3,000 ft AGL. "Scud running" i.e. dodging clouds was considered poor practice. The FAA regularly sent a newsletter detailing accidents and their causes.
I thought global warming had reduced the fog in California.
That is a bit strong for a slightly offensive comment.
It could have been a rented plane. Not uncommon in California.
I have a long time friend who has a pilot's license, and he rents planes. He doesn't ever expect to have the funds to own his own aircraft.
If you aren't instrument rated and don't know the area you are most likely going to die getting out of Paly airport on a foggy morn. Today was pea soup thick
In fog, and a multi-engine plane? Not likely.
Assuming that the registered owner was operating the plane, Douglas Bourn has a commerical pilot certificate, with single-engine airplane, multi-engine airplane, instrument airplane, and rotorcraft ratings. He also has flight instructor certificates for single and multi-engine airplane, as well as advanced ground instruction.
It's more likely that he had some sort of problem, like an engine failure. Single-engine rate of climb in that plane is only 370 feet per minute, and any obstructions near the runway would be difficult to clear.
Cause will be pilot error (aka stupidity)
The minimums for takeoff are much lower than for landing. Basically all you have to do is track straight and liftoff. They probably would have been out of the fog very quickly after take-off. I suspect maybe one engine went out, or the pilot got disoriented.
I have an IFR rating. Even after all that training I still didn't want to do actual IFR by myself. With foggles or a hood you can always cheat a little, you can't when its the real thing. None of my training took me into actual IFR.
No no no. The increased ownership of the Pious has greatly increased the levels of smug.
He hit the power lines coming out of Paly. They are well known to locals but if you don't spend much time out by the Bay and the dump you won't know they are there. Not the first time some yahoo has flown into them won't be the last
Unfortunate. It would be nice to see the Tesla cars become mainstream and more affordable.
Twin engine Cessna 310
But it should give FReepers an idea, at least.
I think the pilot knew they were there. He just wasn't able to clear them.
I found the location of the crash from another article and pulled it up on Google Maps. It's about 2000 feet southwest of the runway centerline.
Either he took off to the northwest and was trying circle back around to land, or he took off to the southeast and was turning the base leg to land.
The NTSB will be able to tell if both engines were generating thrust at the time of impact. I suspect they will discover that one engine had failed. But, maybe not: an experienced pilot wouldn't have been turning if he lost an engine -- it reduces your climb rate even further.
Perhaps he had an instrument failure (i.e. the directional gyro or artificial horizon) and didn't realize it was giving him inaccurate information until it was too late.
A buddy of mine just got laid off from Tesla after they got a $$$ infusion from the "Stimulus Package".
Guess he didn't donate any $$$ to Pelosi.
BTW, you can see the power lines (and the shadows cast by the tower) if you zoom in far enough.
"I know, inappropriate."
Well, yeah, but impractical, too....where do you get a mid air recharge?
Yeah, they probably won't be ID'ing them from their wallets either....Excellent point. And you know they have credit cards too...It'll be party time in East Palo Alto tonight.
To simply take off the pilot had to be on an IFR flight plan. From the time the throttles were advanced to impact there could have been any number,or combination of problems, that caused the crash. All I can say is doing a zero-zero take off is always a bit un-nerving.
The few hours I had in a 310 were with a friend who used to fly medical supplies from Pa to several places in the mid-west. One night, at around 3am, we were given clearnce to decend. A quick glance at the instruments told us something was very wrong. Turned out that the ATC guy was in training and he had confused us with another plane. We maintained altitude and soon another, qualified, person come on and actually appologized.
Insurance fraud. They insured their top employees and eliminated them when they figured out the global warming scam./s
Hey, if we can refuel mid air, why not recharge! Giant flying batteries!
A buddy of mine just got laid off from Tesla after they got a $$$ infusion from the Stimulus Package.Or they decided to buy a plane instead.
Guess he didnt donate any $$$ to Pelosi.
Well, yeah, but impractical, too....where do you get a mid air recharge?
"Hey, if we can refuel mid air, why not recharge! Giant flying batteries!"
True...if you can overlook the irony of them crashing into power lines, this really is pretty awful. RIP. Hope they went quickly.
Could I get a link to that from reliable source? Thanks
I owned a C 310Q for many years.
Without looking in my log books, I suppose I had around 4,000 hours in it.
A 310 is a fantastic airplane, but like all airplanes there are things to be considered.
First, I have made many many takeoffs in what could best be described as zero zero conditions and if the aircraft had good instrumentation an experienced 310 pilot would have no problems.
I googled the airport. It has a tower, so no takeoff would be allowed unless it was an IFR takeoff. Not if it was really a fog.
However, although I operated off several strips shorter than 2,400 ft., I considered that to be as short as I considered comfortable.
I did operate a few times from a 2,000 ft. strip, light and that is really too short.
So what I would suspect.
Two passengers. A full fuel load? How much baggage? How big were the passengers?
I quit 10 years ago, so I don't remember all of the numbers and my weight and balance calculator is in a different computer, but generally speaking 140 gallons plus three 170 lbs passengers plus 150 lbs or so of luggage would put them at or near gross.
With 2,400 ft. of runway and power lines, he would probably lift off and immediately rotate to a steep angle of climb. Not max rate, but probably at 120 knots.
If he lost an engine at 120K with that load, not yet on top of the fog, he would have to do everything exactly right the first time to keep from losing it.
Again, it has been 10 years and the numbers are hazy but as I recall he has to nail everything, clean up gear, feather the bad engine and do it all before speed sinks to 106K.
106K is not VMC, but below 106K you don't climb, you just mush along.
That is, if my memory is correct.
I flew a Meyers 20D, a fast mother if you know them. I had 3 key employees on board and took off from Chasey NY on a full IFR flight plan. Made 3 approaches to my small private airport, missed all three IFR VOR. Called ABE approach and was cleared for the approach. Lots of icing on the approach and went around. I made the second by the skin of my butt.
The three plus me were the entire management chain of the company. I had a 5th passenger who I later found out was God. The three employees had no idea of the danger I put them in. To this day they still don't. Put my plane on the market and never did fly again. God recommended that. I understand the guy who took off. "Gotta get there disease" Death is the only sure cure/So sorry for the families.
Wyatt Earp writes with news that a recent SEC filing from Tesla Motors revealed the company plans to stop production on its electric Roadster (and the Roadster Sport as well) in 2011. This will leave the automaker without any cars to sell until the launch of its Model S sedan (financed in part by $465 million in DoE loans) in 2012. Tesla plans to resume production of Roadster models "at least a year" after the Model S arrives. From Wired's Autopia blog:
"'As a result, we anticipate that we may generate limited, if any, revenue from selling electric vehicles after 2011 until the launch of the planned model S,' the company says in the SEC filing. That may not be a problem if S production starts on plan and goes off without a hitch, but if Tesla hits any snags, things could get ugly fast a point it concedes in the filing.
and here
Why are three missed approaches a reason to tell war stories?
As for the ice, I know what a M 200D is. I have not seen one with deicing equipment.
You made the comment: Tesla motors is in deep trouble.
Lets see it. That should be pretty easy for you.
He referenced an SEC filing. Look it up for yourself.
Uh huh....Ya ought to watch what comments ya make...Somebody might just ask you to back it up. Like in this case.
I gave you 2 references. They both say the same thing. The article references an SEC filing. That's good enough for me but apparently jackasses want it handed to them on a silver platter. Like I said, get off your ass and do your own research.
LOL....You can always tell when ya got someone backed into a corner.
I'm glad you pointed that out because I was going to say that the landing gear on that craft wouldn't hold up a cream puff let alone a twin engine airplane. In fact my first thought was, "That has to be a RC model!".
According to Silicon Alley Insider, the aircraft was owned by one of the company's engineers. Both the CEO and CTO of Tesla are confirmed to be safe.
Doesn't look like insurance fraud.
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It has been reported that thanks in part to General de Gaulle, there are more and better Algerian restaurants within the confines of the cities of Paris and Tel Aviv than in Algiers. What confounds the French, but what Israelis have taken for granted for many years is that the foods found in the homes of former Algerians is so variegated one might easily be convinced that Algeria boasts three completely separate culinary styles.
The solution to this puzzle is simple enough. What is put on one's table depends on whether the restaurant one has entered is owned by someone whose roots are Saharan, urban Moslem or Jewish. Even though there are commonalties, there are also enormous differences in the cookery of the three groups. The major culinary contribution of the Algerian Bedouins to cuisine is the delicious mechoui, whole very young lamb rubbed with spices and spit roasted. Urban Moslems devised an enormous variety of delicately herbed stews (tagines), and the input of the Jews was in adapting French sauces and cooking methods to traditional North African cuisine.
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Mets Scratch Wheeler Because of StiffnessLUCIE, Fla. Zack Wheeler, the Mets' top pitching prospect, was scratched from his spring training start on Wednesday after feeling stiffness in his abdomen, around his right oblique muscle. Louis Cardinals, the player the Mets traded two years ago to acqu… (more)Sources: nytimes.com MLB.com ESPN.com
NY Mets manager Terry Collins unhappy with Zack Wheeler's injury, let's everyone in spring training within earshot know about itWhen Terry Collins got the news that Zack Wheeler was scratched from his start on Wednesday with an oblique injury, he let loose with an expletive loud enough to turn heads all over the back fields of the Mets' spring training complex.Source: nydailynews.com
Wheeler's injury brings back bad memoriesBad news travels faster in these days of texting and Tweeting than it did when its speed first was measured. So by 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, the New York baseball community was fully aware of the latest "Uh oh!" involving the Mets.Source: MLB.com


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Pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) has a more severe phenotype, reflected by more extensive disease and a higher rate of acute severe exacerbations. The pooled steroid‐failure rate among 291 children from five studies is 34% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27%–41%). It is suggested that corticosteroids should be dosed between 1–1.5 mg/kg up to 40–60 mg daily. Food restriction has a limited role in severe UC and should be generally discouraged in children who do not have a surgical abdomen. Appraisal of radiologic findings in children must recognize the variation in colonic width with age and size. Data suggest that the Pediatric UC Activity Index (PUCAI), determined at day 3, should be used to screen for patients likely to fail corticosteroids (>45 points), and at day 5 to dictate the introduction of second‐line therapy (>65–70 points). Cyclosporine is successful in children with severe colitis but its use should be restricted to 3–4 months while bridging to thiopurine treatment (pooled short‐term success rate 81% [95% CI: 76%–86%]; n = 94 from eight studies). Infliximab may be as effective as cyclosporine (75% pooled short‐term response (95% CI: 67%–83%); n = 126, six studies) with a pooled 1‐year response of 64% (95% CI: 56%–72%). In toxic megacolon, in patients refractory to one salvage medical therapy, and in chronic severe disease, colectomy may be preferred. Decision‐making regarding colectomy in children must consider the toxicity of medication consumed over many future years, the quality of life and self‐image associated with either choice, as well as both functional outcomes and, in females, fertility following pouch procedures. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
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Migrant worker who invented the doner kebab from his German snack stall
There is some dispute as to the origin of the doner kebab, that popular snack of carved roast meat, sliced from a rotating skewer, and served in a lavash or pita bread on street corners around the world. However, consensus awards the title of inventor to Kadir Nurman, a Turkish Gastarbeiter or migrant worker, who settled in Germany.
The words "doner kebab", or more properly, "döner kebap" mean simply "rotating roast". Sometimes the kebab is described by its Arabic name — "Shawarma" — or at other times as "gyros", a word in modern Greek. Such names may conjure visions of the


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41 Valentine's Day Crafts: Valentine's Day Cards, Gifts, and More
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Valentine's Day Bowl Fillers
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Homemade Valentine's Day decorations can add a touch of fun and love to any space. Fill a wicker basket with some sewn Valentine's Day Bowl Fillers from Cyndee Kromminga - it's an inexpensive way to decorate for the holiday. Stamp phrases on to each of the hearts for a personal touch.
- Card stock
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Muslin scraps
- 1/2-inch letter stamps
- Black ink pad
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Stuffing
- Red embroidery floss
- Embroidery needle
- Red acrylic paint
- Paper plate
- Toothbrush
Fold two standard-size, 8 1/2-inch-wide by 11-inch-long sheets of card stock in half with the short edges matching. Crease the folds. Open the sheets and cut them in half at the crease lines. You now have four halves. Set one half aside for another project.
On each of the remaining three halves, free-hand draw a heart that takes up the entire card stock half. You do not want each side of the hearts to be identical. Imperfection is what you are going for. Cut out each heart. These are your pillow patterns.
Place the patterns on scraps of muslin and trace around each one. Cut out the hearts.
Using 1/2-inch letter stamps and black ink, stamp "I LOVE YOU" on one heart, "A BUSHEL AND A PECK" on another heart and "AND A HUG AROUND THE NECK" on the last heart. You may want to practice the placement on your pattern pieces first, but since this is a prim craft, perfectly spaced letters and words are not necessary.
Place each stamped heart face down on more muslin scraps and pin them in place. Sew the stamped hearts to the muslin backs using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave a 2 1/2-inch opening on one long edge of the hearts for turning and stuffing.
Cut out each stitched heart using the stamped hearts as your guide. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch. Clip the points and the valley between the heart bumps to eliminate bulk. Turn the hearts right side out.
Stuff the hearts. Close each opening with a primitive whip stitch using red embroidery floss.
- Pour a small amount of red acrylic paint on a paper plate. Dip the bristles of an old toothbrush in the paint. With the bristles pointing down, hold the toothbrush over a heart that has the stamped side facing up. Scrape your thumbnail over the bristles to splatter the paint onto the heart. Repeat on the remaining heart pillows. Allow the paint to dry.
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From the publisher's website: Erasing Death: The Science That Is Rewriting the Boundaries Between Life and Death reveals that death is not a moment in time. Death, rather, is a process—a process that can be interrupted well after it has begun. Innovative techniques have proven to be effective in revitalizing both the body and mind, but they are only employed in approximately half of the hospitals throughout the United States and Europe.
Dr. Sam Parnia, Director of the AWARE Study (AWAreness during REsuscitation) and one of the world's leading experts on the scientific study of death and near-death experiences (NDE), presents cutting-edge research from the front lines of critical care and resuscitation medicine while also shedding light on the ultimate mystery: What happens to human consciousness during and after death? Dr. Parnia reveals how some form of "afterlife" may be uniquely ours, as evidenced by the continuation of the human mind and psyche after the brain stops functioning. Questions about the "self" and the "soul" that were once relegated to theology, philosophy, or even science fiction are now being examined afresh according to rigorous scientific research
With physicians such as Parnia at the forefront, we are on the verge of discovering a new universal science of consciousness that reveals the nature of the mind and a future where death is not the final defeat, but is in fact reversible.


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Waves on a calm sea. This isn't a contradiction in terms – it's a design of calmness. With its graphical pattern of waves, this carpet exudes natural serenity. Brings peace and is yet invigoratingly good for the soul of the upper ten thousand people who appreciate haptic and depth. Looks like a classic carpet, but is a new enhancement to the program- me. Made of 100% natural materials. The flat new wool allows for a warm, fluff-free haptic – the highly graphical wave pattern for high compatibility with modern interior design. And it's suitable under your dining room table. 100% Pure new wool, handwoven, custom made Dimensions: 170 x 240 cm 200 x 200 cm 200 x 300 cm 300 x 400 cm
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When I opened my 2nd card with cap1 i got the 0% intro offer, but I did apply from an offer I got in the mail specifically saying that was what I would get.
That's odd that Amex didn't give the bonus? I always thought it was about not having that particular card already and it being a new account, not about your other credit lines with them, very odd. Did you apply while logged into your account or was it a response to a solicitation to apply?
I had two Cap One platinum cards, and the Sony card and got the zero percent intro deal on all three of them.
Different banks work differently. Capital One will honor their offer of 0 percent for x months whether you already have a card with them or not.
MyForumName wrote:
I have an old Cap One Platinum card that I got years ago. However, I was thinking of applying for the Quicksilver. I have a question though. 1. Will I still get the bonus and 0% APR even if I'm approved, even though I have another C1 card? I know that when I app'd for my BCE, they didn't give me the bonus because I've had an AMEX Gold for 10 years and they didn't offer that to existing card holders. I don't want to PC to the Quicksilver because if I'm going add the card, I might as well get the APR and bonus and since I'm going to garden, I don't care about the HP.
Just an FYI, it'll be THREE HP's.
I'm not for or against you applying, just wanted you to know that Cap One pulls all three reports.
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On May 28, the director of the state Department of Child Safety acknowledged that backlogs are growing again at the agency. Greg McKay told a legislative oversight committee that the number of hotline reports the agency receives each month is greater than the number of reports the staff can close.Read More »
House committee passes bill creating Arizona lieutenant governor position
A proposal approved by a House panel Monday would change what happens in Arizona when a governor dies, quits or is forcibly removed from office.Read More »
DuVal grew up with public service
It seems almost predestined that Fred DuVal would seek a life in public service.Read More »
Arizona again near tops in nation for women in state elected office
Democrats and Republicans both say the independent, wild west mentality of Arizona voters is one reason the state elects more women than most others.Read More »
Brewer: Arizona should consider anti-discrimination laws for gays
Gov. Jan Brewer said it may be time to consider extending the state's civil rights laws to gays.Read More »
Brewer announces political retirement, won't seek 3rd term
Gov. Jan Brewer, who developed an international reputation for her vociferous attacks on illegal immigration, is ending her career as an elected politician at the end of the year. But she's not retiring from politics.
Experts: Brewer had no choice
Experts: Brewer has as much power as ever during final year as governor
This may be Gov. Jan Brewer's last legislative session on the Ninth Floor, but denizens of the Capitol expect it to be a year like any other for her.Read More »
Brewer to set goals in State of the State address
Gov. Jan Brewer will lay out her Legislative goals for the coming year on Monday when she delivers what is likely her final State of the State address.Read More »
With Napolitano out, Arizonans are wary of new Homeland Security chief
When former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano stepped down as the Department of Homeland Security secretary in August, the reaction from policymakers along Arizona's border with Mexico was mixed.Read More »
Federal budget deal includes wildfire funds, border guarantees
Tucked inside the bill that reopened the federal government late Wednesday night was language guaranteeing that border-security measures, specifically radar surveillance blimps, would continue to be funded into 2014.Read More »


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The smell of new crayons fills the air as your class begins their next art project - creating their own fashion designs! To help inspire your tween-age students, you've worn your favorite Poetic License heels. The expressive, vintage-inspired creations by Brighton-based brand Poetic License prove that any unique, eye-catching idea is possible in the world of fashion. You've always adored how these grass-green suede T-straps help you express your playful, creative personality - their purple-and-poppy floral accent and braided ankle band instantly appealed to your colorful tastes. As you wander the room in your high-low-hemmed skirt, tucked-in, princess-sleeved blouse, and rose-print scarf, you admire the smiles and stunning artwork blossoming before you.
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Dennis Basso with models wearing fake fur coats from the QVC line retailing for about $169.
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Mixed Metal Friendship Bracelet
Style: 570080829
Out of Stock
Plays well with others. Crystal brilliants in diamond-shaped settings are framed by faceted beads in a mix of two metals. On an adjustable, tasseled slide closure.
- 7.5" long.
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During the 2011 SBS Gayo Daejun, fans and viewers alike were treated to a cute and special duet performance from BEAST's Yoseob and IU, but what do you know? Looks like one cutie was nervous performing with the other cutie.
Yoseob was interviewed backstage during the Gayo Daejun and he confessed that he was nervous about performing with IU.
Yoseob: I'm singing a duet with IU
Q: What song are you singing?
Yoseob: What I want to do if I have a lover
Q: What do you really want to do if you have a girlfriend?
Yoseob: If I have a girlfriend, I want to go the amusement park with her, and plan a surprise event for her.
Q: What if you date with IU?
Yoseob: I can barely sing with her because I'm shy. but dating would be even more.
(After performance)
Q: How was the duet with Yoseob?
IU: I had fun:)
Q: How about you Yoseob?
Yoseob: I was shaking. I was so nervous! Ah… I feel so shy~
Here's the performance.
Aww, Yoseob, you're so precious! Even though she's your sunbaenim, you're older than her. It's ok, IU won't bite!
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01/08/12 1:12 am
Oh my, they would be so cute if they were dating. :3
Indeed a cutie performing with a cute.
01/04/12 12:51 am
awwww hehe Yoseob is so cute ^_^
01/03/12 10:55 am
cute performance :3
01/03/12 10:46 am
that was such a cute performance Yoseob <3 :D
That's pretty adorable ^_^ <3 Maybe he will get a date one day.......lol!
01/03/12 7:58 am
he's soooooooooooooo cute
01/03/12 6:41 am
he doesnt really seem nervous when singing though :o prooo? xD
he is IU fanboy...~~ hahhaa… cute!
01/03/12 5:06 am
he's really IU's fan… very cute!!!
Yoseob is such an IU fan boy!!:P SOO CUTE!!=D
the performance was cute.
Oh, he's so cute!!
01/02/12 11:30 pm
LOL<3 Hee hee. He's too cute. IU too~
01/02/12 11:26 pm
awwwwwww but it was so cute!!!!!
01/02/12 11:10 pm
omo so cute xDD ~ they looks cute together ^^
01/02/12 11:07 pm
LOL! definitely a loyal fanboy of IU! so adorable Yoseob <3
01/02/12 11:06 pm
aww so cute!
01/02/12 10:59 pm
hah aww thats so cute!
they did a wonderful job together!
01/02/12 10:52 pm
How cuuuuuuute~~
01/02/12 10:48 pm
LOL well he is an IU fanboy xD


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Susan M. Holbert
Susan M. Holbert of Lackawaxen, PA passed away at CMC Hospital, Scranton, PA on August 22, 2013. She was 66.
The daughter of George R. Davidson and Mary Donnery-Davidson of North Branch and Highland Falls, NY, Susan was born on July 11, 1947 in Highland Falls, NY. She was married to David Holbert. Mrs. Holbert was the owner/operator of the Lackawaxen House.
She is survived by her husband, David; one son, Matthew Kowalik of Lackawaxen, PA; two daughters, Kimberly Kowalik-Smith of Milford, PA and Chelsea Holbert of Indianapolis, IN; six grandchildren, Madeline, Aedan, Joan, Justin, Ryan and Richard Kenneth; two brothers, Erich Davidson of Quakertown, PA and Robert Davidson of CO; and two sisters, Cathy Davidson and Theresa Curtis.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at St. Ann's Church, Shohola, PA with the Rev. Thomas Major officiating. Final interment will be at the Holbert Cemetery, Mast Hope Plank Rd, Lackawaxen, PA at the convenience of the family.
The family requests that memorials be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905, or Safe Haven, 402 Broad St., Milford, PA 18337.


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Students Compete in National Campaign for 2010 U.S. Census
Three Ohio Northern University public relations students are partnering with the 2010 U.S. Census in order to win a national campaign competition.
Allison Gribben, a junior public relations major from East Palestine, Ohio, Jamienne Scott, a junior public relations and Spanish major from Columbus Grove, Ohio, and Stephanie Rowe, a junior public relations major from Waldo, Ohio, are participating in the National Bateman Case Study Competition sponsored by the Public Relations Student Society of America.
College teams from across the nation annually compete to develop and implement the best public relations campaign for a client through the National Bateman Case Study Competition. This year's Bateman client is the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau's involvement with the Bateman competition is part of a larger effort by the Census Bureau to increase participation in the 2010 Census.
Since the first day of winter quarter, Gribben, Scott and Rowe have researched the U.S. Census and Hardin County extensively in order to create an effective, targeted campaign. The campaign's implementation phase began on Feb. 1 and continues until March 1. Their campaign's awareness, acceptance and action objectives drove them to create several publications that can be seen around campus this month. Posters, mailers, doorhangers, a Facebook page, PSAs, student e-mails and an article in the ONU student newspaper have all been distributed in an effort to make the Ohio Northern University and Ada community aware of the 2010 Census. Their campaign slogan is "Small town, Small school, Big impact."
College students are a "hard-to-count" population, and students must fill out the Census form themselves when it is distributed on campus in April or May. "Working on this campaign has taught me so much about the Census and why it's important for college students," Gribben said. "We just want to get the word out that, as an ONU college student, you really should fill out your form and be counted."
After compiling their campaign information into a detailed book, the students will send the book into PRSSA headquarters where the judges will review their strategies and tactics and select a national winner.


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Air Force Retires Peacekeeper Missile
Laramie, Wy – For nearly 20 years Wyoming was home to the world's most powerful nuclear missile. But, at a ceremony Monday the Air Force retired the Peacekeeper. Ronald Reagan named the missile that could carry 10 nuclear warheads at once and said it was important for a country defending liberty to be strong.
The Air Force started dismantling the 50 Peacekeepers three years ago. There is still work to be done cleaning the silos and F-E Warren continues to be in charge of 150 Minutemen-Three nuclear missiles. No one will lose their job because of this change, but some are moving to Air Force bases in other parts of the country.


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Open Mic & Coffee House at Germantown Jewish Centre
Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 PM
Join us for an evening of open-mic music, coffee and delicious home-made baked goods. BYOB, bring your own beverage and/or your own band! $10 suggested donation to support GJC's Social Action Committee. All acts must register in advance. For more information, contact [email protected] [3] or 215-844-1507 X 19.


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King, Daniel
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Assess your chess strength with this test-yourself guide. In this instructive and entertaining book, based on the author's Chess Monthly column, Grandmaster Daniel King invites you to sit alongside the leading players in the world and predict their moves.
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CLEARANCE - Test your Chess with Daniel King
Regular Price: $21.95
Special Price $10.00
Chess enthusiasts can find out where they stand in terms of chess mastery by facing off against 20 of the world's top players with this instructive and amusing guide. Looking closely at complete games played by the experts inspires players to form new ideas about their overall strategy. Grandmaster Daniel King based ''How Good Is Your Chess'' on his popular Chess Monthly column.
Unbeatable Deal!
CLEARANCE - How Good Is Your Chess?
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ANDERSON, Mo. - Walter Lee Smith, 74, formerly of Plainview, Texas, died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, in Joplin.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Bartley Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Dr. Gene Perry of Plainview officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Smith was born May 6, 1935, in Raymondville, Texas, to Barney Louis and Edna Grace Brillheart Smith. He lived most of his life in Plainview before moving to Missouri to be cared for by his son and family.
Survivors include three children, Edna Billups of Lanagan, Patricia Turner of Stella and Robert Smith of Anderson; four stepchildren, Clifford Scott and Sharon Barrett, both of Lubbock, and Jerry Scott and Loretta Scott, both of Plainview; 24 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Curtis Smith of Lubbock and a sister, Geneva Lemons of Oklahoma City.
Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 28, 2010
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text: Corey (C Gutta) and Reggie (Regg Roc) are two of the main members of The Ringmasters, known for their style of dance (Flexxin) and their time spent on the show ABDC. They have been dancing side by side for 9 years they both started on a show called flex n Brooklyn in 2000 where they displayed their passion for dance. They started off as rivals and end up becoming very closes friends, the style they both have in common is Flexxin, but they both have their own unique style of Flexxin. Corey has a connecting style while Reggie has a style called Pausing, with both of these styles of dance corey and Reggie are on their way to making their mark in the dance world with their precise routines and their own never ending creativity corey and Reggie are on the rise of success with this style called Flexxin.


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IDAHO FALLS— On Monday, Aug. 22, an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to mark the opening of the U.S. Department of Energy's new Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory. The mission of the RESL facility is to provide measurement quality assurance for programs that protect workers, the public and the environment. The media is welcome to join us and tour the new facility.
Implementing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program standards, the RESL facility was designed and constructed to meet the Gold rating. To deliver the Gold rating, substantial energy cost-saving building techniques were used during construction, i.e., substantial excess ventilation capacity, energy efficiency and reuse of previously owned laboratory equipment.
The new 23,000-square-foot RESL laboratory houses two shielded "iron rooms," or vaults, constructed from pre-World War II steel relocated here from Rocky Flats, and other support equipment required for the lab's radiological operations.
What: Unveiling of the new Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory
When: 3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22
Where: 2351 North Boulevard, Idaho Falls
Directions to the Department of Energy's Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory: From Holmes Avenue, drive west on Anderson, turn right on North Boulevard, cross railroad tracks and turn left into INL Research Center parking lot.


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Bollywood's Best 'Fool' Moments!
Humor has always been an important part of our lives as well as movies. Here are some extremely side-splitting scenes from Bollywood films that never fail to tickle our funny bones!
1. Anupam's dream death – Khosla Ka Ghosla
This comedy drama, which is all Delhi and all Punjabi, boasts of an extremely hee-haw opening scene.
The poor lover-boy Veeru has a strong reason to attempt suicide – the budhhi mausi has declined his marriage proposal with Basanti! Oh! So many emotions, drama & tragedy in his suicide story (haha) – as he puts across the villagers!
The humour in the last reel of this slapstick comedy film puts all its highly hilarious moments to rest, but not without throwing us in fits of laughter for the last time, of course.
In one of the various LOL moments from this ultimate comic treat by Rajkumar Santoshi, Salman's many visits to the loo while attempting to romance his lady love are exceptionally side-splitting. No doubt, Aamir's mischievous brain is behind Salman's misery.
Mehmood's humorous tango with Om Prakash in this scene remains unique in the history of cinema. As an aspiring filmmaker, Mehmood narrates a scary scene to his rich father, making amazingly funny sound effects.
Amitabh Bachchan's breathtakingly breathless dialogue delivery, Ranjeet's goaded expressions and Raju Sethi's comical gestures helped marking this hilarious scene under cult comedy category.
Hats off to all the brains behind this superior scene from the dark satire on Indian politics. It's hard to imagine that an intense scene from one of ancient India's biggest epics - Mahabharat - has the potential to be as amusing as portrayed in this film. Simply superb!
From Ram Prasad's fake mother Mrs Srivastava's endeavors to outsmart the small stubborn walls of a kitchen window to stealthily enter the house, to Bhawani Shankar's detective avatar, to Ram Prasad (err Lakshman Prasad in this particular scene) at his nervous-yet-trying-to-be-wicked best – the entire scene promises to leave you in splits.
When Chatur proudly emerges on stage and even more pompously delivers a speech, little does he know he's up for a balatkar of himself! Poor chap goes overboard while highlighting few offensive words that are placed in his speech only to exude a fest of hilarity. He certainly ends up making a bundle of giggles of himself!


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Family Fun
The girls and I are doing our weekly shopping at the local grocery store. All of the food looks so...pretty. I wonder what it would be like to know what to do with all that pretty shiny produce, all those perfect fillets of fish, all those grains. I wonder what it would be like to be a natural at this cooking stuff.
We head to the deli section, where we wait in line for American cheese, Ms. Finicky's favorite.
"Look really cute," says Ms. Finicky to her older sister. "That way they might give us a slice before they wrap it up."
They beam in unison at the person behind the counter, who smiles back. Success. Free cheese.
Older Daughter notices something. "Mom. Look at all the signs by the salads."
She means the chicken salad and the tuna salad and the egg salad and the potato salad. All of them are labeled: "JUST LIKE MOM'S!"
"Huh," I say. "That's new."
"Yeah. And what if you have a mom--" I can see she is choosing her words carefully.
"What if you have a mom, who, you know, maybe wasn't the best chef? That would be terrible advertising."
"How's it working on you? The advertising." I ask.
She smiles slyly. "You're not THAT bad."
Ms. Finicky, looking like a mouse, peers over the top of her free cheese slice. "Well, SOMETIMES you are. But you're trying. And trying is important."
It's true on both counts. Sometimes I am a terrible chef, but I really am trying. Family dinnertime has surely improved at Chez Jenny, as we've gotten more and more used to being a family of three instead of four. Sure, there've been a few recent muck-ups, but my report card is better this semester. Recently, I've busted out some excellent dinners, including a pan-seared salmon ("I WILL ONLY EAT THE PINK FISH," declared Ms. Finicky. "I LIKE PINK.") that I managed to cook skin-side down, just like Gordon Ramsay taught me. (I also managed to get the thing out of the pan in one piece, which was a major personal culinary victory.)
This fall, I pulled off really good homemade mashed potatoes, mac-and-cheese NOT out of a box, sauteed spinach, lentil soup, chickpea salad, and chicken burritos. Part of the fun watching them grow up is seeing which genes are kicking in when it comes to food preferences. My older daughter is a hot sauce and vinegar junkie like me, and we do it up right when we make burritos, tacos or salads. Zing!
I'm inconsistent as far as cooking goes, but I get a solid B+ for effort. The one thing that is consistent at dinnertime, though? Laughter. Lots and lots of it. And that, my friends, is impossible to screw up. Happy dinners, all!
What do you love most about dinnertime with your family?
October 26, 2011 at 12:35 AM
Sweet story.
October 26, 2011 at 12:35 AM
I love that we try new recipes as a family :)
October 26, 2011 at 10:28 AM
I love that it is the guaranteed one time a day that we are all together =)
by millerbunchOctober 26, 2011 at 11:43 AM
if they would eat everything i made..lol
by amonkeymomOctober 26, 2011 at 2:15 PMBeing together, talking, laughing and just enjoying eachother.
by adancemomOctober 26, 2011 at 2:24 PM
I love most hearing about my kids' days. What happened at school, new friends they made, what went right and what went wrong.
by Stormy6669October 26, 2011 at 4:22 PM
Dinner time is special with us. My four year loves helping cook, set the table, serve, etc. Then we get to catch up on the day.
October 26, 2011 at 5:07 PM
The most.. I love the conversations that we have together. :)
October 26, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Great story. I love just getting to spend time with my family and catching up.


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Latest Houston Galleries
2015 Masters Trip Winner Gallery
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41.32721 -83.65039
PORTAGE, Ohio - A woman was flown to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center Saturday after a traffic accident at Mermill and Clover roads, about five miles southeast of here, the Wood County Sheriff's Department said.
Julie Kramp was being evaluated in the emergency room Saturday night, according to a hospital spokesman.
The accident happened at about 2:30 p.m., deputies said. No further information was available.
Points of Interest


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Follow us
The price tag for prom can quickly get out of control. A beautiful dress that's too expensive, friends with extravagant plans, or a desire to compete for attention with the expected prom king and queen can turn planning for a prom into a nightmare.
The Visa survey found parents will cover 59 percent of prom costs, and suggests that teens might behave more responsibly about their prom budgets if they were expected to pay for more of the expense themselves. (Visa's free prom app can help with budgeting and tracking prom spending.)
While the cost of the ticket is often set in stone, everything else -– dress, hair, nails, transportation –- offers options for frugality that don't have to make the evening any less magical.
The people at Visa offered some helpful ideas on keeping your prom budget under control. But we came up with some additional tips to whittle down the costs, so both parents and prom-goers can enjoy the night without waking up the next day with a debt hangover.
Dave Parker, Flickr.com
Many companies offer prom promotions, which can lead to big savings without curtailing the memories of the evening. Olive Garden's Instagram challenge will award winners a $500 prepaid gift card to help offset prom costs. Some tuxedo shops are offering ways teens can earn free rentals by becoming prom reps and referring their fellow students as customers.
Some department store counters like Origins and Clinique will offer free prom makeovers (be prepared to buy a lipstick for the evening's event).
Do you have old florist vases lying around the house? Ask a local shop if they can be exchanged for a boutonniere or corsage.
How much are you spending on prom? What are your budget-savvy plans? Tell us below for the chance to be featured in an upcoming article.
Mkealcoran, Flickr.com
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Lean For Thought
Mark's Note: I'm just getting back from vacation, so we're wrapping up the guest posts. Today's post is by Christina Kach and you can read her previous guest posts here. Check out her updated bio at the bottom of the post. I'm sure there will be a lot of good discussion on this post, so please add your thoughts…
I may never have been interested in Debate Club, but I appreciate a respectful and thoughtful discussion on topics whether it's with likeminded people or people with different viewpoints who add a fresh perspective. There have been some thoughts on my mind lately from the world of Lean that I think could lead to some of that thoughtful discussion. Here's what I'm thinking. And I don't believe there are any right or wrong answers.
As Lean Practitioners, we can often be quick to criticize companies or departments with weak or misguided Lean programs. I offer this question: is it better to at least be trying to do Continuous Improvement work, or not bother unless it is planned out correctly?
We talk a big game about Gemba – but then pull everyone into a classroom to give them Lean education training. And training seems to be the least "continuous" thing in Continuous Improvement. We send people once and expect them to not just understand it but go back and apply.
Following on with the Gemba topic. I feel like "Going to Gemba" or "Gemba walks" isn't quite enough. Going to observe and see is clearly fine. But we have to DO something as a result of these walks. Far too often we think going for a Gemba walk is enough, a check in the box that they did their duty. Is that mere presence enough; at least they are trying? But if it isn't driving action to make things better, is it value added?
And back to training, how are we expecting our people (at all levels!) to be able to make cognizant choices for change without the proper knowledge of how to do it or what they should be looking for and how to get there. It'd be like asking someone to build you a coffee table, without any tools or blue prints.
We champion the small Kaizen type improvements. We know their benefit and worth to an organization, not to mention the impact to employee engagement. Yet, these smaller improvements get "acknowledged" in all hands meetings while the projects getting the fancy awards and nice off site dinners are the substantial big impact projects. Is this appropriate? Are we sending the right message, the reward match the accomplishment? Or, are we sending the wrong message that only big projects are important?
I've heard both sides of the terminology argument. We use these terms, "Lean" or "Work Place Organization(WPO)" to give structure to our Lean implementations. Or, conversely, maybe specific labels don't matter and that isn't what our focus should be. Focus is on the improvement work itself, not the label that's used. The old "what's in a name" argument a la Shakespeare… call it whatever you will, the concept is still the same.
A cornerstone of the Toyota Way and Continuous Improvement, standard work, explains how important it is for a clear outline of the desired work conditions and a way of making abnormalities obvious. We have standard checklists and process sheets. Yet, has anyone noticed, standard work changes from area to area or department to department? Standard work within one building may be edited multiple times over to fit "our" need. And isn't that the same for Lean as a whole? Every company does the Lean "their" way. Even if it is as simple as just changing words (like Visualize instead of Define for example). Isn't that breaking our own notion of standard work? We explain the importance in one way of, well if you switch departments, you will still understand how to operate. So, if I switch companies with their own Lean set up, that is okay? Should all companies be operating to the given set of Lean principles without the opportunity to tailor? That may be true, but should Lean within a company at least be standardized regardless of department?
Just some Lean For Thought…. Let me know what you think.
Christina Kach is currently transitioning to a new position and company focusing on process improvement and business analytics in the service industry. Christina held her first Lean position as in intern in 2006. Since then she has continued to seek out varied roles of increasing responsibility and actively pursues further Lean education. She recently held the role of Continuous Improvement Lead for a Government Defense Company based in Massachusetts, focusing on Lean implementation and process improvement in a manufacturing environment. Christina holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University, currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Engineering Management also from Northeastern, and is SME Lean Certified.
Christina invites you to connect with her via Twitter (@ChristinaKach) or at her blog for young professionals www.catchcareers.com
Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please scroll down to post a comment. Click here to receive posts via email.
Now Available – The updated, expanded, and revised 3rd Edition of Mark Graban's Shingo Research Award-Winning Book Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement. You can buy the book today, including signed copies from the author.


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wikiHow to Strengthen Calf Muscles
Three Methods:Sitting Exercise to Strengthen Calf MusclesJump RopeCommunity Q&A
The calf muscles are located in the back of the lower leg, between the ankle and the knee. This muscle group serves multiple purposes and many different functions. When the calves are underdeveloped and out of shape, you are more at risk of overexerting the calf muscles when performing various physical activities. Since you use the calf muscles frequently when walking or running, an injury to this area of the body can leave you limited in mobility and experiencing intense pain in the lower leg region. You can learn how to prevent painful injuries to the calves by performing a variety of exercises and activities to strengthen the calf muscles.
Method 1
Sitting Exercise to Strengthen Calf Muscles
1Sit in a chair with your back straight, legs bent and firmly planted on the floor in front of you. Make sure your weight is evenly distributed between both legs.
2Push the feet into the floor using the toes. Use the toes to lift the back of your feet off the floor, while keeping the toes pressed into the ground. Hold this position for 2 seconds and then take the feet back to the ground.
3Repeat this exercise for 30 to 40 repetitions on each leg. You can do both legs at one time or do 1 leg at a time.
4Make the exercise more challenging by adding weights. Place a 5 lb. (2. 268 kg) dumbbell on each quadricep and perform the same number of repetitions.
5Stretch the muscles in the calves for a few minutes after you perform this exercise routine. Perform this exercise 3 to 4 times a week for a month.
Method 2
1Use the calf press machine at the gym. Start out with no weight in the beginning. Once you stretch the muscles in the calves, adjust the weight on the machine.
2Perform varying degrees of calf press exercises. In the beginning of your workout, start out with slow concentrated movements. Towards the end, hold each repetition for a few seconds to constantly engage the calves. Utilizing both positive and negative resistance levels helps to give your calf muscles an intense workout.
3Exercise on the calf press machine for 5 minutes and perform 3 sets of 15 repetitions on each leg. Perform calf press exercises 3 to 4 days a week for a month.
Method 3
Jump Rope
1Stretch the muscles in the legs thoroughly before you begin jumping rope. Start jumping rope at a slow pace to warm up the body. Warm up for 3 minutes. Once you are warmed up, begin jumping rope at a faster pace.
2Jump up and down using the jumping rope. Give the calves an intense workout by landing on the balls of your feet, instead of landing on your entire foot when you jump and when you land. Continue jumping at a fast pace for 3 to 4 minutes.
3Give the calves a break in between this intense calf workout by slowing down your jumping pace. Skip rope for 1 minute until you lower the heart rate.
4Take it back to jumping rope at a faster pace by utilizing the jump rope technique where you land on the balls of your feet. Constantly engage the calves by performing this variation of the exercise for another 5 minutes.
5Stand up facing a wall and push up on your toes. You should be doing the same thing as in number 2, only standing up. Repeat this from 40 to about 65 times.
6Cool down by walking in place. Continue walking in place until you bring the heart rate down.
Community Q&A
Sources and Citations
Article Info
Categories: Leg Strengthening Exercises
In other languages:
Español: fortalecer las pantorrillas, Italiano: Rinforzare i Polpacci, Русский: укрепить икроножные мышцы, Português: Fortalecer o Músculo das Panturrilhas
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 94,222 times.


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Tails from The Rainbow Bridge by Gracie Jane
(Page 1 of 2: Viewing Diary Entry 1 to 10)
Page Links: 1 2
What a sweet, sweet honor..............May 18th 2008 8:23 am
[ Leave A Comment ]
The rescue group that I came from, STARS of North Texas, made up the plaque that you see above for their trailer.
Tails from Rainbow's Bridge by Gracie JaneFebruary 17th 2008 11:19 am
[ Leave A Comment ]
This is Mrs. Gracie Jane Gribbon writing all the way from Rainbow's Bridge. (It's a miracle! Yes, we can type here!)
I'm Dog of the Day Today! Wowee!October 12th 2007 8:04 am
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I was so excited to wake up to find that Dogster chose me to be "Dog of the Day" today! I'm doing my special happy dance right now!!
I've been tagged!May 23rd 2007 8:55 am
[ Leave A Comment ]
I have been tagged by my husband Gibbon and my cutie patutie friend Sassy! Below are the rules of the game if I've tagged you:
My Brother is gone and I can't find him.....................April 28th 2007 10:25 am
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On Thursday morning me, Mommy, Daddy and Tucky went to the vet together. Tucky got a shot and fell asleep but I was so scared and squirmy just being at the vet that I really didn't pay attention to my brother.
It was hard, but I did it!!November 19th 2006 7:26 pm
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It was hard, but I did it! When Mom got me, I was a perfect 7 pounds. In the Summer I gained weight and got up to 9.4 pounds and the doctor said to start walking as soon as the weather got cooler. Well, this last Friday I was finally an even 8 pounds!!! I did good! I'm so proud of myself. My doctor says that 7-8 pounds is good for me and my size, so I'm happy.
Pooped and out of shape.August 23rd 2006 5:58 pm
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We haven't walked all Summer because of Tucker's heart condition and because it's been 100 or over most days. Well tonight we had to go look for our doggie friend who went missing. He loves me and Tucker so we went out looking for him hoping that he would find us. Tucker did great even with his heart condition and I was just so out of shape!!! Mom and Dad had to take turns carrying me most of the trip. I guess I'll have to work my way back up to the mile that I was walking in the past all by myself.
My first sunset cruiseJuly 8th 2006 10:16 am
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Oh boy, I had my first sunset cruise last night and boy did I have fun. I didn't get sick either! I made a new friend named Sally Sue and we got along swimmingly! (No pun intended....BOL!) Now if I could just get Mommy and Daddy to buy the family our own boat I'd be set! (Momma gets motion sick just thinking about it! Ha ha!)
Good Grief!April 20th 2006 12:19 pm
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Brother Tucker had to go to the vet twice yesterday because his pee-pee wasn't coming out and when it did it was red! I went with him for moral support cuz I love him and then all of a sudden after my evening meal, Momma grabs me, tosses me in the car (buckles me in of course) and off I go to get a shot. I hate shots. Well this one made me vomit! All that good food wasted. Can you imagine? I'm a Southern girl and you just don't waste food. I felt fine, so I don't know what the fuss is about. Apparently Mommy and Daddy got mine and Tucker's food switched and we got each other medication. Mine is no big deal, but I got Tucker's heart meds and the equivelant of Vicodin! Anyhoo, Momma says to tell everyone that according to the emergency room vet, one has an hour to get junk out of a tummy that you wouldn't want digested. Good info. (I was watching Mommy drive and the little hand on the dial got to the number 70-mph's so I don't think there was any danger in my digesting anything at the speed she was going.) Tucky is better today, so that's all that matters to me. Bye, bye!
Meeting the Medina Puggy clan.April 16th 2006 10:48 am
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Mommy took me to Aunt Nancy and Uncle Carlos' house last night and I got to finally meet my puggy cuzins! They were so gracious and treated me so nice! Let's see, there was cuzin Howie who wanted me to play at first, but I'm too old for that stuff. Then there was cuzin Java who was so sweet and gentle with me. Then my favorite puggy cuzin, Winnie. Her and I wore our best duds and followed her Daddy around begging for food. Aunt Nancy is so pretty and Uncle Carlos can cook a mean burger! And who knew that dip could be made out of beans! That was really good! I'm adding some pictures of my special night to my site here. Take a look! Tucker had to stay home but he's doing fine. We didn't want to excite him too much.
Sort By Oldest First
Gracie Jane our Furever Angel
Family Pets


text:
First one is error-prone and hard to maintain (it 's imperative but use a declarative support : XML).
But it's easy to combine Ant Tasks to produced everything who want.
The second has very welcome standardization directory and dependency management with a easly understable declarative projects description.
About Maven major drawback, you have often to rethink your process (deploy,deliver)... because these are not suited to Maven Plugins.
You can create our own but you have to maintain it and I think, this is bug-prone as Ant...
I've just having a look to Raven and Buildr, Raven seems to be a little bit hard to read for a Raven /Ruby noob (too many think like << [{' not very undestable when who want to quicly know : "what this project produced, on what it depends on ...).
Buildr has very impressed me and seems to be very cool ...
Here is just my 2cent thoughts
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text:
By Alen Dumonjic
April 12, 2013
The oft-forgotten theme of the NFL (which, this year, has consisted of the analysis of draft prospects, an MIT Sloan Sports Conference featuring a football analytics panel, and free agency) has seemingly been inefficient markets. Teams are looking to find the undervalued players, statistics and/or schemes, and it's becoming the trend.
For instance, in the last couple of years, while many defenses have shifted to smaller and quicker players to battle spread offenses, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have been acquiring bigger and stronger players because less and less teams are looking for them. Another example is the Seattle Seahawks acquiring bigger and longer cornerbacks that can beat up perimeter receivers by way of press-man coverage.
That latter instance is the basis of this post because there have been indications that other general managers are going to move in that direction, too. Acquiring oversized cornerbacks, who were once deemed too slow to play on the perimeter and best fit as safeties, is a smart way to take advantage of the market, but it is not the ideal long term path.
The main reason it's not the ideal forecast is because press-man is not the answer to spread offenses. Press-man is exactly what it sounds like: cornerbacks, rolled up to the line of scrimmage and the receiver, play very tight coverage from the beginning of the snap to the end. This is typically played from a single-high coverage shell, such as Cover 1 (Man-Free), which uses one safety – the free safety, who is the keystone of the coverage – to patrol the middle of the field while another covers the tight end in man coverage.
Cover 1 is not a new coverage, as it's been around for seemingly ages and has arguably been the most popular coverage in pro football for a long time. But it's not the best or only answer moving forward.
I firmly believe the best answer to the proliferation of spread offenses that stretch the field horizontally at a rapid pace, among other ways, is more Cover 2 and Cover 3.
Traditionally, Cover 2 is a pure zone coverage, consisting of five underneath defenders (three linebackers, two cornerbacks) and two deep, split-field safeties.
As for Cover 3, it's also a pure zone coverage that utilizes only one deep safety controlling the middle of the field. The safety and two outside cornerbacks split the field into thirds, while the underneath zone coverage consists of four defenders of splitting the field into – you guessed it – fourths.
These two coverages are different, but together they test the one thing that offensive coordinators don't have regardless of their weapons: patience.
The roots of these two coverages are defined by a popular football cliché: bend but don't break. They force the offense to move the ball down the field slowly, much to the chagrin of headstrong play callers. That's not easy, especially if the defense is playing fundamentally sound football.
We've seen teams use them extensively to slow down high-octane offenses in the last couple of years. The New York Giants played a lot of Cover 2 and Cover 3 last season when they faced the Green Bay Packers in Week 12. The result? Nearly 50 percent of the Packers' third downs were seven yards or longer, two turnovers forced, the second lowest completion percentage of the season (56 percent) for Aaron Rodgers and five sacks that disrupted the offense's rhythm.
The demand for press-man cornerbacks is the NFL's way of exploiting the market. This is a frequent occurrence in the NFL, and it'll happen again in a few years when one team realizes the best move is to go back to playing more Cover 2.
That team will be able to exploit the lack of demand of squat cornerbacks, who don't rely on speed to run in man coverage and can be very aggressive moving forward. They also don't require high draft choices, which is important because it allows the resources to be allocated to the most important area of the defense: the middle of the field.
There are no perfect coverages and a team will never rely on only one but if they're smart, they'll rely on Cover 2 and Cover 3 more than man coverage.


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November 2008
In just a short while, we US Americans will begin that hallowed tradition of spending quality time with family by gorging ourselves on a bounty of food, drinking excessive amounts of Johnnie Walker Black and falling asleep on the couch only to wake up with unidentifiable aches and pains in places never before felt.
Well, maybe that's just me.
In any case, given the copious amounts of bull**** recently posted by my colleague, Mr. Krause, whose intellectual ineptitude forces him to fall into that age-old Blue State trap of logorrhea where valid questions are only answered with an arsenal of equally unrelated questions, I have found solace in you, Dear Readers, and your ability to see that — as usual — I am right.
Thank you.
In fact, since this time of year is all about giving thanks, I am going to rightfully refrain from causing any further damage to Mr. Krause's ego by letting him be (just for today) and instead would like to take a moment to give my most wholehearted thanks.
Indeed, there are many things to be thankful for today. I'm thankful that the Cubs have gone 100 years without a World Series title. I am thankful that the Cardinals are actually considering filling some left-handed reliever roles (even if it is by courting a couple of scrubs). I am thankful that I live in the Second City — that we have two firery baseball icons who are willing to make fools of themselves by performing a ridiculous rap song for the good of Chevrolet; and I am thankful that senior citizens ride the CTA free, fat senior citizens ride two for the price of one, which is also free. I'm also thankful that Dubya is on his way out, that an Iowan turkey (ironically not Chuck Grassley this time) will be able to live a long, eaten-free life and that Minnesota has replaced Florida (for now) as the state where your vote might not really count.
But most of all, I am thankful for you, Dear Readers. For it is you that truly makes RSBS the special little happy place where baseball-politico egos, arguments and aspirations go to make sweet, sweet love. And for that, Mr. Krause and I couldn't be more grateful.
We have given our staff the rest of the week off. Allen has left for that cavernous pit of despair otherwise known as Los Angeles (or Where Souls Go to Die) while I will be spending the rest of the week reflecting on my podunk roots with my quaint family in Springfield, IL — once home to Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama and of course, Me.
Happy Thanksgiving to all and don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
Here's Your RSBS Democracy
Well, "they" were wrong about something. Guns N' Roses have officially released "Chinese Democracy" but the People's Republic of China is still, well, the People's Republic of China. Nice work, Axl. "Chinese Democracy" did come along before Chinese democracy. Sometimes proving the other guys wrong is a victory in and of itself.
Sadly, my good friend Mr. Lung is no Axl Rose. Now, god love him, he sure tries and you would think from his tag line ("Don't hate me 'cuz I'm right") that he is often right. But, that would make you just as wrong as the anonymous "they." Simply saying something doesn't make it true.
For instance, if you were to ask Mr. Lung about Lou Piniella winning the NL Manager of the Year award this year, he'd say something like, "And how is it that Lou Piniella received the Manager of the Year Award?" I know this because that is exactly what he did say earlier this month. Now, I didn't address this somewhat egregious statement at the time but I feel it is only fair to do so now.
The fact of the matter is that Lou deserved that award. Yes, he had a great team given to him and yes, there were very high expectations. But he also proved his managerial chops in navigating a way through those high salaries and high-strung temperaments. He made a bold and at first maligned move by switching Kerry Wood to closer and it ended up paying off huge dividends. He found a way to work around Soriano's injuries and even packed away Michael Barrett when it became obvious that he and Zambrano couldn't be in the same clubhouse. For charting those waters while in the glare of the Chicago media alone I'd say he deserved the award, not to mention the best record in the NL and a second consecutive playoff berth.
So, Mr. Lung, I guess my advice to you is to leave the boasts and the idle threats to those who do them best. You, my friend, are no Hugo Chavez nor should you aspire to be.
Please Excuse My Colleague's Blind Ignorance; He's a Michigander and Therefore Knows Not the Error of His Ways
Indeed, Misery, thy name is Detroit.
Equally so, Ignorance, thy name is Mr. Allen Krause.
"…the fact is, neither of them [Albert Pujols, Dustin Pedroia] deserved the MVP for this year."
— Allen Krause, Misery, Thy Name is Detroit
Ordinarily, I prefer to eschew my impetus to pass judgment and/or speculate the grounds of one's idiocy, but in this case, Mr. Krause, I'm afraid there is no explanation for your blasphemy other than to say you must be smoking the same stuff as our dear leader; and it's certainly beginning to show.
Next you'll be saying things like:
Or even worse:
Look, I and our dear readers all know that even though you reside in Washington, D.C., you're still a Michigander at the core of your being and with that comes a certain inherited blind ignorance in the way of assessing athletic achievement. And we all realize that, aside from your Hockeytown Redwings, you don't have much to cheer about these days. U of M looks like a pop-warner team. The Tigers are the baseball equivalent of our nation's financial mess. The Lions are an absolute abomination, better fit for cleaning toilets in an Amtrak restroom than trying to execute the fundamentals of football.
But when you say that both Pujols and Pedroia were not rewarded for their efforts this season but rather for feats of the past, I have no choice but to postulate: what the $#%& is wrong with you?!?!
Pujols' numbers were hands down the best of anyone this season. He is always an MVP candidate for the simple fact that he is always getting better and always carrying his team. He won the MVP in 2005. He should've won in 2004. This year, 2008, above any else, was certainly cause for him to win again because without Pujols in that lineup, the Cardinals would've probably been the 20 games under .500 team everyone thought they'd be at the start.
In the case of Pedroia, his 2008 achievements were far better than his 2007 achievements. He proved himself an invaluable leader throughout the season both with his bat and his glove, not to mention his guts and brawn.
So where the hell do you find it reasonable to compare these two paragons of baseball accomplishment to Denzel Washington and his role in Training Day, which, by the way, was also very well acted no matter what you think, Mr. Krause.
I'd suggest that you take this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday to give thanks that despite your inability to successfully formulate sensible arguments with actual information to back yo ^ss up you still have a cushy intellectual job that turns a blind eye to your inaccuracies, as grave as they are.
Oh yes, Al, you can hate me. That's fine. Just don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
Misery, Thy Name is Detroit
First of all, Mr. Lung, to answer one of your questions, no, I did not score a "perfect 100" on my citizenship test. You know why? Because I was born here so I don't have pass a citizenship test. What did you score on yours? Oh right. You didn't have to take one either. Typical red state attempt to reframe a debate.
Now, I'd like to point out once again that I don't wish to take anything away from Albert and Pedroia's accomplishments. But, the fact is, neither of them deserved the MVP for this year. It's like Denzel Washington winning the Oscar for Training Day. He's a great actor but giving him the honor for inferior work doesn't justify anything.
Honestly, it's almost as bad as this ongoing sportsboy fascination with Erin Andrews. Sure, even I admit that she's attractive when you place in her in the pantheon of female sideline reporters. But, when your competition is Suzy Kolber and Holly Rowe, how hard can it be?
Thanks to Deadspin
However, despite our disagreement on all things EA and your obvious naivete when it comes to the postseason awards, there is one area where we agree and, although I hate to say it, where we also agree with Mitt Romney. Detroit is America's Somalia, a failed-state. I mean, can you think of a more dysfunctional area? Not only is the auto industry teetering on the brink of total collapse, there's really nothing else to cling onto. Well, maybe except guns and religion.
Look at the situation. The University of Michigan football team just succeeded in having the worst season in school history. The Lions have an excellent shot at ending 0-16 and making official what Lions fans have known for a long time: this really is one of the worst teams ever. And what more can I say about the Tigers that I haven't already said. Farnsworth? No, Detroit and indeed the entire state of Michigan is just one big wasteland. But, I have an idea.
As more and more people start to realize that the Big 3 entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring their enormous liabilities isn't such a bad idea, maybe it's time for some of the area's sports teams to do the same. Would it really be so bad if Detroit gave up their NFL franchise to a place like LA and then started over from scratch? You can't tell me there's anyone on that team who's really worth keeping around. And maybe the Tigers don't need to declare bankruptcy but they're starting to look as top-heavy as GM. Any student in Accounting 101 can tell you that too many libailities when paired up with too few assets makes for a really bad situation. And although U of M brought in new management, it doesn't really work so well when that manager can't adjust their style to fit the personnel they have on hand.
So, it's about time for Detroit to do with it's sports what it did to it's equally cack-handed former mayor. Indict 'em, convict 'em and then clean 'em up. That's change I can believe in.
Not Quite a League of Her Own, But Progress Nonetheless
Sixteen-year-old Eri Yoshida, a knuckleball throwin' femme phenom, recently became the first woman ever drafted in the Japanese Professional Baseball League — which would most probably make her the first professional female baseball player in an all-male league (I think; our staff is working on this one).
Eri, a studious highschooler with a keen eye for Red Sox geriatric Tim Wakefield and his trademark knuckleballing mechanics, has proven herself quite the asset amongst her male counterparts and thus looks forward to breaking in as a rookie with the Kobe 9 Cruise this spring.
In lieu of these developments, we at RSBS (namely Me) would like to take a moment to congratulate Eri Yoshida on her groundbreaking achievement by memorializing the trailblazing feats of women sports icons both past and present because… well, because we can and we should.
And we will.
Helene Robison Britton
Inheriting the St. Louis Cardinals from her uncle, Stanley Robison, in 1911, Ms. Britton broke ground as the first woman in the history of the world to own a Major League Baseball club. During her six year reign at the top of the Cardinals organization, the team managed an average winning percentage of .441, a number which — in a round about world — popped up again in 2008 as the batting average for hitters facing the Cardinals bullpen.
Hillary Clinton
Okay, so she's not much of an athlete, but she sure knows how to piss a lot of people off with her baseball-related antics. Sen. Clinton's meandering baseball allegiances have long been the seed of the People's frustration. America may not see in just black and white anymore, but we die-hard baseball fans tend to be staunch conservatives when it comes to flagrantly waving about one's fan preference. Don't get me wrong: I sincerely respect Senator Clinton. She had a great run and she would've gotten my vote if the desire for change in Washington wasn't burning so strong in my heart. I voted for that change. And how am I (and all US Americans) being rewarded? By seeing the same old Washington insiders posted in the highest offices under the President.
Excuse me while I go stab myself.
Erin Andrews
Super hot woman who knows more about sports than I do? Not much else to say.
Sarah Palin
Now that the dust has somewhat settled, let me commend Gov. Palin on being the laughingstock of modern politics. Not quite the Dan Quayle Potato-Head, still, she provided plenty a laugh throughout the campaign. She's worthy of commendation because she stuck it out and never got too rattled (unless you count that Katie Couric interview, SNL, et al). As an avid hunter, basketball player and all around "hot mamma", I bet she'd be a pretty sturdy fireballer on the mound late in a game. The Cardinals need some bullpen help. I'm just sayin'…
Allison Stokke
*Drool… drool… drool…
What? She didn't make the Olympics? She doesn't play baseball? Do I even care?
Just don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
There You Go Again
As if your inferior baseball acumen were not enough to cause acid reflux among dear readers galore, Mr. Krause, you just had to top it off by insulting a fellow US American and subsequent baseball god: the Albert Pujols.
"reknowned Mexican wrestler, Albert Pujols, won the NL MVP…"
— Allen Krause, Fenway to Foggy Bottom
What!?! Look, Mr. Krause, you're extremely lucky that you live in the safety of our nation's capital. Slinging slapdash remarks like that could get your legs broken — and I don't mean by me, but by the 10 million Dominicans who now want your head on a plate having desecrated their larger than life island hero.
Mexico does not equal the Dominican Republic.
And besides, I think we all know that A.P. moved to the States at an early age and found his stroke in Independence, MO of all places.
Independence, Allen.
Get it?
Set free thy hate, groundling!
NL MVP Albert Pujols bleeds US American red, white and blue just like you and I do. In fact, he scored a perfect 100 on his citizenship test.
Can you say that, Al?
No. Yet you find it in your heart to say you could "care less" about Pujols and Pedroia's crowning achievements.
Well, lahdy frickin' da, Mr. Krause. You are a letch. I didn't want to believe it; but you are.
On the one hand, you have who could quite possibly be the perfect baseball player in Albert; on the other you have a paragon of scrappy overachievement in Pedroia.
And you could "care less".
That's just… well, it's just… un-American.
You probably also care less about our modern day messiah turning to that same old Washington crap to fill his cabinet posts. I understand fist bumps and shout-outs to fellow Dems who helped you get elected, but is Hillary Clinton really the "change" America needs? I'm not convinced.
We, the People, did the right thing and put Obama in office based on his platform of Hope and Change politics. In turn, I believe We, the People, deserve to see that plan put in to action. With the pantheon of bad news coming out of the world markets and my downtrodden colleague posting ill-aimed remarks at the greatest living baseballer on earth, I would like to hang my proverbial hat on at least something positive.
Like this: I, Jeffery Lung, agree with Mitt Romney.
And no, that's not a joke, my friends. In fact, his recent opinion-editorial in the New York Times is the smartest thing I've read since Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet.
Now that's smart!
So go ahead, Al, hate me for siding with a Mitt on this one. Hate me for respecting the magnificence of Albert Pujols and Dustin Pedroia. But goddamn it, don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
Fenway to Foggy Bottom
'Tis the season for MLB Awards, fa la la la la, la la la la. And what a bunch of awards. Jeff is happy because reknowned Mexican wrestler, Albert Pujols, won the NL MVP and some parts of the east coast are happy because the shortest, hardest-working man in baseball, Dustin Pedroia, picked himself up an MVP award, too. Me, I couldn't care less.
Yep, if Albert hadn't been in St. Louis this year, they probably would have finished with 90 something losses. And Pedroia hits a lot bigger than he looks. But it just isn't that exciting. It's nothing like Jimmy Rollins fueling the Phillies improbable run into the playoffs last year. Even Alex Rodriguez, last year's winner in the AL, felt like a more justifiable pick compared to the scrappy but ultimately undeserving Pedroia. Don't get me wrong, both winners are incredible baseball players. But forgive me for being underwhelmed.
Who would I have picked? Well, to be honest with you, I'm not sure. There's not really anyone who sticks out in my mind. In fact, I think this is one of those years when it would be better if MLB had the option of designating no winner at all.
In a lot of ways, this whole thing mirrors another tough choice being made right now. Every four years the new (or re-elected) president has to decide who his chief diplomat will be and it appears that this year's choice is the junior senator from New York. Once again, forgive me for being underwhelmed. To be fair, though, I wasn't really all that impressed with any of the other candidates, either. Bill Richardson? I've already shared my thoughts on him. John Kerry? I'm sorry but I can't think of one person I would less want running an agency devoted to talking through problems and avoiding embarrassing verbal slip-ups. Other front runners like Chuck Hagel have taken themselves out of contention which means that the task of managing one of the government's largest bureaucracies will most likely fall to soon-to-be President Obama's vanquished rival from the primaries. I'm not sure what I'm feeling right now but it sure isn't awe.
I freely admit that I'm a glass half-full kind of guy. And you should feel free to disagree with me on my conclusions here. But, as my friend Mr. Lung likes to say, don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
Two Times, Two Times
Tony LaRussa may have been snubbed by the baseball writers when doling out awards, but the only man who could possibly turn me into a homosexual certainly wasn't.
That's right, dear readers, Albert Pujols is the National League MVP — again — and most deservedly, as this is the A.P. whom the critics said wouldn't make it through 2008 without having season-ending surgery. This is the A.P. who, without much protection, rarely saw good pitches — ever. This is the A.P. who was forced to bear the enormous weight of a subpar bullpen with a penchant for blowing big leads late and an organization run by a pompous penny-pinching pariah pleasantly pleased with mediocrity.
While I am ecstatic for my man-crush's crowning achievement, the nihilist in me cannot stop seeing this as yet another detrimental development in John Mozeliak's quiet quest to do nothing in the way of spending dollars to put together a true contender in 2009.
But what do I know?
I certainly didn't know that Nate McLouth had any business getting MVP votes, but some writer (most probably a pissed off Pittsburghian with a propensity for pot-smoking) thought it'd be a funny afterthought to include him in the big picture.
I found it… um… awkward.
Speaking of awkward, never before have I seen two grown men sit down together with such unease as I did today when the president-elect met with Sen. McCain for what appeared to be a publicity stunt meant to mend the dissonance between the two camps. Sure. Sounds good. But McCain had to go and bring up what is quickly becoming known as the Annhilation of the Bears, which immediately put Obama (and subsequently me) in a very, very uncomfortable place. I was sorta hoping that Barack would have had the good sense to remind the senator from Arizona about Dennis Green's post-game meltdown a couple years ago after that torrid Monday Night game in which we all found out:
Well, the Bears still are who we thought they were: not good enough; but you didn't have to go and bring it up, John McCain. You see, I thought this meeting was supposed to be about healing and planning and bipartisanship. But since you decided it wasn't, how 'bout those '08 Diamondbacks?
Regardless, I'm not going to let another Republican rain on my parade of good feelings abound.
Albert Pujols — the most fascinating man in sports — is the NL MVP.
So eat it!
And don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
A Break from All That "Inside Baseball Stuff"
Guess what.
I'm baaaack.
Indeed, after that long and winding baseball-politico season and the ominousness of losing every dime I've ever saved due to the current worldwide economic crisis, I deserved a damn vacation.
And vacation I did.
I turned off the phone. Eschewed the interweb. Relaxed under the sun. Got tan. And I did it with family — Lung Family Reunion style.
Which reminds me, don't you just hate when you meet the perfect girl and you hit it off right away — so much so that you spend the entire day with her into the evening through the night and find out the next day that she's your cousin?
Happens to me every year.
But that's not what I want to focus on today. No. You see, dear readers, while on my vacation, I missed out on some very important happenings: like Gov. Sarah Palin's adamant cry to NBC's Matt Lauer that during the campaign she never got involved with that "inside baseball stuff" that supposedly divided her camp from Sen. McCain's.
Look, I don't even pretend to know what she meant by calling it "inside baseball stuff" seeing how it had absolutely nothing to do with baseball; however, I can appreciate her obviously sentimental regard for greatest game on earth and implying that indeed, it's complicated.
Because it is.
The coast is clear now, but how is it that the Cardinals were even considering a trade for Matt Holliday? A trade that would send away at least two (maybe more) of our most talented youngsters and leave us with a one-year rental of a player represented by Scott Boras? Has John Mozeliak officially lost his friggin' mind?
The answer to that question is yes and I'm quite sure we St. Louis fans haven't even seen the beginning of it. Stock up on the painkillers, folks; 2009 could be a long one.
And how is it that Lou Piniella received the Manager of the Year Award? Don't get me wrong: I have nothing but respect for Sweet Lou and I admire his guile, but this year he did what he was supposed to do (sorta) which was manage an extremely talented, high-priced ball-club to a winning season. That's like me getting rewarded for drinking beer and watching football on Sundays. That's what I do, people!
The Cubs were on cruise control all season until October and Lou didn't have to work nearly as hard as the likes of Tony LaRussa or Joe Torre to get the job done with less talent.
The one thing Lou was supposed to do this year (win playoff games) never happened. I see that as one thing and one thing only: failure. F-A-I-L-U-R-E.
On the other side of the Second City (my side), complications arise with Jermaine Dye and his future in a White Sox uniform. Rumor is: Kenny Williams wants to get some fresh legs in exchange for the veteran outfielder who had a resurgent season in 2008. I understand Williams' point of view, but I'm pretty sure there will be rioting in the streets if Dye is traded away. Even more rioting if Big Fat Bobby Jenks is dealt (which is also floating around the rumormill).
Just let me know if and when that's going to happen, Kenny, because I'll make sure to be back in South Padre until the Southside firebombing lets up.
I suppose Gov. Palin was right. This "inside baseball stuff" is complicated. And I gotta hand it to the Republicans. They ran a
good laughable race. And the tides seem to be turning for the GOP: Mark Foley, while still making excuses for his pedophilia, is at least speaking to the media again; Alaska has more problems than just Palinmania; and Norm Coleman has a 209 vote lead (as I write this).
Like my boy Tupac used to always say: "Ya gotta keep ya head up."
Don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.
Dancing with RSBS
RSBS is taking a well deserved couple days of rest following the events of October and November. However, we will back this coming week with all the cynicism and irony that you have come to expect from us. We haven't forgotten you, though, and we leave you with this.