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After a winter full of higher than normal prices caused by weather-related shortages of Florida-grown vegetables, Delmarva grower-shippers were ready to begin shipments of their products.
While some items such as cabbage had already started in mid-May, green beans were expected to start production in late May while growers of other traditional Southern vegetables such as cucumbers, squash and bell peppers expected to begin harvest by mid-June.
Mid-Atlantic cabbage growers opened their late spring and early summer season with lower than normal prices.
Low demand and weather problems in Florida and Georgia growing regions bunched up production, said Jeff Greene, vice president of operations for Hollar & Greene Produce Co. Inc., Boone, N.C.
"The cabbage that was supposed to be later has grown real well at the end, but the cabbage that had slow starts is really late," he said in mid-May. "You have it all piled together."
Greene called prices lower than normal and below cost of production.
He quoted $5-6 for 50-pound cartons of medium green cabbage.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in early June reported 50-pound cartons and 1 7/8-bushel cartons of round green medium cabbage from Georgia sold for $4.50-5, while 50-pound cartons of red medium sold for $8-10 and 40-pound cartons savoy medium sold for $12.
That was down a little from mid-May, when the USDA reported 50-pound cartons and 1 7/8-bushel cartons of green medium from south Georgia selling for $5.50-6 with large selling for $5.
Greene said he expects strong volume on the coasts this season.
He said Hollar & Greene planned to start its harvesting in the North Carolina coastal area near Elizabeth City, N.C., on June 1, with production running through early July.
Hollar & Greene planned to begin harvesting in the North Carolina foothills near Mount Airy, N.C., in late June, with volume running through early August.
The North Carolina mountain deal, on the North Carolina-Virginia state line near Hillsville, Va., was expected to start in mid-July with production running through mid-October.
Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers Produce Sales Inc., Cheriton, Va., said he expects prices to improve as Florida finishes harvesting.
In early May, he called the market cheap but said he expected it to improve as Georgia wasn't producing a lot of volume.
Running through mid-June, Georgia normally has a small overlap with North Carolina and Delaware.
Georgia, however, normally doesn't have too much of an effect on Virginia's deal, and prices depend on how heavy New Jersey volume comes in on top of Virginia's, Cullen said.
Richard Papen, vice president of Papen Farms Inc., Dover, Del., said he planned to start harvesting June 1.
Delaware volume normally runs through late July before a month's break in shipments caused by summer heat.
Production resumes in September and usually runs through Thanksgiving.
"Prices have been cheap lately but we are hoping they will strengthen," he said in mid-May.
Papen said the Delaware deal last season opened at $10-12.
Parker Farms LLC, Oak Grove, Va., planned to start harvesting squash June 1 and run through mid-October or as late as fall weather allows, said Rod Parker, general manager.
Though some Georgia growers finish in mid-June, Parker said most run through the end of the month and always overlap a little with Mid-Atlantic shippers.
The large overlap usually lasts for a couple of weeks and lowers prices, he said.
"The oversupply of course depresses price but weather also has a lot to do with it," Parker said.
"The price could be $5 on Monday and $15 on Friday then back to $5 the following Monday, depending on who has product available. It's a highly unpredictable deal."
Parker said Virginia quality during the last couple of years has been high and that prices have averaged $8.50.
In early June, the USDA reported these prices from Georgia:
- half- and 5/9-bushel cartons small zucchini selling for $8.35-8.85, medium for $6.35-6.85;
- yellow straightneck small for $7.35-8.85 and medium for $5.35-6.85;
- ¾-bushel cartons yellow crookneck small for $10.35-12.85 and medium for $6.35-8.85.
Cullen said prices during the last couple of years have been decent because New Jersey hasn't brought an excessive amount of product to the market during the start of its deal.
He said heavy rains often affect the Garden State's volume.
Georgia production is normally finishing by the time Virginia starts, with only a small overlap.
A monthlong deal, Virginia squash production typically begins in early June and ends by early July.
Bell peppers
Mid-Atlantic bell pepper production usually starts in June in North Carolina and in early July in Virginia.
Volume runs through mid-fall.
Parker Farms typically finishes harvesting in mid-October.
The USDA wasn't reporting Georgia prices in late May.
In early June, the USDA reported these prices from Florida: 1 1/9-bushel cartons green jumbo going for $8.35-10.85, extra-large going for $17.35-7.85, large going for $6.35-6.85 and medium going for $5.35-5.85.
Parker said Georgia volume normally runs to mid-July, with Michigan starting about two weeks later than Virginia's start.
New York and Michigan, he said, are among the large Northern producing regions.
Parker grows on 90 acres in Virginia.
As Florida production was declining and south Georgia harvesting was preparing to start, Mid-Atlantic grower shippers were looking at starting their summer cucumber shipping season with low prices.
The USDA wasn't reporting Georgia production in late May, saying the first pricing was expected in late May or by early June when harvesting begins.
From south and central Florida, the USDA in late May reported 1 1/9-bushel cartons and crates waxed mediums selling for $12.35-12.85 with carton 24s at $4.
That's up from mid-May when 1 1/9 bushel cartons of waxed mediums from Florida sold for $10.85 with cartons of 24s for $3-4.
Parker Farms planned to begin harvesting Virginia production in mid June with production running through mid-October.
Because of normal summer high heat, Parker Farms planned to leave the deal in August and resume production in early September.
Parker called last year's deal strong and said fall growing can always present challenges.
"Cukes like a little cooler growing weather and look better when it's cool," Parker said. "You can get good cukes and get a fair price but you don't get the yields (in the fall)."
Georgia volume normally finishes in mid-June with South Carolina ending in early July and North Carolina stopping shipments in mid-July.
Northampton planned to begin its cucumber harvesting June 10-15.
Northampton's Cullen said prices during the first weeks of last season were fair but soon dropped after Michigan entered the deal with strong volume.
"Once Michigan comes in, it seems to knock us out because the markets get pretty cheap," he said.
Northampton harvests cucumbers from Fairfield, N.C. and from Virginia through early July.
Green beans
Growers were expecting to begin green bean production in late May.
The season was opening as south Florida prices began falling.
Bob Colson, president of C&E Farms Inc., Cheriton, Va., said freezes which struck south Florida growing regions in January created shortages and sent bean prices to high levels.
As the Florida deal was three weeks later than normal, Colson said the company had to cut its acreage by 150 acres so it could begin planting in North Carolina on time.
In early May, Colson quoted prices in the mid- to high teens.
The USDA hadn't started reporting Georgia prices, saying the first report should come in late May when most growers expect to begin harvesting.
Bushel cartons/crates of round green beans from south and central Florida in late May sold for $8.85-10.85.
After planning to finish its central Florida production in late May, C&E expected to move up the Eastern Seaboard starting production in North Carolina and in Virginia on May 25 as well as in the Eastern Shore area of Maryland, in Delaware as well in Pennsylvania near York, Pa., and Bloomsberg, Pa.
C&E, which packs all of its beans in Cheriton, plans to pack through Nov. 1.
Northampton's Cullen said the grower-shipper is set to begin Virginia harvesting June 10-15 and run through July 10.
He said price during the transition from Georgia to Virginia can vary, depending on the length of the overlap.
During the last couple of years, pricing has been fair as there hasn't been a large overlap between the two growing regions, Cullen said.
He said prices can often open $10-16-20.
Northampton also packs in Moultrie, Ga.
Tennessee production usually begins in Crossville, Tenn., in early June and runs through late September while Ohio, Indiana and Michigan are also in summer production.
Papen Farms' Papen said prices can often vary.
"This winter was just crazy," he said. "There was no corn or beans. If we can get $18, we will do all right."
Papen plans to start its harvesting in late June.
Sweet corn
Virginia sweet corn production normally begins June 20-25 and runs through the end of August.
Parker Farms' Parker said production is expected to start on-time.
He said the deal normally has a two week overlap with Georgia harvesting, which runs to around the Fourth of July.
Parker said he doesn't think growers will encounter cheap prices this season.
He said prices soared to $28 after January freezes destroyed south Florida's crop but then fell to $7-9 during late April and early May.
"There is a big slug getting ready to move through the pipeline, which will keep prices depressed," Parker said in early May. "Memorial Day is the first big usage of the year, the first summertime corn sale. When that drops off, Florida will generally be done and Georgia has it all to itself. This year, there is a lot of corn out so I don't know what prices will be."
The USDA in late May reported wirebound crates of 4½ dozen yellow, white and bicolor corn from Florida selling for $8.95.
Parker said corn during the Delaware deal has averaged $10-12.
Papen Farms plans to begin harvesting July 1 with volume rolling through mid-September.
If Georgia finishes on time, the Mid-Atlantic deal should see fair prices, Papen said.
Papen called last year's deal strong and said prices opened at $12 last season for yellow, white and bicolor corn.
He said he sent more corn to Florida retailers during July and August when the state doesn't produce corn.


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Copyright proposal in Md. school prompts concern
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) - Prince George's County school officials are proposing that work created by staff and students should be copyrighted.
Critics say that means pictures drawn by first graders and lesson plans created by teachers would belong to the school system. And that is leading to concerns that copyrighting will stifle creativity.
University of Missouri law professor David Rein told The Washington Post{ } that universities generally have "sharing agreements" for work created by professors and college students.
Board Chair Verjeana M. Jacobs says the board never intended to declare ownership of student work and amendments could be made at the board's next meeting. Jacobs says the proposal was designed to make clear who owns teacher-developed curricula created while using apps on iPads that are school property.

subset: commoncrawl


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McCutchen mindful of what Robinson went through
PITTSBURGH -- All players in Monday's game against the Cardinals wore No. 42 jerseys in honor of Jackie Robinson on the 66th anniversary of the day when baseball's color barrier was broken by the Dodgers infielder.
In 1997, under the direction of Commissioner Bud Selig, Robinson's No. 42 was retired across all of Major League Baseball in an unprecedented tribute. One No. 42 jersey from each club will be autographed by all of the players and coaches and auctioned on MLB.com, with proceeds benefitting the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
"We take pride in wearing the number 42 on our back," Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen said. "It's something that happens once out of the year, and for myself personally it means a lot, just to think about what he overcame and what he endured and the things that he went through. That's just to say the least; it just feels good to feel like you're a part of it, and it feels good just to put that jersey on."
McCutchen said he would have loved to have had dinner with Robinson.
"He's a guy whose brain I would really have liked to have picked back in the day," McCutchen said. "A guy who went through a lot, he's a person that I would have loved to have talked to. Just to ask him his mindset, because this game is so mental and on top of the things that he had to go through and to have the mental toughness that he had. It had to be through the roof; he had to be uncommon."
"It would have been nice to sit down and ask him that, what he did and how did he got through it," McCutchen added.
The film "42" about Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier premiered last weekend, and McCutchen, acting as a film critic, gave it a thumb's up.
"I saw the movie this off-season," McCutchen said. "It's a great movie, and if you haven't seen it, I encourage people to go see it, because you get a bigger perspective on the game of baseball and a bigger perspective on the change, and it's good for a lot of people to go see."
George Von Benko is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Pork Chops w/ Mandarin Orange Salsa
By Fruits & Veggies - More Matters
A savory fruit-based salsa anchors this colorful, fruit- and vegetable-rich meal. Tender pork chops slowly marinated and baked to perfection are highlighted by the lime and orange undertones of this flavorful experience.
- Prep Time: 45 Minutes (not incl. marinating time)
Main Dishes
4 4-oz. boneless pork loin chops, raw
8 clementines (aka Mandarin Oranges)
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons salt substitute seasoning
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cucumber, diced
2 tablespoons grape tomatoes, quartered (about 4)
1 tablespoon bell peppers, diced
2 lime wedges, juice only
2 cups brown rice, cooked
2 cups spinach, cooked, drained
Instructions: Place pork chops in casserole dish. Peel, seed, and section the clementines. Place half of the clementine sections in a small bowl (chop the other half, reserve and refrigerate for later use in salsa). Use a fork to press half the sections into small pieces. Add orange juice and soy sauce and mix together well. Pour mixture over pork chops, being sure that the chops are completely covered with marinade.
Cover the dish and refrigerate 4-6 hours or overnight. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. In a small dish, blend onion powder, salt substitute seasoning, and chili powder. Remove chops from marinade and season both sides with spice mix. Bake in the oven for 22-28 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pork chops. Combine the cucumber, grape tomatoes, bell pepper and lime juice with the remaining clementines to make a fruit and vegetable salsa. Prepare brown rice and spinach according to directions on package. Serve each pork chop with equal amounts of clementine salsa, 1/2 cup of brown rice and 1/2 cup of spinach.
Each serving provides: An excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber.
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 467
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Total Fat: 15.2g
- Cholesterol: 67mg
- Saturated Fat: 4.9g
- Dietary Fiber: 9g
- % of Calories from Fat: 28%
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Protein: 31g
- Recipe Credit
Recipe was developed for Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) by Chef Mark Goodwin CEC, CNC. This recipe meets PBH and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) nutrition standards that maintain fruits and vegetables as healthy foods.
- Comments (0)
- 0 new comments


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/1/2014 (1346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Edmonton Oilers play the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre Saturday, Jan. 18. The Jets beat the Oilers 3-2 in the team's third consecutive win under new coach Paul Maurice.


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Friday 07.29
Lady looks like a dude
What is poor Victoria thinking? Dressing up as a man who performs as a female entertainer? Clearly a struggling artist will do anything to get by. Uptown Players presents the musical Victor/Victoria where Victoria becomes the toast of Paris as Victor but now has to deal with the mobster who is getting a little too attached.
DEETS: Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. 8 p.m. $30–$40. UptownPlayers.org.
Saturday 07.30
Being all he can be
Justin Elzie may be a happy man right now. As "don't ask, don't tell" comes to an end, his work wasn't in vain. Named Marine of the Year in '93, he was discharged for coming out on national TV. He sued, won and has been advocating for LGBT rights in the military. He comes to Dallas to discuss his work in fighting for DADT's repeal.
DEETS: Resource Center Dallas, 2701 Reagan 2 p.m. RCDallas.org.
Thursday 08.04
Just a hot mess
Do we love Ke$ha because she's the sloppy mess we wish we could be? It's a brilliant act to come off as a drunken slacker and a blonde bombshell. See how she does it this week on her Get Sleazy Tour with LMFAO and Spank Rock.
DEETS: Gexa Energy Pavilion, 1818 First Ave. 7:30 p.m. $30–$65. Ticketmaster.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 29, 2011.


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MIAMI - A judge sentenced Joel Lebron, who was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering Ana Maria Angel in 2002, to death.
Judge William Thomas choked up as he made the ruling Thursday.
"This court finds that the aggravating circumstances -- clear and convincing -- outweighed the mitigating factors," said Thomas.
During sentencing, defense attorneys argued a childhood car crash resulted in a brain injury for Lebron, but Thomas dismissed that as a mitigating factor.
"Even the life challenges, outlined above, can not begin to excuse or reasonably explain the murder of Ana Maria Angel," said Thomas.
Both Margarita Osorio, Angel's Mother, and Nelson Portobanco, Angel's boyfriend at the time, attended the sentencing.
"At last, this week, we have completed justice," Osorio said.
She also thanked the court and reporters for "remembering our fight in this case all through the years" and for giving her such support.
"It's a big door to close to help move forward," said Portobanco. "It has been very hard but I'm very happy with the results today... It's for Ana -- this is justice for her."
"I believe Mr. Lebron stands at the absolute pinnacle of culpability for this terrible crime. The abduction, kidnapping, gang rape and personal execution of this innocent young woman and that's the penalty he deserved," said prosecutor Reid Rubin.
Jurors found Lebron guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, sexual battery and sexual battery on Sept. 28.
Those same jurors recommended the death penalty for Lebron, voting 9-3.
"It was Hector's idea to initiate the sexual crimes against Ana Maria Angel," said defense attorney Jeffrey Fink, referring to Hector Manuel Caraballo, one of the men accused in the crime. "It was Hector's idea that Ms. Angel should be killed. And yet, he's got 50 years in prison while Mr. Lebron has been sentenced to death, There is something not just about that."
The defense is expected to appeal Lebron's sentence. Lebron was also sentenced to six life sentences.
According to investigators, in the spring of 2002, Angel, 18, was out celebrating an anniversary with Portobanco, her boyfriend at the time, when five people kidnapped them and forced them into their truck at gunpoint.
As they rode north to Orlando where the defendants where from, prosecutors said Angel was repeatedly raped and Nelson was beaten. Portobanco was eventually thrown out of the truck along Interstate 95 and left for dead.
The five are accused of killing Angel execution-style at the side of I-95 near Boca Raton to keep her from identifying them. Police said Lebron, now 33, was the gunman.
Prior to Lebron's conviction, three of the five defendants had already been convicted. Two were sentenced to life in prison; one is awaiting a second sentencing hearing after his death penalty sentence was overturned.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Les Bleus full-back believes his country should be satisfied with the players after their performances against Spain and Italy while adding there is a togetherness within the squad
Didier Deschamps' men left the Vicente Calderon with a point in their World Cup qualifier with Spain last month, and they continued their good run with a 2-1 win over Italy on Wednesday night.
As a result of this, the Manchester United full-back is demanding the support of the country's fans and the media.
"The French people should be proud of us," he told FranceFootball.fr.
"People enjoyed the result in Spain, it feels like a similar occurrence after the Italy game. When you play against Italy, you always want to win so it is a beautiful feeling. Yes we have been winning, but our goal is the World Cup.
"You can see the solidarity in the ground, even in difficult times. We work hard and make sacrifices for each other and the whole country feels a togetherness at the moment."
Olivier Giroud was also in a positive mood after the result.
He added: "It is very nice to have built on the good things we did against Spain and it is always nice to win, even friendly games. There is more confidence in the squad, perhaps facilitated by the fact we have playing away from home.
"Personally, I have not had too many opportunities to score, and to play every three or four days is new to me, but I am happy with my performances."


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Video: Lion and Tiger feeding, taking the Lion cubs for a walk, plus visiting the Bushbaby Monkey Sanctuary and more at the Living with Big Cats Volunteer Southern Africa Project.
Source: Lion and Tiger Feedings | Volunteering in South Africa
Fueling The Passion For Travel
Video: Lion and Tiger feeding, taking the Lion cubs for a walk, plus visiting the Bushbaby Monkey Sanctuary and more at the Living with Big Cats Volunteer Southern Africa Project.
Source: Lion and Tiger Feedings | Volunteering in South Africa
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Burton [ak] Power Grid® SS Crew
Highest tech t-shirt on the hill powered by the ultimate in breathability and stink-proof performance.
From midwinter freeze to springtime slush, a short-sleeve that wicks, breathes and dries fast is a necessity. The Burton [ak] Power Grid® SS Crew harnesses super-efficient Polartec® fabric to deliver bone-dry comfort and a cooler core even when high temps or hard hikes cause sweat to flow and blood to boil. UPF 50+ protection prevents the burn and a long body stays tucked in, while the Polygiene® antimicrobial finish fights funk at an accelerated rate.
Polartec® Power Grid® 100% Polyester Fabric
Polartec® Power Grid® 100% Polyester Fabric
This 100% polyester super fabric provides ultimate quick-drying warmth and next-to-skin comfort thanks to a breathable grid backer. Polygiene® antimicrobial performance fights odor and a UPF 50+ rating helps block the sun's harmful rays.
- Ultimate Breathability and Next-to-Skin Comfort
- Polygiene® Stink-Proof Finish
Chafe-Free Softlock Seams for Comfort
Chafe-Free Softlock Seams for Comfort
By eliminating overlapping fabrics, this stitch creates smooth, chafe-free seams for maximum comfort.
- Extra Long Body: Strap In Without Your Shirt Un-Tucking
1-Year Warranty
1-Year Warranty
This Burton jacket is backed by a one-year warranty from date of purchase. Our W48 Warranty Program ensures that should you have a problem, we'll have your claim repaired or replaced and on its way back to you within two business days of receiving it.


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Some Valuable Information About How Springs Affect Your Setup
The primary components used to set up a stock car are the springs. When we have chosen the correct spring rates that complement the corresponding moment centers and the weight distribution, then we get what we want-a balanced and fast race car. All too often we crutch the car using inappropriate spring rates that serve to balance the handling, but not yield the desired result of consistency.
In order to win races, our car must be fast, not only right out of the box, but at the end of the race, too. In fact, many races are won by cars that may not be the fastest in the early laps of the race, but prove to be faster than the field at the end of the race. The key is to make sure we give the car what it wants so it will be fast as well as consistent.
In a short sprint race of 25 or 30 laps, a jack rabbit setup may work relatively well. A team with a well balanced setup that may start off a couple of tenths slower for the first 10-15 laps may not have enough time to take advantage of everyone else's lap times falling off. In a 50- or 100-lap race, the car that falls off less as the laps move past lap 25 or so will have a much better opportunity to win. A car that is closer to being balanced will have the best chance to win in any length race.
The key to chassis performance, whether you are on dirt or asphalt, is to work toward a more balanced setup. This can be done by trial and error (by far the most commonly used method) or by computer analysis. In the past, trial and error took a lot of time, and the teams really had no idea when the proper balance was achieved. We now have discovered indicators that we can use to help determine when we have truly achieved a balanced setup.
Many odd arrangements of springs have been tried. We are now seeing some of the racers across the country trying new methods to find a balance. For every car, there may be dozens of combinations of spring rates, moment center designs (front and rear), and weight combinations that will balance the car. Here are some considerations concerning springs when trying to balance your stock car.
The first thing to know when considering which springs to use in your race car is the exact spring rate for each of your springs. You must test each spring and do it in the proper way. You need to know the rate of your springs at the ride height. You will also need to know the range of rates they will be working as that relates to the corner of the car where the spring will be working.
Theoretically, we should rate a spring based on the corner of the car at which it will be used because of the different ranges of motion. For the left-front (LF) spring, we would measure the height of the installed spring and compress the spring in the spring rating device to that exact height before rating. Because this corner might bump and rebound up to an inch or more, check the rate up and down 2 inches from the installed height.
The right-front (RF) spring is mostly in compression, or bump, so we would compress that spring to the installed height and then further compress it 2-3 inches to find the average rate within the range. Remember there is an installed motion ratio, and the spring is moving less than the wheel, so we don't necessarily need to compress the spring as much as the wheel moves.
The right-rear (RR) spring is also mostly in compression, so, to simulate how the spring compresses on the racetrack, it would be compressed initially to ride height and then up to 4-5 inches further, depending on the shock travels that we read after a run. Remember that we are mostly interested in the spring rate at full compression because that is where the car is going through the turns and where proper handling is most important to performance.
The left-rear (LR) spring reacts similarly to the LF spring and is in some rebound on entry and some compression at mid-turn. This spring would be rated by compressing to ride height and then up to 2 inches up and down. For dirt-car applications, this spring may rebound quite a bit as the left side jacks up for some slick track setups. In this case, the spring may be near the free (unloaded) height at mid-turn and compressed down the straightaway.
In years past, racers have reacted to excess wheel travel at the RF by increasing the spring rate at that corner. This made perfect sense then, but in reality served to compound the problem.
If our setup is unbalanced, with the rear suspension trying to roll more than the front, excess weight transfer takes place at the front of the car onto the RF suspension. The increased weight causes more travel in the RF suspension. The imbalance between the front and rear suspensions is caused by, among other things, the wrong spring rates at the four corners. If the front spring rates are too high in relation to the rears, the car may be unbalanced, causing excessive RF suspension travel.
When we stiffen the RF spring, we have gone in the opposite direction we needed to in order to solve the original problem. What we should have done was soften the front springs rather than stiffen either one of them. I have seen teams soften the front springs and actually see less shock travel at the RF corner when this change served to balance the two suspension systems.
On flatter tracks, we can stiffen only the LF spring rate and achieve a similar effect. Due to the effect of downforce from the track banking, an increased roll effect is created that can help match the desired front and rear roll angles, a topic that we have covered in the past.
On the higher banked racetracks, we can run even springs across the front or successfully run a stiffer RF spring. This is especially effective when the banking for the turns rises up abruptly and we need a stiffer spring at the RF to control wheel movement at that transitional point. We would adjust the rear spring rates and moment center height to correspond to those changes.
When racing on flatter tracks, we often need to run a softer RR spring rate so we can help increase the amount of bite off the corners. Some teams will go to extremes with this spring split and end up with 25-50 pounds of spring rate difference, the LR higher than the RR spring rate. Most of the time, we do not need a high amount of spring split to achieve the desired effect. I have set up winning cars in major series on flat tracks while using only 10-15 pounds of spring split.
It is hard to balance the front and rear suspension systems when using a high amount of rear spring split, so we try to go with as little as possible when attempting to gain bite off the corners on flatter tracks.
On the higher banked tracks of more than 12 degrees, we can run a rear spring split with the RR spring rate higher than the LR spring rate to help balance the front and rear suspensions. This helps to control the rear roll of the car so that we do not need to raise the Panhard bar to excessively high levels.
It is common for a team to buy a new car from a different manufacturer or move to a new class where the cars are constructed differently. What often changes is the installation ratio at the front of the car.
Suppose we have run a class using stock spring rates at the front with stock lower control arms, and now want to run a class that uses coilover shocks and springs that are mounted differently on the lower control arms. If we have the setup figured out on the old car as far as wheel rates are concerned, we then need to duplicate those wheel rates (assuming the overall car weights remain about the same) in order to stay on track with our handling.
To do this, we need to know how to calculate the wheel rates in each car. We first work out the old wheel rates and then try different springs in the calculations until the new car has the same wheel rates. If we are going from a perimeter car (symmetric from left to right sides) to an offset chassis, the problem is compounded.
Wheel rate is determined by using the installed ratio (the position of the spring on the control arm) as well as the angle of the spring in relation to the line between the center of rotation of the ball joint and the inner pivots of the control arm. The motion ratio is the distance from the inner pivots to the center of the spring, divided by the length of the control arm. We then square the motion ratio number. The "motion ratio squared" number is then multiplied by the square of the cosine function of the spring angle, and that answer is multiplied by the spring rate in pounds per inch. The result is the wheel rate at that corner of the car.
Wheel rate is determined by using the installed ratio (the position of the spring on the control arm) as well as the angle of the spring in relation to the line between the center of rotation of the ball joint and the inner pivots of the control arm. The motion ratio is the distance from the inner pivots to the center of the spring, divided by the length of the control arm. We then square the motion ratio number. The "motion ratio squared" number is then multiplied by the square of the cosine function of the spring angle, and that answer is multiplied by the spring rate in pounds per inch. The result is the wheel rate at that corner of the car.
An example is a touring Late Model car with a RF lower control arm length of 18 1/2 inches and a LF lower control arm length of 15 1/2 inches with equal ball-joint-to-spring-mount distances of 2 1/2 inches and shock angles of 20 degrees on both sides. If we install springs rated at 350 pounds per inch (ppi) on both sides, the LF wheel rate will be 217 ppi. The RF spring rate will be 231 ppi, and we now have a wheel rate split where we didn't know we had one. To make the wheel rates equal across the front, we need to install a 325-ppi spring in the RF that will yield a 215-ppi wheel rate.
If you have a racing buddy and want to run his setup, make sure you know the relationship of the motion ratios and spring angles when comparing the two cars. His motion ratios and spring angles may be very different from yours.
In the rear of the car, we do not use wheel rate ratios when determining the roll tendencies of the rear suspension. Some older chassis books that speak of passenger car rear suspensions use a formula to calculate rear wheel rate to determine the result of the forces introduced by bumps in the road and how those forces migrate to the shocks and springs. These formulas for rear wheel rates have no bearing on race car dynamics.
The car "feels" the spring base at the top of the two springs. This is all the car knows, and it's as if the chassis were sitting on a pair of springs that lay on the ground. The rear solid axle assembly is a solid base for the springs to sit on, and the car does not know where the wheels are located and doesn't really care.
The action caused by the overturning moments acting through the center of gravity are not affected by the rear wheel rate, but by the spring base width, the rear moment center height, and the rates of each spring. Rear wheel rates are only useful in studying how road forces act through the bottom of the tire. To affect changes to the rolling tendencies of the rear suspension, we need to look instead at altering the spring base (distance between the tops of the rear springs), the installed spring angle, and/or the moment center height. The narrower the spring base, the greater the tendency for the rear end to roll for a given set of springs and moment center height.
A narrow spring base can be a real problem for some types of cars. The four-link, dirt Late Model cars sometimes have the springs installed at high angles with the top of the coilovers positioned well inside the framerails. This severely limits what we can do to eliminate excessive rear roll in the car.
Many teams have moved the top mounts out closer to the wheel to increase the rear spring base. The swing-arm types of dirt cars have a very wide spring base mounted straight up, but suffer from another variable-motion ratio. The spring is mounted directly on the trailing arm, similar to the front spring mount, and that reduces the rate that the wheel "feels."
We can do a calculation similar to the front wheel rate calculation to find the effective spring rate. In most cases, we see about half the effective rate as the installed spring rate. So if we install a 200-pound spring in the RR, the car will react as if it is a 100-pound spring that would be mounted directly to the birdcage.
Stock classes as well as sedan touring cars based on stock dimensions such as the Hooters ProCup, Craftsman Trucks, Busch series, and Nextel Cup series all suffer from a rear spring base that is too narrow. To overcome this deficiency, some teams have deviated from conventional spring rate layouts. The Busch series was won several years ago by a team that reportedly ran a stiff RR spring at most of the tracks. This excess spring split greatly reduced the roll tendencies of the rear suspension and caused a more balanced setup in the car.
We see this method used in many more series combined with softer front springs and a low rear moment center. These teams have worked out a solution to their balance problems associated with the narrow rear spring base. The key objective still remains-to balance the roll tendencies of the two suspension systems.
Be sure of your spring rates, replace bent or fatigued springs, and always know your wheel rates when altering the mounting points or transferring the setup from one car to another. The car basically rides on four springs, and the more we know about how they work in our cars, the more accurately we can develop a winning setup.


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Welcome to the STAMPlorations™ blog! We host monthly challenges (theme and sketch; mixed media; CAS). We also have a never-ending challenge exclusive to those who own STAMPlorations products, and CUTplorations for those who love to use dies. We spotlight projects by the design team, regularly publish tutorials, host fun blog hops, and announce new products. Our goal is that through our challenges, inspiration projects, and products, you'll be encouraged to "Stamp with all your ART!"
Theme & Sketch Challenge | Mixed Media Challenge | CUTplorations Challenge | CAS Card Challenge
The Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge | Spotlight Project Showcase | Challenge Rules
Winners of the August Challenges and Blog Hops are HERE. Winners, please claim your prize by September 21.
Check out our Spotlight Projects then link up yours in the Spotlight Project Showcase gallery and win!
Check out our Inspiration Projects for this month. Comment and win spending money on the STAMPlorations shop!
Check out our Stencil Sunday posts for project ideas using stencils and stamps!
Love mixed media? Check out our Mixed Media Tutorials here.
Join our STAMP CLUB! Enjoy lots of perks: free stamps, stencils & dies; gift certificates; and free worldwide shipping.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
{Spotlight Project} Shirley's Seeing Things
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
{Preview} ARTSY BORDERS + Sample Inspiration Projects
I came up with these artsy border stamps out of a need: I love masking, but I wanted a way to quickly create something (especially when I don't have a lot of time to spare) where I wouldn't need to do a lot of masking and still get that artsy collage look. I played around with some images, starting with ones that were already stamps, and used them to create border stamps. And you all know me...I love grunge, artsy, distressed backgrounds and all that, so I added in some newsprint, sheet music, the works...and we've got four to start off this fun line of stamps:
{Inspiration Project Post #68}
Happy Tuesday! We're here today with another round of projects from the Inspiration team. Have a look and leave a comment for your entry to win a $10 gift certificate.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Winners - Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop + Special Stamp Release Mini Hop
Stencil Sunday #39
Friday, March 25, 2016
{PREVIEW} April/May 2016 Stamp Club Set - BORN TO ROAM
Want this stamp set now at a great price with a couple of ARTplorations stencils of your choice and free shipping? Just sign up for the stamp club here. Stamp club subscribers get to enjoy lots of perks :o)
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Thursday, March 24, 2016
{Spotlight Project} Create Stamped Skies with Deepti
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Spring Coffee Lovers Hop + Special Stamp Release Hop + Spring Sale
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
{Spotlight Project} Maria Ghosts a Distress Marker Watercolor Background
I've another project for you using Sketchy Alphabet today. What I love about this set is that it allows you to personalize your cards. That is actually how I got into this whole cardmaking thang... I'd incorporate a photo of the recipient into my design... something I learned from my Dad years ago... but I digress. So you can personalize your projects with names. Or foreign words. Or ages :)
Meet my personalized birthday card.
But today I actually want to share the ghosted background as I promised back in this post.
{Inspiration Project Post #67}
Happy Tuesday! It's time again for more projects from the Inspiration team. The girls have been busy creating some stunning cards. Have a look and leave a comment for an entry to win a $10 gift certificate.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Stencil Sunday #38
Friday, March 18, 2016
STAMPlorations and the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop + Special Stamp Release + Comment to Win!
In line with the hop, we're officially releasing coffee and tea stamp sets by Becca Cruger and Shery Russ (me). Take a look:
Coffee and Spring Basket
Credits: STAMPlorations/Illustrated by Shery Russ


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Every now and then I come across a vintage synthpop gem that I never heard before. I found today's song via the Matrixsynth blog and it's called Computer Games by a band called Mi-Sex. Apparently the song was a huge hit in Australia. I checked out other Mi-Sex songs on Amazon and discovered they are really a rock pop band and this was one of the few tracks they released that were synth heavy. Amazon link: Computer Games/Space Race
"Mi-Sex (also spelt ''MiSex'') was a New Zealand / Australian new wave rock band active from 1978 to 1984. Led by Steve Gilpin as vocalist, they were best known for their singles "Computer Games" in 1979 and "People" in 1980. Their first single for CBS, "But You Don't Care" / "Burning Up", was released in Australia in June 1979 and their debut album, Graffiti Crimes was issued in July 1979 to coincide with their national tour as the support act for Talking Heads. The LP included their biggest hit, the synthesizer-driven "Computer Games", a Burns/Stanton composition released in Australia on October 1, 1979. The single went to #1 in Australia, made the Top 5 in New Zealand, and also charted in 20 countries including Canada and South Africa." – wikipedia.org/wiki/MiSex
Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Mi-Sex-Computer-Games/release/1962269
via Matrixsynth


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CALNE Running Club's Simon Nott stormed to a new course record as he claimed victory in Sunday's Corsham St George's 10k event.
The event, which attracted more than 1,000 runners, was the second in this year's Wiltshire Road Race League, sponsored by Newsquest, the parent company of the Gazette & Herald.
Nott blitzed the field to finish in 31 minutes and 12 seconds, nearly three minutes clear of Michael Towler, of Avon Valley Runners.
A strong Avon Valley presence, with more than 60 athletes in the field, secured maximum league points to maintain their lead at the top of the Division One standings.
Gary Dunstone, of Chippenham Harriers, who finished sixth, is the overall leading individual points scorer.
In the ladies race Helen Newbury, of Bristol & West AC, was first home.
Denise Grech, of Calne Running Club, was the first Wiltshire athlete and, despite Team Bath B taking maximum points, Calne remained top of Division Two.
Kate Wilkins, of Devizes Running Club, who finished eighth is the top ladies points scorer.
The next Race League event is the Trowbridge 5K on Sunday (May 4).
FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS, REPORTS & PICTURES SEE THURSDAY'S GAZETTE AND HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport AND @WTSport


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Fightingthetide wrote:I remember seeing a chart someone made telling what weight Roc you should be throwing based on how far you throw them. Can anyone fish that up for me?
I just ordered 3 DX Rancho Rocs to try out for my mids. I have 2 beat D MD2's that have convinced me to return to base plastic mids. They flip up on a hard throw, track right and finish straight on a finesse shot, and work really well on tunnel shots. Is this what I can expect from DX Rocs once they break in?
When they are really really really really beat.
When they are just broken in, they flip up to flat, stay straight forever and end straight.


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Here on Slice, we celebrate homemade pizza success all the time, but I'd like to take a moment to celebrate this epic pizza FAIL. We've all had our little slip ups, but this one posted on reddit.com deserves a special place of honor. Although this pizza maker's first time attempt sort of bottomed out (woh, woh), I hope they aren't too discouraged to try again!
About the author: Meredith Smith is the Slice editor. You can follow her on Twitter: @mertsmith.


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CEAN Offers Emergency Alerts
Fairfax County Office of Public
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
July 12, 2005
CEAN Offers Emergency Alerts
Residents Encouraged to Prepare and
Register Today
In response to the Thursday, July 7, terrorist attacks in London, England, and the approach of Hurricane Dennis, county residents may be wondering how they can receive emergency information in times of crisis or severe weather.
The answer is the Community Emergency Alert Network, or CEAN, a service of the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management. Persons registered on the CEAN will be provided a personal connection to real-time updates, instructions on where to go, protective actions that need to be taken, and other important information such as National Weather Service watches and warnings.
CEAN alerts may include personal safety, weather, major accidents involving utilities or roadways, or disaster notification such as a terrorist attack. In addition, residents may also register for any or all of the additional CEAN alert categories: severe weather 24/7; severe weather 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; severe traffic disruptions and county government closings/schedule changes.
The CEAN will be used by county officials to deliver emergency alerts, notifications and updates during a major crisis or emergency. Messages will be delivered to e-mail accounts, cell phones (text messaging costs may apply; check with your service provider), text pagers, satellite phones and wireless PDAs that are registered on the system.
To register for the Community Emergency Alert Network, visit the Fairfax County Web page, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cean. For additional information on the CEAN, contact the Office of Emergency Management at 703-324-2362, TTY 711.
Fairfax County Government offers the CEAN as a public service that will be used in conjunction with other public notification methods, such as the Fairfax County Government Emergency Information Line (703-817-7771, TTY 711); cable Channel 16; the Fairfax County Government Web site; and area media.
Fairfax County is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all county programs, services and activities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. To request special accommodations, call 703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935. Please allow five working days in advance of events in order to make the necessary arrangements.


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Welcome to Home Energy Pros! Feel free to join the conversation in the Forum and Groups. And share your energy efficiency photos, videos and upcoming events. If you're blogging about home performance, this is the place for you!
Don't forget to add your location on our Member Map!
Diane, HEP Moderator
Hi Dough,
Welcome to Home Energy Pros, a home energy professional network. Hope you will have a great sharing out here. Looking forward for your updates....
Have a great day!
© 2017 Created by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Powered by


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Dear Friends,
Im looking for book versions of these two without spending a whole lot. Amamzon has the book of poems by Buddhist monks for around $500!!! thats just insaine...
Please, if you can point me in the right direction, a website? where to buy these 2? I would be very greatful.
As a side note, Im sure most of you have found it is difficult to come across the entire collection of the Anguttara Nikaya...I have the 5 book series by E.M. Hare, not bad, but I thought Id tell you all that Bhikku Bodhi will have his translation out in November of this year! it is for pre-order on amazon.
Thank you in advance for those who may be able to help.


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ORANGE PARK, Fla. - Three teens made their first appearance in court Monday morning in a drive-by shooting of two men.
Keila Smith, 18, Marquise Roberts, 18, and Calvin Bolden, 19, were arrested Sunday and charged with armed robbery.
Roberts was also charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription. Bolden was also charged with aggravated battery and possession of cannabis.
And Smith was also charged with child neglect because deputies said there was a toddler in the back seat of the suspects' vehicle, as well as possession of cannabis.
Two men were shot while standing outside the Blanding Place Apartments in Orange Park about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Clay County deputies said.
Investigators said the three suspects in a white sedan drove by the two victims, and Smith, who was driving, and one of the two other suspects fired a handgun at the two victims, striking both of them, one in the chest and one in the arm.
The victims were taken to Orange Park Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Deputies said Sunday they didn't know how or if the suspects and victims knew each other.
After the shooting, the suspects fled the area, deputies said. Based on the vehicle description from witnesses, deputies were able to find the suspects and make a traffic stop at the 7-Eleven gas station at the intersection of Constitution Drive and Blanding Boulevard.
Smith was taken into custody and the two other suspects fled on foot, deputies said. One was apprehended after a brief foot chase, and the other fled into his own apartment at Blanding Place Apartments, deputies said. Negotiators said they were able to talk him into surrendering, and he was taken into custody.
Deputies said they found a 2-year-old child in a car seat in the suspect vehicle unharmed.
The weapon used in the shooting was located in the suspect vehicle, deputies said.
Copyright 2013 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Ricky Gervais petitions Obama for a Paris Hilton/Victoria Beckham exchange
British comedian Ricky Gervais took to his blog today after finding out Paris Hilton bought a house in London. He's written the following open letter to President Barack Obama in hopes of negotiating a trade:
Dear Mr President,
Firstly, congratulations on your historic win. I have never been so behind a candidate for what must be considered the boss of the world.
You seem to be a man of grace and integrity, who would never shirk responsibility in any way.
I'll get to the point.
As I'm sure you are aware, one of your flock has strayed. A Miss Paris Hilton, who is, I believe, a resident of Beverley Hills, is in England doing a reality game show for ITV2 called Paris Hilton's British Best Friend. Fine. I have no problem with that. I don't have to watch. But now it has come to my attention that she has bought a house in North London a few miles from me, and is out and about ingratiating herself with the Great British public.
Mr President. We are not stupid. This is clearly a retaliatory strike for Posh Spice moving to LA. I know it, and you know it, so let's cut the "it's a free country" nonsense and come to some agreement.
I propose an exchange.
This is how it would work. We call them both and tell them that we've found a giant "paparazzi nest", in New York say. (half way home for both of them already)
At first they may be confused that they'd never heard of such a thing before, but the thought of that many photographers in one place will be irresistible.
Once we get them there, while they are having their photos taken (we will have hire a few guys with cameras to make it look good) we will swap their limos around. It's fool proof.
This is a covert operation of which Mr Gordon Brown knows nothing. (I've got him working on finding a synthetic fur for The Queen's guards' bearskin hats.)
Have your people call my people. They may have to call a few times as my people are useless to be honest.
Thank you,
Ricky Gervais
I'm not even going to attempt to follow that slice of awesome except to say, Suck it, England, she's all yours now. But thanks for Falcor with tits. U-S-A!


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Neil Sperry: Feb. 17, 2013
Published 6:17 pm, Friday, February 15, 2013
The arborist would know whether you might be able to sever one or two major roots and install a root barrier.
Lifestyle Channel
For what it's worth, the tree that was removed could still cause problems. As its roots decay, the soil could sink. It's just something you might want to watch.
I would use a hoe and perhaps a shovel to pull a 3-inch berm of soil surrounding each plant. That reservoir would allow you to water them by hand this year. I think you'll see a big difference in their performance. Feed them with a high-nitrogen fertilizer in early April, early June and early September, 2 or 3 tablespoons per time per reservoir.
Your note indicated you had attached a photograph of the plants, but I did not find it.
Mail questions to Neil Sperry, c/o Features, San Antonio Express-News, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-2171, or email him at SAENgardenQA@ sperrygardens.com.


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Marvin Miller said it himself, the last time in his life that he was turned down for induction into Cooperstown.
"It is an amusing anomaly that the Hall of Fame has made me famous by keeping me out," the legendary baseball union chief said in 2010, a remark resurrected after his passing last week.
Once again, fine job by the guardians of the sport. Whether they think they're protecting the integrity of the institution or not, they're definitely defining the Baseball Hall of Fame as something that isn't deserving of its name.
On the other hand, their hard-headedness gives Miller membership in a more exclusive club – and a more distinguished, honorable one.
Marvin Miller is part of the Hall of Fame Snub Club. They belong in the big Hall, but in being locked out, they're showing how big they actually are … and how small that other Hall really has become.
The Ruths, Aarons and Mayses are in good company in Cooperstown. However, check out the quality of company Miller joins:
Curt Flood
Just as you can't put Miller into the main Hall without Flood, and vice versa, this Hall is not complete without both men in. The constant snubbing of Flood has been as big a travesty as Miller's. Naturally, it's for roughly the same reason: they're guilty of forcing baseball to do the right thing, and baseball stubbornly, obnoxiously refused for too long to do it.
Flood's case has been made in this space over and over again – but there's no need to stop now. He deserves serious consideration for his playing career alone, as he was at the core of the Cardinals' championship teams throughout the 1960s and was a star at the plate, on the bases and in centerfield. But his legacy is all about his challenge to the reserve clause in the late 1960s and early '70s, which, although defeated before the Supreme Court, was the first serious blow to the archaic rules that was so fundamentally unfair to the players.
His nemesis in that fight: commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Same nemesis as Miller during the ugliest days of his fight for player freedom. Kuhn is in. Flood, and Miller, deserve better than to be members of a club that welcomes in Kuhn.
The Linemakers: Do Bonds, Clemens have any chance to get elected?
Buck O'Neil
There's a whole generation of baseball fans whose knowledge about the Negro Leagues comes directly from O'Neil and his star turn in the 1994 Ken Burns documentary, Baseball. Nobody who ever encountered him in any way came away from him with a cross word. Besides being a storyteller for the ages, he also was a great player and manager in his day.
You're tempted to gush about how no better ambassador to the game could have been chosen, how no better bridge from that era to this one could exist, how he's overwhelmingly generous and gracious about a part of baseball history the sport can never apologize for enough – and while you wonder if the gushing is sincere, or if O'Neil is, you realize that they both are thoroughly genuine.
Naturally, when the time came for the Hall to write the wrongs in inducting some of the best of his time from the Negro Leagues, in 2006, 17 people were immortalized – and he wasn't one of them. There was something very seedy, overly political, vaguely jealousy-driven about the omission. Nothing has ever been proven, no one has ever admitted to it.
But O'Neil is what a Hall of Fame should be about, and, like Miller and Flood, he died without that honor.
Shoeless Joe Jackson
A little shy of the standard of purity and nobility of intentions set by Miller, Flood and O'Neil. On the surface, it's not obvious how a guy whom everybody acknowledges took money to throw the 1919 World Series fits in here.
But you can bet they'd all get why he belongs in their club.
Shoeless Joe could have used a Marvin Miller in his day. Anyone who has either read "Eight Men Out" or seen the movie (or even seen "Field of Dreams") understands that the template for cheap, manipulative, greedy ownership and short-sighted, self-serving management was created in Jackson's era, and by men like the owner of the "Black Sox," Charles Comiskey (who is in the Hall of Fame). Players were, to paraphrase Flood's later phrase, well-paid slaves, and not actually well-paid back then.
For that very reason, games were being fixed for money all the time; they would have kept being fixed had this group not gotten caught. In the subsequent court trial, a jury in Chicago couldn't find a law that fit their crime and acquitted the players. The man who held the brand-new office of commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis – hired to protect baseball's "interests" (that is, the owners) – banned Jackson and his teammates anyway.
Of course, Landis is also in the Hall of Fame. One of his many legacies: helping keep the Negro Leagues thriving … by enforcing the ban on black players in the majors for his entire tenure in office.
That other Hall is nice. …
But Marvin Miller, Curt Flood, Buck O'Neil and Shoeless Joe Jackson? That's better than an "amusing anomaly."
That's the kind of fame worth honoring.


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Ex-Boston prospect Pressly makes it to Fenway
Twins' Rule 5 Draft pick catches up with former Minors teammates
BOSTON -- When Ryan Pressly was a prospect in Boston's organization, he always pictured himself taking the mound for the Red Sox at Fenway Park someday.
It wasn't to be, however, as Pressly departed the organization this offseason when he was selected by the Twins in December's Rule 5 Draft.
But Pressly made it to Fenway Park after all, as he found himself in the visitors' clubhouse before Monday's opener of a four-game series against the Red Sox.
"I've been waiting a long time to play here," Pressly said. "Ever since I got signed by the Red Sox, I've always wanted to play at Fenway. And now I'm getting that opportunity. But I never thought I'd be a guest here. But I'm here now and that's all that matters."
Pressly, 24, said it's strange being on the visitors' side, but added he was excited to see his former Minor League teammates such as Will Middlebrooks and Alex Wilson.
He's off to an impressive start -- he has a 2.31 ERA with eight strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings despite making the jump from Double-A -- and said he's happy with the way things have turned out.
"It's gone really well," said Pressly, who must remain on the active roster all season or be offered back to the Red Sox. "I'm just taking it day by day. I'm still learning everything and putting all my trust in Joe [Mauer] and [Ryan] Doumit. I'm just having fun."
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself."
-- Mark Twain
Dave Stancliff/for the Times-Standard
The 113th Congress is stumbling along like the old Congress and on track to be as ineffective. I find this intolerable, unprofessional, and really irritating. We, the American people, are being screwed by the stooges who are supposed to be protect our rights.
So what can we do about it? I've given the subject some thought and here are my recommendations:
1) Institute a new payroll system for Congressmen. Here's how it works; they do not get paid until a law is passed. Once they pass it, they get what's due up to that point. For example; if they take two months to pass a bill then two months salary is due
upon passage.
2) If #1 is still not working, then all insurance and special perks are put on hold, until a law is passed.
3) All Congressmen will be required to complete a special team work course designed to break deadlocks or filibusters. Briefly, the course will included activities such as a group carrying a 20 ft. long tree trunk from point A to point B.
If you're familiar with our military training, this is a common team-building exercise that's been used since the ancient Greeks and Romans. I'm just putting a spin on it.
Setting the pace for the House of Representatives will be majority leader, Eric Cantor and minority leader, Nancy Pelosi. For the Senate, we'll have majority leader Harry Reid and minority leader Mitch McConnell steering the log to its destination.
Here's the kicker; no one gets to quit until the log is taken to point B. For those who can't get there, they're doomed to get calluses on their shoulders. My thought is extreme political ideologies will wilt under reality and they'll come out of the experience ready to honestly negotiate on behalf of the American people.
But why stop there?
4) We could have a new reality show (they're really popular) called "The Men and Women of Congress." Viewers could tune in to watch what's happening live in the Senate and the House. So what? It's already available? Not like I envision this reality show.
Thanks to hidden cameras, we'll also get to see behind the scenes negotiations and other antics our lawmakers indulge in. Think about it for a moment. Torrid affairs. Secret deals. Viewers will tune in by the millions.
Then when you see them on the floor, and our government in action, you'll know the whole story. Insights gleaned from this reality show will be valuable to the voting public. Remember when Mitt Romney talked about the 47 percenters during a private fundraiser? I think you can see the potential.
5) Throw out all the current clowns in Congress and start over with a clean sweep. The new lawmakers will be held to the above standards of teamwork and must be ready to be totally accountable for all their actions.
I think anyone willing to go along with my first four suggestions would be a real asset to our government. Just imagine the amount of cooperation. The rest of the world would stop laughing at us. Wouldn't that be nice?
I'm not the only one who has some extreme ideas for solving the gridlock in Congress. There are quite a few folks out there who are very angry with the inability of our lawmakers to do the job they were elected to do. Some people are actively calling for some radical changes. I love it. They're not kidding around either.
I invite you to visit Make Congress Work (http://www.nolabels.org/work). The organizers bill themselves as The No Labels Action Plan To Change the Rules and Fix What's Broken.
Sounds good. I think it's really interesting to see people taking action instead of just whining like me.
Another site I recommend visiting is The "Kick Them All Out" Project (http://www.kickthemallout.com/) whose solution to our uncooperative Congress is to fire them all and start over.
As mentioned in #5, I think a new slate would be great. Those "Kick Them All Out" folks have all kinds of information and are in the vanguard of change ... hopefully.
As It Stands, meanwhile I'll keep shining a light on the miscreants because someone needs to do it.
Dave Stancliff is a former newspaper editor and publisher who writes this column for The Times-Standard.Comments can be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com or to www.davesblogcentral.com. Also, visit Dave at http://learni.st/users/dave.stancliff.9.


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Posted 6 years ago
(174 items)
Not so long ago a job with the rail road meant a life time of security and many employees earned long service awards like this 50 year gold service award which was also a life time pass. Many worked beyond the 50 year mark! Looking through the old Illinois Central magazines I see that the 50 year awards were not rare and that there was also a silver 40 year service pass. Since so many were issued these passes should be fairly common but I wonder how many have survived the high gold prices back in 1980 and now?


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Langsdale Library Coffee Break
- When:
- Location:
- Langsdale Library
- Room:
- 1st Floor
- Description:
Langsdale Library is giving UB students some extra energy!
Stop by the first floor of the library for FREE coffee, hot chocolate, and tea to stay alert while working on your final paper or studying for your finals.
Monday December 2 - Thursday December 5
- Contact Name:
- Natalie Burclaff
- Contact Email:
- email@example.com
If you need accommodations to participate in this event, please contact the person listed above at least 10 days prior to the event.


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By Jaideep Varma and Jatin Thakkar
We look at the 28 players who were traded publicly in IPL 2012 and determine their value to their teams in terms what was spent on them and what kind of an impact they had.
It would have been great to do this across all players playing in IPL 2012 but it is not possible to do that given that their latest money values are not public. The story from just this is rather interesting too.
It is interesting that Delhi Daredevils have the highest impact value player this year (Bracewell) and also the lowest (Jayawardene). The latter is a high impact player and a costly buy whereas Bracewell was a very smart buy – however, so far, DD has not given enough space to Bracewell to strut his stuff.
Rajasthan Royals has spent wisely this year – Cooper, Hogg and Hodge their best buys. As per career T20 impact numbers, Dinesh Chandimal has been an outstanding buy – but unfortunately, he has not played much yet in IPL 5 – perhaps something they will rectify later. Maybe they will do the same with Sreesanth – who has yet to play this year (despite a very decent T20 impact, without considering the impact Harbhajan Singh made on his cheek in 2008).
Deccan Chargers have done poorly by not playing one of the highest impact domestic batsmen in T20 history (for whom they got for a superb price, perhaps by fluke) Daniel Harris. He has played just one match in IPL 5 – and even his relatively mediocre impact in that puts him in the top 5 impact values here. With this kind of thinking, it is not surprising that DC is languishing at the bottom of the table this year.
Kings XI Punjab made some smart choices – Miller, Mahmood and Faulkner justifying their price-tags. It is unfortunate that Mahmood's visa issues robbed them of one of their highest impact players initially, and Gilchrist's injury has further compounded that problem. However, having the likes of Romesh Powar in the wings (not bought for a smart amount, given his poor impact in T20 cricket) does not augur well for them – they have the worst bench-strength this IPL.
Royal Challengers Bangalore bought two talismanic players at a relatively good price – Muralitharan has been under-utilised perhaps, but Gayle has been making up for that somewhat with signs of yet another remarkable IPL season unfolding for him (RCB benefited from IPL internal rules in this case, as they were able to retain Gayle at a reasonable price, with some controversy). Lightning looks like striking for the second time this year though, given how Gayle is playing. Given RCB's low impact Indian talent, this is probably RCB's best hope.
It is interesting to see Sourav Ganguly on this list – the only captain here – for Pune Warriors. His X-factor captaincy has seen him bring out the best from a low impact side overall – and the value of that transcends all that Impact Index can calculate here.
Kolkata Knight Riders have done reasonably well with Narine but not so much for what they paid McCullum. M de Lange has not proved a great buy, but having played just one match, it is not fair to label him a failure yet.
Mumbai Indians have strangely not used Herschelle Gibbs or Mitchell Johnson (the latter may be injured though) - a waste of their resources given what they paid for them. Even though Peterson turned out to be a good buy, RP Singh perhaps has neutralised things on that count in those quarters. High impact and expensive Thisara Perera has failed in the one match he has played in, so it is early days to make a judgement here.
For Chennai Super Kings, Dwayne Bravo has been good value for money – his high impact this year a big plus for the defending champions. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja hasn't done badly at all in IPL 5 but given the whopping value he was bought for, he is not likely to be a value player, regardless of what he does in this IPL.
For more information, please go to www.impactindexcricket.com


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The same great Galfer Wave Brake Rotors you know are now avaliable with a chrome finished center carrier. These rotors are laser cut from a proprietary high-carbon 420 Stainless Steel that has been heat treated and parallel diamond ground to ensure a perfect surface. The rotors float on an 7071 Aluminum center carrier to ensure optimum pad to rotor contact for maximum stopping force and feel. The vented slots keep the brake system cooler by allowing air to pass over the entire surface of the pad. In wet weather riding conditions the same vented slots help remove water from the rotor. These rotors require no additional spacers or hardware and bolt directly in place of your OEM brake rotors.
Note: Image for reference only. Actual Galfer Chrome Wave Rotors may vary depending on your bike.
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Seed to Box: A Cigar's Journey
Consumers don't often think about it, but the cigar that they blithely pluck from a cedar box in a tobacco store took longer to make than the car they drive and, in some cases, the house they live in.
The extensive journey that a cigar traverses in getting from the fields to its eventual owner was the subject of the "Seed to Box" seminar, hosted by senior editor David Savona in the Saturday session of the Big Smoke Las Vegas.
"It's a long, painstaking process," said Savona, hoping that the seminar, which included a tobacco grower, a cigarmaker, a brand owner and a retailer, would make the audience wonder how cigars could cost only five dollars or so to buy at the end of the cycle.
Nestor Plasencia Jr., one of the world's premiere experts on cigar tobacco.
José Blanco, director of sales for La Aurora S.A., told how the journey to the store can then go on for years. Some of the company's current cigars include tobacco from as far back as 2005 in its blends. That process, while expensive, is worth it, he insisted. "There is only one way to make cigars—good tobacco, well aged."
La Aurora's José Blanco takes a question from the audience.
Sathya Levin, whose company, Ashton Cigars, markets such brands as Ashton and La Aroma de Cuba, spoke from the perspective as a brand owner, revealing how he and members of his company sometimes test 15 to 20 blends before settling on a mixture of tobaccos when creating a new product. "Over time, if you trust your taste, you will come up with something good," he said.
Matt Arcella, owner of the Davidoff shops in Las Vegas, represented the retailing end of the process and spoke to the importance of serving the end user. "The consumer doesn't see the years of hard work that go into a cigar," he said, noting the importance of providing tobacco knowledge to the customer. Matching the consumer with a cigar was one of the key points he stressed, as well as maintaining and presenting the cigars in a clean environment.
Retailer Matt Arcella, owner of Las Vegas' Davidoff cigar shops.
Levin added that part of his job as a brand producer was to raise retailer awareness of cigars, "to get them excited, so the consumer can get excited and feel the passion." He also discussed the creation of a specific cigar, the San Cristobal, explaining it was born from the need to diversify the company's portfolio. The concept going in was to make a full-bodied, spicy smoke with Nicaraguan leaf. The company tapped Jose "Pepin" Garcia, who has impressed the cigar world so much in recent years with a parade of blends that have scored invariably high in the Cigar Aficionado ratings.
Levin said that the process was nevertheless long and involved as tasters went through at least 20 sample blends before arriving at a winner. Blanco, who has a hand in his share of successful blend developments, interjected that "you're not going to get 30 people to immediately like a blend. The day that happens the world will come to an end."
The La Aurora executive also spoke to the serendipity of the blending process, which sometimes yields a smoke that is better than the sum of its parts. Asked by Savona if blending great components could result in a bad cigar, he said, "Yes, a cigar made of all ligero. Smoke it half way through and you will puke and shit your pants."
Sathya Levin, vice president of Ashton Cigars.
The fertilizing process is also a delicate one and must be done in exacting amounts as an overdose of nitrogen will kill the leaf's flavor. Planting legumes in the off season is a method used to keep Ph levels in check. Even after the tobacco is picked it is still highly susceptible to mishaps, he said. "The curing barn can spoil an entire crop in one day if the air circulation is wrong."
Experimenting with new types of tobacco is also an ongoing process for tobacco growers, Plasencia said, adding that it takes three years to find out if an innovation works. "Tobacco speaks to you. You just have to listen."
Photos by Sjodin Photography
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Nelson wins third-base job, aims for higher production
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Rockies third baseman Chris Nelson's spring focus went well beyond making a final push to retain his starting job. Nelson hit home runs in two of his final three Spring Training games to solidify the club's decision to send prospect Nolan Arenado to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Arenado hit four early spring homers and had a .400-plus average at one point. His average was a solid .288 going into Thursday's game -- good enough to fuel dreams, but not enough to force the Rockies to move Nelson, who is out of Minor League options. But the roster gymnastics of March weren't that important to Nelson, who has a leg kick in his swing mechanics that can always lead to slow spring starts. Last year, in 111 games as the Rockies' primary third baseman, Nelson hit .301 with nine home runs and 53 RBIs. Throughout the winter, new manager Walt Weiss and club front-office officials envisioned Nelson as capable of greater run production.
Nelson, 27, believes he will produce more. "I feel pretty good right now, consistent at the plate right now," Nelson said. "Everybody has a goal number, but I just want to put together a good, full season. With our lineup, I don't want to be the weak link. I'm going to do my best to stay with everybody else." Nelson is expected to be the regular No. 8 hitter, which means he will have to exhibit patience and not chase pitches while hitting in front of the pitcher; however, he must be aggressive enough not to simply take walks and leave the success of an inning up to an overmatched No. 9 hitter. Nelson had a .352 on-base percentage last year but had just a .311 OBP while hitting eighth. "It has been an adjustment, but I feel comfortable and don't have a problem with it at all," Nelson said. Arenado, who turns 22 on April 16, is considered a potential power hitter and an important part of the Rockies' future lineup, but Nelson didn't look over his shoulder this spring and insists he won't let that happen. "I don't worry, just play my game," Nelson said. "If my game is not good enough, they can move in a different direction. But I think my game is good enough to play here."
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Hardball in the Rockies, and follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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WOODHOUSE Grange and Sessay will go head to head in the last eight of cricket's Davidstow National Village Cup.
The Hunters York & District Senior League rivals recorded away victories in the last-16 to reach the quarter-final stage of the competition, which climaxes with a Lord's final.
Division one side Sessay beat Manchester-based Woodhouses by five wickets, while premier division leaders Grange ousted Northop, of North Wales, by 66 runs.
Woodhouses won the toss and batted first, cruising to 50 from 12 overs before the introduction of spin slowed their progress, with only 40 runs coming from the next 16 overs.
They slipped from 90-2 to 101-7 before a late flurry carried them to 158 all out, with the last wicket falling on the final delivery of the innings.
Richard Till took 3-26, Matthew Till 2-23 from nine overs, Mark Wilkie 1-16 from nine overs and Joe Watson 2-30.
The Sessay reply raced to 50-1 in the seventh over before Wilkie was out for 28. Again, the scoring rate was arrested by the spin bowlers, but Joe Watson (22) and Tim Hall (22) kept the board ticking over before Nick Thorne acccelerated with four sixes in his 36 not out.
Jacob Spencer dropped anchor with a responsible support innings of 19 as the visitors won with six overs to spare.
Woodhouse Grange batted first at Northop, totalling 191-3 in their 40 overs thanks to Andrew Bilton's 75 and an unbeaten 69 from Mike Burdett, plus 25 by Chris Bilton.
Northop were then bundled out for 125 in 35.1 overs, with Harry Lewis' 34 their top score as Josh Jackson claimed 4-24 and Chris Suddaby 3-21.
Wicketkeeper Mike Burdett claimed four victims, two catches and two stumpings.
Sessay secretary Keith Houlston said: "Woodhouse will start as favourites but we have beaten them in the past. It is one to look forward to and a good one for local cricket."
The sides will meet at Woodhouse Grange's Sutton-on Derwent base on Sunday, July 20.


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Dear Members,
Abhidhamma View : Self-Doer [Attakaarii]
[Presented by Dr.Tep Sastri @SariputtaDhamma/JTN]
Thanks to Hanzze for introducing "Manual of Buddhism" by Venerable Ledi Sayadaw, who wrote on page 273:
22. Not understanding the Law of Dependent Origination (paticca-samuppada), as declared by the Buddha:
"With Ignorance (avijja) as condition, there arise Volitional Activities (sankhara); with volitional
activities as condition, there arises Consciousness (vinnana); with consciousness as condition, there
arise Mentality-and-Materiality (namarupa; ... ) thus there arises this 'whole mass of ills' dukkhakkhandha."
When one is ignorant of this Law of Causality, one firmly holds the wrong view of karaka-ditthi,
insisting that if there is an action there is a doer, so that materiality and mentality cannot be seen
as distinct phenomena or dhamma, but as some person or being.
The above word "doer" is in the sense of a 'self' or 'atta': the ego-entity perception that is a
consequence of the wrong view, atta-di.t.thi, about a permanent self or soul. But the Buddha's term
'atta-kaarii' --self-doer; initiating being-- does not contradict with the anatta doctrine.
"When there is an element of initiating, are initiating beings [4] clearly discerned?"
"Just so, Venerable Sir."
"So, brahmin, when there is the element of initiating, initiating beings are clearly discerned; of such
beings, this is the self-doer, this, the other-doer.[5]
Translator's Notes:
[4]. Aarabbhavanto sattaa. This phrase is in the plural.
[5]. The sense here would seem to be as follows: We clearly discern initiated actions (in ourselves and
in others); so we clearly discern that there are initiating beings who initiate those actions; and the
"self-doer" and "other-doer" are just particular beings amongst that set of beings (who may be
described, for example, from a subjective or objective perspective, respectively).
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... html#fnt-5
Vocabulary: kaarii (m.), doer. kari : [aor. of karoti] did; acted; made; built.
Love Buddha's dhamma,


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Experience Corvallis
The charming city of Corvallis is home to Oregon State University. Located on the west bank of the Willamette River, Corvallis is nestled in the picturesque heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Long considered the "Eden" at the end of the Oregon Trail, the lush Willamette Valley provides an ideal setting for conferences.
Visitors to the area will delight in the wonderful appeal of our historic campus, downtown shopping and dining district and area attractions. Conveniently locatedonly 90 miles south of Portland, just a short distance to the Pacific Ocean and Cascade Mountain Range, and nearby to numerous area attractions and wineries, our site offers conference attendees a multitude of pre- or post-conference activity options.
Our city invites you to experience its spectacular scenery, abundant activities and clement climate. Corvallis is a great place to stay as you explore the area. Take a bike ride, enjoy a winery tour, ski neighboring slopes or visit quaint bedroom communities. For more information about Corvallis, visit the Corvallis Tourism Website or contact them at (541) 757-1544.
Corvallis supports a positive business environment and a diversified economic base. The city is easily accessible and extends a warm welcome to visitors. If you are a meeting planner seeking quality and affordability, look no further. Everything you need to make your event a success is located in Corvallis at the OSU Conference Center. And while our community and meeting space will impress you, it is our commitment to service that will make your Oregon State University experience unlike any other.


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Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans
Throwing Geek Shade: When it comes to franchises, "Avengers" director Joss Whedon has some strong opinions – especially about "Star Wars" and "The Twilight Saga." Joss is in the midst of his own franchise, with production beginning on "The Avengers: Age of Ultron." EW asked the director to look back at some other huge big screen series and dish on what didn't work. He had some headline-worthy thoughts on "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back." "'Empire' committed the cardinal sin of not actually ending," he told the mag. "Which at the time I was appalled by and I still think it was a terrible idea… it's not an ending! It's a Come Back Next Week, or in three years. And that upsets me. I go to movies expecting to have a whole experience. If I want a movie that doesn't end I'll go to a French movie. That's a betrayal of trust to me. A movie has to be complete within itself, it can't just build off the first one or play variations." So what about "Twilight"? "Everything rests on what this girl will do, but she's completely passive, or not really knowing what the hell is going on. And that's incredibly frustrating to me," he said of the Robert Pattinson/Kristen Stewart big screen hits.
PHOTOS: Robert Pattinson: Hollywood's Hottest Vampire!
Speaking Of Robert Pattinson: Hollywood's hottest vampire has a new big screen make out partner. Find out who the actor was spotted locking lips with in Los Angeles on the set of his new movie, "Maps to the Stars."
Madonna, You've Got Something In Your Teeth: Oh, our mistake, it's just a gold grill…something everything 55-year-old mother wears!
PHOTOS: Madonna - Music's Royal Madgesty!
No Carbs For Gwyneth: GOOP guru and health food aficionado Gwyneth Paltrow has some serious will power! According to Us Weekly, during a recent dinner out at Serafina in East Hampton, New York, the actress opted for just veggies while her family enjoyed pasta and pizza. "Gwyneth didn't touch the carbs," a mag source claimed. "She only ate the steamed vegetables. So everyone else had a pizza and pasta feast while she ate her vegetables and drank sparkling water." Sounds like a magical meal.


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Reston Town Center 20th Anniversary Logo Contest
Aug 10, 2009
News Highlights
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins encourages Fairfax County residents to participate in the Reston Town Center 20th Anniversary Logo Contest. The deadline to submit a logo design is Sept. 1. The yearlong anniversary celebration begins with the Reston Holiday Parade on Friday, Nov. 27.
Reston Town Center is sponsoring the logo contest with the theme "Reston Town Center. Defining. Inspiring. 20 years." The winning design will be the official Reston Town Center 20th Anniversary logo and the contest winner will receive a $500 Reston Town Center gift card. The winning designer will be contacted by Oct. 1.
Official rules and guidelines may be found online.
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director, Office of Public Affairs
703-324-3189, TTY 711, Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711


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LOS ANGELES, California – We've got a soft spot for the Fiat 500. Its retrolicious looks and nearly square stance make it both a looker and a driver, albeit a rather underpowered one with its standard 101-hp, 1.4-liter engine. But the 500's compact dimensions blend city car size and hatchback functionality into a package that's more usable than the awful Smart ForTwo at a fraction of the cost of the more plush Mini Cooper. And like both of its competitors, the 500 has gone electric, but only to appease California's zero-emissions vehicle mandate.
That's right, the Fiat 500E unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show is strictly a "compliance vehicle" – a car with the express purpose of meeting a requirement for all automakers selling their wares in California. But that doesn't mean that Fiat (and by extension, Chrysler, which is now owned by the Italians) didn't learn a few things about making an EV in the process. And for an infinitesimal fraction of the California population, the 500E makes a compelling case for itself.
In place of that asthmatic little four-banger, Fiat has swapped in an electric motor good for 111 hp and 147 lb-ft of torque, with power provided by a brace of lithium-ion batteries that tack on an additional 600 pounds of weight. Despite the extra tonnage, the 500E will run from a standstill to 60 mph in around 9 seconds – or about 3 seconds faster than its dino juice-powered sibling.
Fiat is claiming a projected range of between 80 and 100 miles per charge, with the Bosch/Samsung-supplied batteries able to topped off in around 4 hours with a 240-volt outlet, or an achingly long 22 hours if you're plugging it in next to your toaster's 110-volt line.
To set the 500E apart from its non-electric brethren, the exterior gets new front and rear bumpers, 15-inch wheels, tweaked mirrors and a rear spoiler that reduces drag by 13 percent, while a new 7-inch touchscreen embedded in the dash provides charge and range data, incorporated into the navigation system.
Fiat hasn't announced pricing for the California-only 500E, but something in the ballpark of $35,000 before any state or federal tax incentives is a safe bet. But even with that high sticker, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne admits that the automaker will lose money on every 500E it produces – as much as $10,000 per car.
All photos: Alex Washburn/WiredGo Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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Two government reports released this week provided contrary data concerning the state of the economy. On Jan. 28, the Census Bureau released the "Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturer's Shipments, Inventories and Orders, December 2012."
Two days later, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) issued the "Gross Domestic Product: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2012 (Advance Estimate)."
The durable-goods report starts with the following:
"New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $10.0 billion or 4.6 percent to $230.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up seven of the last eight months, followed a 0.7 percent November increase.
"These top lines numbers were immediately viewed as indicative of increasing economic growth by traders of all asset classes and helped to send stocks up and bonds down."
As we get into the report, however, it becomes apparent that the big jump in performance of durable goods was the seasonally adjusted 56.4% increase in December from November for "defense aircraft and parts new orders" and the 110.4% increase in "defense capital goods new orders."
It was not a bad report, but government defense spending is not and should not be considered an indication of broad or private-sector strength.
Putting that aside though, the BEA's GDP report indicates a completely different situation concerning both defense spending and economic activity with this opening sentence:
"Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- decreased at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 (that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent."
Going from an annual growth rate of 3.1% to negative 0.1% in one quarter is quite a dramatic reversal.
It gets more interesting, though, when we get into the report. In Table 1, line 23 we see national defense spending decreasing by 22.2% in the fourth quarter from the third. This reduction was one of the primary drivers of the fourth-quarter GDP going negative.
The bottom line is that both reports may be providing accurate data: a large increase in month-to-month data with a large decrease in quarter-to-quarter.
Traders have a tendency to rely upon top-line numbers for speculating. Investors need to keep in mind that these reports are simply a collection of data points that provide inputs to a logic system for creating information on the economy.
Both of these, however, assume that the numbers are accurate, not manipulated, and that they are presented at arm's length.
Unfortunately, this is not the case, as I will discuss this weekend. Those of you who want to get a head start on that column can read "Deconstructing Inflation" from last May.