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February 8, 2013
Arbitration Showdown
Mock Hearing: Jim Johnson
It's salary arbitration season in Major League Baseball, and here at Baseball Prospectus we're holding mock hearings, arguing for or against the actual team/player filing figures before a three-person panel of certified arbitrators. We've selected 10 of this winter's most intriguing, highest-dollar cases to cover in depth over the first two weeks of February (regardless of whether the players' real-life cases remain unsettled). After each side's opening argument and rebuttal/summation below, we'll give you a chance to vote on what you think the result should be before seeing the panel's decision. For more on the arbitration process, read the series intro by Atlanta Braves Assistant GM John Coppolella, listen to his appearance on Episode 35 of Up and In, or check out the BP Basics introduction to arbitration.
In Part Five of this 10-part series, we'll tackle Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Johnson, who is seeking $7.1 million and has been offered $5.7 million. Johnson and the Orioles have yet to reach an agreement. (*Update* Johnson and the Orioles avoided arbitration and settled for $6.5 million after this piece was published.)
The complete procedure for salary arbitration is available in the Basic Agreement.
The Case
Last season, the Baltimore Orioles made the postseason for the first time since 1997, and did so largely on the strength of their extraordinary record in close games. As the team's closer—the relief pitcher responsible for getting the crucial outs to finish off narrow victories—Jim Johnson was a key factor in that record, and he played a large part in Baltimore finally snapping its playoff drought.
Johnson's request of a $7.1 million salary is more than reasonable when considered in the context of his importance to Baltimore's playoff berth. The Orioles won 29 of their 38 games that were decided by one run last season. That's the best winning percentage a team has recorded in one-run games since the American League was founded in 1901.
Even good teams can generally be expected to finish around break even in such games, which means Baltimore gained around 10 extra wins from its performance in close contests.
If the Orioles had recorded a more typical record in one-run games, they would have finished well out of the playoff race. Instead, with Baltimore engaged in its first playoff race in this century, the Orioles' attendance increased by nearly 20 percent and surpassed two million for the first time in five years. Thirteen of those one-run wins came at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Baltimore went 74-0 when it held a lead after the seventh inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two teams have had a better record in that category, the most recent being the 2011 Detroit Tigers.
Since the Orioles were so reliant upon preserving narrow advantages, no closer in baseball was more important to his team's success then Johnson. It's obvious but worth stating: Modern baseball managers use a closer to save games. It's the closer's one and only job. Last season, no one did it as well as Johnson, who was rewarded with the American League's Rolaids Relief Man Award, the honor given annually to the league's best relief pitcher, and pitched in the 2012 All-Star game.
How well did Johnson perform his job? He became just the 11th relief pitcher in big-league history to record 51 or more saves.
Johnson saved three more games than any other pitcher in baseball and six more than any Orioles pitcher before him. Johnson recorded as many or more saves by himself than 27 of the other 29 teams did as a whole across baseball. He failed to convert a save just three times in his 54 regular-season chances, and in one of those he earned the win after the Orioles went on to defeat their opponent.
Johnson's conversion percentage of 94 percent ranked better than all but one of the save leaders in 2012. If Johnson had matched the MLB-average conversion rate of 70 percent, he would have saved just 38 of his 54 opportunities, and even if Baltimore had rallied to win some of the failed conversions, it almost certainly would not have made the playoffs.
A closer can sometimes earn an "easy" save by entering a game which meets the minimum requirements of the rule, which is to pitch one inning while preserving a three-run lead. Johnson had just six such games, and he recorded more "tough" saves than any other pitcher in baseball.
Johnson saved seven games that went into extra innings, contributing to the Orioles' remarkable 16-2 record in those contests. He also entered six games that were tied when he came on to pitch and thus didn't have a save opportunity. He didn't allow a run in any of them.
By any definition it was an impeccable performance, and Johnson is easily worthy of his request for $7.1 million for the 2013 season. Because the job of a closer is so clearly defined, it's relatively easy to compare them amongst a peer group.
There have been nine recent examples in which a player near Johnson's level of service time recorded 41 or more saves in a platform season within a year of Johnson's level of service time. All of the comparable players were awarded substantial pay increases for the following season, and were so rewarded based on lower save totals than Johnson's.
Note that the average post-platform year compensation ($6.8 million) is higher than the midpoint in this case ($6.4 million), much closer to Johnson's requested salary of $7.1 million than the club's offer.
Soria and Lidge are outliers on the chart. Soria signed a below-market deal with Kansas City in exchange for a longer contract term. Lidge had logged more years as a closer than Johnson. Overall, the average of the two post-platform salaries of these players brings them in line with the context of this table. Also, note that Bell and Valverde posted consecutive qualifying seasons, which speaks to the likelihood of Johnson sustaining his performance.
Johnson's request for $7.1 million is appropriate in the context of peers coming off platform seasons with a high number of saves, given the $6.8 million average and especially given Johnson's higher number of saves. The club's proposed figure represents a considerably smaller pay increase ($3.1 million) than that of Bell, the most recent example. Such an increase would also leave Johnson $1.1 million below the established level of average post-platform compensation received by those in his peer group.
Johnson had four more saves than any other pitcher in his peer group. His saves "meant" a great deal in the context of the playoff race, as Johnson's preservation of numerous narrow leads helped boost Baltimore into the postseason. It's highly unlikely that the Orioles would have played into October without Johnson's consistent performance in clutch situations, and he should be compensated accordingly. —Bradford Doolittle
The club's submission of $5,700,000 (which would be the largest annual salary ever for a reliever with less than two years of experience as his team's closer) appropriately compensates Johnson for both his platform-season performance and his previous, though limited, experience as a closer. But it does not—and the panel should not—overcompensate Johnson based on one impressive season's worth of performance in the absence of the demonstrated sustained success in the role of closer that has historically been fundamental in awarding a reliever an annual salary greater than $6,000,000 (adjusted for the increase in average player salary to 2012 levels).
Quite simply, Jim Johnson's submission of $7,100,000 seeks to place him in elite company among relievers with comparable service time, and does so in opposition to the manner in which top-tier salaries historically have been determined for closers. Since 2007, only six relievers with comparable service time have received a salary over $6,000,000 (adjusted). In each case, the player's platform year performance has not been a driving factor in determining his salary, as can be determined by comparing baseline statistics for each.
Baseline Platform Year Statistics for Closers
While these platform year statistics vary widely, having no discernable unifying characteristic, further examination of this grouping of players shows there is a performance nexus we can look to in determining whether, historically, a player has been rewarded with a salary greater than $6,000,000 (adjusted). The commonality among these six arms is a uniform demonstration of sustained success in the role of closer, evidenced by multiple years of service in the role and an accumulation of at least 100 saves over the course of their respective careers as of the completion of their platform year.
Career Save Totals and Years as Closer Through Platform Year
Since 2007, no reliever with service time comparable to Johnson's has been awarded a salary north of $6,000,000 (adjusted) without meeting this criteria, and no reliever that has met this criteria has received a salary less than Brad Lidge's 2007 adjusted salary of $6,250,000 (aside from Joakim Soria, who was under a multi-year contract at the time and, we assume, chose to sacrifice annual realization for greater long-term security). Indisputably, this level of annual salary has historically been reserved for established closers with sustained success over multiple seasons. While Johnson by all accounts enjoyed a highly productive 2012, his 72 career saves (60 over his seven months as closer for Baltimore from September/October 2011 through September/October 2012) leave him well short of such a distinction.
Of the qualifying names examined, only Francisco Rodriguez and Brad Lidge were able to achieve enough success in the closer role to amass over 100 saves in less than three years. An examination of each full season completed by Rodriguez and Lidge, leading up to and including their platform season, reveals multiple years on par with Johnson's 2012.
Francisco Rodriguez and Brad Lidge
To award Johnson a 2013 salary of $7,100,000 would essentially split the difference between Rodriguez's and Lidge's compensation for their 2006 seasons, while ignoring the fact that each player had already provided a full year of production as a closer in 2005, in each case on par with Johnson's 2012. Further, the club's submitted salary trumps each of the salaries earned by Rodriguez and Lidge following their first season as their team's respective closer—seasons which are statistically similar to Johnson's 2012.
While Johnson's limited track record should disqualify him from having his salary grouped with those of the six pitchers discussed above, he compares quite favorably when set next to other closers with comparable service time and less than two full seasons serving as the closer for their respective team.
Most Single-Season Saves With <2 Years as Closer
Breakdown by Months Serving as Closer
*Note: For purposes of this table we examine only saves accumulated while the pitcher was considered the closer, and not "situational saves" accrued while the pitcher was primarily serving in another capacity as part of his bullpen; Johnson's listed salary is the club's submitted salary.
Again, we see added weight assigned to track record, with each of Jose Valverde and J.J. Putz leading the way in salary, career saves, and duration serving as his team's closer. Johnson fits behind Putz in terms of career saves (72) and is most similar to Joel Hanrahan in terms of time spent as the closer for his club (seven months). A comparison of Valverde's, Putz's, Hanrahan's, and Johnson's respective platform years follows.
Jim Johnson vs. Jose Valverde
Jim Johnson vs. J.J. Putz
Jim Johnson vs. Joel Hanrahan
On a platform season basis, Johnson compares favorably with each of Valverde, Putz, and Hanrahan, and the club acknowledges that Johnson deserves recognition for a particularly successful 2012—his first full season serving as closer. His 51 saves, 94 percent success rate, 2.49 ERA, and 1.019 WHIP are all impressive accomplishments and, while his All-Star selection and American League Rolaids Relief Award do not distinguish him from his contemporaries in this grouping (players listed in the tables above have had varying degrees of All-Star selections and Rolaids Relief Awards with no discernible effect as to their compensation the following season), we too note our satisfaction with these honors being bestowed upon him.
Each of these listed achievements should be appropriately recognized in setting Johnson's salary compensation for 2013. The club's submission of $5,700,000 does this and appropriately compensates Johnson to the tune of the largest annual salary ever for a reliever with less than two years of experience as his team's closer. A finding in favor of the club's submission would reward Johnson for a very strong 2012 while correctly reserving the top tier of annual closer salaries for those pitchers that have not only performed admirably for a season, but have shown themselves through repeated successes over multiple seasons to be upper-echelon relievers. It is the club's hope that Johnson reaches such status in the coming years, but he has not earned such a distinction through his 2012 performance alone. —Nick J. Faleris
We reiterate that a closer's one and only job is to accumulate saves. In Jim Johnson's case, there are really two considerations: How are closers who save games with the frequency he did in 2012 compensated? And how likely is he to sustain his current level of performance?
Our opening brief dealt with the typical changes in compensation for closers who save an inordinately high level of games, none of whom saved as many games as Johnson did in 2012. The club's presentation notes that the salary Johnson is seeking is generally reached by closers only after multiple years of serving in the role. However, the pitcher can control only his performance, not the role in which he is used.
In terms of the most crucial statistics for pitchers, Johnson performed at largely the same level of effectiveness during the four years prior to 2012 that he did last season. The primary difference is saves. Johnson was not used as Baltimore's primary closer during the earlier timeframe, even though his performance suggested that he would be able to effectively hold down the role. He proved that by saving seven straight games during the last month of the 2011 season and converting 51 of 54 chances during a historically remarkable performance in 2012. Again, that 94-percent conversion rate was well over the MLB average of 70 percent.
Johnson's platform season didn't represent an unusual leap in performance, only a change in role. That he pitched slightly better in the more crucial role suggests that he will be a reliable closer going forward. While last season was his first full season as the Orioles' closer, Johnson was not a rookie. He is a veteran with more than four years of service time and an established record of performance.
Among the pitchers on our list of comparable players from the opening brief, four recorded 41 or more saves in their fourth year of service time. Three of those four posted 40 or more saves the following season as well. The exception, Joakim Soria, injured his elbow in September of 2011 and hasn't pitched since. The evidence suggests that once a player reaches the level of established closer, he tends to stay there for the near term.
Again, the post-platform average salary level for that group—$6.8 million—is well above the $6.4 million midpoint between the club's submitted figure and that requested by our client, and is much closer to the requested figure of $7.1 million as opposed to the club's offer of $5.7. In recognizing Johnson's historic level of achievement as being one of nine players in the history of baseball to reach 51 saves, the panel will be bringing Johnson's salary in line with those of similar service time who have performed in the role he fills at the level at which he fills it. —Bradford Doolittle
Johnson's submission and accompanying argument rests on a narrative that 1) closer value is measured by save totals, 2) the Baltimore Orioles made the playoffs last year because of their record in close games, and 3) Johnson was a significant factor in the club's record in close games. The club fully agrees that Johnson performed admirably in his role, but it is the performance of his teammates that put him in a position to realize such a lofty save tally.
As noted in Johnson's opening argument, the club did not lose a game in which it held a lead after the seventh inning. While Johnson certainly did his part in recording the final out in 51 save situations, the remainder of the bullpen was additionally impressive in its performance in "save situations" (innings pitched in which a player was maintaining or completing a potential save opportunity). The following tables illustrate how each individual member of the bullpen performed in save situations and compare the performance of the bullpen as a unit (without Johnson) to Johnson's performance alone.
2012 Baltimore Orioles Bullpen vs. Jim Johnson in Save Situations
2012 Baltimore Orioles Bullpen vs Jim Johnson In Save Situations
Johnson was indeed an important piece of a bullpen that preserved wins in all 74 games in which the team held a lead after the seventh inning. But he was simply a piece of the engine, and not the driving force. Without the 83 sterling innings provided by the other eight Orioles bullpen members to log time in save situations, Baltimore certainly would not have enjoyed such success in those 74 games. Further, Johnson would not have been afforded the luxury of 54 save opportunities leading to his impressive save total. Finally, because Johnson's strikeout rate (SO/9 and SO/BB) lagged behind those of the rest of the pen, Johnson was additionally more dependent on his defense for recording outs, further evidence that Baltimore's success in the late innings was attributable to far more than simply the man throwing the final pitch.
Johnson's argument for an unprecedented 2013 salary of $7,100,000 further attempts to find footing by limiting the discussion to the increase in salary, as opposed to the ultimate yearly salary historically awarded to comparable performers. Even then, in order to explore this as potential justification for such an outlandish annual salary, Johnson's argument must resort to looping in players with additional service time (five-plus years as opposed to Johnson's four-plus years). The result is unsurprising—those four players account for the top four total salaries and the top five total salary increases in the table provided in Johnson's opening argument.
Limiting the comparison to players with comparable service time tells quite a different story—one in which the club's submission represents a generous compensation offer in light of historical averages. (Note: We have additionally removed Joakim Soria from the below modified table so as to avoid artificially lowering the averages due to the particulars of his multi-season deal).
The club's submission would reward Johnson with a salary increase of $3,100,000—about 7 percent more than the average salary increase for true comparable players coming off of a 41-plus save season, per Johnson's own numbers. Shockingly, Johnson's submission would reward Johnson with a salary increase of $4,500,000—about 55 percent more than the average salary increase for the above-discussed comparable players. Not only would such an increase be unprecedented, but it would also have potentially significant effects on future rewards for arbitration-eligible closers who have enjoyed short-term success without demonstrating an ability to sustain that success.
Since saves were first recorded as a statistic, 73 different players have compiled 40 or more saves in a single season. Of those 73 players, less than half (35) were able to repeat the feat, and just 30 percent (22) were able to record back-to-back seasons with 40 or more saves. As noted in Johnson's opening argument, Heath Bell and Jose Valverde are two such pitchers that were able to log back-to-back seasons with 40-plus saves. While Johnson's argument goes on to use this as evidence that Johnson is likely to repeat his performance, history has clearly provided a different story. Indeed, the rarity of such an occurrence is precisely what makes track record and sustained success such an important component in determining whether a closer will receive an elite annual salary of $6,000,000 (adjusted) or above. Based on all the evidence before us, it should come as no surprise that Bell and Valverde achieved their elite-tier closer salaries—$7,500,000 and $8,000,000, respectively—only upon establishing themselves as successful full-time closers over multiple years. Johnson may join this elite class as early as a year from now, but present inclusion is simply not yet warranted.
As noted in the club's opening argument, Johnson performed exceptionally well in his first year as closer for the Baltimore Orioles, and must be rewarded appropriately. The club's submission achieves this in the form of the highest-ever single-season salary for any closer with comparable service time and comparable closing experience, as well as the highest salary increase for any closer with comparable service time and 41-plus saves in a single season. Johnson's submission would be a massive overpay and would serve to shrug aside the most important historical component in determining closer salary—demonstrated sustained success in the role of closer. That is a precedent this panel should not set. —Nick Faleris
Before scrolling down to read the three-person panel's decision, record your own decision here:
Burt Fendelman is an attorney with more than 45 years of experience, initially in corporate finance and securities laws working as inside counsel for several major securities brokerage firms. He has performed as an arbitrator for FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), the American Arbitration Association, and currently as an arbitrator and mediator for the New York County Lawyers Association in fee dispute-related matters. He is presently a self-described "work in progress", working with clients in areas related to art and antiques. He attended Washington University in St. Louis and NYU Graduate School of Tax Law, and he now lives in Manhattan.
Doris Lindbergh is a retired lawyer who is an arbitrator with FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and its predecessor forums, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the New York Stock Exchange. She also arbitrates for the National Futures Association (NFA). She attended Washington University School of Law and has a Master of Arts from Fordham University. Her employment history includes stints at Wall Street investment banks and, most recently, the MTA New York City Transit Authority, but her most challenging assignment was raising a future Editor-in-Chief of Baseball Prospectus.
David Marcus is a retired lawyer and serves as an arbitrator with the Financial Advisory Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He lives in Metuchen, New Jersey. He attended Columbia College and Yale Law School, after which he served as an enforcement attorney with the SEC. His subsequent career includes working for the New York Stock Exchange heading its regulatory division, and working for several broker-dealers as a regulatory attorney or General Counsel.
3-0 in favor of the Club
The Sabermetric Perspective/Additional Commentary
On Thursday, we analyzed the arbitration case of Max Scherzer, whose ability to miss bats dominated the discussion. Between the two advocates, the word "strikeout" was used 16 times. Today we turned our attention to Jim Johnson, and "strikeout" didn't surface until the Club's rebuttal/summation (and even then only once). Only the strikeout pitcher's case persuaded the panel.
It's tough to think of two other pitchers who performed at such a high level last season with such disparate styles. Scherzer led all qualified starters in strikeout rate. Johnson not only trailed all closers in strikeout rate—as a group, the other 17 pitchers with at least 20 saves recorded Ks more than twice as frequently—he trailed nearly all relievers in strikeout rate. Among relievers with at least 60 innings pitched, Johnson's 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings ranked ahead of only one: Alex Burnett. Alex Burnett has a lifetime 4.61 ERA, with three career save opportunities. He blew all three.
Both Johnson and Scherzer do something a perfect pitcher wouldn't: Johnson allows a lot of balls to be put in play, and Scherzer doesn't get any grounders. Each one has the coveted trait the other lacks; put all of their attributes together, and they'd be the best of all possible pitchers, a flamethrowing control artist who racks up strikeouts and gets ground balls (also known as "Felix Hernandez"). But if Johnson's success tells us anything, it's that since so few pitchers come close to perfection, we shouldn't dismiss or mislabel the ones with warts—even warts as unsightly as an almost laughably low strikeout rate. The Orioles bucked convention when they entrusted Johnson with save opportunities, and while pitch-to-contact types don't normally set the sabermetric pulse to pounding, Johnson's 2012 success is another data point in favor of the (perhaps overly simplistic) numbers nerd credo that "anyone can close."
The outcome of the case hinged on whether Johnson can repeat his success; arguing on behalf of the Orioles, Nick contended that closers get paid for consistency, a rarer commodity than a single season of piling up saves. So is Johnson's success sustainable?
Normally, we'd look at the low BABIP, K rate, and HR/FB rate and make dire predictions about the correction to come. But there is some research to suggest that groundball pitchers allow weaker contact on grounders than the typical pitcher, and the fact that Johnson has kept up the act for two seasons makes it seem slightly more compelling (even though the two seasons together total only 150-plus innings, which we'd have no problem labeling luck if it came in a single season of starting).
On the other hand, there's his BABIP in 170 innings from 2006-2010: .300 on the nose, with a 3.65 ERA. Johnson has been a better pitcher since then, walking fewer batters and getting more grounders, but PECOTA still expects more of the same: a 3.66 ERA. That wouldn't be good enough for another 94 percent save success rate, or to live up to the standard set by some of the other pitchers in the 50-saves club. But it's not quite Kevin Gregg. —Ben Lindbergh
Thanks to Dan Evans, Colin Wyers, Hudson Belinsky, Jonah Birenbaum, and Andrew Koo for research assistance.
Bradford Doolittle is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
2 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
Johnson's own team gives his comps, and says they get an average raise of $3.2mil. Adding that to his 2012 salary gets to $5.8 which is not much different than the club's offer.
Feb 08, 2013 08:34 AM
Nick Faleris
BP staff
This was an interesting case in that we had a fairly wide spread (by closer standards) between the player's submission and the club's submission. I believe Brad and I are tackling Romo next week, which I imagine will force a very different set of arguments.
Feb 08, 2013 11:08 AM
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Link Ink: 'Arrow' Gets A Different Katana, New Justice League Six Flags Ride And Hawkeye's New Movie Costume
Each weekday, ComicsAlliance brings you a carefully selected variety of links from around the web about comics and comics-related media, including movies, video games, toys, and whatever else might be worth noting. Quite frankly, these are items you may just need to know about to have a productive day. Take a look at today's hand-picked links after the jump.

subset: commoncrawl


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Made in HeavenRiddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
What has three rooms, three doors, two windows, and one chair but is built for hundreds of people?
HintSorry, no hints in there.
AnswerA Confessional or Confessional Box.
It has three stalls or rooms with the middle for the priest. Each stall or room usually has a door. There are only two small windows giving the priest limited view of the other two stalls. Only the priest has a seat or chair as the penitents must kneel. Hundreds of people use it.
Hint: Sorry suggests a confession.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this riddle, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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Find accommodations in Taylorsville with the hotel list provided below. Search for cheap and discounted hotel and motel rates in or close to Taylorsville, KY for your personal leisure or group travel. We list the best Taylorsville Kentucky hotel/motel rooms. Review the Taylorsville hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. We also have a map of the Taylorsville hotels.
The Taylorsville center point is approximately 9 miles east of Commonwealth Stadium and 13 miles southwest of Jewish Hospital Shelbyville.
How should we direct your call?


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UW-Madison students safe after Haiti quake
Two separate groups of University of Wisconsin–Madison students are unharmed and accounted for after Tuesday's catastrophic earthquake near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The first group is a team of UW–Madison students traveling with the student organization Engineers Without Borders, UW–Madison. The group is safe in the rural village of Bayonnais, Haiti, approximately 70 miles north of the capital.
Five students and a professional engineering advisor travelled to the country on Sunday, Jan. 10 as part of a project to build a small hydroelectric plant. They reported feeling small tremors in their village.
The team was scheduled to return to the U.S. on Friday, Jan. 15, but has been advised to stay in the village of Bayonnais and continue to work on their EWB project as the United Nations and emergency crews begin responding to the disaster.
University staff from the College of Engineering and the Offices of the Dean of Students are monitoring the situation and are assisting with travel logistics to the extent possible.
In addition, seven current and former UW–Madison students were also in the country as part of the Milwaukee-based Haiti Project.
Five group members returned to the U.S. on Tuesday, hours ahead of the disaster and two others remaining in Haiti have been accounted for.
The volunteers were doing electrical work and trying to establish an Internet connection for a small village in the mountains near the community of Jeannette in the southwest part of the country.
"We're very thankful that all of our students are unharmed, and wish them a safe return," says Dean of Students Lori Berquam. "But we recognize how lucky we are and send our thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti as they cope with this unthinkable catastrophe."
EWB at UW–Madison has a long history of good works on behalf of the impoverished nation.
Contributions to EWB efforts in Haiti can be made here, and donations to International Red Cross earthquake relief efforts can be made here.
Tags: international, student life


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Suffering is asking from life what it can never give you.
mindfulness, bliss and beyond (page 8) wrote:Do not linger on the past. Do not keep carrying around coffins full of dead moments
Kusala wrote:Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Ajahn Brahm
Bhikkhu Bodhi
SamBodhi wrote:Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Ajahn Chah
Ajahn Mun
Ajahn Maha Boowa
Nina van Gorkham
David N. Snyder wrote:Hi yawares,
I moved your last two posts from "favorite historical figures" to this thread since the teachers you mentioned are contemporary, not from the time of the Buddha.
Have you met Thera Buwa?
yawares wrote:
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Look for some pet projects now that the election is over
Don Heinzman Column — Now that the election is over, look for some winners to have some pet projects.
One place to watch is the city of Coon Rapids where the council is considering how many domestic animals a household can have.
Right now, the limit is one dog and one cat. If a resident wants to keep more than two, they must apply for a multiple pet permit.
In many communities, there is no limit on the number of other domestic animals a household can have. The city of Bloomington has a limit of four, unless there are puppies under the age of six months.
The Coon Rapids City Council is considering a limit of 12 domestic animals plus a dog and a cat, since there is no limit the number of domestic animals.
At a work session, City Attorney David Brodie defined domestic animals as: non-poisonous snakes, birds kept indoors, non-poisonous spiders, turtles, lizards, hamsters, chinchillas, mice, rabbits, gerbils, white rats, guinea pigs or similar smaller animals capable of being maintained continuously in cages indoors.
The council hasn't passed this ordinance and probably will consider it at a work session sometime in January.
At the same time, a resident of Coon Rapids wants the council to consider an ordinance that would permit residents to raise chickens.
They might well check with the Eagan City Council that just passed an ordinance amendment allowing residents to raise five chickens on a residential property.
According to "Burnsville/Eagan Sun Thisweek" Reporter Jessica Harper, a resident, Barb Harpster, plans to raise chickens in her backyard. She says chickens are great for organic gardening.
This ordinance is not something to crow about. No roosters will be allowed on residential property, no chickens at townhouses or apartments, no slaughter of chickens and selling of their eggs.
Get this. The chicken coop exterior must match the exterior of the home's finish.
A $50 permit will be charged. The property will be inspected to get a permit and a renewal.
Harper reports that Eagan isn't the only bird in the coop. Fourteen Minnesota cities including Bloomington have adopted ordinances that allow a small number of chickens on a residential lot. Bloomington has a limit of four chickens per household in a residential area.
Apparently, these pet ordinances are not ruffling any feathers and after we heard political candidates give each other the "bird" during political campaigns, we thought you'd enjoy knowing that your city councils are looking after you and your pets.
Don Heinzman is a columnist and editorial writer for ECM Publishers, Inc.


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Seemingly on cue with my second heaping plate at the holiday party, and with the soft layer of flesh enveloping my hips and escaping my waistband, SFR got me a one-month kickboxing membership for Christmas.
Which was unnecessary, of course, because I'm a runner—an infrequent, disingenuous and unqualified runner. I am part of that stoic elite who brave all elements in search of that unparalleled burn. But I went anyway.
Like all runners, I am a loner. I eschew team sports and group activities and, until last month, didn't even have a Facebook page. So, naturally, I begged my friend Amanda to accompany me.
Our first trip to ANK Marshall Arts found us navigating an industrial park off of Richards Avenue, only to find the gym housed in the quintessential industrial warehouse. The cave was populated with accustomed bodies that exhaled a comical "neesh, neesh" as they landed their kicks and punches. Huge punching bags stood at attention in ordered relief to sundry workout equipment and countless placards.
We were out of our element and we'd been spotted.
The cardio class to which we sentenced ourselves can be glibly described as karate-aerobics. Surrounded by a one-to-one ratio of men and women of varying body types, ages and abilities, we were subjected to a slew of demonically creative tortures—I never knew that squats happened in sets greater than 10 nor that one was meant to suspend her body on merely her toes and elbows. These little agonies are conducted in intervals of varying length and intensity, punctuated by a series of bells—anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes with respective breaks in between.
The sorcerer behind these myriad malignancies is the gym's owner and one of its eight instructors, Natalie Roy, a woman with the frame of a little girl—a little girl made of steel. Roy began studying martial arts at age 8 and received a black belt at 14. When she isn't at the gym or working part-time as a veterinary technician, she runs marathons for fun.
For Roy, kickboxing has helped her through tough times in her life. For Amanda and me, it seemed a good alternative to doing nothing at all.
After the first class (which, along with the second, is free), Amanda picked up a one-month membership ($80, $45 with a 6-month contract) and we decided we'd try to go a few times a week. We went the next day and, inexplicably, every day thereafter.
Despite my runner's physique, the first week was exhausting. My legs were peppered (think all varieties of pepper) with bruises. Movement, even at my desk, was labored. I slept with reckless abandon and my appetite was ravenous, but my glut didn't leave me thinking I was making bad life choices.
A month later, to my dismay, strict attendance had not chiseled my frame to that of an Olympian. Did I mention that, in addition to being a runner and a loner, I am very vain? It did leave a line of lean muscle visible on my outer thigh and a strange oblong knot on my upper arm. Amanda lost 5 pounds. More importantly, kickboxing left Amanda and me with an incredible sense of our own physical capability. Most importantly, we kept going.
The variation in exercise type and execution, I believe, is what contributes to kickboxing's (and our) staying power.
"People get addicted to the workout and the natural high," Roy says. She adds, "You can't learn to protect yourself in aerobics."
You can't look cool as hell either (Kumite! Kumite!, anyone?).
The gym has other offerings besides my cardio mainstay, ones too socially demanding and combative for the likes of a runner (read: for someone with poor hand-eye coordination). Judo, Western boxing and Muay Thai classes—imagine the punching bag were another person—are, however, unabashedly (bashedly!) badass. There are kids' classes too.
We have now been going to kickboxing for eight months, at times more dutifully than others. The incessant bells are now familiar, the exercise is still exhausting and eating crappy food still makes us feel crappy. There are no miracles. Kickboxing, like running, is hard, sometimes tedious but—sometimes in more tangible ways than others—definitely worth it.
Unlike running, there is variation and, if that isn't enough, there is the shame of watching older and less obviously fit classmates keep up, while I, pathetic, retch on the floor.
Kickboxing has allowed me to explore the abilities of my body and, by extension, the limits. That said, I know now there are many things I'm not, but I'm definitely a kickboxer.
ANK Marshall Arts
3208 Richards Lane


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The 2013 GRAMMY Nominees album will be available Jan. 22, 2013, in stores and via digital retailers.
The 19th installment of the best-selling series will feature a bevy of this year's GRAMMY-nominated artists and hit songs across multiple genres. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the album will help support the year-round efforts of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares Foundation two charitable organizations of The Recording Academy. Launching in conjunction with "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live…Countdown To Music's Biggest Night, airing Dec. 5 (TONIGHT!) on CBS, music fans can log on to GRAMMY.com, GRAMMY.com/2013GRAMMYAlbum or CBS.com to pre-order the album and enter to win a trip for two to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
The GRAMMY Awards will be held on Sunday Feb. 10, 2013 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.


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D-Link Chassis Switches are intelligent and high-performance multi-layer LAN devices designed for enterprise campus and metropolitan area networks. They are ideal for deploying in environments that require the uninterrupted running of network applications and very high levels of performance, security and control.
These switches feature a flexible modular architecture and industry standard compliance, they are well-suited to businesses and telecom carriers wishing to deploy Gigabit and 10-Gigabit packet and switching for office networking and Ethernet-based internet services to homes.
Renowned for their reliability, the D-Link Chassis Switches feature minimum of zero downtime, robust security and real-time running of bandwidth-intensive applications.


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Happy toddler zone
Everything parents need to know about raising happy, healthy little ones. more
Nuts are everywhere! They are used as flavourings in foods and are tasty in chocolate bars. Peanut butter is a cheap source of protein and kids love it, so it is often used in schools and daycare centres as a snack or luncht ime staple. But some kids are allergic to nuts and need a special, nut-free diet.
Peanuts are the primary cause of nut allergies. But, because manufacturers that process peanuts may also process other types of nuts, a child with a nut allergy should avoid all nuts due to cross-contamination that may occur during processing.
Even foods that don't contain nuts may be contaminated with tiny amounts of nuts during manufacturing. Snacks, cereals, and especially sweets are often manufactured in a way that allows for cross-contamination.
Because food allergies are on the rise, manufacturers are required to label products that contain foods that can cause allergies. This includes nuts. Read labels carefully and watch for any statements that indicate that the food item was manufactured in a facility that processes nuts. Teach your child to do the same.
Avoiding nuts is generally not a food preference. It's a necessity. Because food allergies can be life threatening, reading labels, avoiding foods that might be questionable, and informing your child's teachers, caretakers, and even his friends' parents that your child cannot eat nuts or foods containing nuts can literally save his life.
Never ignore a label that says a food has been manufactured in a plant that processes nuts. Even if that food itself doesn't list nuts as an ingredient, the fact that it may have come into contact with nuts at any point during the manufacturing process means that your child can't eat it.
Written by Rebecca Stigall for Kidspot, Australia's parenting resource for family health. Sources include Better Health Channel, NSW Health, and Health Insite.
Last revised: Monday, 31 May 2010
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.


text: Bridgestone Safety Scholars February 25, 2009 12:00 AM At a welcoming reception for automotive media, Bridgestone Americas announced the launch of its third annual Safety Scholars Video Contest as part of its ongoing commitment to automotive safety education. Targeted to young drivers, Safety Scholars entrants create short auto safety-themed videos. This year, another topic—automotive environmentalism—has been added, extending the message of the Bridgestone's "One Team, One Planet" global environmental initiative. Visiting automotive media were welcomed by Bridgestone Americas Chairman Mark Emkes, who then introduced the 2008 contest winners who were on hand to present their videos. Danny Belkin, Ryan Massey, Angela Roscioli and Sarah Wilson utilized first-person accounts, dramatic narratives and other creative formats to deliver powerful messages about auto safety. Back to News


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Truesilk Collection
The truesilk collection embraces the spirit summer in a relaxed, soft and colourful way, with designs being showcased in a mix of pastel colours and jewel like tones. These 15 stunning designs range from must have accessory pieces, such as scarves and beautiful berets, to lace sleeveless cardigans and cabled cropped sweaters, all styled with a 50's inspired theme.
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Tussin Side Effects
Generic Name: guaifenesin
Note: This page contains side effects data for the generic drug guaifenesin. It is possible that some of the dosage forms included below may not apply to the brand name Tussin.
For the Consumer
Applies to guaifenesin: oral capsule, oral capsule extended release, oral elixir, oral liquid, oral packet, oral solution, oral syrup, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
As well as its needed effects, guaifenesin (the active ingredient contained in Tussin) may cause unwanted side effects that require medical attention.
Minor Side Effects
Some guaifenesin side effects may not need any medical attention. As your body gets used to the medicine these side effects may disappear. Your health care professional may be able to help you prevent or reduce these side effects, but do check with them if any of the following side effects continue, or if you are concerned about them:Less common or rare:
- Diarrhea
- dizziness
- headache
- hives
- nausea or vomiting
- skin rash
- stomach pain
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to guaifenesin: compounding powder, oral capsule, oral capsule extended release, oral granule, oral liquid, oral solution, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
Guaifenesin (the active ingredient contained in Tussin) has been generally well tolerated.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal side effects have included stomach upset and vomiting with higher than recommended doses. Doses recommended for expectoration have rarely been associated with gastrointestinal upset.[Ref]
Nervous system
Nervous system side effects have occasionally included dizziness and headache.[Ref]
Dermatologic side effects have included rare reports of rash.[Ref]
Hypersensitivity side effects have included a report of an anaphylactic reaction.[Ref]
1. Covington TR, Lawson LC, Young LL, eds. "Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 10th ed." Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association (1993):
2. "Product Information. Robitussin (guaifenesin)." Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA.
3. Manujendra R, Faltay B, Haller NA "Case report: anaphylactic reaction to guaifenesin." Hosp Pract 37 (2009): 60-3
It is possible that some side effects of Tussin may not have been reported. These can be reported to the FDA here. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
More about Tussin (guaifenesin)
- Side Effects
- During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
- Dosage Information
- Support Group
- 0 Reviews – Add your own review/rating
- Drug class: expectorants
Consumer resources
Other brands: Mucinex, Guiatuss, Tussin Expectorant, Robitussin Chest Congestion, ... +13 more
Professional resources
Related treatment guides
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This material does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of materials provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.


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TPWD Print-Friendly Page: http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/print.phtml?req=20080122dMedia Contact: TPWD News, email@example.com, 512-389-8030 [AR]
TPWD Website: http://tpwd.texas.gov
TPWD News Release — Jan. 22, 2008
The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
Hunter harassment: Jan. 11, a Hill County game warden secured an arrest warrant on a local resident for hunter harassment. The Hill County man originally had been driving in his pasture, honking his horn and shinning a spotlight on neighboring hunters. The odd behavior eventually progressed to the destruction of their feeders and the spreading of human hair around them. During an interview, the suspect admitted to all charges and said he was doing it to try and harass the hunters. Cases are pending.
He just couldn't help it: Jan. 8, a Caldwell County game warden and a Hays County game warden concluded their investigation on a hunter who reportedly had shot two deer over 13 inches in Caldwell County. The wardens interviewed the hunter who initially denied all charges. Once evidence was produced, the hunter admitted to shooting the deer and tagging the second as an antlerless deer in an attempt to make it appear legal. The man said although he knew it was illegal, he just couldn't resist once he saw the second large deer come out this season. During the course of the investigation, it was also discovered he had shot a doe in Hays County two years past and had tagged it with a friend's tag because she had asked him to. He said he didn't know it was illegal and that his friend couldn't possibly shoot a deer by herself because she is a woman. Charges were filed for taking an illegal deer and for hunting under the license of another. Chargers were also filed against the female for allowing another to hunt under her license.
Here's your sign: Jan. 4, a Tarrant County game warden received a call from a Tarrant regional water district police officer about some ducks that had been dumped on the side of a road. Upon investigating the scene, the warden noticed a pickup truck traveling slowly passed the area. Contact was made with the individual and the warden determined that the subjects were responsible for dumping the ducks. When asked why they had dumped the ducks on the side of the road, one subject said he didn't see a sign that said they couldn't dump there. Directly across the road sat a 2 foot by 3 foot sign that read, "No dumping. All violators will be prosecuted." Appropriate charges were filed.
Deer thieves leave bloody trail behind: Jan. 3, a Tarrant County game warden helped a Parker County game warden investigate a stolen deer claim. The complainant said after shooting a doe, he went to get his truck so he could load the deer. Upon returning to the site, to his surprise, the deer had vanished. The man followed a trail of blood to the edge of the woods where he discovered a gut pile. Slyly, the man wrote down the license plate number from the vehicle of two men wearing camouflage who claimed to be hunting in the same area. The wardens tracked the vehicle back to a residence, where they saw a man wearing camouflage entering. Upon investigating the backyard, the wardens saw two dear carcasses hanging in a tree. Further investigation and a partial excavation revealed two untagged dear, an improperly tagged deer, no proof of sex and illegal dumping. The stolen deer was returned to the rightful owner, and the cases are still pending.
Poaching: Dec. 30 at 7 a.m., a Comanche County game warden received a call that a landowner had seen a poacher shooting a deer on his property. The man said that the suspect had three untagged antlerless deer in a truck, and that when confronted; he fled down a dead-end road into neighboring property. The warden located two suspects, who seemed to be faking sleep, in a remote area. The 24-year-old men denied knowledge of the truck or deer, even though the truck later proved to be registered to one's father. The men were taken to the complainant's resident, where he identified the suspect he saw. The suspect was arrested for felony hunt without consent. Soon after, the owner of the suspect truck arrived, defiantly saying that the truck and deer would not leave his property. When the warden returned from the jail, the truck with blood in the back had been found, but with no deer. At 2 p.m. the warden found three deer and added three charges of Class A waste of game against the suspect.
Just another day on the job: Those who thought Texas roads were warden-free on Christmas day had another thing coming. On Dec. 25, a Wise County game warden received a call from the Wise County sheriff's office regarding a pursuit in progress near his residence. The warden was told that the subject had hit one DPS patrol vehicle and had fled into local pastures. While driving to the area, the warden was informed that a second trooper vehicle had been hit. Shortly after, the suspect vehicle wrecked, and the subjects were arrested. Upon search of the subject's vehicle, drugs and several items indicating that one of the subjects had been making fake ID cards were found. It was later discovered that one of the subjects had over 90 warrants from New Mexico, and that the driver had several felony warrants, including an armed robbery warrant from New Mexico, which is also where the vehicle was stolen. Due to the damaged DPS units; the warden transported one suspect to the Wise County Jail. Just when the Wise County game warden thought he could return home to grab a bite of some Christmas lunch, he observed a motorcycle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of US 91/287. Weary of being in pursuit, the subject fled into a residential area where he shortly wrecked. Upon the subject's arrest, the warden determined the man to be in possession of marijuana and a stolen motorcycle. It was determined that the man had been arrested Oct. 28 inside a ranch where he was found to be in possession of a four-wheeler. Upon the conclusion of the subject's arrest, the warden finally was able to partake in the Christmas festivities. Both cases are still pending.
All he wanted for Christmas was a rifle: What do you do when you get a new .22 rifle for Christmas? Go out and shoot it, of course! It's just not a good idea to do it at night with a mule deer as your target, as two Pampa residents found out Dec. 23 at 11:00 pm. After shooting a nubbin' mule deer buck, the residents couldn't help themselves from going to town and bragging about it. Shortly after, local sheriff's deputies caught wind of the rumor and contacted a Gray County game warden. Deputies were able to locate the two suspects before the warden arrived, and relayed to him by radio that the suspects said they had no knowledge of what the deputies were talking about. The warden advised the deputies to tell the suspects that if they confessed and led them to the deer, they wouldn't have to spend Christmas in jail after the warden found the deer later. Both suspects decided that was a better deal, and subsequently, took the deputies and warden to the deer. Multiple cases are still pending.
At least he was honest: Dec. 20, a Bowie County game warden and a Lamar County game warden went to a residence in Maud, for which one of the warden's had secured a search warrant. Upon knocking on the door they were invited in, where the resident admitted to shooting deer out of season and at night from the roadway. The resident then took the wardens to his brother and friend's house, where they, too, confessed to shooting deer from the roadway at night. The men signed a statement to the killing of at least eight deer from the roadway at night. All of the deer were untagged. The men also killed one undersize buck and six does without permits. The wardens then contacted two other Maud men suspected of killing and not tagging their bucks. Upon contact, the two men showed the wardens the undersize antlers and their license with no tags missing. The wardens filed 23 class C misdemeanors, six class A misdemeanors, three felonies and eight warnings. Restitution is pending.
You can't outwait a warden: Dec. 14, a Tom Green County game warden filed charges against a hunter from Garland for hunting deer in closed season. The hunter shot a nine-point buck on the side of a road. While the hunter was tracking the deer to finish the job, the warden arrived on scene and set up his vehicle in the brush, awaiting the hunter's return. Four hours later, after dark, the hunter emerged and made his way back to his truck. The warden, who had been waiting patiently, picked up the movement with her night vision goggles and made contact. When confronted, the hunter said he had seen the game warden truck and had tried to wait him out. Case and restitution are pending on the 117 B&C buck.
High Speed Chase: Dec. 14, a Smith County game warden attempted to stop a vehicle with no working brake lights after nearly hitting it from behind. The vehicle turned into a residence, burned-off in the grass and sped away. The warden notified the county that he was in pursuit, as he activated his lights and siren. After several miles and a few near missed collisions with other vehicles, the violator turned into a mobile home park. As the vehicle came to a stop, the driver and front-seat passenger emerged running, forcing the warden to chase them on foot around the park. The 21-year-old and 17-year-old violators split off, and the warden went after the closest one. After a lengthy chase, the warden was able to catch and secure the passenger. Soon after, deputies and troopers arrived on the scene to assist the warden in finding the driver, who was found in the nearby woods. Both males had various warrants. A juvenile female was turned over to her mother and another female was released. The cases have been turned over to Smith County.
Why is that dog chewing on a fresh deer bone?: Dec. 14, a Montgomery County game warden received a call from a landowner saying he had found a doe carcass at the edge of his property. After requesting assistance from another warden, the warden went to the ranch. The carcass appeared to have been placed at the scene and not dragged by animals, as first suspected. The wardens then traveled a short distance through the woods to an adjacent property, which was a heavy machinery business. Upon locating an area where someone had crossed the fence, the wardens went into the machinery yard and found a travel trailer used as a residence by a night watchman. After fending off the guard dog, the wardens knocked on the door and spoke with the watchman, who denied knowing of anyone hunting or shooting in the area. As the warden's searched the area, one of them noticed the dog was very protective of what appeared to be a fresh deer bone. After being confronted with the evidence, the watchman admitted to shooting the doe and dumping the carcass. He said he didn't know antlerless season was closed because he didn't buy a license. The case is pending.
Drug trafficking roundup: On Dec. 13, five region VII wardens participated in a Brownwood area operation and served 28 sealed indictments for drug trafficking. Maj. Jay Guthrie, Capt. Malcom Wilkes, Lt. Tracy Davis and the game wardens worked with entry and search teams from nine different agencies, such as the West Texas Task Force. Twenty-four of the 29 suspects were found and arrested, along with several additional suspects. One of the suspects was arrested by two of the wardens the previous weekend for hunting from the road at night. During the arrest, the suspect fled on foot, jumped a fence and tried to dump Crack and cash from his pockets. When he was caught, he was arrested and charged with various charges, including felon in possession of a firearm.


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Mr. Market's Amnesia
This commentary originally appeared at 7:44 a.m. EST on Feb. 26 on Real Money Pro -- for access to all of legendary hedge fund manager Doug Kass's strategies and commentaries, click here.
Yesterday there was a late-afternoon stream of questions in the comments section that got me to thinking and ultimately writing this morning's opening missive....633 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
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text: Always chambray shirt Item C9310 Color: INDIGO Size: All sizes are US sizes. 000 00 0 2 4 6 8 10 16 Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Body length: 27 1/4". Product Details Washed for a soft, lived-in look and tailored for a boyish fit (emphasis on the "ish"—it's quite flattering). This is the one you'll pick up in multiples. Yeah, it's just that good. For more ways to wear it, watch our Style Hacks video now. Cotton. Button placket. Chest pocket. Machine wash. Import. Item C9310.


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Florida softball coach Tim Walton picked up SEC Coach of the Year honors, highlighting the Gators' All-SEC honors.
For the fourth time in his eight-year tenure at the Florida softball program, coach Tim Walton picked up SEC Coach of the Year honors, highlighting the Gators' All-SEC honors released Tuesday by the conference.
Five Florida players picked up All-SEC recognition following the school's fourth league championship last weekend, including first-team All-SEC honorees Hannah Rogers (P) and Lauren Haeger (DP/UT). Freshman Kelsey Stewart earned second-team All-SEC accolades in the infield, while senior Kelsey Horton is a second-team All-SEC pick in the outfield.
Stewart and classmate Kirsti Merritt represent the Gators on the freshman All-SEC squad.
Walton, Florida's 10th head coach to collect conference Coach of the Year honors in 2012-13, has been named SEC Coach of the Year four times. He picked up Coach of the Year honors in 2008 and 2009 following UF's second and third SEC titles, while also garnering SEC co-Coach of the Year accolades in 2011 after the Gators won the SEC Eastern Division for the fifth time.
Walton reached career milestone win No. 500 at last year's SEC Tournament and guided a Gator squad that was picked seventh in the preseason, fourth in the SEC Eastern Division, to the 2013 regular-season SEC championship.
Rogers, also a two-time All-American and top-25 finalist for USA Softball's Player of the Year, garnered All-SEC distinction for the third straight year, moving from the second team in 2011 and to a first team this year. Rogers paces the SEC in wins, and turned in a conference-best 1.48 ERA through league play. Haeger, who ranked second in the league in walks and third in homers through the SEC schedule, also earned her second straight annual league honor after being named to the freshman All-SEC squad her first year as a Gator in 2012.
The Gators head to the SEC Softball Tournament on Wednesday, hosted by Kentucky in Lexington, as the No. 1 overall seed. Florida will play the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed contest between Alabama and Texas A&M on Thursday at 11 a.m. (ET) at John Cropp Stadium. The contest between the Gators and either Alabama | Texas A&M will be broadcast live on ESPNU, as the complete 2013 SEC Tournament will once again air on the ESPN family of networks, with the championship game set to be broadcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Player of the Year: Lauren Gibson, Tennessee
Pitcher of the Year: Chelsea Thomas, Missouri
Coach of the Year: Tim Walton, Florida
Freshmen of the Year: Bianka Bell, LSU & Geri Ann Glasco, Georgia
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jenna Marston, Missouri
First Team All-SEC
P - Chelsea Thomas, Missouri
P - Hannah Rogers, Florida
IF - Lauren Gibson, Tennessee
IF - Raven Chavanne, Tennessee
IF - Madison Shipman, Tennessee
IF - Paige Wilson, Georgia
OF - Kayla Braud, Alabama
OF - Kat Dotson, Tennessee
OF - Kaylee Puailoa, Georgia
OF - A.J. Andrews, LSU
C - Jenna Marston, Missouri
DP/U - Lauren Haeger, Florida
Second Team All-SEC
P - Rachele Fico, LSU
P - Kimmy Beasley, Arkansas
IF - Samie Garcia, South Carolina
IF - Kelsey Stewart, Florida
IF - Bianka Bell, LSU
IF - Kaila Hunt, Alabama
OF - Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF - Kelsey Horton, Florida
OF - Branndi Melero, Auburn
OF - Jacee Blades, LSU
C - Griffin Joiner, Kentucky
DP/U - Mel Dumezich, Texas A&M
Freshman All-SEC
P - Kelsey Nunley, Kentucky
P - Chelsea Wilkinson, Georgia
IF - Kelsey Stewart, Florida
IF - Bianka Bell, LSU
IF - Geri Ann Glasco, Georgia
IF - Emily Carosone, Auburn
OF - Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF - Kaylee Puailoa, Georgia
OF – Kirsti Merritt, Florida
OF - Andrea Hawkins, Alabama; Tiffany Howard, Auburn
C - Kellsi Kloss, LSU
DP/U - Cali Lanphear, Texas A&M
SEC All-Defensive
P - Chelsea Thomas, Missouri
C - Griffin Joiner, Kentucky
1B - Morgan Estell, Auburn
2B - Lauren Gibson, Tennessee
SS - Madison Shipman, Tennessee
3B - Raven Chavanne, Tennessee
LF - Kayla Braud, Alabama
CF - Haylie McCleney, Alabama
RF - Kat Dotson, Tennessee


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New Yorkers have been going crazy for them for months, standing in lines around the block to get them or buying them for $50 on Craigslist, but now Southern Californians finally have their own chance to get a taste of the elusive Cronut.
The trend began in May at a New York bakery owned by Dominique Ansel, and though Ansel smartly trademarked the name of his cream-filled, flaky and glazed croissant-doughnut hybrid, copycats have sprung up across the globe trying to imitate the tasty treat. And Los Angeles is no exception; in the last three months, at least 24 local bake shops from Montclair to Manhattan Beach have come out with their own version of the Cronut with names ranging from "doughssants" to "doughNOT" to "Kronutz."
"It's always interesting to kind of figure out what the next trend is going to be," said Chanel Martinez, lead chef instructor at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, where teachers and students have made their own version. "I really didn't see this one coming and I don't know why no one has ever done it before. I think it's an innovative idea."
It was an idea that presented a perfect opportunity for Pasadena bakers Anthony Valerio and Vandy Altounian, an aunt and nephew pair that boasts two victories on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars" competition and opened up Confexion Cupcakes and Cake in Pasadena in 2012, to break into the doughnut industry.
Their version is called the "brioughnut" — is made with brioche dough laminated with butter, fried to perfection and then topped with a variety of garnishes and filled. Flavors include salted caramel, s'mores, lemon meringue and nutella crunch.
Valerio said he wanted to take the idea of the Cronut and put his own spin on it. He said he's always loved doughnuts but never liked croissants, hence his choice of the sweeter, richer brioche dough. He started selling the brioughnut at the end of July.
"It elevates the doughnut, we can put an artisan spin on it," Valerio said. "I think it's an exciting time for dessert right now."
Confexion only sells the brioughnuts, at $5 a piece, on the weekends because making them is a three-day process.
"It took me a lot of renditions to get it right," he said. "It's quite a complex process, it's not like cake batter."
Though he hasn't had customers line up at 3 a.m. just yet, Valerio said he sells out of the 400 he makes each weekend about an hour and a half after the store opens on Saturday and Sunday.
But for Kirk Rossberg, who owns Torrance Bakery in downtown Torrance and Gardena, the only thing that's new about the Cronut is the name and the shape. Rossberg said he's been making a fried croissant for years. He said he changed the shape after the Cronut craze began and his sales went up significantly.
"It's funny, we only sold like 15 a day when we had the fried croissant and now we are selling 250," Rossberg said. "It's all a matter of public perception."
For many in L.A., Cronuts are still the next big thing and fans are also lining up at Semi Sweet Bakery in downtown Los Angeles, which was one of the first area bakeries to jump on the bandwagon at the end of June.
"The first week we introduced it was super crazy, it was busier than we'd ever experienced," Manager Leonardo Momplet said.
Semi Sweet's version, called the "crullant," is baked, not fried, and they offer it every day for $3.95 a piece.
"People really want something new and different to try," Momplet said. "Especially because it was so popular in New York I think people have a tendency to mimic others so people really want to be a part of that whole New York craze."
Other bakeries making their take on the foodie fad include Frances Bakery in Los Angeles, Spudnuts Donuts in Canoga Park, Dolce Bistro in Montclair, Torrance Bakery in Torrance and even the bakery at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.
And as the trend continues to take hold in the Southland, more and more bakeries are considering ways to get a piece of the pie, and it appears the trend is here to stay at least for a while.
Sumi Chang, owner of the well-known Pasadena bakery Euro Pane, said she's been itching to try the famous treat. Chang said she hasn't tried to make her own version of the Cronut just yet, but she's had requests.
"It's a big phase," she said. "The same thing happened last year when a San Francisco bakery made Kouign-Amann and we make that now. Now some bakery made a Cronut. I should try it. I'm very curious as a baker."


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Share your project
Local interior designers, architects, contractors and decorators are invited to showcase a recent residential project in this space. Contact Home+Garden editor Chris Ross, email@example.com for details.
This bold kitchen, which our team dubbed "Organic Coastal Architecture," delights the eye with vivid blue details and warm wood tones while honoring the vision of the local architect who built the original home in 1952.
The homeowners are a professional couple, empty nesters who were looking to bring some new vitality to their home. Inspired by imaginative design, the clients were clear about making a design statement, not just getting a kitchen "makeover." The existing home was designed by architect Loch Crane, who studied with William Templeton Johnson and Frank Lloyd Wright, and the clients have loved their home since they bought it in 1992. The goal was to create a more functional and modern kitchen that would both honor and enhance the surrounding environment. The home is located in Point Loma near the San Diego Yacht Club, and the homeowners' love for the water inspired a nautical spirit and open, light-filled layout.
To achieve that open feel, we removed a wall between the kitchen and dining areas but left the windows and ceiling undisturbed. The entire kitchen area was streamlined to create an efficient triangle work space, ideal for the homeowners, who love to entertain large groups of friends and family. Concrete flooring, finished with a super high polish, brings a sophisticated, modern shine to the room and amplifies the effect of abundant natural light. The unusual curved Tanbur Zephyr hood frames the Miele induction stovetop, providing space and energy-efficient cooking with no burners. Magnetic cooking allows the space to be used as a countertop when the stove is off.
The new kitchen cabinetry is clean and functional with minimum hardware. The emphasis was to align the new design with the organic feeling and original architecture of the home. The Vogue Bay reflective glass backsplash is a striking expanse of blue, bringing nautically infused color, light and reflection to the space. The unusually large pieces of tile make an uncommon presentation, adding visual interest with scale. The back of the island facing the dining table was created from pool tile in "sea gear" blue, green, and a touch of gold and black. The colorful abstract effect evokes lilies floating on water and is a conversation piece whenever guests gather at the table. The table's stainless-steel legs were custom cut and attached to low iron glass.Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune


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Berlin, June 21, 2011 – The balance is impressive and no other team has been able to match them in the 2011 FIVB World League. Russia have a maximum 24 points after four of the six preliminary weekends and have dropped just one set (to Japan). The No. 2 team in the world won every other match 3-0. The German team will meet the leaders on June 23 and 24 in the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin and will try to upset Russia's "perfect storm."
It might also be Germany's last chance to fulfil their dream of participating in the World League's Final Round. The chances have dropped to a minimum after a 3-1 defeat against Bulgaria.
"But the hope is still there, as long as we have a chance," says opposite and Russia expert Jochen Schöps. "However, we know it will be difficult." The 27-year-old knows the Russian players well, as he has played for four years in the Russian Super-League. He knows what the causes of Russia's slightly diminished level of play against Japan and Bulgaria might have been. He also realizes what his own team must do.
"We have to be more consistent," he says. "We still have a lot of waves in the match and we have to turn that off if we play against world-class teams like Bulgaria or Russia. If we don't realize this, we will lose."
The German team travelled to the venue on Monday, June 20. Lukas Kampa (RWE Volleys Bottrop) has joined the team again after injury. On Tuesday morning, in the first training session, middle blocker Marcus Böhme (VfB Friedrichshafen) was a spectator. The 2.11-meter player has been suffering from influenza but is now on the mend. Coach Raúl Lozano has to withdraw two players for the matches against Russia, as he can nominate only 14 players for each match.
An added motivation for victory against the "Russian Giant" is the fact that the FIVB made the second encounter the "Match of the Week," so it will be broadcast live around the whole world and the German players will have a chance to show how "Volleyball made in Germany" has developed.
The top team in Pool B, who have already qualified for the Final Round in Poland, arrived in Berlin on Tuesday with all their stars: setter Sergey Grankin, middle blockers Alexander Volkov and Dmitriy Muserskiy, and opposite Maxim Mikhaylov. They want to make sure their balance remains perfect.
The German squad versus Russia: Robert Kromm (Ufa/RUS), Jochen Schöps (Odintsovo/RUS), Simon Tischer (Ankara/TUR), Patrick Steuerwald, Sebastian Schwarz (Perugia/ITA), Marcus Popp (Piacenza/ITA), Marcus Böhme, Christian Fromm (VfB Friedrichshafen), Max Günthör, Ferdinand Tille, Denis Kaliberda (Generali Haching), Stefan Hübner, Christian Dünnes (evivo Düren), Ricardo Galandi (SCC Berlin), Markus Steuerwald (Paris Volley/FRA), Lukas Kampa (RWE Volleys Bottrop).


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The TV version of the DT 131 offers the same features and advantages in terms of quality, technology and sound. In addition to the regular model the DT 131 TV is specially designed for people that want to listen with headphones to their TV set. It is therefore equipped with an extended cable of 6 meters, including an in-line volume with mono/stereo switch. Now you can enjoy movies, concerts, or sports events within your own environment, but without disturbing other people that for any reason might not share your fun. The DT 131 TV is also a special tip for all those people that need assistant listening devices. Due to the in-line volume control and the very natural frequency response, the DT 131 TV improves the intelligibility of the sound. This is a great advantage whenever you listen to the news and you really want to know about what's going on in the world. With this headphone you will always be on top of all events. • Natural, transparent sound • Suitable for simulated surround sound • Single-sided cable with 6 meters in length • Integrated volume control and mono/stereo switch. Adjustable for left (L) and right (R) separately • Soft cotton jersey ear pads • Easy servicing / all parts replaceable
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Astros ride five-run third back into win column
Carter's homer off Halos' Wilson puts Houston on top for good
HOUSTON -- The Astros made a flurry of roster moves Monday to tinker their offensive philosophy, giving up some home runs -- and, more importantly, plenty of strikeouts -- in exchange for some speed and athleticism.
The moves were done with the hope that guys like Robbie Grossman, Jimmy Paredes and Jose Altuve could wreak havoc at the top of the order, all the while setting the stage for the sluggers to still be able to break things open with one swing of the bat.
The plan worked to perfection Tuesday night, when the Astros pushed the tempo on the bases and watched Chris Carter cap a five-run third inning with a three-run blast as Houston held on for a 7-6 win over the struggling Angels at Minute Maid Park.
"You look at moves we made and putting speed at the top of the lineup, it was evident today how it changed a ballgame," Astros manager Bo Porter said.
The Astros, who had been outscored 26-2 in their previous two games against the Tigers, snapped a six-game losing streak with their first comeback win of the season. They were 0-17 when the opponent scored first entering Tuesday.
Mark Trumbo's three-run homer in the first inning put the Astros in a familiar early hole, but Altuve homered in the first and the Astros batted around against C.J. Wilson to take a 6-3 lead in the third. The five runs they posted were more than they had scored in 10 of their 11 previous games.
"Everybody was being aggressive today, and the home run I hit was real big for the game," Carter said. "It changed everything."
Astros closer Jose Veras, who two days earlier called a team meeting to try to change the culture in the clubhouse, worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his third save in five tries, striking out Mike Trout to end the game.
"When you have the intensity we had today, you have a lot of chance to win a ballgame," Veras said. "That's what these guys did. They didn't try. They did it. We were hungry to win, and that's what it's all about. When you do that and the pitching can hold the game, you have a good chance to win the ballgame."
Jordan Lyles, making his second start since being recalled from Triple-A, regrouped following the Trumbo blast and retired 14 of the final 17 batters he faced. He earned his first win of the season by allowing three runs and four hits in five innings.
"I threw the ball a little bit better tonight than I did last outing, just from the fact of being down, 3-0, and putting up some zeros against a pretty good offense to give our team chance to win," Lyles said.
Porter only allowed Lyles to throw 82 pitches and told him when he took him from the game he would ask more of him later in the season.
"I told him when I went down to take him out of the game, I said, 'There's going to come a time where I will ride you a whole lot longer, but right now is not that time,'" Porter said.
Wilson tied a career high with 12 strikeouts and wound up with a quality start because only two of the seven runs he allowed in 6 1/3 innings were earned, but the Carter homer loomed large.
"In that third inning, we needed a big pitch and he made a mistake and Carter didn't miss it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It was probably the one pitch [Wilson] might like to have back. It wasn't in enough. "
Grossman, Paredes and Altuve combined to go 4-for-10 with five runs scored, a home run, three RBIs and three stolen bases -- two by Grossman and one by Altuve -- at the top of the order. They set the tone in the third with aggressive base running that helped lead to a pair of errors by Angels catcher Hank Conger. He made a third error in the seventh on a double steal by Altuve and Grossman, with Grossman scoring on the play with the winning run and Altuve getting thrown out at the plate.
"That [power] dynamic is still in our lineup," Porter said. "The guys we added just added a different dynamic that we hadn't had the first portion of this year, and it puts an extreme amount of pressure on your defense to try to get rid of the ball faster."
Still, the Angels trailed by only a run after Alberto Callaspo hit a two-run homer off Travis Blackley in the eighth, but Veras wasn't going to let his teammates down.
"You can feel it in the dugout, you can feel it in the clubhouse...the intensity," he said. "Guys said, 'No more, let's go. Let's start over and go out with the same hunger we had in Spring Training.' That's what it was all about, the intensity they had to today. It was unbelievable."
Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Artist description:
"I Love You...."
Java Draw Created Nov 22, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 GeekyPink..
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Such a sweet scene
very nice draw !
like the watercoloreffect!
Amazing and so tender, lovely style. 5/5h
Wonderful...So sweet & nice light effect to :oD 5h
aww this is sooo romantic n sweet. luv how u wrote da japanese characters in da bg n i like their poses. nice creases hehe
thank you! C:


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When asked in a recent interview who he would vote for in a 2016 Presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Rand Paul, John McCain responded that it would be a "tough choice." Really? Has the Republican Party standard bearer in 2008 really sunk this low, that he would have a hard time choosing between Clinton and Paul? What is it that attracts McCain to Clinton? Is it because she is pro-choice? Is it because she is in favor of big government? Or is it because she is very famous and really popular with the media? If anything, it is probably the last reason; for John McCain loves the media that has long portrayed the establishment Senator as being a maverick. Indeed, in the interview, John McCain called Clinton a "rock star" when praising her. It is not too hard to tell what is important to him.
How about Rand Paul? Senator McCain famously called Paul and Ted Cruz "wacko birds" for their desire to not march in lock step with the party establishment. Rand Paul has been more of a maverick than McCain ever was, recently casting a gutsy single vote against the nominee for FBI Director in the Senate. His filibuster on drone usage against American citizens also comes to mind. If John McCain can't choose between Clinton and Paul, it is because Paul represents the forces that McCain has sought to stifle in the Republican Party: libertarians and the Tea Party. McCain works against the heart of the grassroots GOP, all the while still making the rounds on the Sunday shows as a "Republican." It is time for McCain to put an end to this nonsense and, like Arlen Specter before him, side with the Democratic Party. It would work against the Republicans seeking to gain control of the Senate in 2014, but at least it would save the party from someone who clearly no longer belongs in it.
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What else has John McCain been up to? Of course, he has been a member of the Gang of 8, seeking to bring a pathway to citizenship to illegal immigrants. He has been "working closely with the White House and a handful of Democrats." Why does bipartisanship come so naturally to him? It is because he shares so much in common with the Democrats as opposed to grassroots Republicans.
The time has come for McCain to accept that he needs to cross the aisle permanently on his frequent trips over there. If he doesn't, he risks seriously diluting the Republican brand of limited government policy-making.
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F. Peter Brown is an Associate Editor at the Western Center for Journalism and Editor of the Sound Money Institute. Check out his personal website.
Photo Credit: Donkey Hotey (Creative Commons)
The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website.


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The Effect of Antecedent Hypoglycaemia on β2-adrenergic Sensitivity
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Hypoglycaemia unawareness is a common complication in patients with type 1 diabetes and with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes of long duration. The loss of autonomic symptoms to hypoglycemia does not solely depend on loss of adrenaline responses.Differences in sensitivity to catecholamines may also be involved.
Reconciling the data on β2-adrenergic receptor polymorphism to those on loss of β-adrenergic sensitivity in diabetic patients with hypoglycemia unawareness, we hypothesize that hypoglycemia unawareness is at least partly the result of desensitization of the β2-adrenergic receptor and that patients who are homozygous for arginine at codon 16 are particularly susceptible for this desensitization process, whereas patients who are homozygous for glycine at codon 16 are resistant for desensitization.
- To determine whether, and if so to what extent, antecedent hypoglycemia reduces β2-adrenergic sensitivity in healthy subjects with Arg16 homozygosity.
- To investigate whether or not healthy subjects with Gly16 homozygosity are resistant to desensitization
- To confirm that antecedent hypoglycemia reduces the heart rate response to isoproterenol and to assess to what extent this reduced response is mediated by impairments in baroreflex sensitivity.
|Diabetes Hypoglycemia Unawareness
|Procedure: Hypoglycemia
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
|Official Title:
|The Effect of Antecedent Hypoglycaemia on β2-adrenergic Sensitivity in Subjects With Homozygous Arg16 and gly16 Polymorphism of the β2-adrenergic Receptor
|Study Start Date:
|April 2005
|Study Completion Date:
|April 2009
|Primary Completion Date:
|April 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Intrerfvention is a hypoglycemic stimulus
|Procedure: Hypoglycemia
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 40 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Informed consent
- Homozygous for Arginine at codon 16 or homozygous Gly at codon 16
- No regular usage of medication other than oral contraceptives
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or peripheral vascular disease
- Smoking
- Alcohol usage of more than 10 units per week
- Inability to abstain from xanthine-derivatives (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, cacao) or alcohol for 2 days
- BMI above 30 kg/m2
- Participation to any other trial in the preceding 3 months
- Ongoing disease of any kind
- Pregnancy
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00160056
|Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
|Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands, 6500HB
|Principal Investigator:
|Paul Smits, PhD, MD
|Radboud University
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Radboud University
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00160056 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|September 9, 2005
|Last Updated:
|May 8, 2015
Keywords provided by Radboud University:
Hypoglycemia unawareness
adrenal receptor
adrenerg respons
adrenergic beta-agonists
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Glucose Metabolism Disorders
Metabolic Diseases
Consciousness Disorders
Neurobehavioral Manifestations
Neurologic Manifestations
Nervous System Diseases
Signs and Symptoms
Adrenergic Agents
Neurotransmitter Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Physiological Effects of Drugs
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 19, 2017


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Villagers were told to evacuate their homes during the night after the River Blackwater burst its banks.
The Environmental Agency issued a flood warning early on Saturday morning for the River Blackwater from Braintree to Langford, including Coggeshall and Kelvedon.
Flood water seeped inside some houses in East Street and Bridge Street as the river overflowed.
Father-of-five Simon Pownall, of East Street, was woken up at 5.15am by the Environment Agency advising him to leave.
Within hours water had reached his house.
He said: "It's a nightmare," he said.
"What is even worse is our craft studio business operaties from the studio, which is under two inches of water.
"It means the business isn't going to be operational."
Flood warnings for the River Blackwater, including Coggeshall and Kelvedon and the River Brain from Black Notley to Witham are no longer in place.


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Guarded QueenRiddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
I am a queen, beautiful and
Covered with a sweet fragrance,
Guarded by five guardsmen,
Two of them clean-shaven,
Two of them unshaven,
And the last one half-shaven.
What am I?
AnswerA Rose.
When you look at a rose, the colored petals forming the rose represent the queen.
The five green leaf-like flaps below the petals, called sepals, represent the five guardsmen.
At closer inspection, you will see these five leaves have very distinct characteristics.
Two of them are clean-shaven, meaning smooth edges on both sides.
Two of them are unshaven, meaning on both sides of the leaf there are small little tentacles, sometimes very fine, sometimes larger.
And the last one is half-shaven, meaning one smooth edge and one 'tentacle' edge.
Another interesting thing is that you'll always find a smooth edge and a 'tentacle' edge next to each other.
Go and have a look! All true roses have these characteristics!
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
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TV Reports, Heating Value of Natural Gas, PID Outputs
Can You Gain Power from Water? What Are Practical Methods for Measuring/Analyzing Natural Gas BTU Value? How to Select PID Output?
"Ask the Experts," on ControlGlobal.com, is moderated by noted process control authority Béla Lipták. Béla and his cadre of leading experts in process automation, recruited from among the co-authors of the Instrument Engineer's Handbook 4th Edition, are "in the box" all month answering process control questions from all comers. The best will be published here.
Q: Fox TV had a news program titled "Water Power," which suggested that you can gain power from water and the emission of this process also will be water. That sounded like what the "Liptak cell" does. Is this correct?
Herbert Gross
Hollywood, CA
A: No, it's not. This is the typical Fox or CNN reliability of reporting. They left out essential information, such as in order to run the hydroxygen (HHO) process, fossil-generated electricity (not water power!) is used, and when you make that electricity, you use fossil fuel supplies and emit greenhouse gases. They also forgot to note that the efficiency of fossil electricity generation is about 35%, and the efficiency of converting that electricity into the chemical energy of hydrogen in an electrolyzer is 50% to 60%. On top of that, they have to heat the gases to the "self-ignition temperature" of hydrogen (570 °C), which also takes energy.
The HHO process has little to do with water power, but it is good for applications where you need high flame temperature, because the self-ignition of a stochiometric mixture of hydrogen and oxygen will produce a flame temperature of 2,800 °C. This flame temperature is some 700 °C higher than the flame temperature from burning hydrogen in air. Therefore, HHO is good for welding or other processes where the melting of metals is involved.
In contrast, my cell is cool, and it runs on free, inexhaustible and nonpolluting solar (or wind) energy. See last month's issue of Control (Fuel Cell of the Future) or refer to my book to be published in September, Post-Oil Energy Technology: The World's First Solar-Hydrogen Demonstration Power Plant.
Béla Lipták
Q: Please give me a brief or provide me with a reference on practical methods for measuring/analyzing natural gas BTU value. This is for a gas plant that uses delivered gas BTU to account for its sales. What current methods (online/offline) are used? Are there any reference standards on the subject?
Ahmed Khalaf, SIE
AC&EE Dept - Engineering Division, Adgas
A: The heat flow rate of a fuel gas can be measured by detecting its mass flow rate and multiplying it by its heating value. These days, gas chromatographs are used to measure the heating value of the gas, and ultrasonic flow meters instead of orifice plates are used to measure the gas flow.
In the past, specific gravity measurements were used as an indirect means of estimating the heating value. Today, continuous and explosion-proof calorimeters are available. These can measure the heating value of any fuel gas, and compensate the combustion controls for variations in both specific gravity and in heating value.
The heat flow rate (Q) of a gaseous fuel is the product of its volumetric flow rate at standard conditions (V0) and of its calorific value (CV) or composition.
In the past, orifice plates were used to detect flow, and the Wobbe Index (WI) was calculated as the ratio between the net calorific value (CV) and the square root of specific gravity (SG):
The advantage of detecting the Wobbe Index was that it eliminated the need for separately measuring the specific gravity, because the product of the Wobbe Index and the orifice pressure drop resulted in a value (KQ) that is directly related to the heat flow rate (Q), without necessitating a separate measurement of SG:
In older installations, one can still run into such Wobbe Index measurement systems or calorimeters (please refer to Chapter 8.7 of the 4th edition of Volume 1 of my Instrument Engineers Handbook for more information), but the newer installations use chromatographs.
Béla Lipták
A: BTU can be determined by GC also, but I don't know how widespread is the industrial application of GC as a continuous online BTU analyzer.
Ray Annino
A: For Wobbe Index—there are several in use—particularly as it actually has units of energy/volume, there are US and SI versions. To add insult, the standard definition uses HHV (including the heat of condensation of the water produced in combustion), but I have met gas turbine manufacturers who use LHV (not unreasonably, no one condenses water from turbine exhaust).
When I first entered the gas industry 50 years ago, the tool was a continuous recording calorimeter plus a continuous Wobbe recorder (from Kent Instruments)—devices identical except for the burner gasflow control. We did have an experimental home-made GC as well.
Most folks these days use a gas chromatograph rather than a continuous calorimeter or a Wobbe meter—I suspect from familiarity with process GC technology. (How things have changed in the past half century!) The overwhelming trend is to ultrasonic flowmeters, rather than orifice meters, and this gives a further analytical possibility. There is a good correlation between speed of sound and calorific value of hydrocarbon gases, provided you can correct for CO2 and N2 content. There are some recent papers in Google from folk at Emerson/Daniel.
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