text:
By Martin de Sa'Pinto
ZURICH (Reuters) - Logitech's chief executive said his company will decide within 90 days whether to sell the video-conferencing arm it bought in 2009 for $405 million after this week writing down the unit's value by more than half.
The LifeSize video conferencing unit has failed to shake up a market dominated by Cisco and Polycom and where Chinese giants Huawei and ZTE are making inroads, while global revenues in the segment have slid as economic uncertainty persists.
Any of the above four companies could be potential buyers for a small niche player in the $3 billion a year market, analysts said.
"This is such a tough market, and that's the biggest driver of the impairment," Logitech's newly anointed CEO Bracken Darrell told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"It's not an easy decision. Is this an asset that makes more sense for us to own or for someone else to own?" Darrell said, adding that the unit was well positioned for success among small and medium sized businesses.
The company also wants to sell its remote controls and digital video security businesses, and to develop more products for smartphones, touch-screen tablets, and for computer gamers.
"It's important to note we're going to shrink the company first and make it more profitable, and then focus on areas where we think we can grow," said Darrell after the company reported lower year-on-year sales for the fifth consecutive quarter.
"PC gaming is an area we haven't grown in because we didn't launch any new products, but we're going to do that now. Mice, keyboards, headsets," said Darrell, a former executive at household appliance maker Whirlpool.
Founded in a farmhouse near the small Swiss town of Romanel-sur-Morges in 1981, Logitech became a rising technology star when it marketed the first modern computer mouse, developed at the nearby Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.
Since then the Swiss-American company has shipped more than a billion mice and introduced a successful line-up of PC accessories including keyboards, cameras and speakers.
After peaking in 2007, Logitech shares have fallen more than 80 percent as the relentless rise of touch-screen tablets and smartphones packed with accessories gnawed away at sales of the mice and other plug-in peripherals Logitech had nurtured.
Darrell rejected the idea that add-on products were unlikely to attract users who increasingly want peripherals such as cameras built in to their smartphones and tablets, and said Logitech's 'mobile boombox' wireless speakers are now one of its top sellers, along with its iPad cover.
"We relaunched a keyboard cover, we call it the other half of the iPad, it's now our top selling product," Darrell said. "What we do seems to fit in this mobile space when we get it right."
(Editing by Keiron Henderson)


text:
The Veteran & Military Center is located in 131 Allyn Hall. An important part of our mission is to help students obtain educational benefits for which they are eligible. The Certifying Official and veteran-student workers work closely with students to help them understand and successfully navigate this sometimes complex process involving multiple agencies.
Our center helps students apply for the various GI Bills, maintain eligibility, and troubleshoot payment and other issues. The Certifying Official submits enrollment and tuition information to the VA Regional Processing Office and/or to the student's Vocational Rehabilitation counselor.
In addition, the Veteran & Military Center may serve as a central resource regarding other programs and resources available to veterans and military-connected students both on campus and in the surrounding community.
During peak times, we may need to ask you to schedule an appointment. Peak times are:
- The middle of July through the middle of September (Fall Semester).
- The middle of December through the middle of January (Spring Semester).
- The middle of April through the middle May (Summer Semester).
Your individualized VA benefits counseling deserves our focus and attention.
Funding College with Veterans Education Benefits
Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) & Transfer of Entitlement (TOE)
- This program provides financial support for education and housing to veterans with at least 90 days of active service on or after September 11, 2001, and eligible dependents that meet requirements for transfer of benefits. Benefits are available for up to 15 years following discharge.
- An annual book stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment.
- Tuition payment will be made directly to the school after registration, not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition/fees at a public institution.
- Monthly housing allowance when meeting the basic allowance for housing criteria for an E5 with dependents based on the location of the school of higher learning.
- If you participated in the $600 buy-up under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, you will not receive that additional benefit under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30)
- Benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.
- You will receive a monthly payment at a rate set by Congress based on your expenses for 36 months, which varies based on enrollment status.
- Monthly check (via direct deposit) sent to veteran after proof of enrollment and monthly online verification.
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
- This program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.
- Allows "kickers" up to $350 per month.
- Monthly check (via direct deposit) sent to veteran after proof of enrollment and monthly online verification.
Reserve Education Assistance Program—REAP (Chapter 1607) SUNSET
- This program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
- Monthly check (via direct deposit) sent to veteran after proof of enrollment and monthly online verification.
- Allows "kickers" up to $350 per month.
- Increased benefits based on longest continuous time on active duty.
Survivors and Dependents Assistance—DEA (Chapter 35)
- DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans (Determine DEA eligibility). The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.
- For a son or daughter, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26.
- If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible.
- For surviving spouses (spouses of service members who died on active duty) benefits end 20 years from the date of death.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
- This program provides effective vocational rehabilitation services to veterans with service-connected disabilities.
- Benefits determined on an individual basis.
- See the Vocational Rehabilitation website for more information.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Go Green, GET Green!
Why not put your old vehicle to good use? SELL it for cash and also keep the planet green.
Fred's Auto Parts is dedicated towards the proper treatment of vehicles reaching the end of their useful lives.
Helping to save the planet one car at a time, we offer a fair cash value for your old vehicle.
Fill Out the Information fields to Receive a Quote for Purchasing your Vehicle.


text:
A co-worker recomended that I try to post my problem here to see if there might be anyone that could lend me a hand. For the past week I've been having a problem with an obscene amount of pop-ups on my home machine and they are to the point of driving me batty.
Some info:
I'm using Windows XP Pro - fully updated
I use IE, NS7.2, and Mozilla Firefox as my browsers.
I have to use IE for work I do at home as this is the only browser that the web applications I'm testing perform in properly. For my personal use I prefer the other two. I also have to have pop-ups enabled in IE because of the web application I'm testing for work - it relies heavily on them (I didn't design it - I'm only QAing it).
I've run AdAware and SpyBot both multiple times and each and everytime I run them they seem to find more to remove but the pop-ups don't ever go away.
I thought that perhaps they came from spyware I might have gotten while downloading Sims2 files, however my attempt at a restore (which is what someone else had suggested I try to do) was before I'd even downloaded anything, the 5th of Feb, and the problems are still present.
These are most definatly NOT Messenger pop-ups.
The pop-ups are not restricted to IE. I get them both in IE and Netscape.
As I'm having to do work on a borrowed laptop currently, my home PC is not connected to the internet - this has not stopped or even slowed the pop-ups.
The pop-ups do not appear to be for any one specific site, but are each and every one of them an ad for something or another - including but not limited to car insurance.
Running SpyBot and AdAware in Safe Mode seemed to remove the most problem files, but again did not clear the problem away completely.
Any assistance with this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.


text:
Guest Blogger
Northeast Ohio's energy efficiency roadmap: now and the future
Recommended for You
For some time now, there has been a lot of excitement about the energy efficiency sector in Ohio and its potential to drive economic growth. But until a detailed asset inventory was recently completed, the extent and impact of the sector was not clear. The lack of detailed insight into the sector made it difficult to identify and prioritize opportunities for growth. Now we are armed with a clear picture of what we have in Ohio and Northeast Ohio upon which we can build. The rationale for taking a closer look at our energy efficiency assets was highlighted in the June 5th blog "Energy Efficiency: Maximizing Ohio's Competitive Advantage,". Although overall U.S. energy demand has fallen slightly over the past two years, the demand for energy efficient products and services has actually increased. Pike Research estimates that the energy efficient retrofits market for commercial and public buildings alone will grow from $80.3 billion in 2011 to $151.8 billion in 2020.Likewise, the energy efficient housing category will increase from a $14 billion dollar market in 2012 to an $84 billion market in 2020. Between market demand, the duty to respect environmental impact, and reduced budgets, the need to fully understand our energy efficiency ecosystem, as well as knowing where to focus in order to make future economic impacts, has become of utmost importance. Earlier in the year, NorTech and Advanced Energy Economy Ohio (AEE Ohio) partnered to catalog all of the energy efficiency sector's assets in Ohio. The purpose behind the effort was to concretely identify the companies and research already engaged in the energy efficiency sector as a basis for future growth. The results of the project have been enlightening. The asset inventory revealed over 400 companies and organizations in Ohio that are working on the development, manufacture and applicability of energy efficiency products, materials, services, and components in 48 distinct technology systems across 13 categories. These companies collectively generate $2 billion in revenue annually within Ohio. Click here to view the full report available on the AEE Ohio website. The state-wide results and specific regional impacts were examined by me and my colleagues, Andy Holzhauser, Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, Steve Caminati, Director of Public Affairs, AEE Ohio, and Nick Bush, Founder and Principal, Bush Consulting Group, during the Advanced Energy B2B Conference and Expo 2012 held last week in Columbus, Ohio. Nick Bush outlined the overall results of the asset inventory across the state and provided a summary of the region by region strengths. Specifically for Northeast Ohio, the inventory results begin to tell the story of our dynamic energy efficiency sector in the region, including: • 218 companies & organizations • 3,940 employees • $1.02 billion in annual revenue This is quite impressive and indicates that the region is responsible for over half of the state's revenue in energy efficiency. Specifically, the segments of critical mass that were identified as a priority in Northeast Ohio include: • Lighting: Over 30 assets, both solid state and non-solid state technologies, anchored by GE Lighting, Advanced Lighting Technologies Inc. and LSI Industries • Waste Heat Recovery: Echogen Power Systems and Babcock & Wilcox Company are two examples of the 25 assets in this segment • Energy Management Systems: Rockwell Automation, Novar Controls Corp. and Intwine Energy are three prominent companies in this segment of 14 assets • Insulation: Over 35 assets in this category include Owens Corning and Johns Manville • Burner Sub-Systems: Seven companies include Fives North American Combustion Inc., R.W. Beckett and Unicontrol • Services: o Building Optimization: 14 companies o Energy Service Companies (ESCOs): 13 companies o Energy Audits: 20 companies Several key points were discussed last week by our panel at the Advanced Energy B2B Conference and Expo 2012. Steve Caminati remarked that the detailed inventory of companies and commercial activity in the state will be an important tool for framing and advocating appropriate policies to encourage growth in our energy efficiency sector. One idea that is currently being discussed is the concept of On-Bill Repayment, which enables residential ratepayers to finance energy efficiency improvements to their home and repay the loan through payments to their utility on their monthly bill. The idea is that the energy savings can offset the expense of the loan payments. The arrangement should also make financing for such projects more readily available and easier for ratepayers. Financing was a key focus of the panel discussion. All of the panelists agreed that innovations in financing alternatives will be critical to drive significant growth in the sector in Ohio. Andy Holzhauser is gaining traction in Greater Cincinnati by combining public funds with private sector dollars to increase the available pool of capital for residential energy efficiency projects and achieve terms very attractive to homeowners. However, he remarked that much more can be done and needs to be done in the financing arena. This will continue to be a focus for Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance. He also commented that the asset inventory will be a useful tool to build additional support for his efforts. Another key point was the opportunity to connect the service providers conducting audits and recommending energy efficiency projects with the manufacturers of the products and materials that are needed for the projects. By more effectively connecting the supply of products and materials from Ohio companies to projects being implemented in Ohio, we can leverage even more economic impact for our state. I commented on plans in Northeast Ohio to continue the roadmapping process to its conclusion. From the beginning of this initiative, NorTech's intent has been to take the asset inventory data and develop a complete energy efficiency roadmap for Northeast Ohio, utilizing InSeven℠, our proven roadmapping process. This involves key additional steps beyond the asset inventory itself. These steps include projecting the market opportunity over the next seven years, assessing the region's competitive position, developing a vision and goals for each of the priority segments and gathering stakeholder feedback. The full roadmapping process will be finished by year-end and will result in a completed roadmap with an appropriate action plan for the region. Understanding what the entire state has to offer has set the stage for NorTech and other economic development organizations to hone in on those proficiencies that are distinctive in each region. The asset inventory enables opportunities for economic development organizations in each region to take this insight and develop plans of action to leverage their regional strengths to stimulate growth and job creation. Stay tuned for the results of the Northeast Ohio roadmap to be rolled out by the end of the year.


text:
Posted 09 June 2003 - 06:09 AM
From Mr. Randi's site http://www.randi.org/jr/060603.html
We show you here a set of spooky photographs sent us by a reader, and ask you to submit explanations for the strange images you see...
website: http://www.randi.org
James Randi's email address: email@example.com
How about it Ghostvillagers? Do you have an opinion about the photos?
Posted 09 June 2003 - 06:29 PM
My take on these photos was that they were taken in a room with low lighting ,obviously. The shutter speed was too slow and the film speed too high. This photographic phenomen ( produced either accidentally or intentionaly) typically produces a tracer affect which is present in the photos attached to this post. The light almost bleeds ( for lack of a more technical term) from any lighting source ( notice each streak eminates from some form of light in the room ) and the photos are typically blured a bit . The slower the shutter speed the greater the need for camera stability no matter what speed film you are using.
P.S. No its not Santa Virginia lol ;D
Posted 09 June 2003 - 07:12 PM
I dont know what to say about these photos. Looks wierd.
Posted 10 June 2003 - 11:21 AM
Flying...I would ask that you also send him some of our best photos and have him explain them. I would be curious as to what he sees in them. ;D
Posted 10 June 2003 - 11:38 AM
Posted 10 June 2003 - 12:01 PM
Posted 10 June 2003 - 03:46 PM
KRC, use the link to James Randi and send him some Photos. I have found him extremely responsive and helpful. I would like to know what he sees in some of our pics too! :o
[move]COME ON VILLAGERS>>WHAT DO YOU THINK??[/move]
Posted 10 June 2003 - 07:01 PM
you have a point to some degree but the light seems to react much more drasticly , more so than the entire image itself with slower shutter speeds .
I have performed this illusion intentionally while talking photos of the Baltimore City skyline some 15 years ago from Federal Hill , overlooking the Harbor.
I used glare reduction filters to cut down on the blurring effect caused by the slow shutter speed. The image itself was clear as a bell but the lighting was streaked and eminated from every light within the image. It was indeed quite beautiful. I took both black and white and color shots. The black and white for contrast purposes. They were equally beautiful.
The photos in question are a bit blurred , more than likely due to the photographer holding the camera in his slightly shaking hand . Even subtle movement during the time the shutter is open can cause the light blurr effect .
P.S. I dont think the photos were faked intentionally , its more a case of mistaken interpretation.
Posted 11 June 2003 - 03:35 AM
Ok Dennis...I sent Mr. Randi 6 pictures to evaluate. I sent him some of my own so that I can control knowing every step of the picture's "life" from taking to developing to posting here. I also made an invitation for him to come to GV and check things out here. I will keep you informed of the results of his viewing my pics. ;D
Posted 11 June 2003 - 08:55 AM
KRC, I don't think Randi faked these specific photos. I believe they were sent to him and he posted them to make an educational point. I have seen many similar pics posted on the net. I am glad you sent him your pics, please let us know if you get any response. This should be fun!!! ;D
Posted 11 June 2003 - 09:50 AM
It will however...be very interesting to see first of all if I get a response from him and second what that response would be. ;D
Posted 11 June 2003 - 02:06 PM
I'll bet dollars to donuts that his response will be something like "this can be easily created" or "this is like looking at tea leaves, if you look hard enough you will always see something". He said something similar (can't remember the exact words) about some pics I sent him. (without explaining how they could have been created *snicker*)
To be fair though, I suspect he is bombarded constantly by phony photos from charlatans and needs to keep his guard up. Maybe too much....
Posted 11 June 2003 - 02:13 PM
flying...I'm sorry...I don't mean to be "standoffish" about the amazing Randi but knowing that he does finance the production of things like this I can't keep my flag from reaching the top of the pole. You are right...he may very well not have had these particular ones produced.
Oh, KRC,
I respect your opinion and I know what you ment. Besides the Amazing Randy is a VERY controversial person and you are simply sharing your thoughts. Thats what we are here for.
Posted 11 June 2003 - 05:41 PM
Randi's website has an active forum on the paranormal -why not post your pics there now and invite opinions?
Also, question (and a suggestion):
How credible do you really find Randi to be in analyzing photos? I sense from some comments that he's not held in high regard. If that is the case, then what is the point in engaging him? Does it have more to do with the fact that he's "controversial" and less to do with any meaningful dialogue to discover the truth? You couldn't get more extreme than Randi in terms of the paranormal/skeptic spectrum (although I do respect and enjoy some of his works and his books are in my library--along with my ghost books, of course). Feel like I'm in the Gaza Strip here
Just seems pointless to engage in a debate with someone whom you don't respect anyway, unless you're looking to bolster your own paranormal claims with negative comments from someone who isn't respected in the community (like good advertising--"Randi looked at his stuff and said it's bogus, so it must be a ghost")
I suspect that whatever result you get with Randi--even if you get no response at all--would be a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, might I suggest that instead of nominating a personality that people here already do not find credible, find another <ahem> "skeptic" to participate.
Here are some good places to start looking:
Posted 11 June 2003 - 06:21 PM
Hi Camille,
Glad you stopped in. I promise this is a "ceasefire" zone so you are safe from anyone bombing you! <runs to Camille waving an Israeli flag to signal IAF planes flying overhead, then starts to worry about Hamas snipers> *snicker*
I think many people (myself included) respect Randi, but are disappointed by what sometimes seems to be a closed minded approach to the paranormal. He is an experienced, intelligent and fascinating man. I have to admire someone smart enough to expose all the fakes that he has. That being said, he is perceived by many as a closed minded debunker. The verdict is still out from my point of view. Problem is that he doesn't know the credability of those that submit pics to him and I believe that he errs on the side of caution to preserve his own credability (and the million).
Hey Camille great suggestion about posting on Randi's board, I love it! Thanks for sharing the links too. The sites definately worth the look.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
A Keynote Technology Panel on Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) Concepts and Applications will take place Wednesday, May 7, 9am-10am, at the International Powder & Bulk Solids Conference in Rosemont, IL. Topics will include:
• Proper uses and applications
• Limitations of DEM – including particle number, size and shape
• Understanding the output and inputs – the importance of calibrated parameter inputs
• Parameter calibration – from particle scale to site modeling
• Devising an optimum design and using DEM tools to fine-tune that design
• Advanced features of DEM such as wear modeling and force exports
• Coupling of DEM with additional tools such Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Shrikant Dhodapkar, Fellow of the Dow Chemical Technical Program, and adjunct professor, Process Fundamentals, University of Pittsburgh will moderate this panel. Panelists include: Richard LaRoche, vice president of engineering & US general manager, DEM Solutions; Alan Roberts, professor emeritus, University of Newcastle, and founding director, Tunra Bulk & Solids (Australia); Andre Katterfeld, professor, Institute of Logistics & Material Handling Systems, Universitat Magdeburg (Germany); Tim Donohue, engineering manager for modeling & simulation, Tunra Bulk & Solids; Yutaka Tsuji, professor emeritus - managing director of Hosokawa Powder Technology Foundation, retired from Osaka University (Japan).
"This talk will touch on where DEM is on the technology adoption curve with different industries," says LaRoche. "I will discuss some of the perceived barriers to adoption that we at DEM Solutions see and experience for instance effective material models, depth of understanding of the technology with management, engineers who are able to use DEM, etc."
Click here to Register for This Workshop
Click here for More Information about the International Powder & Bulk Solids Conference & Exhibition


text:
One Direction Dissed By The Wanted Yet Again
It looks like the war between The Wanted and One Direction is escalating further. This time, the boys of The Wanted are the ones talking smack. Read on for all the details!
Can't we all just get along? When it comes to The Wanted and One Direction, the answer is a resounding NO! During a recent interview with OK! magazine, the boys of The Wanted have continued the feud with some interesting jabs at their competition — but are they right?
The Wanted Disses One Direction
With a history of amazing boy bands, like of NKOTB, NSYNC, and Backstreet Boys, having taken over the world with great songs and dancing, The Wanted is taking on One Direction with another reason why they think they are the better band. During an interview with OK!, The Wanted's Tom Parker gloated, "What I'm proud of is that I feel like we started this whole generation of new boy bands not dancing. We were the first one there. We're the coolest boy band around."
It didn't end there, as the sexy Jay McGuiness was quick to add, "I think everyone saw us and thought, that's the blueprint, we'll tidy it up a bit and then we'll make a lot of money." This a clear shot to One Direction, who arguably is the most popular boy band in the world.
Zayn Malik & Max George Fight On Twitter
This war is nothing new, as Max George and Zayn Malik have shared harsh words on Twitter, leading Max to tell reporters that he would risk arrest to fight the boys of 1D! Let's also not forget when, at the Z100 Jingle Ball on Dec. 7 (which had both groups on the bill), HollywoodLife.com asked The Wanted who would put on a better show. Siva Kaneswaran replied, "What do you think?! Us!"
This looks like it will never come to an end. Will One Direction respond and fight back?
So HollywoodLifers, who is the better boy band? The Wanted or One Direction? Sound off below!
Russ Weakland
More The Wanted & One Direction News:
- One Direction & The Wanted Engage In Nasty Feud On Twitter
- One Direction & The Wanted Are Still Fighting
- Louis Tomlinson Studying Rival Boy Band The Wanted


text:
Benchtop Saw Upgrade
I improved the tabletop of my bottom-of-the-line table saw, and the saw's performance has gone through the roof. A piece of MDF, a few scraps and screws, and a couple hours work was all it took. It saved me hundreds of dollars because I didn't need to buy a bigger and better saw for my space-deprived shop.
The tabletop is made from 1/2″ MDF (you can use thicker material, but you will lose cutting height). It measures 36″ wide x 22″ deep, which provides an 18″ rip capacity. Adjust these measurements to suit your needs.
Underneath and flush with the outer edges of the MDF, I fitted 3/4″plywood between the sides and back edges of the table saw's top to create a snug fit. I added a 1/4″ (rather than 3/4″) strip of plywood beneath the front edge due to a lip under the table saw. I secured the plywood to the MDF with screws and trimmed it flush with a pattern bit in my router.
Next, I framed the tabletop with 1/2″ hardwood and attached it with screws. All screws need to be countersunk so they don't interfere with workpieces. Also, the front edge of the tabletop must be flat and perpendicular to the blade; this is the edge along which the T-square fence rides.
To create the zero-clearance opening, I clamped the auxiliary top to the table saw's top, turned on the saw and slowly raised the blade. I lengthened the cut to allow for a splitter, a blade guard and anti-kickback pawls.
The fence is made from three pieces of 3/4″ plywood that are stacked, glued and jointed to create a 90º surface to the tabletop. A 1/2″ piece of MDF was attached to each side of the fence to ensure a smooth, flat surface.
The MDF piece that faces the saw blade is tall to provide support for thicker or taller workpieces. A piece of 3/4″ x 2-1/2″ x 10″ plywood creates the "T" for the fence. This is the portion that rides along the front edge of the tabletop, so it must be flat, straight and perpendicular to the saw blade.
To add the "T," I placed the face of the fence against the raised blade and clamped it to the table. Then I screwed the "T" to the fence to lock it at a 90º angle. I applied a couple coats of polyurethane to the entire assembly, let it dry for a day or two, then added two coats of wax to create a slick surface.
In use, I secure the fence with two clamps – one in front and one in back – after making sure the fence is parallel to the blade. For extra holding power, you can add adhesive-backed sandpaper to the bottom of the fence.
If your table saw's top is not perfectly flat, you can shim your new top as needed. The surface on either side of the blade must be 90º to the blade, otherwise accuracy is compromised.
To further enhance your new top, you can include miter tracks, adhesive measuring tape along the front edge and permanent hold-downs for the fence to eliminate the need for clamps.
Dan Chiappetta
Astoria, New York


text:
SAN ANDREAS - Most folks would probably say they were happy if they found that there was no sign of nuclear bomb fallout in their well water.
SAN ANDREAS - Most folks would probably say they were happy if they found that there was no sign of nuclear bomb fallout in their well water.
For officials studying how to recharge depleted groundwater tables in western Calaveras County, however, it's a problem.
A U.S. Geological Survey study report filed in the fall found only one well at sites west of Valley Springs between Highways 12 and 26 had any detectable tritium. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that has been pervasive in the atmosphere since the early 1950s due to nuclear bomb testing.
All of the other wells, including all of the test wells at the former Trinitas golf course site south of Wallace, had no detectable tritium. That means falling rain since 1952 is not recharging those wells, scientists say.
In fact, other types of testing found that water in the wells has been underground for 2,200 to 13,400 years.
"The recharge takes a long time to penetrate to the groundwater table," Patrick Dunn of Dunn Environmental said during a Dec. 12 report to Calaveras County Water District directors.
Like other water districts in the foothills, CCWD has rights to more surface water than it can use. Officials would like to put some of that rainfall and snowmelt underground, both to recharge the aquifer and to store wet-year surpluses for use during droughts.
The trick is how to get extra water - say from New Hogan Reservoir near Valley Springs - into the ground economically.
Just to the west, in San Joaquin County, Stockton East Water District has had a pilot project since 2003 that leases fields in the Farmington area as places to percolate surface water into the ground.
That project seeks to use about 1,200 acres of land to sink about 35,000 acre feet of water a year into the ground.
An acre foot is enough water to cover an acre one foot deep and is roughly enough water to serve two urban households for a year.
The challenge in Calaveras County is finding where to get the water into the ground. Rocks and soils high in clay prevent water from sinking in many locations.
A good site, in contrast, would have deep layers of gravel and sand that would allow water to penetrate far underground.
"We do believe several (such good sites) are out there," said Jeffrey Meyer, finance director for CCWD.
Such sites are key, Meyer said, because "injection wells are very expensive."
Although the USGS study has ended, CCWD has expanded the number of wells monitoring groundwater in the western end of the county to 16, Meyer said. Also, the Natural Resources Conservation Service is currently doing a survey of soils in the area.
The hope, Meyer said, is that the soils survey will find areas where water can sink easily into the ground.
"We have to do the science," Meyer said.
Contact reporter Dana M. Nichols at (209) 607-1361 or email@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/calaverasblog.


text:
An Obituary for Led Zeppelin II
By: Linnea Crowther
6 years ago
I've always been a fan of unusual names – the ones that form a sentence (like one of my all-time favorites, Barbara Hollers), the ones that are beautifully mellifluous (I once had a friend named Marisol Flores, and I always thought her name was as lovely as she was), and the ones that are just plain different (like the young man my sister went to school with, Epluribus).
We at Legacy.com ran across one of the greatest unusual names of all time this week, when we received an obituary for Led Zeppelin II.
Zeppelin wasn't born with that name (he was once George Blackburn), nor did he change it for a joke or after losing a bet. He took the name of his favorite album by his favorite band after a divorce last year, as a way to reinvent himself.
The new name was both an homage and a fresh start. And he was clear-headed about the change – it was something he had been thinking about for years before making the decision. "I just changed my name from the standpoint that I can be a better person than I used to be," he said.
It made him happy, too – he said his life "improved a thousand fold" after the name change.
Maybe it's something we should all consider. If you chose a new name today, what would it be?


text:
No TV for Ryan Phillippe
It was announced two weeks ago that Ryan Phillippe had signed onto a pilot for a CBS cop drama called Golden Boy. Deadline reported yesterday that heΓÇÖs now backed out. Phillippe had been working on Damages as a guest star. And apparently theyΓÇÖve been considering him for TV for years. Word is, after his Damages experience, heΓÇÖs not sure about ΓÇ£commit(ting) to the rigors of a network drama seriesΓÇ¥.
Cable television series are shorter, fewer episodes. With network youΓÇÖre looking at at least 22 episodes. I speak often to talent agents all the time who represent both film and tv actors. Many of them wish their clients would consider more tv opportunities: itΓÇÖs stable and itΓÇÖs often more lucrative. So...this is not about money. Is it about personal life? Phillippe has three children. The excuse could be that he wants to spend more time with them. Patrick Dempsey has three children and heΓÇÖs on a network drama too. As are many, many other stars on tv.
Television work is hard, though. Arguably harder than film. As Duana has said, it's a slog. It's long days, it's less time, and you don't get to just put it away after 3 months. Television work also has its rewards. We've already talked about the possible financial benefits and the security of it should you be attached to a project that goes several seasons. Creatively, as demonstrated lately with so much quality programming offered in recent years on the small screen, television more than challenges even the most discerning "artists".
But these bitches, they are hard to please. This, primarily, is why there is a film to television hierarchy. They're the ones who prefer film. They're the ones who think it's more prestigious. They're the ones who'd rather work less for more glory. They're the ones who get bored playing the same character over and over and over again and crave the variety.
In Ryan Phillippe's case though, strategically, is this a good move? Are his film opportunities so plentiful and fulfilling that he can afford to walk away? I think this is a dumb ass play. Ryan Phillippe is not a leading movie man. He's not even a movie character actor. But he could be a really big television star. Unless he's holding out for HBO, he doesn't appear to want that.


text:
If you shoot with a digital camera and are serious about photography, chances are you shoot in RAW as it is flexible and can be edited after the shot is taken. But if you own a FUJIFILM camera, put that thought on the side for a second. You may be wasting just about half of the camera's potential.
First of all, the color reproduction is not just a "tendency" for FUJIFILM cameras, but rather a "world of its own". It does not just look "vivid" or "soft". They are in their own world of color reproduction of "Velvia" and "ASTIA".
When you shoot a photo, you would first look at the subject. It can be anything from "autumn leaves" to "person". And you would set it to "Vivid" or "Soft" depending on the subject. You may be happy with the result if the autumn leaves appear vivid or the skin appears soft.
You may also be unsatisfied with the result, but thanks to the RAW file, you also know that "it can be edited later".
If you use FUJIFILM camera, your style of photography can be a bit different.
How would the autumn leaves or the person appear if they were shot in Velvia?
How would they appear if they were shot in ASTIA?
This is the fundamental idea of FUJIFILM's approach to color reproduction and photography.
We believe the photographer should solely concentrate on shooting and not get concerned about the rest.
And as the FUJIFILM cameras are mirrorless, you can check the final image before the shot is taken. You can preview the world of Velvia and ASTIA.
How would the scene be captured in the form of photography? It is very important that you can check that in real time.
The reason that Film Simulation has its own "world" is that it is very robustness.
The"World of Velvia" certainly tends to be vivid and the "World of ASTIA" certainly has soft tonality.
But they both have soft and hard parts in particular area. Each film simulation is composed with just the right balance.
It is our belief that "the photos should never look unnatural even though one can easily see that they are composed with the color of Velvia or ASTIA."
FUJIFILM's color reproduction designers prioritize the live action. They take photos of scenery that should not be taken in Velvia. They take photos upon customizing the setting that one would never think of.
They would print these out and evaluate. People who evaluate are not the people who took the photos. In order for a fair evaluation, they would need the neutral eye for the job and they do that for every test.
This is the process of creating the world of color that are unique, but yet never fail.
Starting with the next episode, we will explain each "world" in depth.
In cooperation with : R&D Div. Optical, Electronic Imaging Products Div. FUJIFILM
Continue to read episode 2:
Episode 2 CLASSIC CHROME


text:
One of my best friends delivered her first child about 1 month before me and now we're both pregnant with our second. She had problems with PPD compounded with very leaky breasts. She breast fed for 1 month before throwing in the towel. I'm trying to give her advice for her second in hopes that she lasts at least a little longer...not expecting much but maybe another month.
I never had the leaky boob problem so I can't relate. I'm assuming she has a small milk capacity (she's a really tiny person) and has to empty every 2 hours. She can't expect to take an extended nap and not wake up in a puddle?
Any advice from people who have had this issue is greatly appreciated. Thanks!


text:
One of the dating services for meeting local people is Union speed dating. Based on a series of short planned introductions Union speed dating allow singles to quickly meet people face to face in a safe and fun environment. Imagine meeting people online in a similar fashion through matchmaker.com'sinnovative new Cupid feature which emails you introductions of singles in the Union speed dating area without ever having to leave your home.
UnionJoin Now Free!
Union Girls | Union Men | Union Gay | Union Lesbians
More Union Links:
Union Dating | Union Personals | Union Chat | Union Singles | Union Love
Senior Dating | Catholic Dating | Christian Dating | Muslim Dating
Black Singles | Asian Singles | Latin Dating
Meet people from all different backgrounds and lifestyles around the world or someone in the local Union neighborhood at matchmaker.com. There are thousands of singles from the around the world looking for a long term relationship. Find love and romance with a Union speed dating style of matchmaking.


text:
By Helen Popper
EL ALTO, Bolivia (Reuters) - A chaotic sprawl high in the Andes, the Bolivian city of El Alto has a fearsome reputation for altitude sickness, poverty and violent uprisings that topple governments. No wonder many businesses stayed away.
But years of economic growth and relative stability are changing attitudes as well as fortunes in one of Latin America's poorest and most volatile nations. Entrepreneurs are even waking up to El Alto's potential.
Its first supermarkets, shopping centers and cinemas are planned -- multimillion-dollar private sector investments that would have been unthinkable almost anywhere in Bolivia a decade ago.
Banks and pizza delivery stores have set up shop in the city's stark, traffic-choked streets and its bare brick buildings are climbing higher into the thin air as local commerce thrives 4,050 meters (13,300 feet) above sea level.
"People hardly bought anything in the past. With this government there's business," said Alicia Villalba, 33, selling Brazilian-made aluminum pans at a twice-weekly market where everything from livestock to second-hand cars is on sale.
"I just hope the economy keeps on growing so I'm able to look after my family," she said as a woman wearing the traditional dress of a wide pleated skirt and bowler hat bought a full set of pots.
About $2 million changes hands at the market every day.
Seven years since they helped elect leftist coca farmer Evo Morales as Bolivia's first president of indigenous descent, there are subtle signs of change among El Alto's mainly Aymara Indian population too.
"El Alto was always where conflicts kicked off. Why? Because people had nothing to lose. That's not the case today," said Alejandro Yaffar, a prominent businessman who owns a new fast-food court in El Alto and has two more retail projects planned.
"People have opened their eyes to a new way of life," he said in his office in the adjoining city of La Paz, Bolivia's administrative capital.
Much remains to be done, however. Heaps of garbage and packs of stray dogs blight the bleak urban landscape. Water and drainage are inadequate, and local businesses complain about rising crime and scant policing.
Public infrastructure projects have struggled to meet the fast-growing city's needs or the expectations of residents and some are disappointed with Morales and the pace of change.
"Here in El Alto we all voted for him, myself included," said Nora Villeros, 65, her long braids streaked with gray, as she sat in front of her busy store selling colorful bathroom tiles and fittings.
"He promised us miracles but the first couple of years went by and then he forgot about us," she said, complaining that Morales had favored members of his Movement Toward Socialism party (MAS).
Many of El Alto's residents are self-employed and resist efforts by authorities to increase tax revenue by cracking down on contraband goods. That means protests and roadblocks are still a regular occurrence.
El Alto is not the only place that is changing in Bolivia, a landlocked country of about 10 million that sits on South America's second-biggest natural gas reserves and rich deposits of silver, tin, zinc and other metals.
In La Paz, which lies in a crater-like valley below El Alto, low unemployment and affordable credit are fueling a construction boom and consumers feel unusually well off.
"There's more work and more money around. I think people are living better than they were six years ago," said Marco Arkaza, 33, a bank employee as he strolled in one of two new cinema and shopping complexes in La Paz.
"People have greater purchasing power. Young people and the middle class have enough money to come to places likes this now," he said.
After seven years of economic growth averaging 4.7 percent a year, Bolivia joined the World Bank's list of lower middle-income countries in 2010. The ranking allows more credit access.
Government officials say up to a million Bolivians have entered middle-class ranks under Morales. They credit policies such as welfare payments for school children and pensioners for lifting almost a million more out of extreme poverty.
In 2006, 38 percent of Bolivians lived in extreme poverty, data from the state-run INE national statistics shows. That has fallen to about 25 percent though nearly half of Bolivians are still poor, according to the United Nations.
Some sectors have done better than others. Critics say a disproportionate amount of public money has been poured into the steamy Chapare region that is home to much of Bolivia's illegal coca crops and a stronghold of Morales support.
Mining cooperatives have won significant political concessions from Morales and a few have grown rich due to soaring global metals prices.
In mining cities like Oruro and Potosi, famous for the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) of colonial times, newspapers carry stories of miners-turned-millionaires and fantastic earnings luring fortune seekers from other parts of the country.
While most of the cooperative miners scrape a living working in dangerous and precarious conditions, a few have become wealthy enough to buy expensive cars and invest in real estate.
"This amazing mining boom has helped develop markets in places no one ever would have imagined," said Christian Eduardo, president of the CADECO construction industry chamber in La Paz.
Construction activity has been growing at an average of about 10 percent per year since 2007, forcing the over-stretched local cement industry to meet demand with Peruvian imports.
To the surprise of his detractors, Morales -- an ally of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez who shares his penchant for fiery leftist rhetoric -- has proved a fiscal conservative. The country is expected to register its seventh-straight annual fiscal surplus in 2012.
Morales, 53, has nationalized areas of the economy from the vital natural gas industry to telecommunications companies and tin smelters, but he has also let the central bank's foreign reserves swell to record levels and warded off the scourge of high inflation that battered Bolivia in the 1980s.
The economy is expected to grow more quickly than many of its wealthier neighbors this year and should maintain a healthy 5 percent expansion in 2013, according to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates.
"Bolivia is no longer a country with a weak economy," Economy Minister Luis Arce said last month after the nation sold its first global bonds in almost a century.
Most analysts said the interest rate of less than 5 percent was low considering Morales' record of nationalizing companies, often without prior notice or paying compensation, and it has proved an unlikely public relations success for him.
"The interesting thing is that Bolivia sold the bonds at half the rate paid by Venezuela. That's an important message to the world," said Horst Grebe, director of La Paz-based research institute, Prisma.
"The problem is that Bolivia's biggest growth is in its macroeconomic numbers. What we're not seeing is a transformation of the productive economy that is sustainable in the long term."
Bolivia remains acutely dependent on exports of non-renewable raw materials. Natural gas and metals accounted for 87 percent of last year's record $9.1 billion export earnings, said Gary Rodriguez of the Bolivian Foreign Trade Institute (IBCE).
But as Wall Street economists laud Morales' macroeconomic policies as prudent, critics at home say he betrayed supporters by watering down policy pledges and pandering to big business.
"Since the Spanish arrived 500 years ago we'd never had an Indian president. It was the people's dream and we thought things would be different. But six years on, he's dishonored us," said long-time indigenous activist Felipe Quispe, known as El Mallku, the "Condor" or "authority" in Aymara.
With six years and 10 months in the job, Morales has held Bolivia's presidency for the longest unbroken period of any elected leader. An opinion poll conducted last month by Ipsos Bolivia put his approval rating at 53 percent in urban areas and 69 percent in the countryside.
But despite his continuing domination of the political scene, Morales has lost his initial aura of invincibility since some allies turned against him over an Amazon highway plan and a fuel price hike two years ago.
Government critics from the left and the right would like to see strong challengers emerge in time for a 2014 presidential election in which Morales has hinted he may seek a third term.
"The government's made a lot of mistakes ... they've got drunk on power," Quispe said, accusing Morales of seeking to stifle media criticism and control the judiciary.
In El Alto, several large state infrastructure projects, such as a $234 million cable car system and a double-lane highway to Oruro, should be ready in time for the election. They are unlikely to satisfy growing expectations, however.
"There's been a lot of investment in the city but it hasn't been enough yet," said Javier Ajno, president of the powerful FEJUVE neighborhood federation.
FEJUVE was a protagonist in the so-called Gas War that led to the ouster of former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada in 2003 and the protests that drove Carlos Mesa from office two years later.
Ajno said El Alto's rebellious spirit was still very much alive, but that for now there is broad support for Morales.
"El Alto has been the cradle of this process of change ... we've carried an Indian to the presidency and people still believe in this process," he said. "We've definitely still got a long way to go, but in five or 10 years this will be the city of the future."
(Editing by Kieran Murray and Lisa Shumaker)


text:
In this video I interview Shashi Bellamkonda, social media swami at Network Solutions.
Shashi shares how Twitter became a core component of Network Solutions' social media strategy.
You'll learn how Network Solutions uses Twitter to monitor and improve their reputation. And Shashi also shares some valuable tips for you to monitor your brand's reputation online.
Be sure to check out the takeaways below after you watch the video.


text:
MILWAUKEE (AP) - St. Louis right-hander Jason Motte will have season-ending Tommy John surgery next week.
The Cardinals reliever was placed on the disabled list on March 29, and eventually diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right elbow. He had been rehabbing and playing catch in an effort to avoid surgery.
However, he had discomfort during a throwing session and it was decided that Motte would have the ligament replacement surgery.
Motte emerged as the Cardinals' closer late in the 2011 season, throwing eight scoreless innings with four saves against Philadelphia and Milwaukee in the NLDS and NLCS, respectively before going 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA during the World Series.


text:
Americans in October were the most pessimistic about the nation's economic prospects in almost two years as concern mounted that continued political gridlock will hurt the expansion.
The monthly Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index expectations gauge plunged to minus 31, the lowest level since November 2011, from minus 9 in September, a report showed today. The share of people projecting the economy will worsen jumped by the most since the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. five years ago. The weekly measure of current conditions fell to minus 34.1 in the period ended Oct. 13, the weakest since March.
The legislation passed by Congress last night to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government into 2014 may be setting the stage for another round of confrontations early next year. The fiscal impasse in Washington has spared few as today's report showed consumers across almost all demographic groups grew increasingly distressed.
"The government shutdown has resulted in a startling decline in consumer sentiment and likely business sentiment that will result in a much slower pace of consumption and capital expenditures in the current quarter," said Joseph Brusuelas, a senior economist for Bloomberg LP in New York. "Should lawmakers kick a decision into early 2014, it is likely that consumer sentiment will keep deteriorating."
Claims Elevated
Other reports today showed more Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, and factories in the Philadelphia region expanded more than projected in October.
Jobless claims decreased by 15,000 to 358,000 in the week ended Oct. 12 from a revised 373,000 in the prior period, according to Labor Department figures. California continued to work through a backlog, A Labor Department spokesman said, indicating it will take time to gauge the impact of the federal shutdown.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's general economic index fell to 19.8 this month from a more than two-year high of 22.3 in September. Readings greater than zero signal growth in the area, which covers eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware.
Stocks fell, after the Standard & Poor's 500 Index came within four points of a record, as investors assessed the effects of the budget standoff and International Business Machines Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. tumbled amid declining revenue. The S&P 500 declined 0.1% to 1,719.45 at 10:21 a.m. in New York.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
The earth shook violently in Central America Wednesday morning, as a 7.5 magnitude quake took over the Pacific coast of Guatemala, rocking the capital and shaking buildings as far away as Mexico City and El Salvador.
According to Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina, 39 people died buried under rubble in three different Guatemalan towns.
Landslides were blocking roads in some areas, authorities said, and about 40 houses had been severely damaged in the quake, which occurred at 10.35 am local time.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was a possibility of a local tsunami, within 100 or 200 miles of the epicenter, but they were not issuing an immediate warning for the broader region. The earthquake, about 20 miles deep, was centered off the town of Champerico.
Nicaragua's disaster management said it had issued a local tsunami alert, but there were no immediate reports of a tsunami on the country's Pacific coast.
People fled buildings in Guatemala City, in Mexico City and in the capital of the Mexican state of Chiapas, across the border from Guatemala.
A reporter in the town of San Marcos, about 80 miles north of the epicenter, told local radio station Emisoras Unidas that houses had collapsed onto residents and smashed televisions and other appliances had been scattered into the streets.
The local fire department said on its Twitter account that a school had collapsed and eight injured people had been taken to a nearby hospital. Local radio reported widespread power outages and cuts in telephone service.
A spokesman for El Salvador's Red Cross branch told The Associated Press that the quake had been felt throughout the country, sending people fleeing their homes in the capital, but there had been no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage. He said there had been no local tsunami warning issued.
El Salvador's Civil Protection agency said officials were evacuating some coastal communities as a precautionary measure.
The mayor of Mexico City said no serious damage or injuries had been reported in the city, although many people had fled their offices and homes during the quake.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Follow us on twitter.com/foxnewslatino
Like us at facebook.com/foxnewslatino


text:
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – An exceedingly rare, ancient Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty solid nephrite jade bear, made between 475 B.C.-220 A.D. and exhibiting extensive calcification due to centuries of extended burial, sold for a little more than $8 million at a multi-estate antiques auction held Dec. 10 by Elite Decorative Arts, at the firm's gallery located in the Quantum Town Center.
The nephrite (greenstone) bear was by far the top lot of the nearly 300 items that changed hands in an auction that grossed about $9 million. But the bear was also a bargain for the buyer who wished not to be identified – it carried a presale estimate of $10 million to $20 million, as reported in the Elite Decorative Arts pre-auction report. Such numbers have become commonplace for Chinese antiquities, which are now red-hot collectibles.
A combination of factors contributed to the bear's desirability. It was the largest jade sculpture known of its time. It was made for a significant figure or ruler, with whom it had been buried. The cup-shaped opening at the top of the head meant it was made for a stand or base for a significant object. And it came with impeccable credentials from a Beijing authenticating firm.
"This is the second item we've sold for more than $1 million. No other auction house in Florida can say that," said Chris Hayes of Elite Decorative Arts. About 120 people attended to bid in person, while more than 650 bidders registered online through LiveAuctioneers.com.
One other lot flirted with the $1 million mark but fell short: a magnificent Russian silver enameled box with an oval panel to cover showing a miniature landscape painting after Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (Russ., 1832-1898), and a multi-colored enameled design of a prince with a sword and eagles. The box, with Fedor Ruckert workmaster marks, fetched $862,500.
Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer's premium for in-house and telephone winning bids and 18 percent for online winners.
An 18th century six-piece Chinese relief carved ivory and cloisonné tea set gaveled for $10,620. The set consisted of a relief carved double gourd-shaped teapot with chicken spout and handle (6 1/2 inches tall), four cups with raised scroll design (each 1 3/4 inches tall) and a bronze and enamel cloisonné floral under plate with eight polychromed plaques.
An 18-karat yellow gold gem jadeite and diamond ring, comprising a translucent green oval cabochon stone with 26 colorless diamond baguettes in yellow gold all in a fancy cocktail ring mounting, slipped on a new finger for $9,735. The ring, a size 6 1/2 held the Arthur King maker's mark and boasted a 21 total diamond weight (32.8 grams), plus a G.I.A. certification from 1967.
An original pastel gouache on paper rendering of a male and female figure in an abstract manner by Theo Tobiasse (French/Israeli, b. 1927) climbed to $6,785. The signed, matted and framed work measured 41 inches by 28 inches and had a saying that read, "Pomme d'Amour Pour Unique Folie" (which loosely translated means "Apple of Love for Unique Madness").
An 8-piece Sevres French porcelain and cabaret service with silver overlay brought $4,485. The masterfully created set, produced in the 19th century, was an enchanting light blue, which contrasted against the silver mesh overlay design. The set included a covered pot (7 1/4 inches tall), a covered sugar (5 1/4 inches tall), a creamer, serving tray, two cups and saucers.
An 1888 oil on canvas rendering of cattle titled "Jealousy" by American artist Arthur Fitzwilliam (1819-1905) breezed to $4,140. The work, signed lower right and on verso by the artist, measured 13 1/4 inches by 21 1/2 inches and was framed. Fitzwilliam was a prominent member of the National Academy of Design and was generally renowned for his wildlife work.
A late 19th century Louis Comfort Tiffany Favrile (hand-made) glass trumpet vase with enchanting vine and leaf design and round ribbed base changed hands for $4,140. The vase was 14 3/4 inches tall and 7 1/2 inches in diameter and exhibited a beautiful glowing iridescent color. The bottom was marked with "3631 L.C. Tiffany – Favrile" while another mark said "14505."
An original pastel and crayon on paper depicting two seated females by the Mexican artist Francisco Zuniga (1912-1998) went to a determined bidder for $3,894. The work was signed lower right and dated 1984, and measured 19 1/2 inches tall by 27 inches wide. It had been matted and famed and registered in Catalogue Raisonne of Francisco Zuniga, Vol. IV, #3280.
Two lots drew identical winning bids of $3,658. The first was a 19th century Meissen German porcelain figural group depicting a woman sitting in a seat with three children playing cards. The piece stood 8 3/4 inches tall. The second was a screenprint on paper depicting ocean water by the American/Latvian artist Vija Clemins (b. 1939). It was titled "Ocean With Cross #1."
Rounding out the day's top lots is a vibrant oil painting of a beach scene by Howard Behrens (Am., b. 1933). It sold for $3,540. The 47 1/2-inch by 47 1/2-inch painting was signed in the lower right hand margin.
Elite Decorative Arts has three big sales lined up through the early spring. A decorative arts and fine artwork auction will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, with a 1 p.m. (EST) start time. That will be followed by a decorative arts sale on Saturday, Feb. 25, also starting at 1 p.m. Then, on Saturday, March 17, the firm will hold an Asian art and objects auction, with a 6 p.m. start time.
Learn more about Elite Decorative Arts by calling 561-200-0893, or toll-free at 800-991-3340; or e-mail them.
MORE RESOURCES FOR ANTIQUE COLLECTORS and DEALERS
• Special discount prices on great books, digital downloads, price guides & reference books for every hobby
• Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2012 Price Guide
• Meet and share with other antiques collectors, dealers and auctioneers on Antique Trader's Facebook page
• Get special discounts and breaking news alerts on Antique Trader's Twitter feed!
• Browse (or place your own) FREE online classified ads
• Sign up for your FREE AntiqueTrader.com email newsletters
• For more trade news, auction reports, research and expert columnists, get 26 issues of Antique Trader magazine for the special online price of just $26!


text:
December 2009 Describes findings of a study revealing that images of heroin preparation and injection can incite craving and excite brain areas associated with reward-seeking even in methadone-maintained patients.
July 2012
Sublingual buprenorphine is a safe and effective alternative to methadone for treating opioid dependence during pregnancy, finds the Maternal Opioid Treatment: Human Experimental Research (MOTHER) study, a NIDA-supported clinical trial. Women who received either medication had similar pregnancy and birth outcomes, but infants born to women who received buprenorphine had milder symptoms of neonatal opioid withdrawal.
January 2013
Methadone treatment centers are not foci for serious criminal activity, according to a study that used crime reports and global positioning data to compare crime rates at various distances around methadone centers, hospitals, convenience stores, and residential neighborhoods.
December 2010 Reports findings from a survey that revealed that although substance abuse is prevalent in jails and prisons, many correctional facilities do not offer detoxification services or therapies to aid in maintaining abstinence.
December 2013 Dr. Kharasch is a NIDA-funded researcher known for a broad range of research into how drugs are metabolized in the body.
September 2013 Dr. Marilyn Huestis of NIDA's Intramural Research Program talks about conducting research on drug effects with human subjects, developing tests to help law enforcement identify drugged drivers, and an assay to help identify children whose prenatal exposure to anti-HIV drugs may put them at risk for adverse developmental outcomes.
June 2014 Two recent studies suggest that genotyping may enable clinicians to base therapies on individual patients' potential responsiveness to opioid drugs' therapeutic effects and vulnerability to their harmful effects.
April 2007 Summarizes a study on the use of incentives to encourage abstinence among methadone maintenance patients in outpatient programs.
April 2007 Reports on a study to investigate the use of methadone maintenance for heroin addicts wait-listed for a treatment program to encourage their likelihood to enroll in the program.
June 2008 Describes a study of unemployed methadone patients and the use of assertive outreach and motivational techniques to improve the patients' employment outlook.


text:
|MLB Career Stats
|Chi White Sox
|22nd in AL
|18th in AL
|22nd in AL
|25th in AL
|24th in AL
|14th in AL
|5th in AL
|13th in AL
|6th in AL
|9th in AL
|14th in AL
|11th in AL
|5th in AL
|7th in AL
|11th in AL
|6th in AL
|18th in AL
|16th in NL
|August 11, 2016
|San Diego Padres released LHP Matt Thornton.
|August 6, 2016
|San Diego Padres designated LHP Matt Thornton for assignment.
|May 28, 2016
|San Diego Padres activated LHP Matt Thornton from the 15-day disabled list.
|May 21, 2016
|San Diego Padres sent LHP Matt Thornton on a rehab assignment to Lake Elsinore Storm.
|April 8, 2016
|San Diego Padres placed LHP Matt Thornton on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 4, 2016. Left achilles tendinitis.
|April 3, 2016
|San Diego Padres selected the contract of LHP Matt Thornton from El Paso Chihuahuas.
|March 3, 2016
|San Diego Padres signed free agent LHP Matt Thornton to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
|March 3, 2016
|LHP Matt Thornton assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas.
|November 2, 2015
|LHP Matt Thornton elected free agency.
|August 6, 2014
|Washington Nationals activated LHP Matt Thornton.
|August 5, 2014
|Washington Nationals claimed LHP Matt Thornton off waivers from New York Yankees.
|January 10, 2014
|New York Yankees signed free agent LHP Matt Thornton.
|November 2, 2013
|LHP Matt Thornton elected free agency.
|November 1, 2013
|Boston Red Sox activated LHP Matt Thornton.
|October 4, 2013
|Boston Red Sox reassigned LHP Matt Thornton to the minor leagues.
|August 25, 2013
|Boston Red Sox activated LHP Matt Thornton from the 15-day disabled list.
|August 7, 2013
|Boston Red Sox placed LHP Matt Thornton on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 5, 2013. Right oblique strain.
|July 13, 2013
|Chicago White Sox traded LHP Matt Thornton to Boston Red Sox for LF Brandon Jacobs.
|September 3, 2010
|Matt Thornton roster status changed by Chicago White Sox.
|August 25, 2010
|Chicago White Sox placed LHP Matt Thornton on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 18, 2010. Left elbow inflammation.
Is married to Emily and has one child, Avery… is a 1995 graduate of Centreville High School (Mich.). Was selected by Detroit in the 27th round of the 1995 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign… instead chose to attend Grand Valley State University (Mich.) on a basketball scholarship… played baseball and basketball
for Grand Valley for three seasons. During the 2012 season, participated in an organ/tissue donor signing ceremony and in the White Sox "Charities Week" lunch with the military and was a member of the "True Heroes" program. Has visited numerous veterans hospitals, including the Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. (2011 and '12), the Hines VA Hospital (Ill.) in 2011 and Bethesda Naval Hospital (Md.) in 2009. Played video games with troops serving overseas as part of the "Pros vs. G.I. Joes" event. Teamed up with Easter Seals of Metropolitan Chicago to promote Autism Awareness Month in 2009.
Was claimed off waivers on Aug. 5, 2014 from the Yankees and immediately became a reliable member of Washington's bullpen...Did not allow a run in 11.1 IP (18 G) during two-month stint with the Nationals...In 36.0 innings in 2014, allowed zero homers...Fared better against right-handed hitters (.236) than those from the left (.250) in 2014...Went 0-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 IP spanning 46 appearances with the Yankees.2013
Combined to go 0-4 with a 3.74 ERA (43.1IP, 18ER) in 60 relief appearances with Chicago-AL and Boston. Opponents batted .285 (47-for-165, 4HR); LH .235 (19-for-81, 3HR), RH .333 (28-for-84, 1HR)… retired 40-of-60 first batters faced (66.7%)… prevented 29-of-42 inherited runners from scoring (69.0%). Began the season with the White Sox, going 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA (28.0IP, 12ER) in 40 games… held opponents scoreless in 31 of those appearances. Went a season-high 11 straight games without an earned run from 4/24-5/15 (7.0IP). Was traded to Boston on 7/12 in exchange for OF Brandon Jacobs. In 20 regular season relief outings with the Red Sox, went 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA (15.1IP, 6ER), holding opponents scoreless in 15 appearances. Of his 13 appearances at Fenway Park with Boston, 11 were scoreless (1.59 ERA, 11.1IP, 2ER)… posted a 9.00 ERA (4.0IP, 4ER) on the road with the Red Sox, allowing at least 1ER in three of those seven games. Made his Red Sox debut on 7/14 at Oakland, entering in the 11th inning and recording the loss after allowing 1ER in 0.2IP (1H, 2BB). Recorded a season-long 7.2-inning scoreless streak from 7/28-9/2. Was placed on the 15-day disabled list from 8/7 (retroactive to 8/5)-8/25 with a left oblique strain. Did not appear on a postseason roster for the World Series-champion Red Sox.2012 Recorded a career-high 26 holds, the second-highest total in White Sox history behind Barry Jones (30 in 1990) ... registered 20 holds for the fifth consecutive season and made at least 60 appearances for a club-record seventh straight year, the only reliever in baseball to accomplish both feats ... ranked among the American League relief leaders in losses (t1st, 10), appearances (6th, 74) and holds (6th) ... his 74 appearances matched a career high (also 2008) and tied for the eighth-most in team history ... the 10 losses were the most by a Chicago reliever since Wilbur Wood in 1970 (13) and tied for the fourth-most by a Major League reliever since 1995 ... went 3-7 (42.9 percent) in save situations ... allowed 31.3 percent (10-32) of inherited runners to score ... first batters faced went 15-70 (.214) ... left-handers hit .256 (31-121) and righties were at .258 (32-124) ... posted a 2.67 ERA (10 ER/33.2 IP) at home ... went 3-3 with a 1.80 ERA (4 ER/20.0 IP) and two saves with no rest ... allowed just one earned run over 12 games (11.0 IP) in April (ERA was 4.50 from May-July) ... limited the opposition to a .218 (12-55) average with RISP ... opened the season with a nine-game scoreless streak (8.0 IP), the longest season-opening streak of his career ... picked up his first win on 4/7 at Texas, working 1.0 scoreless IP (400th career game with the White Sox) ... recorded his 500th career strikeout on 4/11 at Cleveland (Travis Hafner) ... registered the save on 4/29 vs. Boston, his first since 7/2/11 vs. the Cubs ... suffered his first blown save and loss on 5/4 at Detroit (2 ER/0.2 IP) after surrendering a game-ending home run to Jhonny Peralta ... was charged with his third blown save but picked up his second win on 5/18 at the Cubs (0 ER/0.2 IP) ... made nine consecutive scoreless appearances (8.1 IP) from 5/14-30 ... his scoreless streak was snapped on 6/1 (2 ER/1.0 IP) despite registering his ninth hold ... recorded his 426th strikeout with the White Sox on 5/29 at Tampa Bay, passing Keith Foulke for second-most among relievers in franchise history ... set a Sox record for relievers with his 425th appearance on 6/1 vs. Seattle (500th career appearance) ... suffered consecutive losses on 6/15 and 6/17 at Los Angeles-NL ... surrendered a game-ending single to Dee Gordon on 6/17 ... registered his second save on 7/7 vs. Toronto with 1.1 scoreless IP ... reached 500.0 career IP on 7/23 vs. Minnesota ... earned consecutive wins on 7/31 at Minnesota and 8/3 vs. Los Angeles-AL ... recorded a hold in three straight appearances from 8/14-21 ... made nine straight scoreless appearances from 9/5-20 (7.0 IP) ... worked a hitless ninth inning on 9/15 at Minnesota for his third save ... was charged with his 10th loss in his final outing on 10/2 at Cleveland. 2011 Went 2-5 with a 3.32 ERA (22 er/59.2 iP), three saves, 20 holds and 63 strikeouts in his sixth season with the White Sox...registered at least 20 holds for the fourth straight season, the only reliever in baseball to accomplish the feat...made at least 60 appearances for the sixth consecutive season, extending his franchise record...only the Yankees Mariano Rivera (14) owns a longer current streak of 60-game seasons...moved from 13th place to seventh on the franchise's all-time appearance list, passing Roberto Hernandez, Keith Foulke, Eddie Cicotte, Doc White, Hoyt Wilhelm and Mark Buehrle during the season...recorded a 2.45 ERA (14 ER/51.1 IP) in 52 games after 5/1 (8.64 ERA in April)...his five losses marked a career high, and the 63 strikeouts were his fewest since 2007 (55)...owned a 2.52 ERA (7 ER/25.0 IP) on the road, compared to 3.89 (15 ER/34.2 IP) at home...allowed 12 unearned runs, the most among Major-League relievers...opponents hit .206 (21-102) in the second half, down from .293 (39-133) before the Midsummer Classic...left-handers hit .260 (27-104), his highest average since 2007 (.283)...allowed 25.0 (9-36) percent of inherited runners to score...first batters hit .228 (13-57)...threw more than 1.0 IP on 16 occasions, posting a 1.38 ERA (4 ER/26.0 IP) in those games...made eight appearances with no rest and posted a 6.75 ERA (3 ER/4.0 IP)...opponents stole a career-high 13 bases, tied for second-most among AL relievers...posted a 0.00 ERA (9.2 IP) with two of his three saves during interleague play...suffered blown saves in four consecutive outings from 4/6-13, allowing 10 hits and 10 runs (four earned) in 4.0 IP...did not allow an earned run in 14 straight appearances from 6/5-7/18...retired all six batters faced on 7/2 at the Cubs for his third save...earned victories on 9/8 vs. Cleveland and 9/20 at Kansas City...ERA was 2.98 on 9/8 before he allowed five earned runs in 8.1 IP over his final eight outings. 2010 Established career bests with a .191 (41-215) opponents average, 2.67 ERA (18 ER/60.2 IP) and eight saves in his fifth season with the White Sox ... his 2.67 ERA (2.670) was slightly lower than his 2.67 ERA (2.673) in 2008 ... was named to his first American League All-Star Team ... recorded 21 holds, the second-most in his career ... along with Keith Foulke (1999- 2000), Roberto Hernandez (1995-96) and Hoyt Wilhelm (1963-65), became one of four Sox relievers to record at least 80 strikeouts in back-to-back seasons (87 in 2009 and 81 in 2010) ... was the first Chicago relief pitcher to lead the AL in strikeouts since Foulke in 2000 (91) ... also ranked among the AL relief leaders in strikeouts per 9.0 IP (1st, 12.02), inherited runners scored percent (1st, 12.9), holds (8th) and opponent average (9th) ... left-handers hit .175 (17-97) with 44 strikeouts, down from .208 in 2009 ... threw more than 1.0 IP 12 times with a 0.89 ERA (2 ER/20.1 IP) ... went 0-3 with a 5.61 ERA (16 ER/25.2 IP) and two blown saves vs. AL Central opponents, including a 9.53 ERA (6 ER/5.2 IP) against Minnesota ... worked 2.0 hitless IP with four strikeouts for his first win on 4/12 at Toronto ... matched his career high with five strikeouts on 4/23 vs. Seattle and 5/7 at Toronto ... surrendered a home run 6/8 vs. Detroit, ending a string of 43 straight games without a homer (45.0 IP) ... was charged with the blown save in the Midsummer Classic on 7/13 at Angel Stadium (1 ER/0.1 IP), allowing a three-run double to Atlanta's Brian McCann ... made 22 straight scoreless appearances from 6/15-8/9 (18.0 IP) ... served up the game-ending homer to Jim Thome on 8/17 at Minnesota ... was on the disabled list from 8/25-9/3 (retroactive to 8/18) with left elbow inflammation ... threw at least 1.1 IP in each of his final six outings. 2009 established career highs in saves (four), wins (six), holds (24), IP (72.1) and strikeouts (87) in his fourth season with the White Sox...his 70 appearances were four shy of his career best set in 2008 (74) and ranked sixth among American League left-handers...ranked among AL relief leaders in strikeouts (4th), holds (t5th) and strikeouts per 9.0 IP (9th, 10.82)...went 4-9 in save situations (4-6 after the All-Star break)...was moved into the closer's role on 9/22 after Bobby Jenks suffered a strained calf...left-handers hit .208 (21-101), up from .170 in 2008...pitched on no rest 15 times and posted a 1.35 era (2 ER/13.1 IP)...threw more than 1.0 IP on 19 occasions with a 1.21 ERA (4 ER/29.2 IP)...tossed a season-high 2.0 IP three times, including back-to-back outings on 8/26 at Boston and 8/28 at New York-AL...earned back-to-back victories on 5/31 vs. Kansas city (0 ER/1.2 IP) and 6/1 vs. Oakland (0 ER/1.0 IP, 3 K)... struck out six consecutive batters over two outings on 6/1-6, one shy of the club record set by Joe Cowley on 5/28/86 at Texas...he and his wife, Emily, welcomed their first child, daughter Avery Annette, on 7/27...became the franchise leader with his 72nd hold with the Sox on 8/8 vs. Cleveland, moving past Damaso Marte...pitched for the United States in the second World Baseball Classic, going 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA (4 ER/4.2 IP) and five strikeouts in five relief appearances. 2008 established career bests in appearances (74), iP (67.1), era (2.67) and strikeouts (77) in his third season with the white Sox ... set a career high with 20 holds and matched his career high with fi ve wins (2006) ... his 2.67 era was down from 4.79 in 2007 ... his 74 appearances were the second-most among american league left-handers and tied for fi fth-most by a southpaw in Sox history ... ranked among AL relief leaders in games (t5th), strikeouts per 9.0 iP (6th, 10.29) and strikeouts (t6th) ... was 1-6 in save situations with a 2.95 ERA (6 ER/18.1 IP) ... ERA was 2.33 in the fi rst half and 3.14 after the All-Star Break ... the 2.33 fi rst-half era was 2.89 lower than the same point in 2007 (5.22) ... went 4-1 with a 2.88 era at home and 1-2 with a 2.45 era on the road ... posted a 1.80 era during the day (3.19 at night) ... limited left-handers to a .170 (19-12) average, while righties hit .218 (29-133) ... fi rst batters faced were 8-50 (.160) ... allowed 37.5 percent (21-56) of inherited runners to score ... appeared with no rest 22 times, posting a 2.37 era (5 er/19.0 iP) ... registered at least two strikeouts 18 times ... went at least 1.0 iP 43 times ... was 3-0 with a 1.23 era (1 er/7.1 iP) in eight interleague outings ... owned a 5.87 ERA (5 ER/7.2 IP) in his fi rst seven games, then posted a 1.80 ERA (7 ER/35.0 IP) in his next 41 appearances ... earned the win after suffering a blown save on 5/18 at San Francisco (1 er/0.2 iP) ... surrendered the game-ending home run to gabe gross on 6/1 at tampa Bay ... picked up wins in back-to-back outings on 6/9 vs. Minnesota and 6/13 vs. Colorado ... struck out four in a win on 6/28 vs. the Cubs with 1.2 scoreless IP ... earned his fi rst save of the season on 6/30 vs. Cleveland (0.1 IP) ... made 12 straight scoreless appearances from 6/4-30 (11.0 IP) ... established career bests with 3.0 IP and fi ve strikeouts on 8/5 vs. Detroit. 2007 Established a career high with 68 appearances in his second season with the White Sox, going 4-4 with a 4.79 ERA (30 ER/56.1 IP) ... his 4.79 ERA was up from his 3.33 mark in 2006 and the 56.1 IP were 0.2 IP less than his career best (57.0 IP in 2005) ... tied for the team lead in appearances with Boone Logan and ranked second with 17 holds ... the 68 games are tied for 10th on the club's all-time list by a left-hander ... went 2-7 in save situations (0-3 on the road) ... owned a 5.22 ERA (17 ER/29.1 IP) in the first half and a 4.33 ERA (13 ER/27.0 IP) after the All-Star Break ... averaged 7.1 strikeouts per 9.0 IP, as opposed to 10.7 in the second half ... posted a 4.13 ERA (13 ER/28.1 IP) with a .221 average on the road, compared to a 5.46 ERA (17 ER/28.0 IP) and a .313 mark at U.S. Cellular Field ... lefties hit .283 (26-92), an increase from .211 in 2006 ... three of four home runs came against right-handers ... did not give up a home run in his final 38 games (35.2 IP) ... first batters faced hit .246 (15-61) ... allowed 31.7 percent (20-63) of inherited runners to score ... pitched with no rest on 16 occasions (3.14 ERA) ... opponent No. 2-4 hitters combined to bat .341 (29-85) ... boasted a 2.92 ERA (8 ER/24.2 IP) when pitching more than 1.0 IP (15 games) ... amassed 14 games with multiple strikeouts ... ERA was 7.50 in April, 0.90 in May and 8.10 in June ... compiled an 11.81 ERA (7 ER/5.1 IP) during interleague play ... made his second Opening Day roster with the Sox ... suffered back-to-back blown saves on 4/4-5 vs. Cleveland ... earned his first save on 5/16-1 vs. the Yankees, retiring all four batters faced ... made 11 consecutive scoreless appearances from 4/27-5/25 (8.1 IP) ... went 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA (12 ER/ 15.2 IP) from 5/27-7/6 ... was tagged for five runs in 1.1 IP in a loss on 6/13 at Philadelphia ... was charged with the loss on 8/16 at Oakland, surrendering a game-ending, three-run homer to Kurt Suzuki in the 10th inning ... picked up his second save on 9/8 vs. Minnesota, striking out three over 1.1 IP ... agreed on a three-year contract extension on 4/1 (club options for 2010-11) ... married the former Emily Latimer on 3/14 in Scottsdale, Ariz. 2006 Went 5-3 with a 3.33 ERA (20 ER/54.0 IP) and two saves in 63 relief appearances in his first season with the White Sox ... the 63 games ranked eighth among American League left-handers ... was acquired from Seattle in exchange for outfielder Joe Borchard on 3/20 ... established career highs in wins, saves, holds (18) and appearances ... the 18 holds rank 10th on the club's all-time, single-season list ... led the Sox and tied for ninth in the AL in holds ... converted 2-5 save opportunities ... averaged 3.5 walks per 9.0 IP (21 BB), down from 6.6 in 2005 ... four of his walks were intentional ... was 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA (9 ER/29.2 IP) and two saves at home, compared to 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA (11 ER/24.1 IP) and two blown saves on the road ... allowed four of five home runs at home and vs. right-handers ... averaged 9.7 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (34 SO/31.2 IP) prior to the All-Star Break, and 6.0 per 9.0 IP (15 SO/22.1 IP) in the second half ... opponents hit .229 (46-201) and lefties .211 (16-76) ... limited first batters faced to a .224 (13-58) average ... allowed 27.1 percent (13-48) of his inherited runners to score ... 50 of his 63 appearances were scoreless ... threw at least 1.0 IP 32 times ... pitched in back-to-back games 11 times and with one day of rest 24 times ... held the opposition's No. 3-6 hitters to a .171 (18-105) average ... did not allow a run in seven appearances against Detroit (6.0 IP) ... threw 1.0 scoreless IP in his Sox debut on Opening Night vs. Cleveland ... went a season-high 2.2 IP on 4/7 at Kansas City ... issued three intentional walks in that game, the most by a White Sox pitcher since Wayne Edwards on 5/1/91 at Milwaukee ... did not pitch between 4/14-28 due to a sore lower back ... his string of eight scoreless outings (9.0 IP) ended on 6/1 at Cleveland, suffering his first loss (3 ER/1.0 IP) ... recorded his first victory on 6/9 vs. Cleveland ... earned his first career save on 7/6 vs. Baltimore ... did not record a strikeout in 13 consecutive outings from 7/28-8/26 (10.0 IP) ... registered his second save on 9/9 vs. Cleveland ... did not allow a run in 10 of his last 11 outings (6.1 IP). 2005 Went 0-4 with a 5.21 ERA (33 ER/57.0 IP) in 55 relief appearances in his first full season with Seattle ... limited opponents to a .248 (54-218) average, including a .235 (27-115) mark vs. right-handers ... averaged 9.0 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (57 SO) ... was 0-1 in save situations and notched five holds ... 37 of his 55 appearances were scoreless ... did not allow a run in seven occasions when pitching in consecutive games (6.1 IP) ... posted an 8.20 ERA (17 ER/18.2 IP) during the day, compared to a 3.76 (16 ER/38.1 IP) at night ... first batters hit .277 (13-47) ... allowed 34.1 percent (14-41) of inherited runners to score ... lasted at least 1.0 IP on 31 occasions, including a season-high 3.1 IP on 4/10 vs. Texas and 7/28 vs. Cleveland ... struck out at least two batters 13 times ... was charged with the loss in his first two outings, allowing five runs in 3.2 IP ... matched his career high with five strikeouts on 5/17 vs. the Yankees (3.0 IP) ... surrendered three homers and six runs in a loss on 5/11 at the Yankees ... made 13 scoreless appearances from 5/27-6/28 (8.1 IP) ... posted a 2.45 ERA (2 ER/7.1 IP) in June ... suffered blown save and loss on 8/29 vs. the Yankees (1 ER/1.0 IP). 2004 Split the season between Class AAA Tacoma and Seattle ... went 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA (15 ER/32.2 IP) in 19 games (one start) with the Mariners ... was used mostly out of the bullpen for the first time since 2000 ... gave up just two home runs ... began the season with the Rainiers ... was recalled from Tacoma on 4/26, but did not pitch ... was optioned back to Tacoma on 4/29 ... was recalled for the second time on 6/25 and appeared in three games ... made his major-league debut on 6/27 vs. San Diego, tossing 4.0 scoreless IP ... suffered the loss in his lone start on 7/10 at the White Sox (3 ER/5.0 IP) ... issued seven walks ... picked up first win and struck out five on 8/28 vs. Kansas City (0 ER/3.0 IP) ... did not allow a run in his final seven games (7.2 IP) ... was 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA in 10 games with Lara of the Venezuelan Winter League ... Went 7-5 with a 5.42 ERA (50 ER/83.0 IP) in 16 games (15 starts) with Class AAA Tacoma ... totaled 63 walks and 74 strikeouts ... surrendered just four home runs ... began the season with the Rainiers ... struck out a season-high 11 batters on 6/20 at Sacramento ... registered his only complete game on 7/18 at Fresno (L, 2 ER/8.0 IP). 2003 Began the season on the disabled list after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery in the offseason ...combined to go 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA (13 ER/43.1 IP) in eight starts with Class A Inland Empire, Class AA San Antonio and Tacoma ... was reinstated from the disabled list on 5/12 ... struck out a season-high nine batters on 5/17-1 vs. Lake Elsinore (4.2 IP) ... was promoted to San Antonio on 5/19 and went 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA (1 ER/25.0 IP) and 18 strikeouts in four starts ... was placed on the disabled list on 6/24 with cervical spine herniation and missed the remainder of the season. 2002 Missed the majority of the season with left elbow problems ... was 1-5 with a 3.63 ERA (25 ER/62.0 IP) in 12 starts with San Antonio ... opponents batted .237, including a .196 (9-46) average by left-handers ... was placed on the disabled list on 6/5 with left elbow tendinitis and missed the remainder of the season ... underwent "Tommy John" surgery in June. 2001 Was named the Mariners Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 14-7 with a 2.52 ERA (44 ER/157.0 IP) and 192 strikeouts in 27 starts with Class A San Bernardino ... led the Seattle farm system in strikeouts and ranked second in victories ... averaged 11.0 strikeouts per 9.0 IP ... earned California League Pitcher of the Year honors ... led the CL in strikeouts, ranked second in wins and third in ERA and strikeouts per 9.0 IP ... established a career high in wins, starts, IP and strikeouts ... was named the CL Player of the Week for 5/7-13 ... struck out 13 on 7/21 vs. San Jose (6.0 IP). 2000 Spent his second season with Class A Wisconsin ... went 6-9 with a 4.01 ERA in 26 games (17 starts) ... began the season working out of the bullpen .... was on the disabled list from 6/2-23 with left triceps tendinits ... was used as a starting pitcher upon his return from the disabled list. 1999 Posted a 4.91 ERA in 25 games (one start) in his first season with Wisconsin ... made his only start on 7/17-2 vs. Clinton (2 ER/2.0 IP). 1998 Made his professional debut with Advanced Rookie Everett ... appeared in only two games before missing the remainder of the season with pain in his left elbow ... was signed by Mariners scout Ken Madeja.