text:
Opening Day is a week away…
This from team historian Mark Langill…
The countdown to Opening Day brings the inevitable spring training roster cuts and the chance for a trade. On March 30, 1981, a Minnesota Twins outfielder walked into the clubhouse at Tinker Field in Orlando and discovered his locker was empty.
"What happened to my stuff?" asked Ken Landreaux, demanding an explanation from the clubhouse attendant. Landreaux was directed to the manager's office.
"You're going home, kid," said John Goryl.
"You're releasing me?"
At age 26, Landreaux was coming off a banner 1980 season with the Twins in which he batted .281 in 129 games and compiled a 31-game hitting streak, which was the most by an American League player since Boston's Dom DiMaggio had a 34-game hitting streak in 1949.
But Landreaux filed for salary arbitration during the winter and felt the budget-conscious Twins might trade him before the hearing. Goryl's "going home" reference to the Compton High School graduate meant a trade to the Dodgers. Los Angeles sent infielder Mickey Hatcher and two minor leaguers to Minnesota for Landreaux.
The trade surprised Landreaux because he never heard rumors of the Dodgers showing any interest. The only memorable interaction as a Twins player was three days earlier when Landreaux hit a triple against the Dodgers in a spring training game at Vero Beach. After sliding into third base, Landreaux says Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda hollered, "You wish you were over here."
Seven months later, Landreaux was standing in center field at Yankee Stadium in Game 6 of the World Series when he caught the final out of the season to clinch the Dodgers' first championship since 1965.
163 Comments
Good Morning ITD'ers!!
Go Blue!!
Bring the Ring to LA in 2009!!!
Happy Birthday Eric! I hope it's a great one filled with a Dodger victory!!!!!!
Thanks for the new thread Josh & Mark. Always fun to read and get some fun stories.
I was #1 for the 1st time. I want to begin by thanking everybody on here. Without all of you I wouldn't be possible ( Or maybe I'd be #1 all the time because I'd be posting by myself! Ha!!). Also my Mom & Dad who made me the blogger I am. I of course have to thank Wifey for putting up with this business. She is the wind beneath my wings…
Red pen… "I wouldn't be possible" should be "It wouldn't be possible". Of course that would have to go to my Mom & Dad & not you guys unless they forgot to tell me something!!!!!
OK, now that DC is no longer with us…
dcollins – very nice post!!!
It was just reported a short while ago that Eric is enjoying a round of golf with his son, Matt. Mariya said that Matt is winning at the moment.
I wonder if he really is winning or if that's just his present from Matt?
Hello there guys. I hope you're having great days!
Okay Nelly I read that as Eric was winning & not Matt.
Boy oh boy am I losing it!!!
I think I'm just pooped from a late game and a late night. It's hard to come home to bed after a late game and just go to sleep. If I played pro ball I wouldn't be in bed until 2:00!
Looks like Weaver has made the team. Schmidt, DY, and Vargas will start on the DL.
Russ is sick with the flu so he won't play today.
Good to see you, Dcollins. It's me, tru, even though the name doesn't say I am. ITD sure is a great place, isn't it?
I remember Kenny very well and enjoyed watching him play.
Now, let's get the win today Dodgers!
you are probably right…….. your brain is still in spring training mode from last night's game dcollins. It's okay………….I knew what you meant.
Hello there Tru or should I say "Bigidy Bigidy Bu" (From the movie Malibu's Most Wanted with Jamie Kennedy). Funny movie.
It is a great place!
Yup Nelly I'm still in ST mode. Even though you work out you don't use certain muscles until you actually play so those are bummin this morning.
Good aftenroon ITD boys and girls!
Happy birthday Eric!!! Hope you have a great time golfing!!!
Tru – Just hang in there about your name. Heck, Nelly waited a long time to get her sign on name just the way she wants it! I have confidence that the familiar TruBlu will make a comeback!!!
So how are my ITD friends today???
dcollins – it was worth the win I'm sure 🙂
Hey CP!!!
Oh, and I love that story about Kenny Landreaux! He was one of my favorites. Plus, I always loved to say his name!!!
This just in……….
Russell is out with the flu..Insert Ausmus as the 8 guy everyone moves up a notch in the lineup 🙂
My Nellygirl! How are ya? I'm fine. I took another test this morning. I was out of the house all day yesterday, so when we got back home, there was a message on the machine. It was someone that found my resume on Monster, but this just seemed a little different. He sent me an e-mail (my e-mail address is on my resume) telling me about a secretarial/administrative position (or two; I haven't figured it out yet) on the Naval base in Port Hueneme. I looked at the company's website (the one that left me a message) and sent my resume to him. Now I'm just waiting. Like many other things, I'm just waiting.
Hey CP! How are things going?
Oh, I know this was a short visit, but I'll be back later. But I just realized that I've got some stuff to do. I'll catch up with y'all later…
Good to see you CP. I liked Kenny a lot too.
Dcollins ~ LOL!!
Okay, I know I said I was going, but dcollins, I didn't want to keep you hanging for a while for an answer. I'm fine. My shoulder is slowly but surely getting better. As for my job prospects, well they're just that, prospects. Ya know how I'm feeling right about now? I'm feeling like one of those eternal minor-leaguers. Good enough to keep around in the minors, but not good enough to make it to the big club. For me, I'm just hoping that I get a job sooner than, say, Mitch Jones gets to play for the Dodgers!
Okay, now I've gotta go. Catch up with y'all later..
I want to wish Russell a speedy recovery.
That is good news CP, I hope it works out well 🙂
Hey DC I felt that way after a round of golf on St. Patricks day.
Thanks for the update CP. I know we all keep saying hang in there so that probably sounds pretty annoying after awhile so I won't use that.
But remember the A-AAA guys might not have the skills to make it to the Majors. You however I'm sure have the skills to work. So you have a hope in that. But I know what you're saying. Lots of looking & hopes high but no results.
Maybe you're just being held out for that sweetest job. I had that with Wifey. There were others that I dated or tried to date and it just didn't work out. They seemed perfect at the time but it didn't happen. I didn't realize it at the time but I was being blessed!
Now when I see/talk with them I realize how much it was worth the wait for Wifey. They are still great but they wouldn't of been great for me.
Take care :)!!
is anyone else having problems trying to watch the game online?
nevermind! it now works..
Hello there D4! How are you this fine day?
I remember seeing that you had that free round that day! I used to never be sore after playing a sport for the 1st time in awhile. That along with my high auto insurance rates ended at about 25.
Oh well. such is life. I need to run on the field a little instead of the gym. Usually we start practicing by late February but many of the guys I play with play tournaments all year so they didn't want to take the time to practice. I guess I'll be like Manny trying to catch up! Of course I can't hit like him or grow my hair like him either!!!! I'm pretty good at chasing the ball around though.
I'm probably playing 3 nights a week so I'll be able to get my body adjusted here pretty soon. It might be better 3 nights as opposed to 2. We'll see. Also Wifey isn't all that excited for me being gone 3 nights a week so I might scale that down some.
3-0 A's in the first already – I know……it's just spring training 🙂
I know Nelly. From what I could see Kersh was all over the place. I'm having issues with watching this so I'm out of here! Take care…
I'm having trouble getting the game.
Every day Dre!!!! RBI 2 bagger
Alright Andre!!!!!!
You've got that right dcollins……every day Dre'
They have a 95 pitch count on Kersh today, but I don't think they meant all in the first inning.
Now as I'm leaving the game is working on the computer… decisions decisions…
Nice hitting Loney. Ties the game 3-3 with a single to left!
That's funny enchanted 🙂
Finally got the game!
Enchanted — Maybe he just wants to give the pen some innings!!!
How did you get the game?
3-3 after one.
I'm like a ball hit by Manny… outta here!!!!
See ya DC have a great season yourself and listen to wifey 🙂
I just kept going back and forth and finally the game loaded.
Let's hope everyone's pitching gets better when we get back to the friendly confines (and heavy April air) of Dodger stadium.
Me too enchanted……………………this is just hard too watch/listen to right now, spring training or not.
I agree with both of you!
Pitching keeps up this way, Manny WILL have to hit .526 all year.
Hi Ya everybody
Just waiting for the Dodgers to win a game, like everyone else.
Enchanted ~ I know this is pre-season but, I'm beginning to feel more and more as you do, that Hudson should be moved down to the 8th spot.
I know it's only spring training, BUT, you have to start getting the winning ways and create a team effort. The Dodgers look flat in every game. Our pitchers are allowing a lot more runs than we're scoring and our hitters are not showing much power. What gives?
At least Brox got through an inning without giving up a run today.
Hudson's definitely going to save some runs with his D, but JoJo seems stuck on him batting 2nd like he was JP leading off. He had a formula that worked last year, Ethier then Manny. Why not go back to it a couple games in ST and see if it'll work again? Hudson's a #8 right now – Blake's wasted in that spot.
Dodgers have signed Will Ohman. Good move.
Can't hurt that's for sure.
Does anybody think of Torre as an inspiring manager and team leader? To me he has the appeal of a wet dishrag, and a cold one at that. Unfortunately his team is playing with the same type of zest that he portrays in his mannerisms. I'm not sure that his protege Mattingly will be any different if he turns out to be the successor. We need to get some life in this team.
I think it's time for our new CEO to come into the clubhouse and throw a hissy-fit, take a bat and smack a few garbage cans around and tell the boys she won't stand for them playing like a bunch of crap. I think I could get to like her if she did that. What do you say, Frank?
LMAO!!!!! That's very good messagebear!!!!
Bear ~ Fantastic……it would be kind of like the owner in Major League! She was a real She-Bitch!
Totally agree bear. They played 2/3 of last year in a stupor as well. How can you blame them? Just think back a month ago to Joe's super-inspiring start of spring training speech. About all it would've inspired me to do is jump off Colorado St. bridge. Billy Martin he ain't.
LMAO!!!! How can you forget about that speech?!?! That's true enchanted, very true indeed 🙂
Don't worry Nells, between JP, Joe and Ned I'll never run out of inspiration.
Let's take a quick test. Off the top of your head, who are two of the top managers in baseball? Don't think too hard, just what are the first two names that come to mind?
What two names popped into your head first?
Mine were Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa. Whether they are or not is totally debateable. Actually Mike Scioscia probably #1, but my point is when you think of top managers, Joe Torre is not someone you think of.
After you finish with the clubhouse, make sure to take the bat over to Ned's office – just swing away hard wherever. Think of Schmidt and his millions, JP and his, Loaiza, and you can probably think of so many others – so much money gone and not a mansion to show for it all. I'd show up with the bat when Ned is there – make sure he gets the message.
Hello everyone, I hope all is well…the pitching has been suspect, but I am hoping it is the light air in Arizona and when they get to Chavez Ravine it will be ok…As for the offense, it is a little worrisome….
Top 2 managers Scioscia and Cox…I hate Larussa!!!
Hello everyone, I hope all is well…the pitching has been suspect, but I am hoping it is the light air in Arizona and when they get to Chavez Ravine it will be ok…As for the offense, it is a little worrisome….
Top 2 managers Scioscia and Cox…I hate Larussa!!!
enchanted – The first two names I thought of were Mike Scioscia and Lou Pinella.
However, I just asked my son as I was picking him up and he said Lou Pinella and Joe Torre.
good question
I asked Michael why he said Joe, and he said they had just had a discussion about the Yankees at practice so I am thinking the name was fresh in his mind.
My two top Dodger managers are Dodgereric and the rest of the ITD Family.
Being serious, though, I'd pick Mike and Tommy Lasorda for his fiery personality and he got the best out of the players he had.
Okay….I was very intrigued by the question so I called and asked my husband, and he gave the same names Michael did, so now I am thinking…….what should I have expected from gnat fans 🙂
I missed the game but it look like Kershaw had a tough date and dang I see a familar face hit a homerun in the 2nd inning.
oops not date that should be time.
Personally, I think Joe is a good manager. He was criticized in New York by fans and media alike for his laid back demeanor. They were all so excited to get the firery Joe Girardi. They'd get back to winning World Championships again…they missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. Torre's Yankees made the playoffs all 12 years.
I said yesterday my favorite Dodgers manager was Walter Alston who had the same demeanor as Torre. I think Torre creates calmness and patience through a marathon of a season. And having Larry Bowa as the 3rd base coach is very similar to the Alston/Lasorda duo of the mid-70's. When Alston's Dodgers won the '63 WS, Leo Durocher was the bench coach. I love the idea of a calm head coach as long an assistant is a motivator.
Alston won 4 WS as the Dodgers manager. Brooklyn fans wanted him fired after his first season….they won their only WS the next season.
Go Dodgers!!!
Good Evening digthedodgers!!!!! It is kind of hard to dismiss the success the Yankees had while he was there. My only concern with Torre right now, as our Dodger Manager, is his seemingly loyalty towards veteran players. Granted, I am not sure who is pulling strings and some of these pvls are not his doing, especially when it comes to some of these pitching acquisitions and not to mention our favorite 4th outfielder, but he can't, with a conscious think some of these players/pitchers deserve playing time over others. It seems like he learned a great deal about some of the players last year, just in hearing what has been saying about Ethier in the last few weeks. I am hoping this year it doesn't take him 2/3 of the season to start trying new things out if things aren't going well, especially when it comes to what seems to be our issue for this season……..pitching.
Don't forget though dish that Alston would also challenge his players to a fight. Joe has all the personality of creamed corn. Sometimes watching this team its like he's sucked the life right out of it. Joe might be a great fit for a veteran team like he had with the Yankees, but he's the wrong guy to manage a bunch of young bucks. Now I'll grant he handles Manny well, but then again, Manny's just looking for another big payday so he's minding his P's and Q's right now. Had Manny not been handed to him by the Sox, I'd say there was only a 5% chance he'd have won the division last year. The Yankees may not have made the playoffs with Girardi, but they won more games in a much much tougher division than Joe did in the weakest division in baseball.
Good evening Nelly ~ I, too, was frustrated with Joe last year for taking so long to settle on Andre. But I think most experienced and wise baseball people will give vets chances to prove they can do it, or not. first. With a young guy they can always go back to them, but once a vet is benched their attitude usually goes all to hell.
I'm not sure what PVL stands for, but most coach's like average vets to young phenoms. They know what vets have done in the past in the majors…fans, myself included, love the young phenoms because they may be the next Koufax, Garvey, or Snider.
But when Torre won his 4 WS with the Yankees it was with a young core of players; much like what he has here now. I am also convinced he knows JP needs to go, but is being as diplomatic as possible…
PVL – supposed to stand for Proven Veteran Leader, but around here, especially last year when the young guns really had nobody to look up to, they were referred to as Pathetic Veteran Losers. So,depending on who we are talking about, depends on the acronym. In my case when referring to some of these pitchers that we have seen …..losers is the more fitting word (not all of them mind you)
enchanted ~ as far as Alston, I did not know of his fights with players. I've only heard what a complete gentleman he was. Not saying your info isn't accurate; I'm sure it is. I'm just saying I'm ignorant to those stories…
The argument with Manny is fair, but were the Dodgers last year a playoff caliber team without Manny in the middle of the line-up with anyone managing? Most "experts" thought we needed Manny THIS season to have a chance at the playoffs….
No manager can win big without good players, and Torre proved that before he had good players in New York. I think his attitude is really good for vets and for young players alike though. In the end, he has been in the playoffs 13 straight seasons, and the Yankees missed last year with the biggest payroll by far.
However, I read somewhere a couple of weeks ago that the Dodgers only took off after Kent was hurt…not even when they got Manny. The writer was convinced that Kent had been such a negative cancer with the young guys that when he was out of the locker room the young guys finally played up to their potential…so maybe we're both mistaken.
As far as the PVL's in camp: most teams, if not all, sign several PVL's each spring to minor league deals to throw at the wall and see if any stick. What the Dodgers did with Weaver, Estes, Milton, et al is not unusual. What is unusual is relying on only a handful of legitimate pitchers as Ned/Frank have done.
Reading between the lines of Joe's statements, I feel as if Joe is pretty angry about it. Ned's comments have suggested he wants to wait for the fire sales he thinks, and most writers think, will happen fairly early on because of the economy…we'll have to hope for the best.
nelly, thanks for the PVL help.
I still remember that one series in Houston when both JP and Andruw were on the DL, Raffy had been on the DL for a while already, and Kent was the only veteran in the lineup. They had a great series there too, along with the a few of the series' after that. So, I thought at the time, it was a combination of JP, Andruw and Kent in the locker room. All three seem a little selfish and none of them seemed to be "good" clubhouse guys so just maybe having 2/3 of them gone at a time helped with the moral of the young players.
nelly, I don't know where the truth lies, but that writer was definately anti-Kent. I think it was on espn.com. Onley, Gammons, Neyer, or someone like that. And every report I've seen so far this year is how great the attitude has been; even before Manny signed. So maybe Kent and Jones were the worst of the cancers.
You are most welcome. When I first started reading and then finally posted a little over a year ago, I only knew the one meaning of PVL and that was the Pathetic Veteran Losers. I didn't know it was a good term, used ITD style 🙂
I agree with you on that. I have never been too much of a Kent supporter. I understand his thinking and reasoning for being the player he is, but I want to know the players that are out there are like Andre and James and Matt and Russell, and even Grady Sizemore (to throw a non-Dodger out there) that they love the game so much that they will do anything to play it every day and never take it for granted that they will be playing the next day. I guess that's the teacher in me talking who, as much as I complain about my class, stupid state tests, and budget issues, can never see me doing anything else because I love it that much.
With Andruw, it's hard because I liked him alot when he played for the Braves, and at the time, I thought he would be the one to put JP on the bench for good, but he just made all the outfield issues worse. However, he hit another HR today, and from what I have read, he has taken his new role in stride. So, I wish him the best, and I am glad he is not a Dodger right now 🙂
"We finally got a chance to speak with Ivan deJesus for the first time since he broke his leg in that B game with the Brewers back on March 2. He was in a great mood and said he has been told he has a chance to return just after the All-Star break. They put a rod in his leg that will stay there permanently. Just as we suspected, he said he was caught in a moment of indecision between sliding and coming in standing up. He also said he didn't see an on-deck hitter telling him whether to slide or not. Joe Torre told us at the time that Juan Pierre, the on-deck hitter, was yelling for DeJesus to slide. But apparently DeJesus didn't see him or couldn't hear him. The usual procedure is for the on-deck hitter to stand directly behind the plate, on a line with the third-base line, so he is in full view of the hitter."
When reached for comment, Pierre's thought bubble admitted, "Why would I help DeJesus? Just one more guy trying to take my spot on the roster…"
Let's say Kent's departure didn't hurt things that's for sure.
I just don't see it though dish. Look at the schizophrenic line-ups Grady Little put out there in 2007 with essentially the same team.
Joe won 2 more games.
And he had Manny down the stretch.
Now I'm not privy to what goes on in the clubhouse, so maybe he's a great manager of personalities, but he's too slow to change things when they aren't working because he's stubbornly made up his mind that's the way it supposed to be (hence JP leading off for weeks, and I can see it coming with Hudson batting 2nd.) He's blindly loyal to PVLs even though they have done nothing to warrant that loyalty, and his in game managing often borders on malpractice.
Now I would have to think the he's irritated about the pitching since that's what he said was his #1 priority, but here again its a case of the three stooges never being on the same page. Frank's buying houses, Ned's, well that's a completely different post, and Joe's evidently too laid back to push his wants through.
JP's a tool.
..very interesting Kahli – LOL!!!
The arguments will go round and round. Penny started 33 games (16-4) in 2007 and just 17 (6-9) last year.
You may be right about Torre.
But I would do the same thing with Hudson. He's been over .350 obp the last 3 years. Just because he's struggling in ST so far means nothing, imo. If that were the case Loney and Ethier would be on the bench for Mienki and Paul.
However, Martin has an even higher obp, so I wouldn't mind him there either. But Hudson's speed is enticing. And Martin's semi-power may be better lower in the line-up.
So is Ohman's signing a harbinger that Milton, Estes, and Threets are mercifully out of the picture for the BP? Who do we keep then for the extra week that Ohman's getting ready? Mazone? He's earned it. And who's this Belisario?
I'm really hoping that once the bell rings the pitching staff starts tossing like we know they can. The starting 5 have the potential to be as good as most any in the league.
The pen has potential to be shutdown.
They also have the potential to throw gas on the fire.
Joe was enamoured with JPs speed too. I'm not saying don't give Hudson the opportunity to hit second, but if its not working out by the end of April, don't wait until July to try something different. Maybe his wrist isn't as healed as we think. I also see Blake hitting 8th as a huge waste of his power.
There's really nothing to gauge in Spring Training. Considering they've been there for almost six weeks now I'm pretty sure all they want is to get to Los Angeles. They've got to be pretty restless to get the season going already. I mean you look at these numbers the guys are producing and they are WAY below their normal numbers. What does it mean? Nothing. If they were way above normal it would mean nothing.
I mean the boys went 9-17 last spring before coming to L.A.
This season so far they are 14-18 with two games remaining before coming to L.A. But, the point of all of this is that none of us remember them going 9-17. We remember sweeping the Cubs.
None of us will remember the 14-18 record but we will start to remember beginning on April 6th.
BTW I have to say I enjoy your posts dish. We may not always agree on things, but I appreciate your perspective. Makes me re-evaluate my opinions from angles I hadn't thought of.
I also enjoy your posts, Dish. You think everything through and have a lot of passion.
Alex – you definitely have a point. I don't think we are going to forget sweeping the Cubs the way we did for a while……..well, until we win it all this year 🙂
Enchanted ~ Who do you think they will let go now that Ohman is signed?
This is precisely what makes ITD the greatest blog around. The many different perspectives that people have, and it is never short of entertaining.
Hey Tru!
Ohman's got to be brought up to the big club by April 14th or he can walk. Schmidt will clear a 40-man roster spot when he goes on the 60 day DL. That means for 8 days its gotta be somebody that doesn't really figure in the plans, but maybe can pitch in 2-3 games if needed and then clears a 40 man roster spot when he's DFA'd. Mazone fits that bill, plus he's really earned a spot. I don't think it'll be Estes or Milton because Ned will want them down at AAA as insurance (at least for awhile) if someone goes down.
That makes sense enchanted……let's hope the powers that be see it that way 🙂
Well, in this article they are predicting the Dodgers 2nd….why?……..because of pitching:)
might help if I posted the article…..
I know we have looked pretty awful this Spring but, I think we will put it all together and win the division, with or without pitching. The pitching will be better than it is right now and it will be good enough.
………….and there is always the injury factor on all teams.
I'm not seeing anything any better in our division right now. May be a dogfight between 3-4 teams all year.
…..and leaving the Padres to eat the dirt at the bottom of the barrel all season. I know we lost to them yesterday, but they seem like such a skeleton team right now. Not to mention, I can't get used to Kalihl Greene (Jeff Spicolli) in red……..just not right.
Good Evening All,
Long day at work….Glad to see the Ohman signing
Enchanted? Will they call up Ohman before the 14th…Mazone has looked great
I'm going to see the Dodgers vs D'Back's tomorrow here in Tucson…Can't wait
That should be fun Dodgerzona……a little taste of Opening Day for the Dodgers.
I know Kemp and Loney are making the trip down here…Not sure who else…I'm pretty sure McDonald is pitching
Tired here…You all have a great night
Go Dodgers
Good Night Dodgerzona – have a great time at the game tomorrow.
Good late evening all, there was some good chatter today I see. Digthedodgers good to see ya 🙂 Enchanted you always make it entertaining and informative. I think the line up will come together, no need to rock the boat. We will get in a groove soon. Dodgerzona good to see ya also, as wella s any one else I missed. I did'nt miss you Tru/Malibu cant shake the bag these days. I need an update on the golf match though, I hope the birthday boy pulled through like Tiger in the end.
My Managers are Torre, Leyland, Cox, Lasorda… he's still telling them what to do is'nt he. You cant keep Tommy quiet.
Oh I do know that………….I guess he did pull a Tiger Woods (my daughter's words) and came back to beat Matt. How about that?
I hope we have film of the fist pump!!! Good Job Eric 🙂
BTW – good evening Dodger4life!!!! I forgot all about mentioning that this morning. Speaking of dodgereric, I got a earful from my 7 year old Nascar buddy this morning. I knew it was coming, and I knew it would be LOL funny too. He was waiting in my line to tell me this morning when the bell rang and then for 50 minutes during reading block time, it was nonstop repeating what had happened in the race (did you see the end of the race when………) like I needed the instant replay told 20 more times. However, it was very funny and very cute. I have to admit, Denny took that 2nd so gracefully. I was very impressed……..he has matured a great deal, and I was very proud of him.
That is funny Nelly. I want you to hunt him down when Denny wins 🙂 good evening to you as well 🙂
If it had been the other way around, I probably would have done the same thing……….I would have rubbed it in a tad too 🙂
It's all good, I think Jimmy will win a few races so be prepared.
……several and perhaps the whole thing again, which is all good……I like him too 🙂
You know my fantasy team with Denny lost to the first place guy. He had Gordon and Martin who both finished very well. My depth didn't do so well yesterday, but I maintained my 2nd place. I know I lost with Kyle's team because nobody did well on that team.
Yep, I lost that one too 🙂
It is a long season and Just like last year,things change. Except with Jimmy repeating 🙂
I know, I know…….much like baseball. It's an endurance thing for the most part.
Good Night Nelly, Good night Dodgerfaithful.
Opening day is coming fast….We have been waiting in anticipation all winter…Yea!!!!!
God Bless Us All and God Bless the U.S.A 🙂
Good Night Dodger4life!!! Take Care and God Bless!!!!
Dodgereric/Ward Dear – I hope you had a fabulous birthday!!!!
Good Morning all. nelly, enchanted, Dodger4life thanks for being so nice.
I fell asleep correcting essays last night and failed to say goodnite. I am an early to bed guy…even during the season, except for the summer break, I will go to bed an hour or so into the game and watch the end the next morning.
enchanted ~ thanks for the kind words. I also enjoy the friendly debates. Sports: the Dodgers, Chargers, Maple Leafs (blue and white ya know), and UCLA (I graduated from Weber State, but always wanted to go to UCLA. I loved them as a kid because my initials are CL…dumb, I know.) I digress…sports are my escape, my Happy Place. I love my wife with all my heart and I love my job, although not everyone I work with, but we all need an escape.
I prefer my Happy Place to be an optimistic one. Sometimes it is even unrealistic…the Blue Kool-Aide is pretty good.
Also, I spent many, many years coaching high school basketball, most of them at the highest level we have in Utah and I dealt with a whole lot of unwarranted criticism; although my teams were very successful. So I try to always look from the other side of things. What are/were they thinking. Therefore I tend to side with the coach and management; at least until I can't take it anymore. I think I am pretty fair though.
I like it here on ITD. You all have been very nice to me even though I bring a different opinion often. Thanks a lot.
Have a great day!!!!
Go Dodgers!!!
malibu ~ thanks for your kind words as well!!!
For full disclosure…we also root for the University of Minnesota. My wife loves the Disney-like Gopher and I like their colors.
Good morning ITDland ~ Hope everyone has a great day. Can't wait for the season to start. I believe our ST woes will be a thing of the past once we get into the thrill of the season. We are lucky that we are having our bad spell now instead of when the games actually count. Dodger fan through and through…………..GO DODGERS……..trublue loves you!
Good Morning ITD readers and writers!!!
digthedodgers – my dad (trublu's husband) lived, breathed and coached junior high/highschool basketball all throughout my highschool years and beyond, and I completely understand your perspective on things. I do have to point out, however, that my dad, when sitting next to him watching any game (baseball, basketball, football), tends to criticize the coaching more than anything. Then my husband, for about 3 years, coached youth football, and IMO was very good at it, but , like you said, the undeserved criticism from parents was just relentless so IMO, they lost a good coach because of it.
Morning TruMom!
I see the Tigers released Sheffield despite owing him a guaranteed $14 million this year.
Take a lesson Ned – if its better for the team, you don't have to keep players just because you owe them vast amounts of money.
I saw that about Sheff, Enchanted. I was thinking if they can do that, so can we (I'm not going to say who, but you all know).
LMAO!!!!! ….and who might we be talking about?
To me, XPaul has EARNED the spot as the 4th outfielder. Why have him in camp if he doesn't have a chance to make the team? I know he has impressed Joe!
The ultimate team player, Nellyjune!
Good Dodger morning all. It looks as if CBR was a success with attendance. It looked like a wonderful place from my view. Speaking of my view, THANKS AGAIN to the Dodgers for the free webcast. It was appreciated.
Bring the Ring to L.A. in 2009!!!!!
Enjoy your day everyone 🙂
Ned must be a packrat because he can never throw anything away. Looks at Estes. They release him and the very next thing you know, he's vying for situational lefty. Why is it I can envision him keeping paperclips and old chewing gum because "I might need that someday"?
You can't make lemonade from a sour grape, just admit you made a mistake and move on. The money's gone regardless. I myself would rather not be reminded of my failure day after day after day by seeing it from sun up to sundown.
I wouldn't even mind it as much if Paul was sent to AAA knowing that if somebody went down, he'd get the call-up to fill in. But we all know who "fills in" in that scenario.
I'm going to get a lot of flack for this but, maybe the "fill in" will go down.
Calling Erick Aybar… paging Mr. Aybar… LOL
If the heavy spring air is going to help pitching at the Ravine??? Does that mean the opposing team will have 9 infielders when the fill in is up??? I mean they were hugging the dirt as it was at CBR!!! Pierre thought bubble: Corked Bat!!! win win situation….
Morning D4!
If its any consolation, the Angels are in the same spot with Gary Matthews, except the HE IS their 5th OFer.
Good morning Enchanted!
Awesome story Mark! Thank you.
Mark! Super story about 1981! Shoot I forgot to ask Bobby Welch what he was doing when Gibby hit that homerun in the 1988 WS! Bobby Welch was part of our coaches for the first WIN baseball clinic at Camelback Ranch!
DC! That was so sweeeet what you said about your wife!
I am getting more excited as Opening Day approaches. As we were coming back to Cali from Camelback Ranch, my friend and I decided to go to San Diego for the Padres Opening Day against the Dodgers! Woohoo! She will be on Spring break and I already asked for more vacation.
I climbed to #26 in the latest MLB ranking! I had to go searching to find who wore #26 for the Dodgers so I learned more history about the Dodgers.
Sheffield cut……..enchanted, I don't think so much about Pierre (well, I do, but it's a moot point) but about Piazza and Lasorda's blathering about how it "can't be so" or whatever he said. Two more in a long line of athletes who couldn't answer the bell once the tap was shut off. Pathetic.
As for our darling JP, the Dodgers could send a HUGE message that they are here to win a championship, NOW…and not in balancing the payroll ledger. If the Dodgers truly want a team at its best, who do you carry as your 4th outfielder? Pierre? Repko? Paul? DY? Who replaces Manny in the late innings of a lead? Casey Blake? Noodle Arm? I'd pick Repko. Hell, I'd rather have Gary Matthews Jr. in the late innings than JP…by a mile!!!!!!!! Let's trade one malcontent for another. Their contracts are a wash. Scioscia likes to play little ball, anyway. Frank, get on the phone to Arte and get this done!
Hey that might work Kahli – Matthews would move up a notch!!
And you can't play any smaller ball than JP.
Fabulous post Kahli!!!!
very funny enchanted 🙂
Good afternoon ITD boys and girls!
So we've signed Will Ohman. Let's just hope he can be the lefty specialist we need. Or would he be the 2nd behind Kuo? I don't know. Let's just wait and see what happens. Let's just wait and see if he's still with the Dodgers after April 14.
Dcollins – Thx for your kind words. I REALLY do appreciate it! I REALLY do appreciate everyone's words of kindness to me! That's just one of the reasons why I love this blog so much!!!
Ya know Kahli, what you proposed (the trade between the Dodgers and Angels between yougnomewho and Gary, I thought of that the other day when my husband told me that Gary stormed out of AZ (or something like that) for being the Angels' 5th outfielder. Heck yeah, I'd make that trade in a heartbeat. They are both lousy contracts for a backup outfielder. Not sure if the Angels would do that, but it's worth a shot, isn't it!
I believe Angels would actually save $6 million on the deal:
Pierre: 5 years $44 million
Matthews: 5 years, $50 million
Everyday Dre' 🙂
I'll say!!!!
Way to go Andre!!!!
Yeah, double for Dre!
Stand up double!!! Everyday Dre' strikes again 🙂
LOL, Nellyjune!!!!!
As for Andre, I still think the jerking around of his position is some of the reason for his thinking. For two years, his position was based on how well he hit the ball, not on his defense. I don't think that mentality is going to go away anytime soon because JP is still behind him and IMO, the first sign of a slump for Andre, he will be replaced (even if it's for a short time) by JP. Why shouldn't he think that. It has happened all along.
Good point, Nelly. I also think it can be based on the fact that Joe has not been trustworthy – he's gone back on his word time and time again. Andre really has nothing to prove because he is an all-around good ballplayer, but in Jojo's world . . .
Trade JP now………he's hot! 2 rbis
Andre's hotter!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andre got another double?
nevermind – yes, he did!! ….and a couple more RBIs – yeah!!!! GO DODGERS!!!!!!!
Yes, a double off the wall……just missed a homer!
New thread.


text:
Researchers at the University of Iowa have created a bio patch containing DNA that delivers bone-producing instructions to cells.
The bio patch contains a collagen platform embedded with the particles needed for bone regeneration. In tests, the patch regrew bones to cover skull wounds in lab animals and also stimulated growth in human bone marrow cells.
"We delivered the DNA to the cells, so that the cells produce the protein and that's how the protein is generated to enhance bone regeneration," explained co-author Aliasger Salem, professor of pharmacy at the university.
What makes this research unique is that previous attempts had researchers administering proteins from the outside to stimulate this growth, while this new technique can produce bones without any outside assistance. The new method provides sustained long-term administering of the required proteins directly to the cells.
The technique has potential use in dentistry where it could be used to regrow bones in gums to help provide support to dental implants.
Satheesh Elangovan, assistant professor of dentistry, said the bio patch will be beneficial to patients who don't have enough bone to support a dental implant as well as help grow bones for those born with birth defects.
"We can make a scaffold in the actual shape and size of the defect site, and you'd get complete regeneration to match the shape of what should have been there," Elangovan said.
Elangovan and Salem next hope to create a bio platform to new blood vessel growth which is needed for sustained bone regeneration.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The hypocrisy of the state is deafening.
According to a December 2007 piece in the Washington Post, a U.S. soldier, who's recently got medical treatment for a "mental disorder" because of an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound, was brought on charges of attempted suicide and "endangering the life of another soldier while serving in Iraq." If convicted, the 25-year-old Army veteran reservist could spend the rest of her life in prison.
Although leniency was brought against her, she tried to commit suicide again, underscoring the evils of the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars and unsavory and unsanitary conditions of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other VA hospitals like it.
The state can draft you, train you to be a murderous soldier (a government-paid hit man for the deified state), and send you off to a far-a-way land to fight a war on the battlefield, thus killing and maiming you in the name of "defending freedom and democracy." But once you try to commit suicide and put other soldiers like you out of their misery, the state turns on you and becomes your enemy while building a vile and diabolical case against you.
That's hypocrisy of the worst kind. No wonder the state is its own worst enemy.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Hypocrisy of the State Regarding U.S. Soldiers
The hypocrisy of the state is deafening.
Posted by Todd Andrew Barnett at 8:17 PM 0 comments
Global Bank Run by Monday
Here's an interesting excerpt from Marketwatch:
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Acting quickly to prevent a run on major global financial firms, the Federal Reserve cut its discount rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.25% and offered to lend money to a longer list of firms than ever before.
I think the GOP might want to consider switching its support of John McCain to Ron Paul.
Posted by Todd Andrew Barnett at 8:06 PM 0 comments
Pepsi Raw the New Pepsi?
Pepsi, which is a subsidiary of parent company PepsiCo, is launching a new product called Pepsi Raw, which will be arriving in England first and then most likely the U.S. This new product basically replaces the high fructose corn syrup, which is, by all medical standards very unhealthy, with cane sugar.
Although cane sugar is far from a perfect healthy option next to corn syrup and even aspartame, it will certainly be an improvement over their current line of drinks like Diet Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Max, Pepsi One, etc. Moreover, this cane sugar version of the product will be competing with a cane sugar product that's already in the U.S. -- Jones Soda.
Posted by Todd Andrew Barnett at 7:46 PM 0 comments
The Booming Gold
Investments in gold have been soaring in a crazy fashion. Although it recently skyrockted to a $1,000 an ounce, now it has gone up to $1,030 an ounce.
This is a reflection of the ever-deteriorating U.S. dollar, thanks to the ominous Fed and its quasi-governmental, monopolistic practices, including its unabated expansion of the money supply. The demonetization of our money is at hand.
Posted by Todd Andrew Barnett at 7:32 PM 0 comments
The Bear Sterns Bailout Epitomizes Our Ever-Growing Economic Fascism
The recent federal bailout of Bear Sterns by pro-state, pro-government financial firm JP Morgan and the Federal Reserve (a quasi-public central bank that was propped up by the U.S. federal government and many international bankers in 1913) epitomizes and even unveils our never-ending growing system of economic fascism, which is currently under the rubric of "capitalism."
Bear Sterns, for those of you who are not aware, is a colossal mortgage investment bank which has been crumbling financially because of its ties to securities firms supported by shady subprime mortgages. This firm, which has been in business for 85 years, also had two hedge funds that drowned in a sea of red ink last summer, shows exactly how the U.S. federal government, under the rule of George Bush II, has embraced capital as an excuse for the government to intervene with capitalism.
Let's call a spade a spade for once and for all. The subprime crisis has always been the by-product of the wedded government and business intervention. The policies, which are the heart of the problem, are devised to bring assistance to the housing industry and financial lenders who are responsible for writing the mortgages. Unsurprisingly, the economic and financial chickens are coming home to roost. The huge lenders and investors, which have always been attracted to the globs of federal government intervention in the financial sector and the subsidies attached to them, are now mired in this mess. After all, although they are specialized in securitized mortgages, they are completely in over their heads, yet they will collect their bailout check under the "we the big firms can't fail" doctrine. This undoubtedly will set the stage for another round of government interventions in the already government-coddled, government-regulated financial sector that will result in poor decisions. Moral hazard is what it is.
Does this have anything to do with the free market? Yes and no. This certainly is not a free market, but leftists, socialists, and many populists will call out against laissez faire. Why would they? Because corporatism, which is a government-subsidized, government-protected, government-assisted brand of capitalism, will erroneously, although understandably, be associated with laissez-faire capitalism. Kevin Carson, who describes himself as a "free market anticapitalist," is known to have said, "If this is the free market is, then I'm against it."
Why is this not a free market? Because the free market is a profit and loss system devoid of government involvement, control, and regulation, including privilege. If a business fails (and many do), it is supposed to fail, not to be handed over to the taxpayers to underwrite its losses. All we have at this point is a corporatocracy (which is a fusion of Big Business and the government), which is also identified as corporatism, ecoonomic fascism, and state (or crony) capitalism.
If we want to help allies of libertarianism, we must study and understand economics ourselves as well as our own history. One fact that substantiates the existence of this system is that profits are private, yet the losses are socialized. The term "socialized" means that taxpayers are coerced -- at the barrel of a gun -- to cover the losses without actually possessing any political clout.
We must reject vulgar libertarianism and embrace the free market and a return to limited government, personal responsibility, human liberty, and a foreign policy of interventionism. The recognition of abject failure in government because of its interventionistic policies -- both domestic and abroad -- will hopefully pave the way back to the federal republic that we once had.
Posted by Todd Andrew Barnett at 5:23 PM 0 comments
Big Brother's Secret Meeting on Surveillance Bill
Big Brother -- errm, Congress -- gathered together for a clandestine meeting to discuss and debate a vile, diabolical surveillance bill which would, if passed by Herr Bush, reform the Leviathan's own anti-terrorism/pro-surveillance laws. This closed session, which is the first one since 1983, was requested by the governing body's own GOP minority.
Here's an excerpt of the CNN's coverage of the affair:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House of Representatives met in secret session Thursday night to debate revisions to federal surveillance laws, closing off the chamber for the first time since 1983 at the request of its Republican minority.
President Bush says the proposal would 'undermine America's security.'
Rep. Roy Blunt, the House minority whip, asked for the closed session to use classified information to argue against a Democratic-backed overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
'I did have some information that I thought would help the debate, that rose to the secret level that all of the members otherwise would not hear,' said Blunt, R-Missouri.
Several Democrats raised concerns about the closed-door meeting but eventually agreed to the request. However, Rep. Dennis Kucinich said he would not stay for it.
'We ought to be proceeding with the utmost caution in going in this direction,' said Kucinich, of Ohio, a former Democratic presidential candidate.
The nearly hour-long session took place late Thursday after a security sweep of the chamber. The House plans to hold an open debate on the Democratic bill at 10 a.m. Friday.
Here's what the next two key paragaphs in the piece say:
President Bush and his GOP allies have spent weeks pressuring the House to grant retroactive legal immunity to telecommunications companies that took part in the administration's warrantless surveillance program after the September 11 attacks.
The Senate already has voted to protect the phone companies from lawsuits filed by privacy advocates, who argue that the surveillance program was illegal.
Isn't this latest stunt on the surveillance bill just a way for Congress to sell the country down the river and drop the latest salvo on our civil liberties as well as our human liberty at the same time? How are we really being "protected" in the name of fighting the War on Terror if this surveillance bill will be used to intrude upon Americans' privacy while ignoring the terrorists who really attacked us on 9/11?
The insulting part of this insanity is that the phone companies that willingly signed up for Bush's wiretapping program have been granted legal immunity from any civil liability for going along with the administration's imperalistic, nation-building, and hawkish orgies.
This, coupled with the Bush administration's corporatocratic indulgences (which are all part of corporatism - the fusion of government and private enterprise as one governing, ruling body), is indicative of why so many leftists and populists express a strong yet incessant hatred for and contempt for capitalism. As Kevin Carson, a self-described "free market anti-capitalist" libertarian, noted in recent years, these actions are elements of corporatism (a.k.a. state capitalism, crony capitalism, and economic fascism) -- elements that most Americans identify with our current corrupted system of capitalism. As he recently put it, "If this is the free market, then I'm against it."
As for the surveillance bill, if this is devised to "protect our freedoms," then their concept of freedom is atrociously and ridiculously skewed. The administration, in recent years, imposed upon the populace its "enemy combatant" doctrine, which states that the military can be employed to kidnap any American by taking him into custody, implement torture techniques on him, and incarcerate him for the remainder of his life without due process and any allowance of a trial by jury as stipulated and mandated by the Bill of Rights. If an American is subjected to be placed in military confinement (which is really imprisonment) in the name of the War on Terrorism, he will not be allowed any access to a civilian attorney and will be tried before a military tribunal, with the prospect of him being found guilty before the tribunal's panel of judges.
Not only can Americans be apprehended and imprisoned for the rest of their lives, this also applies to foreigners, even though the doctrine is touted only to affect foreigners who are believed to have committed terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. This is definitely how the label is being used for these purposes. This is "protecting our freedoms"?
Not only that, habeas corpus has been eviscerated thanks to the passage of the Military Commissions Act. The law, of course, purports to deny habeas corpus protections to foreigners who are illegally detained without due process and even a trial by jury, especially when the individual arrested for committing the government-recognized sinful act of berating the state for its policies (even if that criticism is unpopular in the eyes of the state). However, the law can also be employed on American citizens who hold unpopular, alleged anti-American views. What makes those who support the law think that this will only apply to foreigners, whether they're legal or illegal? Do we really believe that the law is only limited to that scope? Of course not. There's nothing in the provisions of the MCA that limits it only to aliens.
This surveillance meeting makes it possible for the omnipotent state, as deified as it is, to promote its anti-freedom/pro-socialist, social-engineering agenda on us while shredding what's left of our human liberty here in America.
Posted by Todd Andrew Barnett at 9:43 AM 0 comments


text:
"The [We Mean Business coalition report] underlines that we do not have to choose between climate action and economic growth," said Unilever CEO Paul Polman. "The report shows this is a false dilemma. They can be achieved simultaneously. The next 15 years are critical. Around $90 trillion will be investe
IKEA, Swiss Re, Mars, H&M go all-in on renewable energy | GreenBiz.com.
Corporate Leaders who become thought leaders in the counterbalance to global climate change factors are coming forward ! This article is reblogged here in its entirety :
Using the backdrop of Climate Week NYC to underscore their commitments, more than a dozen global companies are making multi-year pledges to switch to 100 percent renewable power.
The campaign, called RE100, encourages 100 of the world's largest businesses to commit to similar all-in goals by 2020. So far, early signers include (in alphabetical order) include: BT, Commerzbank, FIA Formula E, H&M, IKEA, KPN, Mars, Nestle, Philips, Reed Elsevier, J. Safra Sarasin, Swiss Re and Yoox. (IKEA and Swiss Re were the founding sponsors.) Although it isn't name, Walmart made this pledge long ago.
"We decided on a 100 percent renewable power approach because as a leading wholesale provider of reinsurance and insurance we believe that tackling climate change while meeting the energy needs of a growing and developing world is an urgent matter. This can only be done by improving energy efficiency and switching to low carbon options including renewable energy sources," said Jurg Trub, head of environmental and commodity markets for Swiss Re.
"Renewable energy is common sense energy," said Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer for IKEA Group, during a launch event on the opening day of the Climate Week, convened by The Climate Group. "There is no peak sun, no peak wind. We struck sun, we struck wind long before we struck oil."
To be clear, 2020 is the date guiding the RE100 pledges. It doesn't technically mean the full-blown switchover has to happen by then—although IKEA alone will invest close to $1.9 billion dollars in renewable energy projects before 2020 to meet its goal.
So far, IKEA has generated more than 1,425 gigawatts of power from renewable sources, an admirable feat considering how difficult it is for businesses to procure renewable energy. But Howard and other business and political leaders gathered in New York this week say the corporate world must speak up more forcefully and move far faster to address climate change issues.
"You can make a powerful argument that it is the most important challenge that we face on the planet, because it is about the planet itself," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told the gathering, referencing the People's Climate March that took place over the weekend. He added: "It doesn't cost more to deal with climate change, it costs more to ignore it." A report published this week by the newly formed We Mean Business coalition suggests that companies making investments in low-carbon technologies are realizing a 27 percent average internal rate of return.
"The [report] underlines that we do not have to choose between climate action and economic growth," said Unilever CEO Paul Polman. "The report shows this is a false dilemma. They can be achieved simultaneously. The next 15 years are critical. Around $90 trillion will be invested in cities, land use and energy infrastructure globally between now and 2030."
An estimated 400,000 people took to New York streets for the climate march, four times the number anticipated. Aside from the list of people you'd normally expect to show up (like Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Sting or Leonardo DiCaprio) were top executives from IKEA, NRG Unilever and members of We Mean Business.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also donned his walking shoes to underscore the need for better collaboration between communities, citizens, and the public and private sectors. "This is our world, this is our planet earth. It is a very small planet," Ki-moon told the roughly 250 people attending the Climate Week opening session. "If we cannot swim together, we will always sink. There is no Plan B, because there is no Planet B."
The We Mean Business coalition was launched to leverage the collective voices of business leaders around the world, hoping to create a ripple effect of positive actions that help limit the global rise in temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius. Among the causes it is advocating on behalf of the private sector (it wants all these things by 2015):
- A heightened sense of urgency by governments to stabilize emissions
- Policies that encourage businesses to reduce their impact, including an elimination of fossil fuels subsidies; meaningful carbon pricing; an end to forestation; robust energy-efficiency standards; support for scaling renewable energy; and trade incentives that encourage a low-carbon economy
- Clearer long-term goals
- More transparency and accountability related to climate issues
- Public finance mechanisms to support investments in low-carbon and resilient infrastructure by the private sector
"The inclusion of business at the summit and over the past few years is a recognition that climate change is not a one-person issue," said Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, during a briefing call before the summit. "It is not a one-sector issue. It cannot be solve by one country, one sector, by one level of government. Climate is an every-person issue, and it requires everyone to work collaboratively in order to reach the solutions to the level and at the speed that we need to find."
Among the leaders that We Mean Business recruited to stress the need for collaboration was Apple CEO Tim Cook, who pointed to the need for a corporate ripple effect. "We know we will not make enough of a difference if we only solve part of the world," he said during an on-stage interview with Figueres.
Top image by Bush Philosopher via Flickr


text:
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced that it will sponsor a conference call to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. These results are expected to be disclosed on Monday, May 5, 2008, after the capital markets close.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/HGSLOGO )
The conference call will be hosted by senior management and will be held on Monday, May 5, 2008 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
Investors may listen to the call by dialing (913) 312-1467 or (888) 684-1277 passcode 5043586, five to 10 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the conference call will be available within a few hours after the call ends. Investors may listen to the replay by dialing (719) 457-0820 or 888-203-1112 confirmation code 5043586.
This conference call also will be webcast and may be accessed at http://www.hgsi.com. Investors interested in listening to the live webcast should log on before the conference call begins in order to download any software required. The archive of the conference call will remain available for several days.
The mission of HGS is to apply great science and great medicine to bring innovative drugs to patients with unmet medical needs.
HGS and Human Genome Sciences are trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences' current intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements because of the Company's unproven business model, its dependence on new technologies, the uncertainty and timing of clinical trials, the Company's ability to develop and commercialize products, its dependence on collaborators for services and revenue, its substantial indebtedness and lease obligations, its changing requirements and costs associated with planned facilities and clinical trials, intense competition, the uncertainty of patent and intellectual property protection, the Company's dependence on key management and key suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of products, the impact of future alliances or transactions and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company will continue to face risks related to animal and human testing, to the manufacture of ABthrax and to FDA concurrence that ABthrax meets the requirements of the ABthrax contract. If the Company is unable to meet the product requirements associated with the ABthrax contract, the U.S. Government will not be required to reimburse the Company for the costs incurred or to purchase any ABthrax doses. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date. Human Genome Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
SOURCE Human Genome Sciences, Inc.


text:
Reader Geoff was engaged in some late-night channel-surfing a few days ago and caught this shocking anomaly. Somebody actually receives the Longhorn Network!
We're curious the other shows one might find on the LHN, maybe "Big Mack: The head coach who has a Major appetite for one of his assistants" or "Inject Me In The Butt: A school's famous alumnus returns to show the team how it's done in the 'big leagues.'"
Eh, who are we kidding? It's all Paid Programming.


text:
Seriously. It actually happened.
Sort of.
On January 10, in my weekly Apparently This Matters column, I wrote about an online fundraiser called the Good Day Blimp where, essentially, four guys were trying to quickly raise $25,000 for charity to more-or-less guilt-trip the Goodyear company into flying their blimp high in the air while spelling out in lights ICE CUBE'S A PIMP.
If Goodyear would do this on January 20 — a very specific and important date — the South Central Los Angeles nonprofit, A Place Called Home, would get the money.
You know, for kids!
But it had to be THAT date and THOSE words.
It's a little silly and a lot complicated, and you can read the whole backstory here, but just know that it all stems from the lyrics of one of Ice Cube's old-school, 1992 hit rap songs It Was a Good Day where, in recounting a day so good he even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp and it read ICE CUBE'S A PIMP.
For my column, I actually spoke to Ice Cube while he happened to be at the CNN Center in Atlanta promoting his new movie Ride Along, (sequel to come, he told CNN today) and that's when he first learned of the movement.
He thought it was: Dope.
Then, a few days later he acknowledged the movement on Twitterbefore appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where the subject once again came up.
So, between us and Jimmy Fallon, we feel a little responsible for this thing blowing up. What was once a quiet, ridiculous Internet fundraiser was now officially a thing.
Goodyear released a statement via Twitter, saying that on January 20 they would treat kids from the A Place Called Home charity to rides on the blimp, and even invited Ice Cube to join them.
However, they weren't going to write ICE CUBE'S A PIMP. That just wasn't going to happen. But they basically met everyone halfway by promising to write out IT'S A GOOD DAY.
In the end, Ice Cube flew out to Los Angeles early Monday morning from the East Coast to meet with the kids, check out the blimp, and help the Good Day Blimp guys present a large, novelty-sized $25,000 check to the charity.
I never thought in a million years it would happen, Cube said, standing outside the blimp. Rap is a mixture of fantasy and reality, and it seems like fantasy has met reality today.
Sort of.
The wording wasn't exact, but let's face it, Goodyear was never going to write PIMP on their famous airship, and they very easily could have ignored the whole thing. By January 21 it would be a memory.
But it happened. And credit to Ice Cube for being there for the festivities.
It was a good day.
Follow @JarrettBellini on Twitter.
[photosmash id=2]
Latest posts by Yoopya (see all)
- Biden expected to nominate Blinken as secretary of state - November 23, 2020
- Singer Bobby Brown's son found dead at Los Angeles home - November 21, 2020
- Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Taylor Swift win Apple Music Awards - November 21, 2020


text:
OtterBox Otter + Pop Symmetry Series Case for iPhone XS Max
Express your style with the slim and protective OtterBox Otter + Pop Symmetry Series case. It has a built-in PopSockets PopGrip to make using your iPhone even more convenient.
Colors and patterns designed to match PopTop designs
Integrated PopGrip lays flush with case to slide smoothly in and out of pockets
Swap out PopTop designs for quick style changes to match every moment
Qi Wireless Charging Compatible (may need to remove PopTop)
Built-in PopGrip helps you text one-handed, snap better pics, and watch videos hands-free
PopGrip configures into a stand for hands-free viewing
OtterBox Certified Drop+ Protection
Raised, beveled edge helps protect touchscreen
One-piece case pops on and off your iPhone in a flash
What's in the Box
OtterBox Otter + Pop Symmetry Series Case for iPhone
Tech Specs
Form Factor: Hard Case
Material: Hard Plastic
Length: 6.42 in./16.31 cm
Width: 3.36 in./8.53 cm
Depth: 0.64 in./1.63 cm
Weight: 1.58 oz./44.9 g
Manufacturer Information
Part Number
UPC or EAN No.: 660543510697
Note: Products sold through this website that do not bear the Apple Brand name are serviced and supported exclusively by their manufacturers in accordance with terms and conditions packaged with the products. Apple's Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Please contact the manufacturer directly for technical support and customer service. The documentation and packaging for this product is in English.
iPhone Models
- iPhone XS Max


text:
Baseball | Basketball | Cheerleading | Field Hockey | Football
Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Volleyball
The NYAA is a youth sports organization serving the Northwestern Lehigh School District area, providing educational athletic opportunities that range from recreational to competitive for pre-school through high school aged boys and girls.
The purpose of this organization, consisting of volunteers, shall be to sponsor, direct, teach, and coach the youth athletic programs (provided by the NYAA) which are not provided by the Northwestern Lehigh School District.
It will be the intent of this organization to encourage and actively promote good sportsmanship, leadership, discipline and respect among the team members, parents, coaches and provide a drug-and alcohol-free environment for our youth. It is the goal of the NYAA to see that every child, in every league, should participate in every game and play at least 25% of each sport season available.
The NYAA is a non-profit 501(c)3 youth sports organization that operates through annual membership fees, sports fees, sponsorships and donations.
Update 8/11/2020: NYAA Covid Plan
© 2019 NYAA | PO Box 7 New Tripoli, PA 18066
New Privacy Policy


text:
Cellular postmasters: Biological tethers direct cargo delivery
The precise distribution of materials within a cell is essential for life, but the way the movements of cellular cargo are choreographed is largely unknown. Taking an unprecedented look at special biological tethers that help transport materials within cells, a Princeton-led team of biologists has provided the first detailed glimpse at how these tethers coordinate cargo delivery, suggesting they play a far more comprehensive role in the process than previously imagined.
While previous studies have shown that so-called "multisubunit tethering complexes" -- named for the multiple protein components they contain -- are necessary for intracellular transport, the mechanism for their involvement has been largely unknown. In results published this month in the journal Cell, the Princeton team reports a model for the Dsl1 tethering complex, which is the simplest of eight such tethers that have been identified. Their results reveal how the tether may coordinate the delivery of small "packages" of material to their cellular destinations.
"Tethering complexes have been known to represent the first physical connection between the package and its destination," said Fred Hughson, a Princeton molecular biology professor and leader of the research team. "Based on our findings, our hypothesis is that their involvement may go much deeper; these tethers may be chaperoning the entire delivery process."
Complex cells, or eukaryotes, contain a variety of membrane-bound organelles that perform specific functions, just as organs in the human body have specified jobs. Materials, such as proteins, travel throughout eukaryotic cells in bubble-like vesicles, which also are enclosed by membranes. Upon arrival at the target destination, the cargo contained within the vesicle is delivered when the vesicle membrane fuses with the membrane surrounding the target organelle, similar to the way in which two bubbles merge to become one.
As in any delivery system, it is crucial that materials are delivered to the appropriate organelle within the cell. Vesicle membranes are surrounded by special protein coats that are thought to provide some specificity about target location, akin to how an address on an envelope guides mail delivery. Additionally, there exist special proteins called SNAREs that project from the membranes surrounding vesicles and organelles. When vesicle SNAREs are in close proximity to complementary SNAREs on the surface of an organelle, they "zip up" and pull the two membranes together to enable fusion. While SNAREs are extraordinarily important, by themselves they work slowly and inefficiently, and scientists have long suspected that additional factors -- like tethers -- were needed to ensure that cargo delivery in the cell was handled smoothly and efficiently.
Hughson and his colleagues began by coaxing the Dsl1 tethering complex into forming crystals, which they then bombarded with X-rays. Despite the fact that the tether is an enormous molecule, containing tens of thousands of atoms, this technique allowed the scientists to determine the precise relative location of every single atom.
Their results revealed a structure some 20 nanometers tall, thousands of times shorter than the width of a human hair but 10 times the size of a SNARE, with flexible joints and a mobile lasso-like loop at one end. The lasso contains protein sequences that bind to the protein coats surrounding particular vesicles, while the other end of the tether features regions that attach to the SNARE proteins that decorate the target organelle's surface.
These structural clues enabled the scientists to posit a mechanism whereby the Dsl1 complex, anchored to SNARES projecting from an organelle's membrane, might wave back and forth in the cell and "lasso" vesicles bearing cargo for delivery to that organelle, similar to the way a sea anemone traps food in its tentacles. The tether joints might then flex, bringing the vesicle SNAREs close to the SNAREs at the other end of the tether and enabling fusion. Because the tether latches on to the protein coat, this experiment also supports previous proposals that the Dsl1 complex may accelerate the removal of the protein coat around the vesicle, which must take place before fusion and delivery can occur.
In future work, the research team hopes to explore this process further by capturing a series of "snapshots" to watch how the lasso interacts with the protein coat. Additionally, the group intends to conduct a series of test tube experiments to assess how the various features of the Dsl1 complex's structure influence the rate and efficiency of cargo delivery.
"The cell, and the traffic inside flowing in every direction, is so complex that it can be difficult to test ideas about how it works," Hughson said. "Maybe now we know enough about how tethers guide cargo delivery to reconstitute this process in a test tube, away from most of this complexity, and figure out how it really works."
Hughson's Princeton colleagues on the team include former graduate students Yi Ren, now at Rockefeller University, and Arati Tripathi, now at Harvard Medical School; David Huie, who received his bachelor's degree from Princeton in 2009; and Philip Jeffrey, manager of the Department of Molecular Biology's X-ray facility. Additionally, the research group includes Calvin Kip and Thomas Walz, both of Harvard Medical School. The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health.


text:
At the Netherlands Centre for Luminescence dating we develop new and improved luminescence dating methods, and we apply luminescence dating in collaboration with NCL partners and external users.
The NCL facility is TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN IN COMPLIANCE WITH COVID19 MEASURES.
Please contact NCL staff for more information.
Scripts for Bootstrap analysis of equivalent dose distributions available from our site.
LumiD - the luminescence datingbase
The NCL is proud to present LumiD; a database with information about all samples processed by the NCL and of published information on samples from the Netherlands dated in other luminescence dating laboratories. Guests can use LumiD to search for samples using a range of search criteria. NCL customers can download an order form to submit new samples and track progress of their projects. LumiD is linked to Google Earth for visualisation and to aid searching samples in a specific location. (www.lumid.nl)
NCL logo designed by A10+


text:
Forget what you thought you knew about Africa and learn about the waking Lion Economies
Hard Rock Cafe, Time Square
1501 Broadway New York, NY 10036
12 – 3pm – Panel and light lunch
6 – 8pm – Evening Event where attending Celebrities, Panelists and Guests can exchange ideas
Additional Details:
1:00pm Panel Discussions: Two panels to discuss where Africa has been and where it is now. Focus on emerging industry, untapped talent, natural resources and exciting new frontier. Panels also to discuss opportunity for US based fashion and home decor industry, and the financial impact committing to producing or sourcing just one item for next year can have on Africa as well as on US.
6:00-8:00pm Event Celebrating the new Africa: The event will be hosted by USAID COMPETE, Origin Africa & Hard Rock International and attended by panelists as well as celebrity guests.
The Facts About Africa Today:
- The Lion economies are booming, entrepreneurs and companies are already successfully doing business with and within Africa
- Six of 10 of the world's fastest-growing economies
- The world's fastest-growing middle class
- It is the next & last big frontier – from manufacturing for global brands employing thousands to artisanal production by women coops changing their families' lives.
- Supporting commerce with and within Africa supports sustainable economic recovery and overall growth: Using business as a means for societal change – helping a people learn a skill and earn a living, instilling pride and the opportunity to build a better life for generations to come.
For more information or invitation, please contact: email@example.com


text:
It's the weekend, so while this is a tad off topic, I'm going to post it anyway. Let me preface this entire thing by saying that I am a big fan of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. I realize that it's "fake" news, whatever that means, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the deadpan humor and Stewart and co.'s ability to not only be funny, but also be refreshingly critical. Now, if you've followed the show for long, you'll know already that Stewart is often a critic of the media, accusing them of failing to live up to their duty and ask hard questions, and begging them to try and do something other that blindly repeat talking points from both sides.
Yesterday Stewart made his case not on the Daily Show, but instead on CNN's Crossfire (transcript here | streaming video here). Crossfire is a partisan show that pits two sides against each other. Stewart came on the show, and it's rather clear that Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala were expecting a jovial Stewart to trade barbs with them, but that's not what happened. From the beginning of the discussion, Stewart took aim at Crossfire and other media shows, saying (at first with a smile) that they "hurt America" by making politicians' lives easier by failing to "hold their feet to the fire." The gist of Stewart's complaint was that shows that were purportedly "hard" and "cutting" were really only theatrical performances of talking points and sensationalisman accusation made eerily true when Carlson tried to ask an irrelevant and stupid question about Bill O'Reilly's current sex scandal. Carlson's rejoinder amounted to nothing more than asking why Stewart himself didn't ask the likes of John Kerry tougher questions, at which point Stewart noted, "If you want to compare your show to a comedy show, you're more than welcome to."
Begala's defense was that Crossfire is a debate show, a suggestion which Stewart took to heart, and noted that this is "like saying pro wrestling is a show about athletic competition...you're doing theater, when you should be doing debate." After the conservative Carlson called Stewart Kerry's "butt boy," Stewart asked why we can't just talk about the media's responsibility. The Crossfire guys weren't having any of it, however, and Stewart ended the show seemingly frustrated, despite cheers from the audience on several occasions.
I recommend watching the stream because the transcript doesn't do the moment justice, especially with regards to how the "debaters" don't actually debate, but simply change topics and interrupt. I know that many people don't like Stewart, but he does have a view that is shared by many, many people, and his attempt to have this discussion on Crossfire was bold, daring, and ultimately, subjected to the same theatrics of which he spoke. Kudos, Mr. Stewart. It is, in fact, a shame that the media apparently will look to Comedy Central to justify its shoddy reporting in politics as of late (and that's on both sides, if we pretend for a moment that there are only two sides).
Finally, I'll note that Stewart's latest book, A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, is hilarious. It's written as a faux textbook, and it not only looks at recent events, but it does other things such as review the history of democracy. Quite the fun read, and and it meets up with Stewart's points yesterday quite nicely: there's something wrong in an America where one can surround oneself with the "news and views" formed not be journalistic integrity or investigation, but by television ratings and the attempt to cater only to people with certain unmovable opinions. Anyone else catch the show or the stream?


text:
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Justin Gant scored 18 points and Jake Odum 16 to lead Indiana State to a 65-61 victory against Northern Iowa on Wednesday night.
The Sycamores (9-4, 2-0 Missouri Valley) never trailed after 3:43 remained in the first half and held on despite making just 4 of 8 from the free-throw line in the last 34 seconds.
Trailing by three points, Northern Iowa called its final timeout with 6.5 seconds left to set up a final play. But the Panthers (7-7, 0-2) turned the ball over, and Lucas Eitel hit a free throw for Indiana State.
Seth Tuttle had 24 points and 10 rebounds and James Anthony added 12 points for Northern Iowa.
Gant was 8 of 12 from the field with six rebounds.


text:
Title: Cultivation of Organic Potato and Vegetables
Objectives: To assist the initiative group of Young Organic Growers to establish organic production of potato and vegetables on 4 ha of land which will become a sustainable income generation source for the initiative group as well as a source for healthy food not only for the community members but also for the market.
Title: Organic Vegetable Production for Income Generation
Objectives: Develop a culture of organic production among potential beneficiaries of this technology. Establish production technologies for selected commodities. Expand membership and strengthen BOPA to become the catalyst for promoting niche marketing of organic products as a viable alternative for small producers. Develop and cement market linkages between organic small farmers and the local tourism industry. Develop sustainable income generating organic production systems for the beneficiaries.
Title: Establishment of Vegetable Garden for HIV/AIDS Infected & Affected Women in Arada Sub-city, Addis Ababa
Title: Beekeeping in Bash Kaindy
Title: Development of Beekeeping in Naryn Oblast - At-Bashi Rayon
Title: Production Increase of Livestock in Small Farms
Title: Producción de Hortalizas bajo Sistema Orgánico
Objectives: Proveer al proyecto Producción de hortalizas bajo sistema orgánico de los insumos necesarios para la realización del mismo con el objeto de proporcionar a las comunidades de hortalizas sanas a un precio accesible y proteger el medio ambiente mediante una agricultura amigable con la naturaleza.
Title: Community Organic Vegetable Farm, Afiamalu
Objectives: Employment of project participants; Business opportunities for the local community to act as distributors; A cheap source of vegetables on a year round basis for the wider community, therefore improving access to good nutrition.
Title: Ekujabuleni Ekhaya Labantwana (Children's Home) vegetable garden
Objectives: Owing to the lack of resources, finding training and career opportunities for boys and girls about to leave the home is very difficult. It is intended that this project will provide learning opportunities for those children and help them into useful and productive careers. This benefit alone would justify the project. However, the home currently spends some R5000 (US $ 700) per month on food. The vegetables produced, together with the cash proceeds from the local sale of any surpluses, will go a long way to meeting that cost. To take advantage of the long fallow period enjoyed by the land, low input costs and relatively high labour (employment) needs, it is intended that the produce will be grown organically. This will contribute to the health and wellbeing of the children and those who purchase the surplus produce. This will also be in keeping with traditional farming practice.
Title: Agriculture for School Luncheon Programme
Objectives: To provide nutritious luncheon to all students of Ban Nong Bua school. To provide basic agricultural knowledge to students on cultivation of organic vegetables, cash crops and fruits, raising fish and wild pigs on a sustainable way, without causing damage to environment. (e.g. pig manure shall be used as fish feed, bio-fertilizer for crops and fruit trees; wasted vegetables and by-products from crop and fruit orchard shall be used to feed pigs, etc. ). To train the students on the basic knowledge on how to manage and marketing their agricultural resources and the importance of self-sufficiency concepts in the present competitive economic situation. To be a good and real agricultural pattern for the villagers in doing integrated farming.
Title: Producción Hortícola - Escuela Rural Nº 35
Objectives: Desarrollar una experiencia de huerta orgánica en la escuela que permita desarrollar las capacidades de los escolares y liceales ya que los alumnos cuentan con una asignatura específica en el tema de agropecuario en forma práctica la producción hortícola a través del trabajo formal e informal. Es a la vez una experiencia de interacción entre los actores locales ( alumnos, docentes, padres, huertistas, organizaciones vecinales, etc.).
للإتصال بنا | شـروط وأحكـام | الرسائل التحايلية


text:
Category Archives: Vine and Branches
Stay Connected to Jesus
5th Sunday of Easter
Stay Connected to Jesus
Text: John 15:1-8
I was gathering my thoughts. I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to say today in the sermon. That changed quickly.
On Thursday Mrs. Sandy stopped by my office and shared the sad news that her sister had passed away. Among other things, we talked about how important of a reminder it is to everyone that we need to Stay Connected to Jesus because our time here is limited. That was hard enough for her. But then on Friday Mrs. Sandy got a phone call at the campsite for the CTK Camp Out. It was not good news. Sandy's 27-year-old daughter had also died that afternoon.
I don't think there could be words with any better timing than what the Lord planned for us to hear this morning. Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Apart from Jesus we can do nothing, we have nothing, we get nothing, we are nothing. Read the rest of this entry


text:
NAI Saig Company is the exclusive NAI Global affiliate in Memphis and the Mid-South. This affiliation provides an integrated network of specialists and a wide range of premier services. NAI Saig Company's brokers are equipped with comprehensive resources including extensive research, marketing materials, and computer technologies, while at the same time maintain the flexibility that local ownership provides. Whether you're a commercial real estate buyer, seller, owner, tenant or developer, NAI Saig Company is your ideal partner given our depth of local market expertise, and our exceptional access to a world of opportunity through the NAI Global network. >>
NAI Saig Company has many agents and professionals at your service. If you know the party you are looking for, please use the form on the right to enter the person's name to retrieve their contact information and profile.
For our multi-office members, this could be a map with icons showing the firm's locations. Otherwise, this panel can be removed, or renamed and its contents replaced with whatever is desired.
We offer several ways to approach your real estate in a holistic manner: either from your perspective as a Client or addressing your specific Property type.
We invite you to browse our services in relation to your specific real estate needs. Please select your Client type or Property type, depending on the focus of your current requirement.
Our professionals worldwide have significant expertise in both their areas of specialization and in their local markets. Together, we act and think as a team, strong with one purpose: to achieve our clients' goals.
With a team approach, out-of-the-box thinking and innovative resources, we combine all of our talent, skills and tools to meet and exceed our clients' expectations. Please select a specific Service or go to Expertise and select a Client type for multiple related services.
NAI Saig Company is the market-leading, full service commercial and industrial real estate brokerage firm that has been in operation in Memphis and the Mid-South area since 1963. We provide a full range of services including traditional brokerage, corporate services and specialized support in the disciplines of industrial, office, retail, tenant representation, investment brokerage and land. NAI Saig Company's full capability is by design. The company's depth of experience and capabilities work in synergy to provide the right results to our clients.
NAI Market Information provides current demographic and property statistics, as well as a comprehensive market analysis, for more than 350 global markets. The information is gathered by NAI professionals in key markets and compiled in the NAI Global Market Report, published annually with quarterly updates provided online.
Click here


text:
Although I have been using digital cameras since 2003 and undertook a college course in photography in 1999-2000 (which I failed miserably!) it's important to know that I am a ridiculously shy and awkward person and that until the past couple of years I have seldom braved to outside world to actually take photos. I have been making an effort to reverse this situation in the past couple of years and where I once might have gone out less than once a month I try to take photos at least once a week. I would say without hesitation that I have improved and learned more in the past two years than I have in all the years prior put together and I am still very much learning!
One situation I have only recently begun to look at is using graduated filters and multiple exposures to balance the sky and land in sunset scenes. Before now I have mostly just settled for well exposed skies and tried to find silhouettes in the foreground well aware that attempting to expose both simultaneously without the aid of additional equipment is an exercise in futility. As with most things in life once I made one serious attempt at using graduated filters I find I have quickly become very interested in perfecting the technique and while I am far from what I would consider to be accomplished I am still pleased by the results so far.
Currently I have a couple of Kood filters which are excellent value for money and the quality in my opinion matches or exceeds that of Cokin branded filters (which isn't saying much I'm sure some of you are thinking!) and I also have some cheaper brandless filters from ebay which much like the cheap CP-L filters I have talked about in the past actually perform pretty well as long as you keep things wide angle! I found with my Sigma and Canon wide zooms that resolution was unaffected up until around 50mm where a slight softness became apparent but the majority if not all of my landscape shots tend to be taken at 35mm or wider so it was not really an issue in the real world although I will most probably by a set of three Hitech filters soon as I am taking this more seriously and they are about as high quality as anyone would ever need but are still priced very reasonably.
Among the cheapo ebay filters there are some coloured grads which I am somewhat afraid to use because they are generally considered cheap and tacky but I find they are sometimes quite effective if used in the right circumstances, it helps to use them with sunsets where there is a lot of contrast in the lighting, I find the eye tends to believe what it is seeing more if you use them in a scene where we are used to seeing bright and vibrant colours in the sky, all too often on flickr I see people using them on a dull overcast day and the results are ridiculous whereas when they are used in more suitable circumstances they results are at least slightly more believable!
I will hold back on the coloured grad photos for now but here are some taken using the Kood and Ebay graduated ND filters stacked on top of each other:


text:
Cubs' late rally spoils big night for Utley
Second baseman pinch-hits key single after agreeing to extension
PHILADELPHIA -- Chase Utley could not escape the spotlight on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
His name carried the evening.
A source told MLB.com early in a 5-2 loss to the Cubs that the Phillies and Utley had agreed on a two-year contract extension. There are reports the deal is in the $25-30 million range with vesting options for further seasons.
Utley later pinch-hit for Cole Hamels with a runner on third and one out in the seventh inning. He singled to center field to score the tying run.
Utley then tried to score the go-ahead run a couple batters later on a single to right. He barreled into Cubs catcher Dioner Navarro at the plate, but Navarro held onto the ball for the out despite the violent collision between catcher and baserunner.
"I wasn't really sure what had happened," Utley said. "The play happened so fast. I felt like I didn't have many options. Obviously, I wanted to try to knock the ball loose. I give him a lot of credit for hanging in there as long as he did, hanging onto the ball. That's probably a big reason why they won that game tonight."
"Utley is a hard player, and runs the bases good," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "You don't want anybody to get hurt. You're not doing it to hurt anybody, you're doing it to score a run. But it was one heck of a play by Navarro to hold on to the ball and block the plate at the same time. A lot of catchers don't have the guts to do that sometimes."
Navarro collapsed in pain after the play and had to be carted off the field with an injured right leg. But x-rays were negative and the Cubs are treating the injury only as a bruise.
Big hit.
Big-time hustle.
Sacrificing his body in an effort to help the team win.
Utley lived up to his reputation Wednesday.
"I love Philadelphia," said Utley, who declined to address the extension in specifics. "I've always envisioned playing here. I've never envisioned playing anywhere else. I hope that remains a possibility."
Hamels should be comforted knowing his second baseman is coming back. Hamels has had a nightmarish season and would like to see a big turnaround in 2014. If Utley is healthy, he can help the cause.
"He's pretty much the face of the franchise," Hamels said. "He does things right. He's done things right since Day One. He's the typical Philly athlete and Philly ballplayer. He maxes out every day and you have to give him credit. That's what's fun to watch. Being a teammate, feeling confident knowing that I'm playing with one of the best second basemen in the game. I feel pretty comfortable and obviously pretty happy that he's still going to be here."
Hamels allowed six hits, two runs and struck out three in seven innings. But once again, Hamels, whose 3.26 run-support average entering the night ranked 85th out of 91 pitchers in baseball, got little help from the offense.
Perhaps Hamels can take solace in that he has pitched much better lately, and that might mean better things to come next season. He is 2-2 with a 2.16 ERA (12 earned runs in 50 innings) in his last seven starts, so he seems to be righting the ship, even if righting it will not help the Phillies make the postseason.
"It's just going out there and making it fun," Hamels said. "I think when you stress about parts of the game and aspects of the game you really can't control, those stresses can lead into the way you're pitching. It doesn't make it comfortable. I'm just trying to go out there and enjoy myself."
The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Domonic Brown homered to right-center field. It was his 25th homer, the most in a season by a Phillies player since Ryan Howard hit 33 in 2011.
The Cubs scored a run in the third on a homer from Donnie Murphy and a run in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead.
Utley's single tied the game in the seventh, but Phillies relievers Luis Garcia and Justin De Fratus combined to allow three runs in the ninth, with Garcia putting two runners on with walks before De Fratus allowed a three-run home run to Murphy, who has homered three times in two games after entering the series with just three plate appearances this season.
"All of a sudden Murphy has become Babe Ruth," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
The Phillies lost, but they get to keep Utley. That should ease their pain at least one night.


text:
'Hasee Toh Phasee' wins box office battleFeb 10, 2014 IANS
New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) As many as four films released last Friday and "Hasee Toh Phasee" has emerged victorious with Rs.18.5 crore weekend earnings at the domestic box office, while "Heartless" gets second spot, say experts.
"'Hasee Toh Phasee' has collected Rs.18.5 crore net. India business only," trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted Monday.
Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Productions have jointly produced the Vinil Mathew directorial venture and the Rs.25 crore romantic-comedy came out on about 2,000 screens across the country.
One of the highlights of the film is the lead cast - Siddharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra.
Meanwhile actor Shekhar Suman's directorial debut "Heartless" starring his son Adhyayan Suman along with Deepti Naval and Om Puri, was released on the same day and it hit about 800 screens.
Nila Madhab Panda-directed "Babloo Happy Hai" and Hasnain Hyderabadwala directed "Ya Rab", which revolves around terrorism, also released on the same day.
"'Heartless' has done the best out of the three. It will be close to Rs.75 lakh over the weekend. The other two are disasters," said Rajesh Thadani of Multimedia Combines.
Gautam Dutta, COO, PVR Cinemas, said that "Heartless" was marketed well and added: "The occupancy was around 70 percent."
Adhyayan, who is yet to taste big success, is happy with the reviews and tweeted: "On the way back opened three radio stations and they were talking about how good the film is and their reviews. Thank you."
Click the Movie button below for more info:
Hasee Toh Phasee
More News