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"March winds and April showers
Bring forth the May flowers"
Saturday – 12 March 2016
It's March, the month most gardeners have longed to come around.
Traditionally, it's the first of the busy months as spring finally rolls in. The beginning of this March, however, may have traded places with February. A week of bitterly cold winds, morning de-icing of car windscreens and even snow – just a flutter here in Cardiff but it's the most we have seen the entire winter.
This weekend was different. It had been building all week. Dry days and periods of sun and clear skies. Even the wind had begun to feel warmer.
I awoke on Saturday to a blissful sight – clear skies and sunshine. There remained a slight chill still in the early part of the morning but there was no wind to speak of which made all the difference.
I was also pleased this weather had greeted me on Saturday morning, as an allotment loving five year old had been nagging me all week to go down the plot. I swear it was like she had just been told it was Christmas day!
Working on the plot felt as Beeton describes the March of the Victorians.
Although the trees are still leafless but for the evergreens, there is much to a mild sunny day in March that tells us that nature is once more alive. A murmuring of life in the air. Violets and primrose are poking through and even a lone bee makes an appearance. If you look closely at the trees, you can see they are just bursting into leaf.
With the pressing need for crops as early as possible, March for the victory gardeners of WW2 was greeted with enthusiastic seed sowing. Even Mr. Middleton was exclaiming the crocuses will soon be out, the birds are singing, and this is the time when the gardening fever spreads.
I have been desperate to plant out the early potatoes, Rocket. Progress on actual growing was the feeling I longed for, but I was also worried that the chits on these babies would soon outgrow the spare room!
These have been chitting for six weeks and I am very impressed. Short and dumpy chits – just what the gardener ordered.
Then it was down to business. After digging a trench, Ava helped me to mix fish, blood and bone into a bucket full of compost. She initially pulled a disgusted face when learning the make-up of the plant food but this was quickly followed by a shrug of the shoulders and she carried on mixing it up with the compost anyway.
After filling the bottom of each trench with the compost and fish, blood and bone mix, Ava carefully set out the potatoes – a foot apart, chits up along the trench. We stopped to admire our work.
After doing the same for another row, we backfilled the trenches before taking a break. Tea for me, apple juice for Ava and mini eggs for both! Hurrah!
Where would we be without onions? They must be the mainstay of global cuisine. In the kitchen, onions must be the most frequently used vegetable. They are the base of some many dishes from sauces to soups to salads.
Growing from sets, I'm hoping for a relatively easy crop to manage. I'm told, provided they have the sun, onions will produce a crop practically anywhere. Well, I can provide the 'practically anywhere' but the sun is a little out of my control.
I have not grown onions before and I am excited by the opportunity to finally be able to do so. Carol Klein remarks that harvesting onions is one of her favorite jobs.
I have decided on just one variety to grow this year called Turbo. A popular, medium sized brown variety that apparently produces juicy onions.
I'm growing the onions on an existing bed which provided me with a wonderful crop of french beans last year. I already have two rows of garlic in this bed which were planted last November. Despite the horrendous rain over the winter, these are looking rather good. The bed is well cultivated and I even managed to get a large amount of homemade compost into the soil prior to planting out the garlic. It will, I believe, be a sound bed for growing the onions.
With Ava at my side, we began by marking out two rows 12in apart. Using a finger as a makeshift dibber, I prodded the soil as not to risk damage to the roots on the onion sets by pushing them straight in. We had time to plant two rows of onion sets each in their individual rows 6in apart. I need to fork over the remaining part of the bed before we plant a few more rows.
Ava asked the typically insightful question only a child asks – If we peel the baby onions now, will that save us peeling them when they have grown? Alas, I replied, unfortunately, it will not.
After 6 hours on the plot, it was I who tired first and wanted to go home for dinner. Ava did not want to leave. She got a little upset and despite having no intentions to visit the allotment on Sunday, I caved and promised another trip the next day. It is lovely how much she enjoys it at the allotment – I won't complain.
The gardening excitement wasn't quite over when we arrived home. It was thrilling to see the postman had in our absence hid a parcel behind the bin. Our strawberry plants had arrived. An earlier edition of Grow your own magazine had presented an offer I found hard to refuse. I had placed an order for twenty strawberry plants to provide a full summer season of strawberry enjoyment. Before me lay 10 Florence and 10 Honeoye.
Sunday – 13 March 2016
Sunday arrived and brought with it another glorious day. Ava's second question of the morning was 'when are we going to the allotment?' Her first, quite rightly was 'can I have my breakfast?'
While daddy again dug another bed over and incorporated some more compost into what would soon become our strawberry bed, Ava made us brunch.That class
ic allotment delight – Mudpie.
This one was particularly special as it comes with added woodchip sprinkles. Yum!
We were joined a couple of hours later by Hannah, my wonderful fiancee who brought lunch and carried out a site visit. I am very pleased our progress is very satisfactory.
This was a wonderful weekend on the allotment. Planting and making progress is, of course, a great feeling but equally so is the time spent there with Ava. It's thrilling she enjoys being at the allotment so much. I hope the enjoyment stays with her as she grows up and means for the three of us, the allotment is a big and fun part of our lives. I have a cunning plan that as Ava plants and sees the variety of fruit and vegetable grow, it will mean she is very keen to eat them too!
How is your allotment or kitchen gardening coming along? I'd love to hear from you. I'm always grateful for any advice, tips and guidance. Drop me a comment below and connect with me on Twitter,Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.


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Circuit of the Americas could crown a driver's champion as Vettel and Alonso go head-to-head in penultimate race.
The Formula One season comes down to this: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel leads Ferrari's Fernando Alonso by 10 points with two races left, the first at a track neither has driven on before.
The first US Grand Prix since 2007 will be run on Sunday on the new $400m Circuit of the Americas, built a few miles outside of Austin.
With so few points separating Vettel and Alonso from winning a third world title for either driver, learning every nuance in elevation, the straights and the 20 turns in practice and qualifying could make the difference.
"If you do everything perfectly, you will have a chance," Alonso said.
"If you make a mistake, you will lose the chance."
Crunch time
If the title chase isn't decided on Sunday, it will head to the season finale next week in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Vettel and Alonso have spent hours practicing in course simulators. Alonso did two laps on a bicycle on Wednesday and Vettel planned to walk the course on Thursday afternoon.
"By the looks of it, it looks quite interesting, but it's always the feel you get inside the car that's most important," Vettel said.
Alonso said he first studied the course on a simulator after the Singapore Grand Prix in September.
"The track seems spectacular," Alonso said.
"Very, very nice. It will be challenging for us drivers and for the engineers as well. I think it will be a good show for everybody and hopefully some good overtakings as well."
The Circuit of the Americas is the first track in the US built expressly for Formula One.
From 1961-1980, the US Grand Prix was held in Watkins Glen, New York before starting a run of street courses in cities such as Long Beach, California, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix.
The race moved to Indianapolis Motor Speedway where it was run on a road course built inside the oval track from 2000 to 2007.
The Circuit of the Americas was designed by German firm Tilke GmbH, which has built tracks in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Shanghai. The designers tried to mimic several notable characteristics of other courses, such as the quick succession of turns 3-6, similar to Silverstone in England.
"We've taken good bits from all the different circuits and put them together," Formula One President and CEO Bernie Ecclestone said.
"It should make good racing."
The course is also notable for a 133-foot elevation heading into first turn, which means the cars will be immediately descend from that height into the second turn. And because it's a new track, the surface is expected to be slippery.
'Maximum concentration'
Racing on a new track would seem to cancel out any advantage Vettel and Alonso might have enjoyed on a course where they had won in the past.
"Maximum concentration, maximum effort from everyone on the team" will make the difference, Alonso said.
"Do a lot of laps, to learn the racing lines, the possibilities and some of the notable characteristics of other tracks in Formula One … maybe tricks … that the circuit can have."
Vettel said the drivers have faced similar challenges on new courses that have opened in recent years.
"You try to prepare as much as you can. It's not the first time we've raced on a completely new circuit." Vettel said.
"The most important thing is to get into a rhythm (Friday) and have a good start."
Sunday's race will be the 100th of Vettel's career. His first was at the US Grand Prix in 2007 and he recalled how difficult that race was when he finished eighth to earn his first point.
"Sitting here 100 races later is quite crazy in a way. I think if the number gives you anything, it's just that you don't realise how quickly time goes by," the 25-year-old Vettel said.
Alonso, 31, has nearly 200 Formula One starts and he said he can't even remember his 100th race.
"I don't even know where it was," Alonso said.
With the points chase so close between Vettel and Alonso, other drivers could factor into the championship if they steal points from those two. Kimi Raikkonen sits a distant third in the championship but won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 4.
"We try to do the best that we can as a team in the race and wherever we end up, if we take points out of either of them, that's racing, that's life," Raikkonen said.
"We just try to win, if not, score as much as we can."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C, cilt.78, 2018 (SCI İndekslerine Giren Dergi)
Measurements of the azimuthal anisotropy in lead-lead collisions at v s NN = 5.02 TeV are presented using a data sample corresponding to 0.49 nb -1 integrated luminosity collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2015. The recorded minimum-bias sample is enhanced by triggers for " ultra-central" collisions, providing an opportunity to perform detailed study of flow harmonics in the regime where the initial state is dominated by fluctuations. The anisotropy of the charged-particle azimuthal angle distributions is characterized by the Fourier coefficients, v2-v7, which are measured using the two-particle correlation, scalar-product and event-plane methods. The goal of the paper is to provide measurements of the differential as well as integrated flow harmonics vn over wide ranges of the transverse momentum, 0.5 < pT < 60 GeV, the pseudorapidity, |.| < 2.5, and the collision centrality 0-80%. Results from different methods are compared and discussed in the context of previous and recent measurements in Pb+ Pb collisions at v s NN = 2.76TeV and 5.02TeV. In particular, the shape of the pT dependence of elliptic or triangular flow harmonics is observed to be very similar at different centralities after scaling the vn and pT values by constant factors over the centrality interval 0-60% and the pT range 0.5 < pT < 5 GeV.


text:
College tuition is expensive, and more and more women are turning to "sugar daddies" for a leg up, claims Brandon Wade, founder of "sugar daddy" dating website SeekingArrangement.com.
The sometimes controversial, always entertaining online dating guru just released a list of the 20 universities with the most "sugar baby" signups in 2012. Both Columbia and NYU made the list — perhaps not surprising considering they are some of the most expensive colleges in America.
According to Wade, the website saw a 58 percent increase in co-ed signups in 2012, and 44 percent of the "sugar babies" on the website are now college students. The site seems to be encouraging the trend: anyone who signs up for the website with a college ".edu" email address gets a free membership upgrade.
In a press release, Wade blamed colleges and their ever-increasing tuition rates for the rise of co-eds on his "sugar daddy" site.
"College should be an opportunity to expand the mind and experience new things," Wade said in the release. "Unfortunately, because of the of recent tuition hikes, the college experience has become greatly unbalanced."
The average cost of tuition and fees at a private, 4-year university were $29,056 in 2012, a 4.2 percent increase over the previous year, according to CNN Money.
The site, which claims to have over 2 million members worldwide, is based on the concept that it's perfectly OK to pay for relationships. It works by pairing "sugar babies" — cash-strapped women looking for companionship and cash — with "sugar daddies," benefactors who are willing to pay for their company.
Here are the universities with the most signups last year, according to the company. Southern schools dominate the list.
Georgia State University — 292 (#11 in 2011)
New York University— 285 (#1 in 2011)
Temple University — 268 (#5 in 2011)
University of Central Florida — 221 (#14 in 2011)
University of Southern Florida — 212 (#7 in 2011)
Arizona State University — 204 (#8 in 2011)
Florida International University — 187 (#20 in 2011)
University of Georgia — 148 (#2 in 2011)
Indiana University — 131 (#17 in 2011)
Texas State — 128
Kent State University — 123 (#15 in 2011)
Penn State — 121 (#13 in 2011)
University of North Texas — 112
Florida State University — 111
Tulane University — 109 (#4 in 2011)
Michigan State University — 108 (#9 in 2011)
University of Ohio — 103
Columbia University— 100
University of Alabama — 96
University of California Los Angeles— 91
SEE ALSO: The 20 Most Expensive Colleges In America
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Join the conversation about this story »


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Halloween is tomorrow, and if you're like many of us, you know that there's no good reason why the joy of dressing up should be limited to flesh-and-blood people, certain unwitting pets, and women who always wanted to be cats. It should include cars as well. So what's the best costume for a car?
Now car costumes — or, car-stumes (hyphen optional) are exactly what you think they are — cars dressed up as something. This can be a car dressed up like some other object (think Weinermobile) or even another car (think those Fierarris or VW Beetles with Rolls-Royce kits.).
They can be temporary or designed from the ground up. We just want — no, have a RIGHT — to know what you think the best one is.
And don't forget to keep a supply of oil filters for any cars that come to your door tomorrow night.


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Orange, black, and T-Top, not sugar, cake, and waffle.
Price: $14.99 Qty:
Questions? | Quote | Email
Lomont IMT, a product of Lomont Molding, Inc., features the next generation of safety signage and identification products that is revolutionizing the safety marking industry. In-Mold technology utilizes robotics and a patent pending method that capitalizes on the advanced properties of plastic materials in the molding process to make these high quality cone topper signs.
Lomont IMT Tow Away Zone Cone Topper Sign
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text:
Cross currents… Trade closed for a small profit, but a good follow along example:
The /ES failed to reach 850, and the 30 minute stochastic failed to reach oversold before I exited the trade at 862 because, as you can see from the /ES chart on the right, we reached 855, then popped above the descending wedge… so, I exited to make sure I locked in at least a little something.
Note too, that on the left side is the /YM (DOW futures). We closed a 5 minute candlestick above the mid point of the Bollinger bands and that put my trigger on the finger.
So, even though the trade came close to working out, some "disturbance of the force" made the math targets fall just short. Had it taken us down to 850 I would have had and extra 12 points of profit, but you have to be willing to admit you're wrong for now. Another clue to confirm just came as I was typing as they both went on to make a new high above the last, and it appears that a bullish 8/34 cross is about to happen.
This is a good example where it "felt" bullish, and I think the reason is the crosscurrents on multiple timeframes and that fresh weekly buy signal are in charge for now. We are probably in a big B wave up/sideways, and thus I am playing small and taking profits when I get them. It could be that the 30 minute wave re-establishes itself and we move back lower, but I'm not willing to risk it further here.
Look at the TNX (10 yr) below on the left… it's saying something here, that's 2.5% interest you're seeing! It's either saying, "deflationary credit collapse," or it's saying, "quantitative easing" with the Treasury buying up their own product (printing). This is a great reason why I am very hesitant to buy any big rally… I am NOT bullish here, and see that the credit markets are still locked on many levels. We're trying our hardest to do a "Zimbabwe" but I don't think they'll be able to overpower the collapse of the biggest bubble in the history of man.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Trade Closed - Cross Currents...
Posted byAmy Jamison at11:27 AM


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Great travel photos from around the world
Toronto's sports frenzy will peak in 2015 with the Pan-Am and Parapan Am Games and the 20th anniversary of the NBA team The Raptors. But the sports scene...
"How dangerous is the road up?" Steve repeats slowly in English. Aunt Ligia leans over the glass countertop and begins to tap at it with one finger. Below...
While cheaper destinations have drawn Canadian travellers away from Barbados in recent years, many are now turning their attention back to this former...
Canada already enjoys a sort of colony where the sun shines 300 days a year. It's called Mesa.
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Forums (I/O Tower)
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Fanfic: Tron Invasion Chapter 13 (Part C)
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Fanfic: Tron Invasion Chapter 13 (Part C)
on Sunday, October, 06, 2013 3:53 PM
The radio crackled and hissed, but the channel came online. "Contact established! Ma3a, this is Mercury aboard Packet Transport 112-Theta. Class Five Recognizer, full load. We're headed to Citadel, under ICP attack."
"Mercury, you have survived. Have any others?"
"Yes. Jet is with me. And an email script, Romie, that I recommend for full Agent status and training." She looked back at them, fighting against the light-jet squadron. This was difficult to admit, but she owed Ma3a no less than honesty. "I'm alive thanks to them."
"I can connect a secure tunnel to the next beam. If the transport can reach it, you will have safe passage to Citadel. Transmitting access codes now..."
The transmission sent, but the next hit destroyed the conduit to the radio, and Mercury barely dove out of the chair to avoid the power surge.
"We've reached the next junction." the captain said. "Switching to the higher-energy beam!"
The consoles and circuitry lines of the walls and panels lit brighter beneath their feet, and the surge of energy powered their guns. "Eight seconds to the secure tunnel, and we're stable – for now," the engineer said. "But I'm getting no contact from engine room. The line's intact, but it's gone silent."
Mercury knew they weren't out of trouble yet. "How many of the squadron evaded?"
Romie said,"We shot two more, but three of them...I can't read them on the sensors."
"Means they've landed a boarding party on the upper deck, right in our blind spot," she said darkly. "Jet?"
"I...I'm okay." It was clear he wasn't. Circuitry pale, sweating. He was pushing himself past exhaustion, and not even Ma3a likely knew what a User's limits actually were.
A thick clanging sound cut off any argument.
Romie, Mercury, and Jet had their discs in hand before the door came down. Three ICPs stormed the bridge.
"This Recognizer belongs to the Kernel."
The captain wasn't having it. "I'm Cally, the captain of this Reco. We're a civilian transport on a rescue mission from Ma3a herself. You explain your Kernel's actions!"
The ICP's disc flew for the captain's head, but Mercury was anticipating it, her own disc blocking the shot and sending it wild while the counterattack sliced through the ICPs neck cleanly, reducing him to fading static.
The fight was on, but the surviving ICP continued to make his demand. "All packet transports and evacuation vessels will be commandeered for ICP use. All other functions are acceptable losses to combat the Thorne virus. Ma3a is considered a traitor to the Encom system, and all who serve her have been sentenced to immediate de-resol -"
That last sentence ended with a disc in his chest. The disc belonged not to the agents, but to the captain.
"I'll keep this Reco flying. Boarding party's likely headed for the engine room. Get the rest of those null-units off my ship."
The engineer looked up. "Captain, alert's been pulled on Deck 5."
"Seal it off. We'll only drop it long enough to send a team to the engine room."
The Kernel's second in command, Morton, led the boarding party, but as he and his men stalked the decks of the ship and watched as civilians cowered, kneeling or lying on the decks in surrender, no sudden moves. A female-designated sobbed. An old male-designated was weeping.
It was his directive to protect and restore order to the system. Was this protection? Was this defense? He did not know anymore.
"This vessel and all contents are now under the command of the Kernel," he stated. "Remain calm."
Someone shrieked. One of his men threw a disc and killed her instantly.
"That is an illegal operation!"
"They'll be killed in the reformat anyway, Commander Morton," his subordinate said with a sneer.
With a quick turn, circuit strike, and shove, the insubordinate Program was against the wall, and the commander delivering a painful energy surge. "I am giving the orders, script. We commandeer this vessel with with no unnecessary casualties. Standard procedure is
quarantine and scan
." The subordinate looked like he wanted to argue, but was too intimidated to press the issue. Morton turned to the crowd. "Any medic Programs?"
Three male-designated and two female-designated raised their hands. Two of them had full packs of gear.
"Inspect every refugee on this deck for signs of viral infection, starting with each other. We verify, deck by deck, that we don't have any contamination."
"It would be faster to -"
The commander's glare ended that sentence. He let go of the chastised soldier, but kept a wary eye open as he opened a line over his earpiece. "Team Beta?"
"We're at the engine deck, proceeding to engine room after conducing a security scan."
"Keep me informed." He was about to signal the bridge when the alarms went off. Morton quickly checked the location. Deck Five.
The commander ordered his men. "Entee, Sid, Ojin, you go to Deck Five with me." He trusted the other pair to have cooler processors. "Codewall, Lan, you keep things calm up here. Help the medics if they need it."
Mercury led the way down to deck five, Jet on her heels. He had already pulled out his suffusion routine, the short-range more appropriate for the tight quarters.
"You didn't have to come."
"If we run into Z-Lots, I'm still immune. Romie's not. He's also a better pilot, meaning that he's of more use on the bridge."
Mercury scowled. "Jet, you're too damn willing to risk your life. You've spent enough energy to exhaust a half-dozen Programs and you're still pushing it."
"We've been over this, Mercury. The choices aren't good. I'm taking the same risk as everyone here."
Logically, she couldn't argue with that. Fail, and he was just as dead as everyone aboard. "Doesn't mean I like it."
"Makes two of us," he said. Crossing over to the comm panel, he signaled the bridge. "Romie, seal off the deck behind us."
"Got it,"
he radioed back.
"I'll keep alert for any other alarms. But there's been nothing since the alarm got pulled. You see anything?"
The deck itself was disquieting empty. Chairs and benches were overturned, pixel-glass was shattered, internal walls and partitions were smashed and looked like hunks were torn out. The emergency overhead lights flickered, leaving unreliable pools of anemic light on the floor to augment the dim circuitry of the walls. Like all the passenger decks, it had been full to capacity seconds before. Now, there was nothing – silence.
Jet took a sharp breath and gagged. "Ozone. They died."
Mercury squinted. In the dim light, the fading remains of a few dying voxels remained. "You're right." She hit the panel again. "Bridge, we have visual. Something killed everyone on this deck, and it only took a few seconds to tear through. Watch deck four and engine deck for any alerts or sabotage." She looked both ways before signaling Jet to follow as they made their way to the engine deck.
Two steps. Three. Five.
A dozen voices shrieked at once. From behind the chairs and benches, from the partitions and the walls. They'd been innocent refugees, now they were twisted Z-lots -green circuits, empty eyes, shells twisted and held together with what looked like green paste. They ripped off their flesh and threw it, the bomblets landing with an infectious splash on the floor. Mercury dodged and backed toward the bulkhead door to the engine deck.
"Mercury, get back behind the door, I'll follow."
She did, using the frame for cover and Jet summoned a viral grenade of his own, pitching it into the crowd before returning with a volley of suffusion fire, mowing down the mindless fiends. Unfortunately, one of the Z-lot bombs got a lucky shot and the door came crashing down too quickly to duck behind it.
Unable to hold his ground, Jet looked for an alternate escape route. The viral bombs were painful and made moving difficult (he was already running on terror and adrenaline). He resorted for tearing viral code off his suit and throwing it back at them.
He ducked behind a maintenance door and sealed it behind him, taking a moment to breathe and try to pull the remaining gunk off his armor. "Zombie apocalypse. Not the way I thought I'd go."
He didn't get a chance. A red blur charged him, kneed him in the gut and tackled him. The suffusion gun went spinning uselessly out of reach. His attacker was an ICP unit, one of the boarding party. He also recognized the face. It was also the Kernel's aide and top subordinate, one of his interrogators back at their prison.
Jet struggled, smashed his elbow into a circuit node on the ICP's shoulder, which broke contact for a moment, and tried to reach for the gun that was just about in reach .... The ICP responded with a nasty palm-strike to the underside of Jet's jaw. Jet continued to struggle, finally getting his hand around the grip and pull it up to fire...
There was the whine of a disc activation and the sharp edge held inches above his throat. "Don't. Move."
A twisted sing-song voice behind them broke the standoff. "Clean ones!"
Jet turned the gun, aimed and fired. The ICP looked over his shoulder to see the Z-lot creeping up on them both stagger back with a parody of a smile and tear green goo out of the wound. Even worse, there were several more Z-lots to the front and back, pinning them in. Realizing they had bigger problems to deal with at the moment, he let go of Jet, scrambling to a fighting stance and delivering a head shot to the infected script, which collapsed in a green, organic-looking heap.
They stood back to back in the narrow corridor, forcing the eight or so attackers to face them single-file, cutting them down with quick strikes of disc or blasts from the suffusion gun. After clearing the corridor, Jet kept his gun at the ready, waiting for the ICP to make a move. The ICP had his disc drawn, as if thinking the same thing. Finally, Jet decided he'd have to be the one to speak first.
"You okay?"
"I am not infected," he answered. "But you are a wanted fugitive, and I am under orders to de-rez you on sight."
"Kinda figured," Jet said. "But I don't want to kill you. These Z-lots are the real enemy here. We can die fighting each other or we can work together and live. Your call."
The ICP seemed to weigh this in his processor before slowly lowering his disc. "Can't interrogate you if you've de-rezzed. You've been nothing but unanswered questions ever since you showed up."
Jet kept it simple, trying not to breathe too hard in relief as he lowered the barrel of his gun. "I work for Ma3a. I'm with her agents. We're trying to get the uninfected Programs on this Recognizer to her Citadel so we can evacuate them before the reformat."
"The Kernel believes that any Program outside of ICP forces is a potential infectee. That's why..." The ICP couldn't finish the sentence.
"I can see the argument. Ma3a thinks differently."
"You are obviously not commanding nor allied with the Z-lots as the Kernel believes, and his orders have been erratic as of late. My directive is to serve, however."
He was going to sound like an idiot, get his ass kicked, or it would be just the right question to ask. "Does a countermeasure serve the system, or just the Kernel?"
The ICP straightened, indignant. "We defend and protect the system from any and all threats from without and corruption from within."
Jet checked the suffusion rod. His weapon was charged and ready. "Sounds like you have your answer. Do you have a name?"
"Morton," he said. "How many agents does Ma3a have aboard this Recognizer?"
"Name's Jet. There are two others with me."
"There were twelve of us. Three I sent to the bridge, and three on the team down here with me. Those three...succumbed to infection, I believe. We fell to an ambush and were unable to retreat."
"The bridge party attacked us. We had to defend ourselves. I'm sorry," Jet answered. "And the captain had the bridge seal off this deck when the alarm sounded. We...we didn't...."
Morton's expression seemed to convey more resignation than anger at the loss. "At least that is done. Contain the infection, reduce the potential threat. It was the correct action."
"I'm sorry for the loss of your men," Jet said. "The ones with the passengers, what are their orders? De-rez?"
"No. I am following
procedure and quarantining the passengers while my men and some medic scripts check for any further signs of infection." The way Morton emphasized "standard" drove home the point. "I wanted...confirmation. Do you know of any useful tactics in fighting the Z-lots?"
Jet touched the wall. Things were so much easier to remember on the
side of the screen. "A few..."
Mercury was worried sick by the time she was able to scramble down to the engine deck. Jet was nowhere to be found, and she knew that while he was relatively immune to the virus, there were other, nastier ways the Z-lots could finish him.
Fortunately, she got his call signal a few seconds later and was able to find a panel.
"Mercury? You okay?"
"I managed to seal the bulkheads and get to the engine deck. You?"
"Still on five, and I found the ICP commander."
"Tell me he's a pile of smoking voxels."
"No, saved each others' lives. He's willing to call a truce. He's already notified his men to stand down, and I let Romie and Cally know."
Mercury had to pause a while to run that one through her processor. What was he going to tell her next – the Sea had come to life? It wasn't the way she would do things, but Ma3a would certainly approve. "Okay, we can go back to shooting each other after the Z-lots are gone. Any good ideas?"
"Mercury, this is Morton, Aide and Commander to the Kernel. Since the lower two decks have been compromised, we need to keep this area shielded. My men have verified that the infection has not spread to any of the upper decks. There were three more infectees, but my men...did what they had to."
Mercury found herself closing her eyes and sighing. She was inured to mass de-rez before this, or so she thought. "Jet, hate to ask, but what do you know about Class Fives that could solve this?"
"I can't remember much about this class. These things got dummied out of the game early on,"
he answered.
" I know that if we disabled the external shields on the lower decks, we'd vent everything to space. It's our best shot, provided we can get ourselves and any survivors to safety first."
Mercury looked to the engine room. "Guess I scrounge up some permissions and see if the engine crew were able to survive, Mercury out."
Morton and Jet crept along the thin, claustrophobic tunnels along the Recognizer's edge, listening at the door before opening the hatch onto another section. It was no better than the last – ripped chairs, overturned benches, ripped paneling. Morton pulled his disc and nodded. Jet turned and opened fire into the room, spraying a few shots into the obvious hiding places. Three Z-lots that popped up were swiftly dealt with.
"Not a lot in this room," Jet said.
"Caution," Morton remarked. "We'll do a security sweep. You start at the left wall, and I will start at the right. Mirror my movements."
Jet tossed off a bad imitation of some kind of salute and started on the left wall. Morton eyed him warily. He heard that outrageous "confession" at the tower, all right. A User of all things? At the time, he was of the same opinion as his Kernel. Now, he wasn't sure what to think. He saw the technician's report about the Jet's disc and all that unreadable data (and saved a copy to his own disc without the Kernel's knowledge), and there was just something....strange about him. Maybe he could believe that claim, except for one thing; Ma3a might be a powerful Program, but she was still a Program.
Users did not
"I think this was a barracks room, converted to crew quarters" Jet said, "Most I was able to find was this permission archive in the wall." He began to download the permissions.
"Officer staterooms would be on the top deck. This room would be for the engineers. We'll need to get that to your companion on the engine deck.
"Right," he said. "Place is still swarming with Z-Lots. It's a bad sign we haven't seen more."
Mercury met up with the other ICP team...what was left of them.
The south engine corridor was a red and green horror show. Piles of green viral code, faded red voxels, including some larger body parts – she almost stepped on a whole, armored torso that was slow to decay.
"Oh, glitch."
And that's when things got worse. The deck lurched forward and to the left suddenly before righting itself. Glancing out the rear access, to the beam track, she saw that the Reco was sitting powered, but unmoving, along the track as the red wall of death crept closer.
Spinning around, she fired quickly enough to kill the Z-lot trying to backstab, but that did not prepare her for the door to the engine room bursting open and an energy-searing scream emerging from within. A dozen Z-lots - armed with broken machines, tools, pieces of the walls and benches vandalized earlier.
Mercury stepped back and turned the suffusion gun back to a rod, snapping the halves apart and bracing for melee.
order abortion pill abortion pill buy online where to buy abortion pill
It's an entire universe in there, one we created, but it's beyond us now. Really. It's outgrown us. You know, every time you shut off your computer...do you know what you're doing? Have you ever reformatted a hard drive? Deleted old software? Destroyed an entire universe?"
-- Jet Bradley,
Tron: Ghost in the Machine
on why being a User isn't necessarily a good thing.
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TORONTO - Chad Owens and the Toronto Argonauts are heading into the CFL playoffs on the craziest of rolls.
Owens broke the CFL's single-season all-purpose yards record and Swayze Waters booted a 51-yard field goal with no time remaining as the short-handed Argos, minus 11 regulars, rallied for a wild 43-40 win over Hamilton on Thursday night that eliminated the arch-rival Tiger-Cats from playoff contention.
Toronto (9-9) rested 10 starters — including quarterback Ricky Ray — and linebacker Brandon Isaac served a one-game suspension for an illegal hit last weekend against Saskatchewan's Darian Durant. But that didn't deter the Argo subs, who surged to a stunning 20-3 first-quarter advantage before Waters' game-winning boot brought the season-best Rogers Centre gathering of 27,283 to its feet on Fan Appreciation Night.
"When they scored to tie it up at the end I knew we were going to have a chance so I went on the sidelines, hit a few into the net and tried to prepare myself," Waters said. "You have to prepare for that situation all the time because that's why they have you here, to make kicks and win games.
"But it doesn't happen very often so I was excited to be able to put it through the pipes . . . it gives us momentum heading into the playoffs."
Toronto will host either Edmonton or Saskatchewan in the East Division semifinal Nov. 11. Hamilton's loss clinched a playoff berth for the Eskimos, who can finish third in the West by downing Calgary on Friday and having the B.C. Lions beat the Riders on Saturday.
Should Edmonton lose or Saskatchewan win, the Riders will take third and the Eskimos will travel to Toronto and face their former starter in Ray. The Esks were 2-0 this season against the Argos, who obtained Ray from Alberta last December.
"That was a clutch kick," Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said of Waters' winning boot. "I mean you have (Chris) Williams back there . . . with the game on the line.
"We're playing better, there's no doubt about that. I know offensively we've picked up the pace the last three weeks. I think we've got our confidence back. If you have a great quarterback and some confidence you've got a chance to win."
The Ticats (6-12) played all of their regulars, and with good reason: they desperately needed the win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. But Hamilton continually shot itself in the foot against the Argos' B-team, which played veteran Jarious Jackson and rookies Trevor Harris and Zach Collaros at quarterback in the contest, with Collaros's 13-yard TD pass to Sammy Tranks putting the home team ahead 37-26 at 3:38 of the fourth.
Starter Henry Burris, 37-of-55 passing for a career-high 497 yards and four TDs, pulled Hamilton to within 40-33 with 2:47 remaining with a three-yard TD strike to Avon Cobourne. After two incompletions that took just 26 seconds by Collaros, the Ticats got the ball at the Toronto 39-yard following a 35-yard punt return by Williams with 2:15 to play.
Burris and Williams then hooked up on five-yard touchdown pass — giving him a career-high 43 this season — that tied the score 40-40 with 1:10 remaining. Burris finished the season with 5,367 yards passing — another career high — while Williams had four catches for 104 yards and two TDs, boosting his club-record total to 17.
But Collaros took over at the Toronto 42 with a minute remaining and marched the Argos to the Hamilton 44 to set up Waters' winning boot.
Toronto's offence got a huge boost from receiver Dontrelle Inman and running back Gerald Riggs Jr. Inman, back after missing four games with a hamstring injury, opened the game with a 46-yard reception and finished with seven catches for 128 yards and a TD. Riggs, replacing incumbent Chad Kackert, had 15 carries for 112 yards and added two receptions for 35 yards.
"That kind of set the tone for the game, the first catch of the game," Milanovich said. "Dontrelle had a number of big catches and Riggs was as physical as I've seen in a long time.
"You're always happy with someone gets their opportunity and it hasn't gone smoothly for them all year and they do the job. There's something to be said for that."
Hamilton ends the season the CFL's worst road team with a 1-8 record and after a 3-2 start to the season went a dismal 3-10 the rest of the way. Tempers flared with 4:49 remaining with a melee that resulted in five penalties being called.
Owens had a front-row seat for the fireworks as he was on the sidelines for the second half after delivering a record-breaking performance in the first. He accumulated 95 combined first-half yards to give him 3,863 on the season, breaking Mike (Pinball) Clemons' mark of 3,840 yards. He also had 49-yard completion to Spencer Watt.
"It wasn't about beating Pinball's record, it was just about just showing what hard work, dedication, sacrifice and passion can do for you if you're fortunate enough to get the opportunity," Owens said. "That's why I'm so thankful, man.
"Four years ago I was out of football. I got the chance to come up here and continue my dream and as soon as I got here in Toronto (three seasons ago) things started falling into place."
Despite his gaudy passing numbers, Burris also threw two interceptions — with one being returned for a TD — and lost a fumble that led to another Argos touchdown. Slotback Andy Fantuz had 10 catches for 109 yards but also lost a fumble at the Toronto 10-yard line with Hamilton trailing 30-26 late in the third.
"I was fighting for a yard and I was going down when I lost it," said Fantuz, one of Hamilton's top free-agent acquisitions last off-season. "It was a huge momentum swing."
Added Burris: "Pretty much our season in a nutshell. Great flashes, then mistakes.
"Make too many mistakes like that and the game won't go in your favour."
Ticats' coach George Cortez agreed.
"Obviously we had two turnovers that put us in a hole," he said. "Basically we gave them two touchdowns."
Toronto beat Hamilton in three-of-four meetings this season and Burris believes the Argos can make a lot of noise in the CFL playoffs.
"They're a very good team and they're going to make a run in the East," he said. "They did exactly what they were supposed to do to get the win today."
Jordan Younger, on a 36-yard interception return, had Toronto's other touchdown. Waters finished with five field goals and four converts.
Aaron Kelly also scored for Hamilton. Luca Congi kicked four field goals and four converts.
NOTES: Receivers Ken-Yon Rambo and Mike Bradwell were among Toronto's pre-game scratches while receiver Bakari Grant and defensive lineman Brandon Peguese didn't dress for Hamilton . . . . Ray is Toronto's first 4,000-yard passer since Kerry Joseph in 2008 and finished the season as the most accurate passer in Argos history 68.6 per cent, breaking Kerwin Bell's club record of 67.3 per cent in 1998. But Ray will end the year six pass attempts short of Condredge Holloway's club record of 474.


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Patients seek US ban on fibroid removal devices
More than a dozen Americans—including cancer patients, their family members and physicians—called on U.S. health regulators on Friday to block the use of electronic surgical tools used to remove fibroids, but which can inadvertently spread cancer throughout the body.
An expert panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers heard impassioned pleas from women with cancer and family members of deceased patients who said they were unaware of the cancer risks of the popular technique for treating fibroids by grinding the tissue and removing it through a small incision in the abdomen. The devices are also frequently used in hysterectomies, or removal of the uterus, a common approach for preventing the growth of future fibroids.
Surgeons developed the technique as an alternative to traditional surgery, which requires a larger incision that often results in more bleeding and longer hospital stays.
Doctors have long acknowledged the risk of accidentally spreading undetected cancer with the electronic devices, known as power morcellators. But the FDA has convened a two-day meeting after calculating that the problem may occur more often than previously thought. The agency said in April that as many as 1 in 351 women may have undetected uterine cancer that can be disturbed by the technique. Previous estimates put the rate closer to 1 in 7,000.
"Would you permit your wife or sister to undergo a procedure that has a one in 351 chance of spreading cancer throughout the body?" Colleen Daley asked the FDA panel of obstetricians and gynecologists. Daley's sister, Patricia Marie Daley, died in 2011 of leiomyosarcoma, a uterine cancer that spread to her lungs after undergoing treatment with power morcellators.
Sarah Salem, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012 after undergoing power morcellation, said surgeons should not be blamed for failing to detect cancers.
"But what we refuse to accept is the senseless and unethical risk that our surgeons took to allow the spread of our cancer," she said.
The FDA approved the first electronic morcellators in 1995 and about two dozen have been approved in U.S. since then. The devices were cleared through an abbreviated review process because they were deemed similar to manual surgical devices long on the market.
The panel of FDA advisers is scheduled to discuss a number of potential options for reducing the risks with the devices, including:
— identifying patients who may be at increased risk for uterine cancer
— adding new warnings to the morcellators' labeling about cancer spread
— using protective bags to collect uterine tissue so it doesn't spread into the abdomen.
— requirements for increased safety testing of the devices
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can cause severe pain, heavy bleeding, and bladder and bowel dysfunction, mostly among women in their late 30s and 40s. It's unclear what causes the tumor-like growths—which can grow as large as cantaloupes—but they account for an estimated 240,000 of the 600,000 annual hysterectomies in the U.S. At least 50,000 U.S. women undergo hysterectomy using the power morcellation technique.
Hysterectomy is a key treatment because it is the only way to ensure that fibroids do not return. Myomectomy, surgery that removes fibroids while leaving the uterus intact, is recommended for women who still want to become pregnant.
Explore further
© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


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The Galapagos Islands, June 2006: our honeymoon. As you can see, I'm not particularly good at smiling on cue for the camera; I much prefer to be on the other side!
The Californian sea-lions there are incredibly 'tame'. Due to the islands' isolation they've never known Man as a predator & so are quite unafraid of us, & let you get very close.
Swimming with the pups, like playful little aquatic dogs, is 1 of the greatest experiences of my life. They would swim underneath me upside-down (I managed to do it back to 1 of them – haha!), nip at your flippers, zoom towards your face at high speed then turn away at the very last second – fantastic!
Although if a bull decides you've been spending too much time with his kids he'll charge, & 1 of them did. I found out how quickly I could snorkel then run through water when I needed to!
If you ever get the chance to go you should: it's a really special place.
Related Articles
- Cruising the Galapagos – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (travelpod.com)
- Week 1, Galapagos Experience – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (travelpod.com)
- Finally finding the sharks… and lots of them – Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Ecuador (travelpod.com)


text:
Where to Get the Best Nachos in NYC
Super Bo... game day just around the corner and winter in full swing, NOW is the time to pile into a warm, cozy bar or taco shack with your friends, gather around the table, down a few soul-nurturing brews, and dig into a plate of nachos, that most communal of communal dishes. I mean, seriously: can you name a single dish more fun-to-share than a plate of nachos?
Not only are they delicious (when made right, and we'll get to that), but they practically create their own conversation. Everybody has an opinion on how chunky the guacamole should be. We all have feelings about whether chili or beans make a better topping. Who hasn't considered whether or not they'd ever prefer a fresh jalapeño to a pickled one, and who hasn't considered de-friending a friend who dares to express a preference for fresh over pickled? And then there's the ever-raging debate of cheese sauce vs. melted cheese, a subject you might actually consider not broaching in mixed company (I know from experience that it can end in all kinds of messiness).
Anybody who sells a plate of nachos in New York must have asked themselves these same questions, and I'm in the business of getting answers. For the past few weeks, I've been on a hunt to find out who has the hottest, meltiest, cheesiest, most shareable plate of 'chos in the city.
The Criteria
I tasted and judged all nachos according to the following criteria. The weighting for each category was sliding: how the nachs worked together as a whole was more important than the sum of the individual components. Still, there were some standards to live up to.
- Quality of Chips. The chips in a pile of nachos go through more abuse than a blitzed quarterback. It doesn't matter to me if the chips are thick and crunchy or thin and crisp, but for top marks, they must taste fresh and stand up to the assault of gooey and moist toppings to the last chip. Extra points if they're fried in-house.
- Quality of Toppings. Topping choices can vary, but each should be best in class. Is your guacamole fresh, bright, and well seasoned? Does your chili have a nice balance of heat and meatiness? Are your beans creamy and intact?
- Balance of Toppings. There also needs to be a good balance between toppings overall, combining fresh crisp vegetables, hot chilies, bright pickled jalapeños or salsa, creamy and cooling sour cream, and rich guacamole or chili. Without brightness and textural contrast, nachos quickly become heavy and stodgy.
- Cheese: Sauce or Fresh? This matter has proved to provide some intense debate at the bar. Shredded cheese has the advantage of gooey stretchiness but can turn greasy and congeal-y if you let the nachos sit too long (some folks look at this as a feature, not a bug). Cheese sauce, on the other hand, stays creamy and dip-able to the last chip, but doesn't have any of the stretchiness that regular cheese has. And be careful: some of the nachos we tried had béchamel-style cheese sauces that tasted like they'd be more at home on a plate of fettucini alfredo. Cheese sauce has got to be glossy, smooth, and tangy (sort of like this).
- Layering. Don't you hate when the chips at the bottom of the pile come up completely empty? Nachos should be assembled with the cheese and select other ingredients layered throughout.
- Temperature. The chips need to come out hot, and more importantly, need to stay hot as you eat. This means preheated platters or plates and rapid delivery to the table. It's amazing the number of nachos I tried that were nothing more than lukewarm chips with pumped-out cheese sauce.
- Volume. Nachos shouldn't be dainty. I want a big, messy pile that lasts and lasts.
The Best Restaurant Nachos
These are nachos served in a restaurant setting. Great for sharing with friends over happy hour, but not places where you can catch the game.
Winner: Carnitas Nachos From Taqueria Diana
Price: Carnitas Nachos, $9 (also available with chicken or spit roasted pork for $9, steak for $10, or meat-free for $7).
Setting: Hole-in-the-wall restaurant, no TVs.
More Info: Taquería Diana
This relative newcomer opened by homesick Californian Matthew La Rue serves their nachos in a giant metal tray, which allows not only for more overall mass, but better topping distribution to boot: every one of the freshly-fried chips gets some form of topping or another. And with some nachos, there is a winner in the toppings category. Not so here. Their tender-crisp carnitas, refried beans, fresh guacamole, and melty Jack cheese are all worthy of fighting over.
The whole mess comes topped with a big drizzle of Mexican crema, pickled jalepños and carrots, and a hot salsa verde. Bonus: want a little more flavor on your chips? Those bottomless squeeze bottles of salsa roja, salsa verde, and a hot habanero salsa are only an arm's reach away.
The Best Restaurant Nachos Runners Up
Runner Up #1: Coppelia
Price: $8.95
Setting: 24-hour diner, with a full bar.
More Info: Coppelia
The all-day Cuban diner on 14th street takes a non-traditional approach to nacho layering: At the bottom of the plate you'll find a deep pool of fresh and gooey muenster cheese sauce along with some of their excellent Cuban black beans. Piled on top of that are thick-cut chips layered with semi-melted muenster and gouda cheese, pickled jalapeños, crema, and guacamole, along with crisp-edged frizzled chunks of roasted short rib.
It'll take you a few bites to expose the pool of cheese sauce underneath, but once you do, the dipping begins and won't end until the whole platter is cleared.
Runner Up #2: Calexico
Price: $10, add $3 for chicken or steak
Setting: Hipster taquería, no TVs.
More Info: Calexico
Calexico answers the eternal question of cheese vs. cheese sauce in the best way possible: they use both. Tangy cheese sauce and crema are ladled over chips already covered with melty, stretchy cheese along with some fresh sweet corn, black beans, cilantro, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, and a scoop of guacamole. It's the true cheese-lover's nacho.
Runner Up #3: El Toro Blanco
Price: $7 plain, add $1 for chicken, steak, or chorizo
Setting: Fancy-pants Mexican restaurant in the West Village that is toned down at happy hour, no TVs.
More Info: El Toro Blanco
The nachos are only available from 3 to 7 p.m. on weeknights, but man, are they worth it. If these were on-the-menu-all-the-time nachos, they may well have come in on the very top. Thick, crunchy chips layered with pinto beans, a cheddar cheese sauce, melted Oaxaca cheese, and crumbled queso fresco, along with crema, pico de gallo, and pickled jalapeños. Take it over the top for $1 more by adding a meat of your choice (you want the chorizo). Nachos and a glass of wine or a beer on a weeknight for just about $10 pre-tip? That's not a bad deal.
The Best Bar Nachos
These are nachos to be consumed while drinking beer, watching the game, and generally having a raucous time.
Winner: The Commodore
Price: $10
Setting: Hipster dive, with TVs.
More Info: The Commodore
The Cadillac Nachos at the Williamsburg hipster dive The Commodore live up to the name. Their sheer massiveness is the first thing you'll notice as the Super Aggro Crag-sized tower makes its way across the room. With the combined power of three salsas (red, green, and a spicy creamy version), crema, and the tastiest cheese sauce I tried, this pile of finger-licking fat and carbs is capable of Captain Planet-level degrees of awesomeness, giving you rich, hot, and tangy flavors in each bite.
Don't let the crisp radishes and shower of cilantro and scallions on top fool you: these nachos are all business.
Best Bar Nachos Runner Up: Phebe's Tavern & Grill
Price: $11, add $3 for chicken or ground beef
Setting: Classic tavern. Loud, dimly lit, plenty of TVs.
More Info: Phebe's Tavern & Grill
The archetypical bar nacho. There's nothing fancy or over-the-top here, just a good solid base of chips, melted yellow and white cheddar cheese, and the Three Scoops of the nacho world: salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. A handful of pickled jalapeños finishes off the plate. Because of the compartmentalized nature of the toppings, this is a plate of nachos that invites competition: you better get in there and start scoopin' guac before your buddy does.
Best Fancy-Pants Nachos
These are nachos that are cheffed up beyond your standard bar or taqueria fare. This doesn't necessarily make them better, but they're a good change from the norm.
Winner: Draught 55
Price: $13
Setting: Irish Pub. Not as loud as your typical dive, good live music, TVs.
More Info: Draught 55
Draught 55 has the kind of Irish pub menu that makes you think, "this dish sounds delicious. I think this dish and my stomach would get along nicely if they were to meet," over and over again. The nachos are not an exception. They come served on a hot sizzle platter with the edges of the chips tinged toasty brown—a good sign they've been in the oven long enough to melt every layer of cheese within.
The star topping is a ground beef chili made with Rogue Brewery's Chipotle Ale, and it's balanced with pickled banana peppers in place of jalapeños, a charred corn salsa, sliced avocado, and crema.
Best Fancy-Pants Nachos Runner Up: River Styx
Price: $8
Setting: Dark and upscale Brooklyn-style restaurant
More Info: River Styx
You don't expect to see nachos on the menu at River Styx, a very Brooklyn restaurant with a farm-to-table vibe and a fully bearded kitchen staff, nor do you expect those nachos to come doused in a cheese sauce made with heavy cream and American cheese, but there they are, and they're damn good too. Perhaps this is what irony has become these days.
The nachos may ask more questions than they answer: what's up with the handful of radishes? Do chives have any business being on a plate of nachos? How do they get that shredded pork so moist and tender? Am I really supposed to eat this massive forest of cilantro stems? But luckily, they taste so good that they'll make you realize some questions are simply better left unasked.
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text:
Deep in the heart of Texas
The nine-game road trip kicks off today. Here's the lineup:
Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Manny, LF
Ethier, RF (you Ethierholics are all coming to Carne Asada Sunday with Andre, right?)
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Kemp, CF (simply on-fire)
Blake, 3B
Kershaw, P (tough act to follow after his last outing)
And by the way, in case you guys haven't seen it yet, there's a contest online right now where you can get season tickets for the rest of the year (at least starting after May 10, when the contest ends). It's called Paint the Town Blue and I'd imagine those of you coming to this site are the perfect people for this.
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Here's wishing the Dodgers the best road trip ever! Keep the winning ways. LOVE THE DODGERBLUE!!!!!
i gotta feeling the winning streak will continue tonight,or maybe its just my optimism.either way, i expect a solid outting for kershaw,i think him and bills will get a lot of wins this season with decent ERA's and lots of K's.and the offense should do fine putting runs on the scoreboard off of russ ortiz.staying positive and hoping the dodgers keep winning and kemp keeps his hit streak alive.and go lakers!
Had a nice and Hot day off from Dodger ball yesterday, now I am ready to start it up again. Heres to the boys in blue and to all the faithful ITD team. Go Dodgers!
Take us deep Kershaw, Bring the strikes!!!
Battle in Houston Boy's, let's keep on having fun 🙂
Got new-threaded a couple of hours ago……..
"Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame on Tuesday"
You mean there's a Hall of Fame somewhere that he isn't already in?
"You mean there's a Hall of Fame somewhere that he isn't already in?"
Eric – That was my reaction when I heard it on KABC last night.
And you all remember that contest for Mr. LA that I posted a link here and I also mentioned in my blog? Well, Mr. Vin Scully won it! He is Mr. L.A.!!" they had some names in there that people were posting a lot that they voted for and I had never heard from like…Charles Phoenix. I did not know who he was along with 4 others on the list.
Congratulations Mr. Scully!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dodgereric – I would've thought that too, so my question is "What took so long?" Thanks for sharing 🙂
Josh ~ Thanks for the information, and yes, I couldn't definitely see some of these individuals on ITD doing this "Paint the Town Blue". As for Carne Asada Sunday, I am assuming he is doing them every month, yes? I can't be there for this first one. I would if I could, but it would be three weekends in a row down to So-Cal, and that would be over my limit of twice a month – LOL!!! We definitely want to go to one in the future, so please let us know after this one when the next one will be. After June 4th it's a little easier for tru and I to come and go to So-Cal, as that is my last day of school – yeah!! As for this first one, I will be there in Ethieraholic spirit.
Oh and Josh, Erik, Lore and I signed up for the Carne Asada when it first got posted.
Go Dodgers!!!
I miss the guys already. Can't wait until they come back to LA.
Hi everybody.
Gotta keep this streak going on the road.
Way to get us started, Manny!
That was close if it was someone fast he would had beat that out.
Come on Loney you was born in Houston a 3 run homeruns would be nice.
Go Martin get that average to a respectiful .280 let's go Kemp let get another hit to make it 14 games.
Great RBI, Loney! Nice knock, Russell!
Sigh don't like that swing with a 0-1 damn kemp
Not a bad first inning 3-0 Dodgers!
Very good start.
Good evening everybody!
I just got home at the top of the 1st and saw we had a great start to the game just in time to see my least favorite thing… a lead off walk. Especially after a 3 run 1st. What a surprise, the run scored.
Settle down Kersh and play your game…
Go Blue!!
Bring the Ring to LA in 2009!!!
Whew!! Glad that inning is over. Glad to see Kersh getting out of that one – GO DODGERS!!!
I love Grady Sizemore to bad he the only Indians on my fantasy team
Long first inning, but lately we've been seeing pitchers settle down from that point.
I forgot all about Cabrera but he's on my other team. I really don't like that 31 pitches Kershaw had. Let's see if we can double Ortiz pitches count this innings.
Did anyone hear about Kent coming out of retirement?
Check it out.
Oh oh walking the pitchers you are asking for trouble Ortiz.
Damn Ali Landry is hot too bad she a little bit to hard
oops hard=old
Nice catch Andre, and a much better half an inning. GO DODGERS!!!
Good evening all, and greetings from the Lone Star State. I may reside here now, but will always bleed Dodger Blue!
I sure hope Kershaw gets a "W" tonight.
BTW listening to these colorless Houston anouncers stinks on FSW. It would be much more enjoyable listening to Vin.
Hey there Nelly.
Other than the top of 1st, we are looking a little out of sync.
I would really like to see us throw a ton of runs up on Ortiz.
I hope the BP is well rested and ready to go. I think they are going to be needed tonight. GO DODGERS!!!
Agreed VL4. They are a little dull. But they have at least not been homerish!
Hey dcollins!! We are looking a little out of sync, but with this team, who knows? We know what they can do at the end of a game nowadays too.
On cue Nelly…
That is correct Nelly. This year we are always in it. That is a great feeling isn't it. I would just like to keep it going against a bad Houston team. They actually have some good players they just haven't done well in ST or so far in this early season.
Just imagine the amount of HR's the Dodgers would hit in a park this small. Shallow down both lines, & alleys. It's only deep to straight away center…
Keeps that hitting streak Aliiiivvveeeee (In a scary voice)!!!
Nice piece of hitting from Kemp!
lol at that cheap rbi comment.
That'll leave a mark…
oh **** not good.
Finally they announce was right kemp screw up.
Not well executed…
I thought that Kemp could of made a break for home. I guess better safe than sorry. Also it's early & with this O there is no need to press at this point.
Omg they show that play again oh right we get it he should had score.
Oh well! Still lots of time left.
I left for a few and came back to us losing – oh no!! GO DODGERS!!!!
No bueno…
I looks like maybe Ortiz can screw up a little or we have to get going.
I hate Tejada! I wonder how many years he played 'juiced.' I think the whole Oakland ball club was back when he was with them.
This could be one of those even-ing out games that baseball gives us.
The last game we were bummin that Kersh didn't get the win he deserved. So now maybe we can come back and keep him from getting the loss tonight he seems to deserve thus far.
Manny may of "departed without comment" this ab but something tells me he will have something else to say tonight.
Ethier had a nice AB, he may have finished Ortiz.
UGH! I'm still hoping Loney will have a big breakout game for his homecoming tonight.
That was a nice at bat oldbrooklynfan.
Vl4 — they just need to tell James they are in Colorado!
Typical Dre AB.
Lot's of time left folks!
Let's go Blue!!! Keep showing us your grit!
Tough night for Kersh tonight. He seemed to me like he was rushing everything. When he walked around the mound or down the mound it was like he was anxiously walking quickly. He just seemed out of synch.
Let's get our Rally Caps on………….GO DODGERS!!!!!!!
Houston's bullpen stinks. I hope the Dodger bats wake up in a big way here. C'mon Russ!
Good to see the team not getting over confident (according to today's LA Times article). At least some people remember the last time we had a start this good (11-2 in the-year-I've-mostly-forgotten), and how it ended up (71-91, which is why I forgot it. Jason Phillips' funny running, anyone?).
Of course, we all know this year is different. We can still come back tonight.
I see Kerwin Danley went to the hospital geez don't want to here nothing like that.
I remember it well NSB. I was pumped & then seriously deflated. Did they say in the article that the team was reminded of it by the coaching staff? If so I was thinking that would be a good idea to do so.
This could be a tough road trip for the pitching staff. Between starting in Houston and then going to Colorado. I know they now use the humidifier but still. They might be a little worked by the time they get to here in SF.
That will definately leave a mark!
Hey, D-Co! I'm not sure who reminded the team, but I know the LA Times' writer brought it up. Different mindset this year, and no obligatory stealing on Jason Phillips' weak throwing arm.
Oh yeah, they come up to the bay soon. Hopefully lots of night games, so I can let the girl use the comp, and pick up Vin and Monday-Steiner on the staticy radio instead of listening to Kruk and Kuip snapping towels on each other and umpiring/know-it-all-ing enough to make Joe Morgan AND Cris Collinsworth blush.
walking runs in is no fun at all 😦
Needless to say, tough game.
No kidding nsblues – I am listening to them right now in the other room.
NSB — I'm going to one of the games that way I don't have to listen to them! You're like me. I would sit in my car & listen to the night games from Bakersfield on the radio.
Nelly — They are probably sounding like the Giants are in 1st and on their way to the series. All of their players are the best… that is according to them.
Nelly, I'm sorry 😦 . I've been annoying my girlfriend lately with my (terrible) Mike Krukow impression the past few weeks. I'm guessing by now she'd gladly put up with Steiner's yelling-every-line-drive instead of listening to those jokers.
D-Co, I learned that trick last year trying to find ESPN radio on the way home from work one night. I love Gameday Audio to death, but sometimes listening to Vin just isn't right without little pops and static in the background.
Thank goodness we got out of that nightmare inning. Let's go boys….you can do it!!!!
Good job Troncoso of cleaning up Mota's mess.
I'm sure Ramsfan will be happy to see Mota was in again tonight!
Good going Troncoso,
Com' on guys Let's Go.
Tough night for the kid. He's young and still trying to find his level of consistency. We should see less of nights like these as the season progresses. At least, we have the offense to come back….only 1 run. Come on, Dodgers!!!! Make Astro fans go "Ruh, Row"!!!!!
Even their fans think their the best team, and the Dodgers always suck of course. At least we admit when our team isn't doing well. I give us all credit for that!!! We love them, but we know when they play like crap too 🙂
Steiner also frustrates me. Every fly ball pop up is "hit deeeep,… hit a ton, way back… it's sailing… and caught just shy of the warning track." WTF!!! He get's me every time!
& the grab some pine meat. Can you imagine in saying that. I really hope those jokers don't get into a Hall of anything.
BOOM! WTG Manny!!!!!!
There 2 need 2 more.
Manny being Manny,
Another Manram Missile!!!!!!!! AND WE'RE WITHIN 2!!!!!!!
Not to brag about myself seeing that I didn't just hit that, but… here is my comment after they sort of popped off about Manny K'ing looking.
Manny may of "departed without comment" this ab but something tells me he will have something else to say tonight.
By firstname.lastname@example.com on April 21, 2009 6:56 PM
Let's go Dre. Keep it going.
That's what Manny does.
Behind 7-3, everybody sad and BOOM.
I've heard that Manny will, at times, sandbag an AB in order to make an impact later in a game.
That's better, thanks Manny 🙂
Steiner's yelling can be a bit annoying, I still like him, though. Ever since he was on ESPN, wearing glasses, goatee and a sweater vest, heheheh. Not that the yelling hasn't made me knock over a few glasses a little too close to my computer.
Yup Nelly… "Dodgers suck"! LMKO!!!! When they say that I remind them of their flags they have flying in RC field and respond in kind "yes we do".
I've met Steiner and he's a nice guy. I just wish he'd tone it down a little.
I to remember him on ESPN. Remember that famous video of him laughing uncontrollably? That was pretty funny.
My favorite Steinerism from his ESPN days was: "He's listed as day-to-day but, then again, aren't we all."
Nice job from Troncoso!
Isn't good to see Troncoso pitch good again?
He had some great moments on ESPN.
I meant to say Isn't it good?
Great clip, dcollins. Thanks.
Sky here is another one. Don't worry this will be the last.
oh oh someone going to be upset
No Shad… many ones will be upset!
This game isn't over yet.
Valverde is far from invinceable. He got roughed up his last time out.
You are correct Joe! Top of the order in the 9th.
Anyone know why Pierre batted for Casey?
I'd forgotten that classic Steinerism: Frances Scott Offkey!!!! LOL!!!!!
Our hole just got a little deeper….I was wondering the same thing about Pierre.
Do or Die.
Steiner has some great lines. He should use some while doing the games instead of yelling at fly balls.
It's rally time folks. Let's get some!! A comeback here would be very sweet and really telling.
Whose decision was it to hire Lyons and Collins as our TV announcers? They suck worse than ish thru a straw.
Nice going Raffy!
Atta boy Ferk. Way to put the pressure on them.
Let's go O-Dog!
Pierre batting for Troncoso.
Thanks Valverde! LMFAO!!!
…..And the stage is set for Manram!!!!!!
Hey there Obi. That's family there! Watch it!!!
Let's keep it going Manny!!!
Actually Tronocoso came in with Loretta in the double switch that took Blake out of the lineup since Mota spot was coming up 1st.
Oh baby that was close!!!!
Come on Dre! A hit's a run!
Pick him up, Andre!!!!!!
Sigh not first pitch swinging.
Thanks Shad. I missed that!
NP would it be nice for Loney to hit a grand slam in front of his family.
Way to go Dre.
Let's go James!
You can do it!!!
Nice try James. Not tonight.
For you at least. As Russ is going to keep breaking out!
Well, we can win them all can we?
Oh, well, tomorrow's another day.
No white flags. No complaints, 10-4.
They're getting it next game, though.
Oh well! Not tonight. The streak ends.
Time to start a new one tomorrow!!
It's not like we were going to run the table anyway!
Go Blue!!!!
Go lakers
Gave it a good try,
Exciting finish.
Manny just didn't get enough of it.
Everybody's afraid of Ethier.
The nice thing is even in this loss we were all knowing that it wasn't over. That is what has changed since last year.
I think the team knows it as well.
It did get interesting at the end, but I guess it wasn't meant to be extending the streak. Till tomorrow.
Good night all.
I with you, D collins………..we shall, start a new streak tomorrow! DODGER BLUE THROUGH & THROUGH
I was thinking the same thing oldbrooklynfan, but I am trying to keep my ethieraholicism under control 🙂 However, 3 walks in one night makes you wonder 🙂
Pods losing 5-2 to the Gnats.
Another streak starts tomorrow!!! Good night, all!!! Don't let the Gnat bugs bite!!!!!
They're scared of him Nellie.
You can say that again dcollins, we never lost hope.
That's the BIG difference.
Hey all. I was hoping they'd make a game of it at the end, but they'll get back on it tomorrow and start a new streak. Andre was seeing a lot of junk tonight. I'm glad he just took the walks and didn't swing at garbage pitches. He's really learned not to try and take what's not there.
Shad, the Lakers are looking good so far. They should take the game unless they have one of their 4th period letdowns.
Good Night seesky!!! I am immune to the gnat bugs 🙂
I think so too oldbrooklynfan, I really do, and it's a good feeling to have.
Yep surely didn't like that 9-0 run by the Jazz to closed by half time.
Yep surely didn't like that 9-0 run by the Jazz to closed by half time.
I am not a gnat fan (obviously), but I do like Matt Cain, and his team never plays well for him so I am hoping they can hang on and win this one for him. Not that I want any former Gnats, but if I had to pick one to get, it would be him. He would be great in our rotation.
I wish we can still Lincecum away from them lol. I think Lincecum deserve much better on a good team and could been a 25+ games winner last year lol.
They are about to offer Linsecum a pretty good contract from what I have been hearing.
That's right Joe!! I'm with you! GO DODGERS!!!!!
Good night Sky & Vl4.
One thing I've been doing since that great start in '05
…'05…..06……'07…..'08……. '09
Andre likes Matt Cain too, Nelly, lol. They do have some good pitchers on the Giants.
I had posted the original article the other night when Elijah Dukes had to sit out a game because he was 5 minutes late to National Park due to some charity work for the little league in Washington D.C. Well, the parents raised money to pay his fine. Now, THAT is something else.
I saw that Nelly. That was a huge mistake for the Nationals to do that. You would think they would of given him a break there. Especially with trying to get fans to the ball park. They are really making mistakes there aren't they.
They are making the McCourts look pretty good!
You'd think they would have cut him some slack considering the reason he was late. That's great that they paid his fine.
That's right bluecrewgirl!!! Andre likes Matt Cain very much – LOL!!!! He seems to like all Giants pitchers. He can even say that about Randy Johnson now too 🙂
What would be REALLY nice would be for the Natinals (as Adam Dunn's jersey said over the weekend) would be for the owners to pay it forward and give the little league free tix (field level) for a game, since working class people scrounged up money to pay for Acta's faux pas.
Of course, this is the MLB, where Baseball sues little league teams for using MLB team names (not logos, not colors, NAMES) without paying a licensing fee.
Point being: Bud Selig is a clueless, ego-blinded moron who "saves" the sport of baseball the same way Bizzaro "saves" the fake rock cities that Superman builds for him to keep Bizzaro from "saving" Metropolis.
There. I've said it. Now for Ice Cream!
….and you have said it very well too, if I might add.
I know it is the first night with the new announcer and Steve Lyons, but this is the most awful thing I have ever had to sit and listen to! So slow and boring. I can't believe what I am hearing. I know no one will compare to Vinny but what was that?
North, you're becoming one of my very, very favorite posters.
Thanks Nelly. I'm just saying. GREAT job by baseball for even letting these parents pay the fine. Or even allowing the fine in the first place.
That is why children these days grow up watching the NBA or NFL before MLB. Those two franchises are somewhat in touch with their audience (or as Mr. Krabs would say, their MONEY). Baseball, on the other hand, feels like the people who are running it, the Corporation AND the Player's Union, are COMPLETELY out of touch with the Everyday American.
Especially with the whole offseason mess I won't even get into. If Selig's word is solid on that and his lack-of-knowing-about-it, he should step down just based on the fact that The Commisioner of Baseball didn't know what was going on in HIS league.
Selig's take on that gives me an image of Grandpa Simpson yelling at the kids leave flaming bags of poo on his doorstep as the teenagers are turning donuts in his lawn and TPing his trees. And as he comes out and takes off his belt to shake it at them… his pants fall around his ankles.
He is pretty spectacular, isn't he?
I actually kind of like Steve and Charlie together on the tv games that Vin doesn't do. I know that Charlie makes mistakes, but at least he has personality and he and Steve are pretty funny together. That guy with Steve tonight had a nice sounding voice, but boring…..
Thanks Eric. It's stories like what went down with the Nats and Elijah Dukes that make me realize why 70-80% of the sports fans I know are talking about the NBA Playoffs or the NFL Draft right now. The disconnect is sickening.
Think I'll head out for a bit. If I'm not back, Have a Good Night, everyone!
…and here he shows up again with another fabulous post. If I didn't know you, I would think you were an English major who is one heck of a writer 🙂
Good night, northstate.
bluecrewgirl – I was watching through the eyes of the Astros announcers tonight, and they weren't Vin, but they had so many wonderful things to say about our team, I didn't mind listening to them. Even down to the last inning and last out, they made the mention about our lineup and saying how there is not going to be any easy outs when it comes to this lineup. It was a great thing to hear coming from an opposing team's announcers.
Good Night Northstateblues!!! Thanks for the thoughts…..just fabulous!!!!
Yes, it is great seeing the young guns getting so, much well-earned respect. I have very high hopes for this season. Just hope they don't let it go to their heads ):
Most of them "seem" very grounded already, but yes, let's hope it stays that way.
Yes, they do seem that way and I definitely hope they stay that way and keep appreciating the many loyal Dodger fans that have supported them from day one.
dodgereric – I guess Steve Garvey was at the tournament in Murrieta over the weekend. My sister-in-law said his son had switched teams and is was playing for a different team. His son had once played for my brother and has since been on several different teams trying to find the best fit for his son, I guess as the story goes. Anyhow, my sister-in-law showed up late, and wasn't there to see any of the other kids on the other teams in between games. If she would have known that, she would have told me. I guess she found out Sunday morning which team he was playing for. We were sitting a diamond away from him the entire afternoon and didn't know it…………………….that's was a bummer.
red pen, red pen, red pen………I am not an english major obviously – LOL!!!! Just know that I know they are there, but there are too many to correct. I would only confuse the matter if I tried to fix it 🙂
How old is son, Nelly? Btw, did you guys see how Jones is doing so far this season? Makes me made because he was so obviously completely out of shape when he was with the Dodgers and now he gets the wake up call and gets his act together after he practically stole money from the Dodgers. They should have tried to seek legal means to get out of paying him part of his salary. They named him the ***-hole of the week on Dodger Blues, lol.
That should say how old is HIS son.
Yes, he is doing pretty well considering how crappy he did for us. I am all for legal action. That's funny about the ******* of the week recognition.
They are playing in a 10 and under division so I am guessing 9 or 10.
If he has half of his dad's talent, he'll have a bright future. How is your son doing in baseball this year?
Well, he was supposed to be in a jv tournament Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, but he decided on Monday, a game he was pitching, to have an issue with an umpire, who, in Michael's defense, was horrible, but he got himself ejected from the game. Why Michael and not the coach because the coach just stood there like he always does and doesn't fight for any calls whatsoever. The team itself is having issues with this JV coach not really knowing what he is doing and even the normally calm guys are getting frustrated. So, needless to say, he hasn't played in a week. However, after this season, which will end in next week, he is being picked up for a Sunday, fastpitch league with his pitching coach. Then we move onto summer ball, which is where most of his training takes place because the travel team is better than the school team.
That sucks that the coach didn't have his back, but sounds like he has a lot of baseball talent in his own right. It must be fun to watch. I'd better hit the hay. I was off Friday and Monday and went back to work today. It was so hard. I could easily be retired. People that say they'd be bored being retired are crazy as far as I'm concerned. I'd find plenty to do. Say hi to Dodgereric for me if you talk to him. I never seem to be on at the same time he is anymore. Night Nelly.
Good Night bluecrewgirl – Well, he was here for one line, but then gone again. My guess is he is either having connectivity issues again like he did last night, or he is working on one of his famous spreadsheets for the scout troop.
Three of them actually. I worked on them after work and forgot to send them home to be updated tonight. So I had to duplicate all the stuff here that I did at work. That make any sense? I'm tired, so maybe not. Anyway, I got them all sent off now, so everyone's happy.
Too bad about not knowing The Garv was on the next field, Junie! But you've met him before, haven't you? Vegas?
I left for the meeting right after Kersh left the game (interesting time to take him out, BTW – one out into the inning with no one on and 86 pitches thrown.) I started the DVR when I left and watched the rest when I got home. All good things come to an end. Like dcollins said, it's good to know we're never out of it this year.
Well, it's In – И – Out for me. Good night one and all and may God Bless you one and all! Tomorrow we start a new streak!
Ward Dear………I guess it was me this time. I was watching the movie "Vantage Point" and must have fallen asleep somewhere towards the end of it. I woke up about 1:15ish, and I saw your post and thought I will just post in the morning instead. Plus, with another weekend away from home this weekend – LOL!!, I was trying to get ahead with cleaning and school work, and didn't get much of that done either once I fell asleep……………….Well some 🙂
Yes, you made sense.
Yes, I have met Steve Garvey before.
I am not sure why Kersh was taken out at the point either.


text:
The average bonus paid to securities industry employees in New York City grew 15% to $164,530 in 2013, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
Including both cash and deferred compensation, this is the largest average bonus paid out since the 2008 financial crisis and the third-highest on record. (The average bonus in '06 was $191,360; in '07, it was $177,830.)
"Wall Street navigated through some rough patches last year and had a profitable year in 2013. Securities industry employees took home significantly higher bonuses on average," said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, in a statement Wednesday. "Although profits were lower than the prior year, the industry still had a good year in 2013 despite costly legal settlements and higher interest rates. Wall Street continues to demonstrate resilience as it evolves in a changing regulatory environment."
In 2013, broker-dealers reported combined profits of $16.7 billion, 30% less than in 2012 ($23.9 billion) but still strong by historical standards. Some factors affecting profits include requirements for larger reserves, limits on proprietary trading and other changes intended to reduce unnecessary risk and to enhance transparency.
"In response to compensation reforms, firms now pay a smaller share of bonuses in the current year and a larger share is deferred to future years," the comptroller's office explained.
Due to these trends, the number of industry jobs in New York has not returned to its pre-crisis level: Some 165,200 employees worked in the securities industry last year, nearly 13% fewer than before the financial crisis.
Other industry trends highlighted by the controller include:
- Over the past two years, the bonus pool for securities industry staff has grown 44%, driven by compensation deferred from prior years;
- The average industry salary (with bonuses) was $360,700 in 2012, more than five times greater than the rest of the private sector ($69,200);
- The securities industry accounted for 22% of all private-sector wages paid in New York despite the fact that it represents only 5% of its private-sector jobs;
- New York City collected $3.8 billion in taxes in fiscal 2013 from activities directly attributed to the securities industry, nearly 27% more than in the prior year; the level was still about 11% less than before the crisis, but the securities industry accounted for 8.5 percent of the city's tax revenues last year
- The state of New York collected $10.3 billion in taxes attributed to the securities industry during the latest fiscal year, or about 16% of all state tax revenue, versus 20% at the prerecession peak.


text:
2. I have to admit I've been a little less of a Miss-I-Heart-The-Sabres-Pants and a LOT more of a Miss-Arms-Crossed-With-Disapproval-Pants this season than in past seasons. I don't feel guilty about this in the slightest, but I DO feel sorry for myself that it didn't even OCCUR to me to run down to the break room after our concert ended last night to watch OT and the shootout. In my defense, the BPO had a post-concert reception of cupcakes and champagne, so I had delicious treats on the brain. But regardless of the available desserts, it still surprised me when some of my hockey-loving colleagues showed up at the reception a few minutes late and asked, "WHERE WERE YOU?" My answer was, "What are you talking about? I was here, eating cupcakes! Where were YOU?!" It literally did not cross my mind to go downstairs and watch the end of the game. I was blinded by cupcakes, I think.
I'm sorry about that, because I think I really would've enjoyed the end of that game. Even the "On the Fly" highlights made my heart trill a little bit. I don't think I'll ever stop being surprised by how something as relatively minor as a single shootout victory in November can put a little spring back into my step.
Everything is just better when the Sabres win, you know? Let's win more!
3. It's awfully nice to know that even while wallowing in the depths of organizational despair, the Sabres are still capable of sticking it to the Leafs. We've still got it, baby! Just punch me in the face if I ever lose the ability to stop and smell the
humiliating Leafs defeat roses after a game like that.
4. This weekend the BPO played two concerts with a guest conductor named Leon Botstein. Botstein is an incredibly interesting person in that he's a college president (Bard college), and an accomplished conductor (Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra, and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra), and an all-around smarty-pants famous intellectual (you can see him playing the role of "intellectual" here on the Colbert Report). In addition to his fine conducting, the thing I enjoyed the most about him this week is that he manages to convey both a dazzling intelligence and a grounded friendliness. "Super-mega-smart" and "friendly" are two qualities which are rarely found in one person in my less-than-super-mega-smart opinion.
This afternoon Botstein did something that I'm not sure I've ever seen a conductor do in a performance. He turned around and addressed the audience between movements of the symphony (Prokofiev 3).
As many of you probably know, many classical pieces are composed in "movements" (meaning a larger work is divided into several smaller pieces). In most cases, symphonic movements are totally separate, stand alone works. At some point during fairly recent musical history (I want to say probably within the last 100 years) it became customary for the audience to hold their applause until all of the movements have been performed.
This custom has led to a weird and uncomfortable bit of classical music snobbery. Not every audience member knows the unwritten "no applause between movements" rule, so they'll applaud at the end of the first movement, but then they'll quickly stop as they realize that not everyone is clapping. Somehow, clapping has become "incorrect" at certain times during concerts. It's goofy. In my opinion (and if I may be so bold as to speak for most professional musicians), applause at the end of a movement is perfectly fine. I HATE that audience members are made to feel stupid for clapping. (Incidentally, in my opinion, the absolute BEST applause is the applause we periodically get when the audience is moved to clap in spite of the "no applause between movements" rule. Every once in a while you get the sense that the audience is just like, "That was sweet. I'm clapping, damn it." That's my favorite.)
Anyhooch, today we were playing Prokofiev 3, which is not performed very often, and could certainly be considered harsh (it's very loud) and less accessible than, say, a Beethoven symphony. After the first movement, there was a smattering of applause. Now, I have no idea if this applause was from people who didn't know NOT to applaud, or from people who just really liked the first movement and wanted to clap, but Botstein did something that I REALLY liked. First, he looked at the orchestra, raised his eyebrows and smiled. Then, he turned around to the audience and said, "We like that you liked it."
This was such a simple gesture to the audience, but one that felt very generous and almost impishly conspiratorial. The "no applause between movements" rule is…weird, and musicians DO like it when the audience likes what we play. If I could change one thing about the classical music business it might be to abolish the rigidity of the "no applause between movements" rule, and replace it with a "applaud if and only when you really like what you just heard" rule.
The performance today was an interesting end to a good week at work.
5. Sometimes it really trips me out that I have a job where I literally get a round of applause at the end of my work day. What kind of lucky girl am I?
6. Okay back to the Sabres for a second- How great was it that Enroth and Ennis were the heroes? I approved of Lindy playing Enroth against the Bruins and then I was skeptical when I heard he planned to play him again last night (shows what I know). It really does add a spark when a young guy comes up big in a tough situation. It will be interesting to see how Lindy handles Lalime and Enroth if Miller is still injured this week. The backup goalie situation seems fraught with hidden opportunity and pitfalls.
I don't undersatnd why Lalime was re-signed if Lindy has no faith in him, but I can't really blame Lindy for not having much faith in Laime. The whole thing is curious. I guess we'll see.


text:
Cambridge University Libraries Staff : Introduction to Lean Six Sigma (cancelled as not enough participants) New
The course is designed to give participants an overview of Lean six sigma thinking as applied within Higher Education, and an explanation of some of the basic tools used to improve business processes.
Cambridge University Library Staff
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Gain a basic understanding of the methodology used in process improvement
- Understand the logical sequence of steps that need to be taken to sustain improvement outcomes
- Participate in "hands on" group simulations to reinforce the course classroom content
- Explore the level of empowerment they have to make process changes
Classroom based with group work
Refreshments will be available in the breaks. A water cooler is available nearby to fill your own bottle. Please bring a notepad and pen.
One full day session
Events available