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Terrie's Take: Small & Medium J-Business, Tuna Econ., and Make Sex Not War!
Terrie's Take is a selection of Japan-centric news collected and collated by long-time resident and media business professional Terrie Lloyd. AkihabaraNews is pleased to present Terrie's learned perspective; we all could use another take on the news - here's Terrie's:
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Terrie's Take on May 12, 2014
- Silent 3rd Arrow to Target SMEs?
- 3D printed guns lead to arrest
- Confusing economics of tuna
- Yoshihiko Miyauchi to step down as Orix CEO
- Ecchi, not war
- Most LGBT kids get bullied
Silent 3rd Arrow to Target SMEs?
Here we are in mid-May and the yen is still sitting at the 101/102=US$1 mark and there is little to no news on those Abenomics third arrow reforms. It's no wonder, therefore, that the press is listening to every whisper that comes out of Kasumigaseki, trying to guess what the next move will be. The latest is that the proposed corporate tax cut may be accelerated and implemented as early as next year, providing Abe with a major PR opportunity.
While lower corporate taxes seems like a step in the right direction, one also needs to remember the reasons for doing so, being: 1) to encourage Japanese corporations to spend some of their near-record JPY222trn in cash reserves here in Japan, rather than overseas, and 2) to encourage foreign firms looking at Asia to set up in Japan rather than Hong Kong, Singapore, or Beijing.
On the first reason, we think it is obvious by now that the bulk of large Japanese exporters have long since moved their manufacturing operations overseas, and there is little reason for them to return capital to a failing market back home where an aging population is holding on to its assets and actively decreasing spending as its collective insecurities grow. This massive move abroad by corporations is probably the main reason that the 2013 devaluation of the yen had so little beneficial impact on the economy, because those who would have benefited from cheaper exports no longer need such help.
On the second point, even a tax rate of 30% is still unattractive when you have all kinds of other hidden costs in doing business in Japan -- ranging from annually increasing social insurance contribution costs (which, once they are handled by the Tax Office will amount to a "tax" anyway), through to the high cost of transport, storage, and real estate. In fact, compared to Hong Kong and Singapore, even a 30% tax rate will still be almost double. A TT reader suggested to us a few weeks ago that corporations don't make location decisions based on tax and that rather they look at proximity to markets. While we debate this wisdom, even if it were true, what is more desirable? Proximity to a massive but mature and declining market like Japan or a vibrant and rapidly growing one like those of Vietnam, Malaysia, or Indonesia? Singapore as a corporate hub looks even more attractive by that measure.
While pondering tax cuts, though, it struck us that EVEN IF the Abe government did reduce corporate taxes, it won't provide much benefit to the economy. Why? Because 73% of ALL Japanese companies last year lost money (didn't pay profits tax), and so tax breaks will be irrelevant to them. It is no coincidence that almost all of these 73% are SMEs, who employ more than 70% of the population. So if the tax breaks are not going to have the "trickle up" effect that the government is looking for in reinvigorating the economy perhaps this explains why the Abe government has dragged its feet in implementing them -- because they won't help anyone but the biggest players.
Actually, because so many companies are not paying tax there is another recommendation is doing the rounds -- one that will require ALL companies, not just profitable ones, to pay taxes for the right to operate. The thinking is that these new levies will offset losses from the proposed reduction in the profits tax, and will work like a consumption tax on companies, being based on capitalization and salaries. We don't know if this is such a good idea, because while initially it would indeed pump up the tax base by 300%, it would also cause SMEs to actively lay off workers to stay in business. Some economists say that more people released into the work force by such actions will be a good thing, but we doubt it if most of them are older, hard to re-train, and unsuited to a post-manufacturing economy.
So how to help the SMEs get the economy kickstarted again if tax cuts aren't the answer? We think there are hints of a solution to be seen, but they are messy and "morally hazardous" (i.e., unpalatable as PR), so we think they will happen quietly while media attention is focused on the banner announcements.
Last year, the government ended the debt moratorium for SMEs, a temporary law which allowed about 300,000-400,000 companies, almost all SMEs and about 20%-25% of all Japan's actively operating businesses, to survive by paying interest and no principal on their bank loans. Indeed, many companies have been paying little or no interest either. We, like a number of others, predicted that there would be a rash of SME bankruptcies as a result and that this would spike unemployment. But it didn't happen. Instead, bankruptcies actually decreased...
From what we can see, even though the legal requirement for banks to help SMEs survive was removed, the FSA has continued to "nudge" banks to stay soft on SME loans, and so nothing changed, yet. What this tells us is that the politicians, or at least the bureaucrats advising the politicians, are not stupid and realize they need to do something about SMEs if they really want bottom-up changes in the economy. We now believe that if you want to see how Abenomics might move forward, instead of looking at the top line announcements, keep an eye on the rule changes and new programs coming out for SMEs. In following this strategy, you will notice that there have been some interesting developments recently. 1) There is talk within government circles of changing the rules on the treatment of directors of companies that go out of business, which to us sounds like a trial balloon prior to a major policy change. If the directors of zombie companies were suddenly released from personal responsibility for the massive loans their companies have received over the years, they are more likely to consider shutting those companies down and starting over. Right now they look at bankruptcy court and see themselves committing social suicide, so they hang on as long as they can. 2) In just the last few weeks, a number of colleagues have reported to us that it has suddenly become much easier for small companies to get loans of JPY10MM-JPY20MM, even if they are not profitable -- just so long as they are paying their taxes.
Putting a substantial amount of easy new money in the hands of SMEs makes sense although it is distasteful. These companies have historically proven they know how to spend. Yes, such moves will present a moral hazard and it will likely draw droves of Yakuza and other fringe-dwellers as well. But nonetheless, it will at least ensure that those who employ the bulk of Japan's workers will be sharing their newfound luck and for some of them they will actually reinvest and change their business for the better. What is the alternative? Throwing money through tax cuts at large companies who are already sitting on a JPY222trn pile of frozen cash? We don't think so. Piles of money don't vote, people working for SMEs do.
3D printed guns lead to arrest
If you have a 3D printer, the last thing you want to do is go around boasting on Twitter that you are using it to make plastic guns. Yet this is what a 27-year old Kanagawa-ken university employee did recently and as a result his apartment was raided by the police and he was arrested. The police said that of the five plastic guns seized, two were apparently functional and dangerous. This is the first instance in Japan of someone being arrested for creating weapons from web-based plans and a 3D printer. (Source: TT commentary from theguardian.com, May 8, 2014)
Confusing economics of tuna
What happens when a commodity becomes expensive because of the falling yen? It drops 50% in price...?! This is what has happened to the price of frozen bonito tuna, which after selling for more than US$2,300/ton in 2013 now sells for just US$1,200/ton in 2014, mainly because of slumping demand in Japan due to the high prices. Apparently the high prices last year were caused by a lower supply of tuna due to a poor fishing season, versus a much better season this year. Still, these extreme price fluctuations demonstrate that not only is the Japanese market an important one in the trade, but that Japanese consumers are very willing to abstain from a product that they feel is too expensive -- yen devaluation or not. ***Ed: Exporters of Bonito from Thailand are hoping that this is the bottom of the price-demand cycle, and that prices (and demand) will improve again next year. We presume it depends on what the Yen is worth at that time.** (Source: TT commentary from asia.nikkei.com, May 7, 2014)
Yoshihiko Miyauchi to step down as Orix CEO
An iconic business figure is about to leave the stage. Yoshihiko Miyauchi, the CEO of finance company Orix, will step down after more than 30 years in the job. Miyauchi co-established Orix back in 1964 and has since built the business into JPY1trn of revenues and an expected profit of JPY210bn this fiscal year. He is leaving after having groomed his 61-year old successor, Makoto Inoue, and putting into place a number of foreign mega deals to keep his team busy for the next few years. (Source: TT commentary from bloomberg.com, May 8, 2014)
Ecchi, not war
Ever heard of the "Senso Rabu na Otoko towa Ecchi Shinai Onna no Kai"? You probably will over the next few days, as this new women's group presses forward with its campaign to have its female members deny sexual relations with male partners who support Japan's right-turn on weapons exports. Their target apparently includes husbands and boyfriends who work for companies involved with weapons exports as well as those who simply support the policy. ***Ed: OK, so apparently this women's group had only one member when the Japan Times interviewed them, but the idea is catchy enough that we imagine it is drawing in new recruits. Certainly the foreign media will lap it up -- good click bait.** (Source: TT commentary from japantimes.co.jp, May 9, 2014)
Most LGBT kids get bullied
Perhaps it's not surprising, but a new LGBT study has found that 70% of kids who are gay or otherwise are bullied by their schoolmates, and that 32% of them have considered committing suicide. The bullying included 53% being verbally abused, 20% being physically bullied, and 11% being sexually abused. The problem appears to be systemic, as the study also found that 12% of the surveyed kids reported that the bullying came from the teachers themselves. ***Ed: Depressing...** (Source: TT commentary from pinknews.co.uk, May 8, 2014)
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That was Terrie's Take.
What's yours? Let us know down below.


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THE wife of a former KPMG director accused of fiddling £44,000 in expenses to fund his gambling habit has defended her husband.
Brian Chapman, 55, is on trial at the Old Bailey for double-claiming for hotels and flights as well as pocketing refunds for cancelled flights between 2007 and 2011.
Mr Chapman, who commuted from Scotland to London, racked up £94,000 in credit card debts by 2011, the court heard. But his wife Margaret said that she was unconcerned about his gambling habit and unaware of the full extent of his debts.
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The part-time supply teacher said she had never considered her husband to be dishonest, adding: "We have been married for 23 years. I know him very well."
On his gambling, she said: "I was quite happy. I did not think it was a problem. I thought it was under control."
Under cross-examination, Mrs Chapman said her husband had never told her there were any serious money troubles. When pressed, Mrs Chapman recalled one occasion when she had seen their mortgage repayments had bounced.
Mr Lodge went on: "You were aware of Brian's gambling or betting. What was the maximum he would bet? She said: "It varies."
Mr Chapman, of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, denies fraud.
The trial was adjourned until Monday.


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MSN Nursing Education Specialty Courses
GNED 507 Foundations in Education Theory for Professional Practice Disciplines - 3 credits
Prerequisite: MSN Core Courses
This course examines contemporary challenges and issues in teaching within a practice discipline and guides participants in an exploration of nursing education. The application of traditional educational theory to practice disciplines will be explored in conjunction with current philosophical and pedagogical perspectives. Innovative methods in applying emerging empirically informed education theory will support student formulation of an informed working personal philosophy of education as a foundation for practice as a nursing faculty member.
GNED 522 Innovative Curriculum Design and Evaluation - 3 credits
The examination of curriculum models in nursing education will provide the framework for the analysis and evaluation of approaches to organizing learning experiences into a total program of study. Attention will be directed at the processes used to create an innovative curriculum which reflects professional priorities, societal trends, and institutional philosophies. The limited evidence base for curriculum will be explored, as well as approaches to program evaluation, including accreditation.
GNED 531 Advanced Clinical Nursing - 3 credits
Prerequisite: MSN Core Courses
This clinical course engages the student in the development of advanced clinical nursing knowledge in a defined area of practice that complements his/her current competencies as professional nurses. Ongoing development is sought in this defined area to cultivate higher levels of clinical judgment and inquiry, advocacy/moral agency, response to diversity, collaboration and systems thinking to strengthen his/her future practice as a nurse educator and facilitator of learning across settings and populations.
GNED 532 Emerging Trends and Innovations in the Teaching of Nursing - 3 credits
Prerequisite: MSN Core Courses
This course is designed to engage the student in understanding the essentials for success as nurse educators in the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative educational programming to enhance student success in the acquisition of knowledge, application in practice, and development in professional nursing roles. Students will acquire a knowledge base supported by theoretical principles in their learning of a variety of teaching strategies with practical application in the teaching of nursing. Learning experiences will be designed for classroom and clinical settings as well as for the virtual environments of college lab, simulation, and online learning. Special emphasis will be paid to engaging students in the use of innovations in the teaching of nursing.
GNED 533 Nursing Faculty Role Practicum - 3 credits
Prerequisite: GNED 531 Advanced Clinical Nursing and completion of all basic role practicum requirements
This course provides the opportunity for the student to cultivate selected nursing faculty competencies in an academic or clinical practice setting under the guidance of a faculty member and a nurse educator who serves as the preceptor. Students explore the mission and philosophy of their learning context and explore its applicability to the design of learning experiences for students, nurses, or patients in that setting.
GNED 534 The Legal Environment for the Practice of Nursing Education - 3 credits
Prerequisite: MSN Core Courses
This course will use a case-based approach to examine the multitude of legal and ethical issues that confront the contemporary nursing faculty member in the classroom, in clinical, and in their professional role as a faculty member. The course will also address issues confronted by academic nursing administrators -directors, department chairs, associate deans and deans. The course will begin with an introduction to the legal process and how legal cases are retrieved and cited in the literature. The course will examine such concepts as 'due process' and how it is operationalized in higher education. The role of a university-based attorney as a consultant in clinical education programs will also be addressed. Using a case-based method, various scenarios will be analyzed within a legal and ethical framework.


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Back to the Future
By Chris Kostman
Minutes before the start, the four racers in the 1982 Great American Bike Race eagerly awaited the biggest challenge of their lives. They didn't know what to expect. No one did. This was the first non-stop bicycle race across the United States and the four men would race 2,876 miles from the Santa Monica Pier to the Empire State Building in New York City. All four competitors would finish. ABC Wide World of Sports would tell this story to millions of viewers. "Ultra cycling" became a new sport and the world as we know it was officially underway. Within a year, legions of cyclists were inspired to become "ultra cyclists" and new races were created to develop the sport, including the John Marino Open, the predecessor to Furnace Creek 508.
I began cycling in February of 1982, inspired by Sheldon Jackson, a schoolteacher colleague of my parents who had bicycle toured across America the previous summer. He had regaled us with his cycling stories shortly after my parents, brother, and I had returned from a one-year sabbatical involving 25,000 miles of road tripping through 20-some countries in Europe and Egypt. Having skipped the eighth grade to learn about the world up close and personal, I dreamed of seeing more of the world under my own power. Only 14 and therefore without a driver's license, my bicycle gave me the freedom to roam, and to head for any horizon which intrigued me. My first ride, the day after I bought my dream bike (a copy of Sheldon's), was 50 miles to Mt. Baldy and back from my hometown of Glendora, CA.
I also subscribed to Bicycling Magazine and began reading about these four god-men who would be bicycle racing across America that summer. One day the phone rang and another of my parents' colleagues, Wayne Hysen, wanted to know if I "had ever heard of Lon Haldeman." I had just read all about him and the other Great American Bike Race competitors - John Howard, Michael Shermer, and John Marino - so I answered in the affirmative. Wayne said, "Well, I'm from Illinois, so when I heard about Lon attempting this race across America, I invited him and his support team to base out of our house before the race in June. Do you want to meet him?" I sure did!
Standing in the foyer of the Hysens' home that August, I looked up at this towering giant of a man with dark brown tree trunk legs, asked him for his autograph, and told him I was going to do that bicycle race across America some day, "maybe when I'm 25!" That seemed so far away, such an "old age." I was only 15, and Lon, though he seemed like such a grown man to me, was just 23.
Lon would win the race that summer and I was absolutely mesmerized by the TV coverage of the race. Lon would also win again, with the race rechristened "Race Across America," in 1983. I had been there at the starting line that year, and had followed along - by car - for the first hundred miles or so. I knew I would do that race some day; there was no doubt.
Cycling events were few and far between back then and most of us enthusiasts entered any cycling event we could find, whether a criterium, a century, a road race, a bicycle rally, a time trial, or one of those rare and illusive events which so few had ridden, a "double century." I'd ridden my first double at age 16 that year, still riding in racquetball shoes as I had not yet painted my parents' house to pay for my first pair of Sidi bike shoes. Now, somehow, I had come up with the idea of riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles, non-stop, against the clock, to set a record, and, more importantly, to become - like my idols - an ultra cyclist.
Columbus Day, 1983 I was in Santa Barbara to compete in a criterium. I saw John Marino across a parking lot, running a Race Across America booth at the event's bike expo. I literally sprinted across the lot to meet this living legend. He had come in fourth out of four in the inaugural race, but nobody had suffered more. And what's more, it was his vision which had created the race in the first place, the natural progression for a man who had thrice ridden against the clock - but against no other competitors - to challenge the Guinness World Record for trans-America riding. Twice he had been successful. With those efforts under his belt, he had created a race to provide others with the same opportunity to do what I much later came to describe as "exploring the inner and outer universes."
I told John that I wanted to become an ultra cyclist and to ride from SF to LA against the clock, setting a record. He seemed curious and wrote his home phone number on the back of his Race Across America business card, offering to advise me. Not an hour later, I met Michael Shermer, who was there to compete, and he said he'd help me, too. Now I had a mission: to drum up sponsors, solicit media coverage, organize my crew, and train like a real cyclist. John helped me prepare a press release and got me into the industry-only bike show to solicit support. Shermer introduced me to potential sponsors and put the good word in for me. Lon kept letting me hang out with his support team each summer before the race and even let me lead him on training rides in the Glendora area. (When my friends saw me out on the road with him, I became a superhero in their eyes!)
By early 1984, at age 16 and 17, I was lining up to race alongside Marino, Shermer, John Howard and others in 200km, 300km, and 400km "RAAM Building Races" known as brevets. Then that April 17-18, I rode the 472 miles from SF to LA in 31 hours, 13 minutes, setting the first ever record in the process. It was broken a week later, turning the fire inside me into a bonfire. A month later, Marino asked me to work on his race staff at the John Marino Open. I had a blast doing that, wanting to impress my mentors and idols, while watching a new crop of racers tackle the 715-mile race. Many of them, aware of my recent SF-LA record, asked me why I wasn't racing with them. I was astounded; I didn't think I was in their league. (And I surely never would have guessed that I would take over the leadership of the race just six years later.)
A year later, there I was, lining up at the start of the 1985 John Marino Open, just a few weeks before graduating from high school, and fresh off getting "my" SF-LA record back, with a time of 22 hours, 38 minutes over the 429-mile route. The top twelve at this "JMO" would qualify for the 1985 Race Across America. I managed to tie for 12th, moving from behind to ahead of much of the field by simply never giving up, something I had learned from watching the four founding fathers do so on television just three summers prior.
I was getting ready to go off to college at U.C. Berkeley, so racing across America was the furthest thing from my mind, but Marino invited me to join his Race Across America race staff. It would be my first road trip without my parents. I was just 18 and would have a front row seat to the dramatic, dark duel between Michael Secrest, the first new ultra superstar to challenge the founding four, and Jonathan Boyer, the first American to race in the Tour de France, a true pro cyclist trying his hand at this new type of bicycle racing.
It was an absolutely pivotal nine days on the road and laid the final bricks in the foundation upon which my life, purpose, and career would be based. Within two years I would also be a finisher of the Race Across America, the youngest so far at age 20. My college studies in archaeology would continue, but there was no doubt I would be an entrepreneur with a focus on human potential and that I would continue to compete as an ultra athlete for a lifetime.
This spring, 29 years after that original Great American Bike Race, I pitched Marino on the idea of the four founding fathers competing together as a four-man team in Furnace Creek 508, a race I have organized since he turned it over to me 21 years ago. Marino loved the idea and pitched it to Shermer. He figured he could just squeeze it into his schedule as the head of the Skeptics Society. Amazingly, Haldeman and Howard also both agreed. Lon would fly in for the race just hours after finishing leading one of his transcontinental PAC Tour events. Howard would make it happen between coaching engagements and setting more national or world records in one form of competitive cycling or another. They've all been training like crazy and making plans via email and cell phone.
It will be an absolute honor to share the roads with all 223 competitors in this year's race, along with all the support crews, and the absolutely amazing race staff. None of us would be here if it weren't for the vision, and pure sense of adventure, that Lon Haldeman, John Howard, Michael Shermer, and John Marino all displayed during the summer of 1982. After inspiring me on my own ultra path - as a competitor, as an event promoter, and as a human being - I am absolutely ecstatic to have them compete in this year's 508. I am equally humbled, for I can think of no greater tip of the hat for my idols to offer than to enter this race which I love so much and which they begat. And for everyone in the race this year, I offer the solemn observation that you never know who YOU are going to inspire with your own efforts "out there" on the fabled Furnace Creek 508 race course. May we all roll so well and for so long as the founding four have done, and do.
Life has come full circle.
- Chris Kostman, Oak Park, CA
New Kid on the Rock
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2013 reaches its most northerly point in Copenhagen
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Jossi Wells Takes Silver at X Games Video
Friday, 22 March 2013
World's Best Adventurers Lining up For This Weekends Orion Health GODZone Adventure
Thursday, 7 March 2013
New Zealand's Gate claims track cycling world title
Monday, 25 February 2013
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Bryan Sprang poured in 38 points as the Irondale Knights thumped the Rogers Royals 90-75 on Tuesday evening in Robbinsale.
It was the seventh time this year that Sprang, a 6-3 senior, has scored in the 30's. His high is 39.
Derek Sprang added 12 points and Marcus Carrigan 10 for the Knights (11-6).
Rory Donovan led Rogers with 24 points. Trevor Morlock added 14 and Michael Schreiber 13 for the Royals (11-50.
Rogers will play at Becker on Friday.


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ALBANY, N.Y. — Days after signing harsher penalties for distracted driving into law, Governor Cuomo has unveiled new methods to catch violators, and that includes having state troopers on patrol in unmarked SUV's.
The governor's office says those undercover SUV's are higher off the ground, giving troopers a better chance to look down at drivers, and they will even come in a variety of colors to better blend in with traffic.
Cuomo admits the efforts may sound harsh, but he says it's all part of changing the culture of drivers using phones and other devices behind the wheel.
"Enforcement works. It's not pleasant, but enforcement works," he said.
The new distracted driving laws raise violations from three to five points on drivers licenses and increases suspensions for newer drivers who are caught. A second offense within six months will revoke a probationary license for six months and a junior license for 60 days.


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As the weather turns from warm to crisp, sometimes in the same day, these BabyLegs arm- and leg-warmers are a fun and easy way to add extra layers to your grandchild's fall clothes. As the name suggests, use them as baby leg warmers, but the stretchy, cotton fabric fits much bigger kids' limbs, as well. We like the Rainbow and Argyle styles, pictured here.
How well do you get along with your grandchild and other family members? Want to know if your personalities mesh?Find out here.


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Creator Chronicles: How Creators Is Helping Jared Gregory Prepare For His Future
In our last Creator Chronicles, told us how his accidental discovery of creators.co allowed him flourish as a writer by finding his voice with an active new audience.
Today we'd like to introduce you to , a young man from the United Kingdom with future aspirations of becoming a lecturer. As a Creator, Jared has learned how to voice his opinions, take on constructive criticism and collaborate with the community to take on new ideas – things that will no doubt serve him well in academia one day. While Jared is still relatively new to the platform, he's already found an interactive audience and a supportive community of fellow writers on Creators.
Say hello to Jared!
Whatever it is you're passionate about, there's a community of like-minded people here that care about what you have to say. Just starting out on your writing journey? Not to worry! Our will equip you with all the necessary tools to be a successful online writer. Once you've finished the course, you can also apply to become a and get paid for writing about the things you love.


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Soccernet Quiniela - Week 5 - News storm
What a loaded week! In just five days, La Liga presented us with managers being fired, managers being hired, a Golden Boot trophy winner, the surprising dismissal of a club President and the shocking realisation that a €96 million player can also feel anxiety. We need to understand how this news storm impacts our bets. With no further ado, let's start.
As usual, it's '1' for a home win, 'X' for a draw and '2' for an away win.
1. Zaragoza (20th) - Sporting de Gijón (17th): X.
The weekend opener is a top-class encounter. Ok, ok, not really. Bottom of the table Zaragoza haven't been able to score for three consecutive matches, since Malaga defeated them 5-3 at La Romareda. Their lack of offensive talent was apparent at the Calderon last weekend, when they failed to create a single chance to draw the match despite having played against a ten-man Atletico Madrid for a good half hour. On top of that, under-fire coach Jose Aurelio Gay will miss three starters: keeper Leo Franco, midfielder Edmilson and defender Jarosik, all of them injured.
Sounds like the perfect opportunity for fellow strugglers Sporting to get a result away from El Molinon, only the sportinguistas can't hide their own scoring vows: no goals in two trips. Can you feel the dizzying smell of stalemate coming your way?
2. Real Sociedad (16th) - Espanyol (6th): 1.
Things get warmer here, a bit emotional even, as Raul Tamudo plays against his lifelong team, Espanyol. The skilled striker spent 14 seasons and scored 129 goals for Espanyol, but now this cruel job demands him to apply that same medicine on his beloved periquitos to help Real Sociedad. The home team desperately need a result after three consecutive defeats, or else Phil Ball will have to start using the word 'crisis' when referring to los donostiarras.
Espanyol just renewed manager Mauricio Pochettino's contract until 2012. His tenure so far has been characterised by his ability to run a tight ship, bravely defending home-field advantage and very rarely getting points away from home. Therefore, he'll probably wait until their next match at Cornella to celebrate his new contract with a victory.
3. Valencia (1st) - Athletic de Bilbao (9th): X.
One of the most interesting subplots at these early stages of the calendar: Are Valencia for real? On Wednesday, they suffered their first defeat of the season at home, at the cruel hands of Manchester United, in a match in which Los Che deserved more. Despite their slip up, the squad looked consistent enough against a top-class rival, but they'll have to learn how to finish off matches against serious opposition. And I still have my doubts about Unai Emery's ability to run the show under pressure.
On Sunday they'll host a hungry, rested and undefeated - in their two trips so far - Athletic at Mestalla. Serious enough opposition indeed. Valencia will drop two points, therefore losing the top spot.
4. Sevilla (7th) - Atlético de Madrid (5th): 1.
Ladies and gentlemen, phenomenal news: the great Gregorio Manzano is back! El professor accepted Sevilla's offer, and will therefore manage the most talented group of players he's ever had.
Until now, Mr Manzano made a habit of turning average teams into extremely sound squads, with an added bonus that some of the players that shined under him were never as effective under others. Even though he coached Atletico Madrid seven seasons ago, the current Sevilla squad are indeed superior. He's got a great chance to test his own ceiling.
The team gave him a warm welcome, showing no love lost for the lean, Quixotic figure of cousin Antonio. His positive start with a 1-0 away win at Dortmund for the Europa League will help Manzano to get the full support of the Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday, a comforting feeling for the Sevilla players after a convoluted six months.
Despite the return of classy full-back Filipe Luis, Atletico have noticeably decreased their rhythm. With Kun Aguero still injured, Diego Forlan thinking of the FIFA Player of the Year award, and manager Quique Sanchez rotating players right, left and centre, the rojiblancos lost some of their killer instinct. They should be easy prey for this new Sevilla.
5. Getafe (10th) - Hercules (8th): 2.
I can't get figure out Getafe. They've been awfully inconsistent so far, as their lacklustre Europa League display against Young Boys proved on Thursday night. The fact is, they've played two consecutive away matches and we already know what that means with the middle class teams: letdown game.
My friend and Real Madrid supporter, Jesus, keeps asking me the following question: 'Would Hercules be interested in trading David Trezeguet for Gonzalo Higuain?' Answers in the comments section, please.
6. Villarreal (2nd) - Racing de Santander (15th): 1.
Villarreal have decided to play football, which can't be bad news. Four consecutive wins, Rossi and Nilmar on target, Santi Cazorla looking like his old self, and even the surprising Ecuadorian Jefferson Montero making an impressive cameo against Brugge. They could finish the weekend at the top of the table.
7. Almería (13th) - Malaga (12th): 2.
Malaga will satisfy all your scoring desires. In five matches, they have 11 goals to their name, and have suffered another 11. This guarantees over four celebrations per match, a great average regardless whether you root for or against them.
Los malacitanos are only dangerous away from their La Rosaleda stadium, while their hosts on Sunday haven't won at home yet. Lillo's Almeria have started to suffer from the same syndrome that Sevilla experienced under Alvarez: when the manager's decisions are questioned non-stop, there can't be a worse place to play your matches than your own stadium. We'll witness another instance of this unwritten rule on Sunday evening.
8. Osasuna (14th) - Levante (18th): 1.
If you had to give your opinion on Osasuna's shape just by listening to their players and manager, you would say they're leading the league. ''Our team played great'', Camacho said after their defeat at Cornella. ''We all have great vibes about this season,'' said player Josetxo during the week.
Well, at the 14th spot things are far from ideal, but los navarros still know how to fight for three points at home. Despite their recent improvement, Levante should help them to keep all that good stuff going on in their dressing room.
9. Barcelona (3rd) - Mallorca (11th): 1.
What are the chances of Mallorca pulling a Hercules on us and getting a positive result at the Camp Nou? Slim, very slim. Slim as in Kate Moss slim.
Los mallorquines have been defeated twice in two away matches this season, and it took them seven months to win their first away from Son Moix last year. Their record at the cules' stadium: won three, drawn six, lost 15. And to add insult to a lighter than expected injury, Golden Boot winner Lionel Messi played half an hour against Barcelona's bogey team, Rubin Kazan, and looked totally recovered from Tomas Ujfalusi's tackle.
And if you thought Mallorca's struggle to recover from their financial trouble was enough off the pitch distraction for the squad, their President, Josep Pons, was fired this week as the Board 'lost their trust' in him. The reason? A sexual harassment lawsuit from a former employee at the Spanish embassy in Austria, where Senor Pons was Ambassador.
10. Real Madrid (4th) - Deportivo de La Coruña (19th): 1.
Some say 'numbers don't lie', while others believe statistics to be the best way to misrepresent facts. Judge for yourself: Real Madrid have shot 159 times, scoring only nine in their seven official matches this season - numbers courtesy of Marca. It took the €96 million Cristiano Ronaldo 58 attempts to score only once, and it was from the penalty spot. On Tuesday, the Portuguese star left Auxerre's stadium quite frustrated: ''Anxiety, [insert expletive]-ing anxiety. I don't want to talk'', he mumbled to the media.
But while it seems safe to say that Real Madrid are undergoing a scoring slump, the ironic thing is, poor Deportivo would kill for those numbers. The coruneses haven't managed to score in four of their five matches so far, hardly the best circumstances to revive the Centenariazo at the Bernabeu…
Use this easy 'Copy and Paste' summary to write your own Quiniela and share it with us in the 'Comments' section.
1. Zaragoza (20th) - Sporting de Gijón (17th): X.
2. Real Sociedad (16th) - Espanyol (6th): 1.
3. Valencia (1st) - Athletic de Bilbao (9th): X.
4. Sevilla (7th) - Atlético de Madrid (5th): 1.
5. Getafe (10th) - Hércules (8th): 2.
6. Villarreal (2nd) - Racing de Santander (15th): 1.
7. Almería (13th) - Malaga (12th): 2.
8. Osasuna (14th) - Levante (18th): 1.
9. Barcelona (3rd) - Mallorca (11th): 1.
10. Real Madrid (4th) - Deportivo de La Coruña (19th): 1.
Last week: 5/10 (50%)
Season: 21/40 (52%)
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pgsql(at)mohawksoft(dot)com wrote: > > Another thing that is troubling is that more exotic types do not seem to > be supported at all. For instance, in my example I used uuid, and if one > substitutes "uuid()" for "text()" that doesn't work. > > text() is an XPath function, with well defined semantics that have no relation at all to types in a PostgreSQL sense. uuid() of course has no meaning in an XPath expression. cheers andrew
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NEW YORK (Jun. 19)
The first visit of Moscow Chief Rabbi Yehuda Leib Levin to the United States today evoked expressions of regret from Jewish organizations that he was apparently being used by Soviet authorities to gloss over mistreatment of Soviet Jewry and fresh demands for action to alleviate their plight. Rabbi Levin, here since Monday, accompanied by Cantor David Stiskin of Leningrad, is touring the United States as a guest of the anti-Zionist American Council for Judaism.
The American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry said in a statement that "we are saddened" that Rabbi Levin "has been obliged to place a fine gloss over the real and tragic plight of Soviet Jewry. We understand the difficulties under which he is speaking and appreciate the sad role he must play." The statement added that it was the wish of the Conference that Rabbi Levin "could report to us that official Soviet policy no longer stands in the way of the creation of religious, educational, communal and cultural institutions vital to the continuity of Jewish life" In the Soviet Union, and that he could also report that Soviet Jews "were actually permitted to enjoy the same communal rights accorded other religious and ethnic groups in the Soviet Union." However, the statement added, "we know that he cannot, apart from citing a few isolated tokens of Jewish life that only emphasize the denial and the need."
Similar reactions were expressed at the 79th annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, meeting in Boston. Rabbi Jacob Weinstein of Chicago, past president of the association of Reform rabbis, told the convention that while he felt compassion for Rabbi Levin, he believed that the rabbi was being "forced to serve a nefarious role by the Soviet Government, whose attitudes toward Jewry and Judaism become less and less different than that of the Czarist regimes." He recalled that in the summer of 1966, he led a delegation of 22 Reform rabbis on a visit to the Soviet Union and that, in Moscow, one of Rabbi Levin's congregants had told the delegation that Rabbi Levin "speaks with lips of danger and, therefore, one should make the proper deductions from his comments."
Rabbi Weinstein rejected arguments that Rabbi Levin was not aware that his visit to the United States was serving Soviet propaganda objectives, particularly since sponsorship was provided by the Council for Judaism, which Rabbi Weinstein called "a prickly minority organization" which had "long attempted to draw an invidious distinction between Judaism and Zionism." He added that the Soviet rulers now were using the same argument "to justify" their "ominous pro-Arab role in the Middle East" and to "oppress its Jewish citizens under the guise of fighting Zionist imperialism.
Council for Judaism officials maintain they had no political motive for sponsoring the visit and that the Council was merely serving as "advisory and protocol host." The anti-Zionist agency is paying the Soviet Jewish delegation's bills here. A Council spokesman, who spent yesterday with Rabbi Levin, said that the Moscow religious leader maintained, in response to a question during an interview taped for television, that Soviet Jews suffered no special restrictions in the Soviet Union and that such limitations as are imposed are similarly felt by other religious groups.
Most of the visitors to the Essex House suite here of the rabbi and the cantor showed uneasiness in asking questions about the status of Jews in Russia but New York press and television reporters were less inhibited in asking him whether there really was anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union. He regularly replies that he is "surprised" that "this is the principal question." adding that "there is no expression or feeling of anti-Semitism in Russia" and that the charge "is just one of the weapons in the cold war." Asked whether he hoped or intended to visit Israel, Rabbi Levin showed distress and waved the question aside. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he hoped to learn "everything" about the life of American Jews which he called the basis for his visit.


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Arizona Biography
A vast alphabetical collection of biographical information concerning the early settlers of Arizona is Carl Hayden, Carl Hayden Biographical Files, ca. 1825-1927 (Tempe, Arizona: Arizona State University, 19–?; FHL films 1000464-78). This is at the Hayden Library of Arizona State University at Tempe and at the Family History Library. Internet: http://www.asu.edu/lib/libraries/hayden/
Two representative biographical encyclopedias for Arizona are:
Portrait and Biographical Record of Arizona. Chicago, Illinois: Chapman Publishing Company, 1901. (FHL film 934828.) Has a separately published index (FHL film 1321068 item 11).
Conners, Jo. Who's Who in Arizona. Tucson, Arizona: S.n., 1913. (FHL book 979.1 D3c; film 934828 item 2.)
A biographical index to several statewide and regional histories of Arizona is Marvin E. Wiggins, Mormons and Their Neighbors: An Index of Over 75,000 Biographical Sketches from 1820 to the Present, Two Volumes. (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1984; FHL book 978 D32w).
Web Sites


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STOCKHOLM (Jul. 29)
A threat that Holland will be made "Judenrein" by the middle of next year is contained in the "Storm Weekbled Der Nederlandsche S.S.," which was received here today.
The organ of the Dutch Elite Guard, which is published in Amsterdam, states that "in the future the transfer of Jews Eastward will be carried out at such a rate that not a single Jew will be left in Holland by June 1, 1943. According to reports reaching here last week, Jews are now being deported from the Netherlands to Poland at the rate of 600 daily.


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Edit Article
wikiHow to Play Bubble Tanks 3
Bubble Tanks 3 is a shooting-style bubble flash game free for anyone to play online. The game's main objective is to grow the bubble to maximum capacity and use the rival bubbles to instigate the growth. It is a very fun game and very easy to play; in fact, the controls are quite simple.
1Launch the game. Click Continue to get started.
2Choose from the different Tank options. Click Play to get started.
3Start shooting your rivals. You proceed in the game by shooting the rival bubbles, completing a bubble field and jumping to the next bubble.
4Avoid taking damage as it reduces your life levels. Collecting bubbles will restore lost life.
5Learn how to move. To move Up, Down, Left and Right, press W, S, A, D keys respectively (the keys are changeable).
6Learn how to shoot. For your primary weapon, use the Mouse to aim and then right click to shoot.
7Press the spacebar to fire your secondary weapon.
8Pause the game by pressing P.
Community Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters leftSubmit
If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know.
- Collecting bubbles will restore lost life.
- Avoid taking damage, as they will cost you life.
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Categories: Flash and Java Games
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It has been quiet around here today because I've been focused on getting the word out about the new Mississippi Atheists blog I'm working on. Since it will be a team blog, I don't expect it to take away from what I'm doing here. Of course, I do need to get a few more authors lined up because I'd like to have atheist voices from across the state represented. I'm also pleased to discover that there are more atheist groups in the state than I realized. Hopefully, I can help my fellow atheists in Mississippi by making them a bit easier to find. I figured it was time for me to do something about fostering community among atheists rather than just talking about it.
Tags: Mississippi atheists, Mississippi, atheism, atheist, blog


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JUDY WOODRUFF: And to the analysis of Shields and Brooks. That is syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks.
Welcome, gentlemen.
MARK SHIELDS: Judy.
JUDY WOODRUFF: So, we just heard the professor say, Mark, whoever wins Ohio is going to win the election. Is that how you see it?
MARK SHIELDS: I never argue with a tenured professor.
MARK SHIELDS: No, I think he's absolutely right.
JUDY WOODRUFF: What do you think, David?
DAVID BROOKS: I often argue with tenured professors. But this one happens to have stumbled upon the truth.
DAVID BROOKS: No, I do think it's very hard to see Mitt Romney winning without Ohio. It's possible to see Obama winning. But Romney really has to win.
And the paradox of the election, one of them, is, if Barack Obama does win, he should give Steve Rattner, who successfully ran the auto bailout, some sort of high-level government job, or at least a big case of wine to thank him.
DAVID BROOKS: And the second real irony is that if Mitt Romney wanted to carry Ohio, he should have given a lot of money to the environmental groups who were trying to stop fracking.
DAVID BROOKS: The fact that they were unable to stop fracking means that the job growth in — especially in Eastern Ohio has been pretty sensational, not only the energy products itself, but because of the cheap energy it's generating, you are beginning to see fertilizer plants and other things like that.
So, you are getting some pretty broad prosperity out of that, and more to come. And that is as a result of the shale gas.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Mark, you know that state well. Does one candidate or the other have more going for him at this point?
MARK SHIELDS: Well, Judy, I mean this is the year, truly. You can forget the Big Apple and forget big D. and L.A. It is Chillicothe, Zanesville, Steubenville that really is — this is the big casino of this election.
I don't see how either one of them wins without Ohio. I will be very blunt about it.
And I think that what is interesting about Ohio is it is whiter and older than the country. And that's been — the Republican growth area has been among white, more white and older voters.
And so it is sort of counterintuitive. Ohio has one-sixth the percentage of Latinos or Hispanic voters than the country does at large. I mean, it doesn't have the minorities that you associate with sort of Democratic growth or the Democratic coalition.
And I really do think David's right. Steve Rattner did a great job, but it was Barack Obama. And Mitt Romney was wrong. And they're still on the defensive about this.
As recently as Thursday night in Defiance, Ohio, Rob Portman, senator from Ohio and the surrogate debate substitute for President Obama, introduced Mitt Romney, saying let's get this straight.
Mitt Romney was the first guy — Barack Obama took GM and Chrysler through bankruptcy. Mitt Romney was for guaranteeing loans. I mean, they're still trying to explain it.
And he's very much on the defensive. So Obama is running better with whites and white males in Ohio than he is elsewhere, in large part because of the auto bailout, and they have got a great ground game in Ohio too.
DAVID BROOKS: Yes. We should emphasize it's not a slam-dunk for Obama.
MARK SHIELDS: Not at all.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Yes. Yes.
DAVID BROOKS: If you look at the polls, it's pretty — it's been a very steady two-point advantage in the state for Obama.
And one of the oddities of the race so far is that the national numbers, probably a slight Romney favorite right now. The state numbers, like Ohio, an Obama favorite.
And I don't know too many experienced political hands who expect that to continue, that you get a disjunction between the national numbers and some of these swing state numbers.
Usually, they come together. It's possible that if — say, Romney gets a plurality or a majority of 50.6, it's possible to see him losing the Electoral College. If he's up over 51 or 52, it's hard to reconcile a two- or three-point win with an electoral loss. The numbers have got to be pretty close.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Because the two are more likely to go in tandem is what you are saying.
DAVID BROOKS: Yes.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Mark.
MARK SHIELDS: Yes, I mean, it's a crazy system. And David and I can have that debate. This Electoral College is indefensible.
JUDY WOODRUFF: We can talk about that next week.
MARK SHIELDS: Yes, in the off-season.
But let's understand this. There is a Republican advantage in Ohio. Ohio is more Republican than the nation. And, internally, there is one Democratic statewide officeholder, Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. All the other offices are held by Republicans. Republicans have strong majorities in both houses of the state legislature.
And the congressional delegation is 12-4. The lines are drawn 12-4. It may end up 11-5 because Betty Sutton may win a district where she's running against Jim Renacci. But that's — it's 12-4.
So it's a Republican state going in. The irony is for Mitt Romney is that John Kasich, who you saw in the piece, the governor…
JUDY WOODRUFF: The governor.
MARK SHIELDS: … is extolling all this good news that we just heard.
And the Romney people don't want to hear that, because part of their message is, we have got the economic key, and it can't have already happened in Ohio under Barack Obama's watch.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, let's broaden it out.
You said that — you were talking to David about the difference between Ohio and the rest of the country. What does it look like across the country right now in this campaign?
DAVID BROOKS: You know, I have read so many very confident people over the last 24 hours totally confident that Obama is going to win or totally confident that Romney is going to win.
I don't think we can know. I think something is going to happen in the last three days. There will be a shift and something will happen. I do think there has been a contrast in how the campaigns are operating in the last couple of weeks.
And Romney's trying to go big, with big change. Paul Ryan gave, I think, quite a good speech on social mobility and poverty earlier in the week. Romney gave what was billed as a major speech on the economy. I'm not sure how new it was. But they are trying to go big and talk about big issues.
The Obama campaign, I think, is going small and going even deeper into microtargeting. They have got this Lena Dunham video targeted to single women. They have got a series of more tightly targeted. They're doing the binders. They're still doing the binders full of women, so much more negative stuff.
So, I — personally, I don't know if it will be effective. Personally, I like the way the Romney campaign has tried to go a little more substantive, while the Obama campaign is still, I think, overwhelmingly negative.
MARK SHIELDS: I just come back to the Walter Mondale race with Gary Hart. Where's the beef?
I have heard Romney talk about big change, big change, big change. I know he is large bills, but I didn't know he was big change.
MARK SHIELDS: This is just — I mean, it's just an adjective and a noun.
MARK SHIELDS: As far as Paul Ryan's speech on poverty, I mean, Paul Ryan's budget, 62 percent of the cuts in his budget came from programs for poor people on increment maintenance.
I think it's wonderful to talk about social mobility. I think it's great to talk about community. But, I mean, when the rubber hits the road, who's going to pay for it? I mean, who is going to pay the cost?
I mean, there wasn't a single pit of burden imposed by Paul Ryan in his budget on those — the luckiest, the most advantaged, the most privileged of all of us in this country. So, I mean, yes, you can say he is taking on entitlements or whatever else.
But, you know, let's not talk about poverty, when in fact we're cutting the lungs out from those at the very bottom.
JUDY WOODRUFF: So, you are saying they are walking away from what they…
MARK SHIELDS: I just — well, listen, the Obama campaign has been silent on the subject of poverty. I mean, middle class is their mantra.
And I think David's point about they're single issue is absolutely true. I think that they have been one-dimensional in their approach to women. It's been all about reproductive rights.
They haven't talked about the issues of equal pay. They haven't talked about our daughters' rights, I mean, who might be flying a helicopter in Afghanistan or be a special education teacher or be…
JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, why do you think they're doing that?
MARK SHIELDS: I think — I think they are very much in the segmentation of the electorate. I really — I mean, that's — they were going to assemble a majority this way. And I don't — I think — to me, you know, if it wins, then I guess it's a successful strategy.
But the problem it is, Judy, when you do win, what have you won? I don't think either of these campaigns has been constructed, that if they do win, they're going have any kind of a mandate they can point to.
DAVID BROOKS: Yes.
I agree with some of Mark's criticism of the Paul Ryan speech. But at least it was sort of a substantive speech. I went back.
I said, am I imagining the way old campaigns used to be? I went back and looked at some of the 1980 speeches, or the debates, Jimmy Carter vs. Ronald Reagan.
They actually were talking about the major issues of the day, the Soviet Union, and inflation and stagflation.
If you look at the major issues of the day, well, widening inequality, well, that has not really been talked about. A wage stagnation, that has barely been talked about. Global warming, you go down the list of the big issues of the day, and this — this campaign I think more even than real-life campaigns, it's not imagining some…
… campaign, even more than recent campaigns, has ignored a lot of those issues.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Why do you think that is?
DAVID BROOKS: Because the consultants have taken over.
And I think both of the candidates are not particularly sincere, especially Mitt Romney. And so they're not running on things that sort of motivate you to get into public life. They have decided they have got strategies of how to do it, and the candidates are playacting out those strategies.
MARK SHIELDS: I challenge either one of them to tell — President Obama doesn't have grandchildren — but tell his daughters what he is proud about in this campaign, I mean, or to Mitt Romney, that huge, handsome, wonderful family of his, and say, this is what grandpa stood for in 2012.
Judy, when you win — whatever you say about Ronald Reagan — and I said a lot — but he ran on double the defense budget, cut taxes by a third. So when he won in 1980, there was a mandate to do it. And I don't see any mandate coming out of this election, unless I'm missing…
DAVID BROOKS: And even — one of the things that offended me this week is Barack Obama running — Obama running an ad, I think in Ohio, that ends with, Mitt Romney, he's not one of us.
MARK SHIELDS: Yes. That was…
DAVID BROOKS: And that's code. That's an old code language.
And, you know, you just — as a sense of principle, you just don't run that ad with that sort of slogan. And so, it is again part of the dispiriting part of…
MARK SHIELDS: And we saw the debate on Monday night.
We saw the old Mitt, who said, Iraq war, I was for it, I supported it then, I support it now. What does he say on Monday night? We don't want another Iraq. I'm not Dick Cheney. I'm George W. Bush.
JUDY WOODRUFF: And a lot of talk about peace.
MARK SHIELDS: I mean, peace, peace, peace, the new Mitt. We had the new Nixon in '68.
I mean, the new improved Mitt, he did the same thing on Iran sanctions. He was talking about an aerial strike. He was talking about an invasion or an attack upon Iran as recently as months ago.
And now he is saying, no, I'm all for sanctions. We have to do it peacefully and diplomatically. So, I mean, who is this man? Who are you? You know, that is…
DAVID BROOKS: Yes.
And I feel like we're coming to the end of this campaign with the two large questions unanswered, crucial questions. Would Mitt Romney buck the Republican Party at any time if he were elected president? And, secondly, does Barack Obama have sort of a second wind, a second burst of policy creativity?
MARK SHIELDS: Yes.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, he did put out this 20-page statement of his.
DAVID BROOKS: Yes, but that was a rehashed statement of small things that — frankly, if you go to his book that he wrote in 2007, I bet most of those things are in that 2007 book.
And so they're fine. They're, you know, community colleges, more math and science teachers. I'm for all that kind of stuff. But it's not exactly a huge agenda.
And so you trying to — you're a voter. You are trying to imagine, what's the next four years going to look like? I think it's very hard because those big questions have been unanswered.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, it's only 10 days to go after this. And I was going to ask you about the ground game and all kinds of other things. But this has been better than that, better than the ground game.
DAVID BROOKS: It's important for us to vent emotionally.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Mark Shields, David Brooks, thank you both.
And there is more politics talk with Mark, David, and Hari on The Doubleheader, recorded in our newsroom. That is going to be posted at the top of The Rundown later tonight.


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« The Good Theist | Main | Faith vs. Apologetics »
ID isn't even a 'gaps' argument. It looks at what science tells us NOW about life and infer design based on what we DO know.
Casey Luskin that's a great point. May Christ give wisdom to all those atheists to understand your greatness. Knowledge with out wisdom is dangerous in these times. So many scientists without wisdom. Sad for them.
Luskin's basic fallacy there is the assumption that we fill the gap with something.
We don't.
Frequently the gap is an invented one reflecting either the dishonesty or the wilful ignorance (are they different?) of the person claiming it, but where the gap genuinely exists it is left as a gap pending more data on which to base a decision.
Should Luskin at any point ever come up with a validated piece of scientific data which can only be interpreted as proving that his particular god did it and that no natural explanation is possible, then he will have succeeded in using science to prove his god and can justify sitting it in the gap. Until he has done so, his notion remains not even a theory; not even a hypothesis, but merely a guess with no supporting evidence.
This is the basic scientific method. There is no shame in having questions without answers. The dishonesty is in inventing answers and then pretending you have answered the question. Smug confirmatory bias might be deeply satisfying for those not especially bothered about truth, but it is about as far from science as you can get.
You can test this for yourself by substituting the words 'peanut butter sandwich' for 'God' in Luskin's pretend answers and noting that it makes exactly the same 'sense' and conforms to precisely the same 'logic'. He will still have multiplied entities needlessly and will have made the explanation infinitely more complex because now he has to explain the god - where it came from, how it works, how it did whatever he is claiming it did, etc. He also has to explain why he disregarded all other possible supernatural explanations, how he identified and examined supernatural entities in the first place and how a supernatural entity which, by definition, can't interact with the natural world... er.... interacted with it but remained supernatural and undetectable. Hence his 'simple' or simplistic answer is actually far less satisfactory and infinitely more complex, so infinitely less likely to be correct, than the assumption that the gap can be investigated and eventually filled by science without making any assumptions, or incorporating any preconceived superstitions, no matter how smugly self-satisfied those assumptions might make us fee, or, as is more likely the case, how smugly self-satisfied the 'answer' might make the audience feel.
The fallacy he is using is our old friend, the Strawman, of course. One is tempted to ask how he knew he needed to, but the likelihood of getting an honest answer to that question probably approaches zero.
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Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
I urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Jude 3
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 2 Peter 1:16


text:
In the State of Washington any alteration to an archaeological site requires a permit from DAHP RCW 27.44 and RCW 27.53. Alterations to a site can include adding fill, building on, removing trees, using heavy equipment on, compacting, or other activities that would change or potentially impact the site.
Alterations also include formal archaeological excavation, removal, and collection of archaeological materials, and the excavation and removal of Native American human remains.
Permits are also required to remove or excavate historic archaeological resources that are eligible or listed in the National Register of Historic Places or to recover any submerged historic aircraft or historic shipwrecks, or remove any archaeological object from such sites.
Please note that any person, agency, landowner, firm, corporation, or any agency or institution of the state or subdivisions of the state who wishes to alter an archaeological site must obtain a permit. DAHP does not charge a fee to process the permit application or to issue a permit.
There are penalties for failing to obtain a permit, or failing to comply with the conditions on a permit. In addition to possible criminal charges, there are monetary penalties. Penalties for not obtaining a permit, or failure to comply with permit conditions include
Site restoration and investigative costs can be quite costly and can exceed the $5000 civil penalty. In addition, unpermitted excavation of human remains carries felony criminal charges and in the case of Indian remains, may be subject to a civil suit by an Indian tribe.
The complete permit requirements can be found in the Washington Administrative Code 25-48-060. In addition to submitting a signed and notarized application, there are 21 potential sections for a complete permit application, depending on the type of resource, nature of your excavation or recovery, and land ownership. Over the years we have noticed that certain items tend to be underreported or are missing from many permit applications. Tracking down these deficiencies slows down the process. If items are missing from your permit application, your application will be returned to you for completion of the missing items. Here are some tips:
Please feel free to call Lance Wollwage, Assistant State Archaeologist, if you have any questions at (360) 586-3536 or email him at firstname.lastname@example.com
Note: The Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance publishes details about most of the commonly required permits in the state and has links to regulatory agencies statewide. To access the central repository of Permit Timeliness Data click here :


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Chevy S10 Owner Reviews
barlitz Posts: 752I've got a 00 ZR2 and I really like the truck,had Fords before never had a problem with them either,just liked the ZR2 looks and you can go almost anywhere you want with it.Check out www.zr2.com its a very informative sight and there's no [non-permissible content removed] crap owners there either.
nmchop Posts: 27I wanted to chime in with my experience since I've benefitted from so many people's experiences on other boards when considering vehicles.
I bought a 1998 as described above with the 3rd door. It's been a good vehicle, right now with 29,000 miles on it and month until I turn it in. The only thing I would change (and plan to change) is to get a V-6 engine. The 4 cylinder is ok with auto transmission, but I want a little more power. MY gas mileage has been about 19-20 in town and 24-25 on the highway except one trip to Phoenix where I only got 20 on the highway. Not bad all in all.
As for service problems...When i first got the truck, when i'd accelerate at highway speed, i'd get a noise much like a kid who has put a baseball card in his spokes of his bicycle. I took it in, it took them a couple of days to figure it out. They had to call the factory as it turned out to be a very rare problem. It seems there was a hole the size of a pinhead in the coolant system and that was the noise. No damage, just an irritating noise. They took care of it. At about 20,000 miles, it just wouldn't start one morning. Turned out the battery died, easy repair after getting it towed. I've gone through shock absorbers like crazy, but I attribute that to bad NM roads in town. At about 25,000 miles, while getting scheduled transmission serviced, they found a very slow rear transmission seal leak and had to replace the BIG belt (can't remember what it's called). It was a $70 belt. So my $49 transmission service did end up costing $179 with the labor on the belt added in. That was the only "unforseen" thing that happened, all other work was under warranty (shocks, cooling system, battery).
I've enjoyed the truck, I find it comfortable, enjoy the ride and as I've looked around to my next vehicle have found I'm having trouble finding something I like as much. So I'm considering getting a V-6 S-10 as that's about the only thing I'd change in my truck (and maybe get power windows). I may get a Blazer as well as they are basically S-10's with a V-6 and I've found this truck to be pretty good. Still haven't decided. This is my first truck and my only ride and i've enjoyed the versatility of owning a small truck. Felt like the ride of the truck was as comfortable as a sedan which has been a surprising bonus. I liked Dakota's as well, but no 3rd door (i love the 3rd door).
Complaints: GM uses too much cheap plastic on the interior of the cab. When it's warm, the plastic under my driving column is a symphony of plastic crackling noises. I took it in early and had them try to fix it, they failed. I later put in a CD changer and the stereo shop said there were 3 loose screws (makes me wonder if the techs at the dealership even checked the "rattling" dash). Even after they tightened those for me at the stereo shop, i still got the plastic creaking noises but not as bad and i guess I've adapted or tune them out now. They bothered me a lot the first 5 months or so. Seems to be worst in the summer.
A/C is great, Heater is awesome, Like riding high, i'm kind of the Road haha. So that's my review of my S-10 experience. I liked it enough to defintely consider another one or get the Blazer. That decision waits one more month (also considering an Olds Intrigue if I go back to a car, which I doubt i'll do). The Edmunds review of the S-10 said the 3rd doors tend to rattle. Mine has not rattled at all in the 3 years I've had it, even on broken road. I think maybe they could've put better tires on it but i didn't change them out. So overall, no major complaints, enjoyed the vehicle, but you'd hope your first 30,000 miles would be pretty trouble free.
Thanks for listening, hope this assists somebody that stubles across it like so many vehicle reviews i've read.
I think you'll like the V6, make sure you get posi and think about replacing the factory tires, the V6 has alot more power than the 4 cyl.
I have a '99 reg cab and they get decent mileage, rated at 22 highway I get that in all around driving, higher on long trips (mostly highway).
stephenjohn99 Posts: 1I was looking at getting and 95 model S-10 from a local person selling it. But I do no know if it is a good deal. The truck has 116,000 miles on it, extended cab, 4 cyl automatic. The exterior looks very good. the asking price is 3500 with room to flex. I just want to know if it is worth it, or if 116,000 miles is too much for an S-10? I don't want to end up spending more for repairs than I did for the truck.
nubira1 Posts: 13Does anyone know where I can get a nice set of carpeted floor mats for my truck that fit? The dealer wants $110 for the logo mats. I don't need the logo, just nice mats that fit.
xtremechevy01 Posts: 1Has anyone experienced any problems with the Xtreme pickups? On mine the body seems to be twisting in two different directions....and when I stop, I feel this sliding motion from underneath the truck. Its really weird. Its a "sliding back" motion with a "thud" feel to it (I cant hear anything..just feel it) and then its done. So I took it back to the dealership I bought it from (I bought it 2 months ago) and they decided, after 20 minutes of pure confusion, that the sliding motion was from the bafold in the gas tank. So they looked at it and come to find out, there is no bafold in the tank....then they changed their answer, now the reason for the motion was because there wasn't a bafold, its just fuel sloshing around that your feeling they say. I don't think thats the problem... its been getting more frequent lately and I notice the body is twisting I said. The bed is now further apart from the cab on the passenger side, the vailiance on the front bumper has moved 1/2" toward the passenger tire but is still flush on the drivers side,the hood has moved forward a little on the drivers side but its even on the passenger side and the last thing is the tailgate...I can move it from side to side about an inch... plus up and down...a little too much play there I think. they tell me all S-10 pickups are that way, which is a bunch of crap...I traded in my 99' S-10 for the Xtreme and it never got like this. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be wrong?? The people at the dealership treat me as if I were insane, and if I have to keep dealing with these people Im gonna be.
$110 is too much, you can get them for a lot less. Try a set of catch all's for about half that price and year round protection.
hwcoach Posts: 1I have the opportunity at work to purchase a 1994 S-10, extended cab that has everything "except power locks and windows" with a 4cyl engine. Total mileage 42,000 with 48 left on the extended warranty. Due to the death of the owner, the son would like to avoid advertising and going through the hassle of selling it and offered it to me for $6K.
Does that sound like a good buy?
Also -- not having had the chance to look at it yet (or other S-10s), does the extended cab come with additional seats, or is it storage space only.
I had a 91 S10 which at 37,000 miles failed inspection due to ball joints being worn. It was the first time at this mechanic, so I figured he was trying to rip me off. Sure enough, a mechanic I trust said the same thing. Replaced them and sure enough, at 75,000 miles they failed again. This was expensive (about $500 - $600 per incident). Reason given was that there were no grease fittings so you couldn't prevent premature failure. Now I have a 97 S10, and sure enough, at 39,000 miles the ball joints were bad. Supposedly, theses ball joints have grease fittings. This time the dealer inspected it. They were replaced for free since I have an extended warranty. Why is this?? I certainly don't beat the truck in any way. Any body have any ideas on how to avoid having them replaced again at 78,000???
Does anyone know the reasoning behind the xtreme not be able to be used for towing. I'm in the process of buying a jet ski (>1000lbs) and I know it would be more than capable. The problem is i'm stuck in a lease for the next 2 years, any suggestions?? thanks
madridjoe Posts: 28Both my 89 S-15 and my 95 Sonoma have fitttings on the ball joints, so that seems strange that your 91 did not. Anyhow, I sold the 89 with 120K and the original ball joints, still have the 95 with 70K and have not had any problems with the joints on that yet either, so I guess I'm not much help. Maybe someone else will have more information on this.
parrotfish3 Posts: 1The extreme package has a roll pan vs. a rear face bar type bumper, perhaps you could look into adding an A/M hitch, or swapping extreme rear bumper for step bumper.
newton75 Posts: 2I bought my 95 s-10 4.3L/standard cab/short bed about a year and a half ago for about $6000. I've been very happy with it & feel like I got a good deal. It's got about 112,000 miles and it's running strong. A couple of issues that I would check before buying would be to see if the previous owners have had to replace the intake manifold gasket yet (almost guaranteed to blow at around 100,000 to 110,000 miles on the 4.3L engine - it's about a $500 dollar repair), and see if they've had any problems with the EGR valve (Chevy is notorious for having EGR valves that clog - not as expensive to fix, but a pain to clean out when the engine starts acting up). My gut reaction to the two offers is that stephenjohn99 is getting a pretty darn good deal. Hwcoach might want to see if there's any room to negotiate - I paid the same for a newer truck with a bigger engine (granted there were more miles).
I have 1998 zr-2 S-10 (4wd) 65,000 miles.Trans. started shifting hard from 1st to 2nd after driving for 35 miles or so. I took it to a MC dealer to check it out. They put a diagnostic deal on it and it said tarns. problem.(exactly what I told them) I was told they changed a celonoid and was going to do a test drive to see if it had solved the problem. Told me to come back tomorrow (may 11). Anybody taking any bets? Two years ago with 35,000 miles ,same problem. Guess what, it was the valve body I. had 1000 miles then left on warranty luckily. Now ,no warranty,same problem. I called M assistance number and told them it was probably the same problem. They called the GMC dealership and then told me that if it was the same problem they would give me a generous discount on the repairs.After seeing this website for the 1st time I see I am not the only with this problem!!! Stay tuned for part two.(by the way,I showed them the receipt from the 1st repair).
I have a 97 LS that I just had fixed for the exact same problem. (See Chevy S10 problems link).I have 54,000 miles so my repair was covered by my extended warranty. My repair was the valve body also, so I agree with your bet. Mine's been fixed for about 3 weeks now and I have not had the problem re-occur. If your's isn't under warranty, please post the repair price. I'd like to know what it is if this happens again.
double_seven Posts: 2I have a 2000 Chevy s-10 ZR2. I've noticed recently that while driving with the air selector turned to "Off" and all the way to "Cold" heat pours into the cabin onto my feet. It has to be the most miserable problem to drive any distance with that I can think of. I brought my truck in and Chevy claims that the truck is designed to allow airflow into the cabin even when the selector is off. This is understandable but fiery hot air?
Just wondering if anyone has had similar problems and can offer some solution (or if you'd like to complain like me, that'd be fine too).
Thanks Parrotfish, I'll check into both those options for my xtreme
Check #465 for part 1 of this story. GMC dealor where truck is being repaired ordered a valve or some type of plug which is suppose to relieve pressure and allow trans.to shift normal from 1st to 2nd.Part is on back order and should be in next week?It is a part in the valve body,not the whole valve body. No transmission removal is required. Mechanic said 2-3 hours to replace?? Stay tuned for part 3. To milanj; I will let you know the cost of repairs.
caddyshack Posts: 6I've got a '96 S-10, extended cab, 4x4. LS package (buckets, console, upgraded interior), 5-speed manual, manual transfer case lever, V6. I bought it new in Dec. '96 as a leftover on the local lot. Window sticker just shy of $22,000, I got it for $18,500.
It's been a good truck. Consistent 21mpg each time I check. I drive it a lot off road, rocky terrain in eastern California, Nevada and Death Valley. The truck has currently 97,200+ miles.
Troubles have been few. 18,000 - cracked water pump housing (warranty). 34,000 -leaking top seal on transmission (warranty). Now, the AC is gone. Estimate is $1,500 to replace compressor. Anyone else had their AC go south?
I replaced stock Goodyear RTS ("really thin spare") at 19,000 for BFGs, now on 3rd set of tires. No flats since switching to BFG. Factory serpentine belt replaced at 70,000. Factory shocks replaced at 85,000. Front brakes just replaced three weeks ago, factory set wore just fine and was not critcal yet (I use the transmission to aid in braking on the road and transfer case in low range off road to control truck's speed). I requested mechanic to do rear brakes also, but they called and said I had at least two more years left on them. Can't complain.
I was a bit leary of buying another Chevy, as I've had two one lemon Chevy truck (Silverado 1981) and a lemon Chevy car (1980 Citation). I'm more of a Ford man (350,000+ trouble free miles on a '70 F-100 4x4; 285,000 trouble free miles on a '87 Tempo; 202,000 trouble free miles on a '88 Taurus [my daughter still drives it]) , but I hate those pushbutton transfer case activation switches, the Ranger and large trucks did not have available manual activation when I was looking for a new truck. Everyone I know that has the electronic activators (all brands) have had troubles with them.
I'm putting the truck into the shop soon for a thorough check up on hoses, belt, drive line and repair the AC. Big 3,000 mile trip this summer, mostly 4x4. Love it!
I am looking at a 2001 S10 4x4, not the zr2, just a regular ls model, with 3.73 gears and 4 speed auto. It is rated at 15/18 for mileage. Can anyone tell me if this is as good as it gets, or what type of gas mileage you are getting with one.
spacecadet Posts: 4I have a 97' S-10 with V6,4 wheel drive,3.42 gears and the 4speed w/o.d. Before I modified it I pulled about 14/19 if I was easy on the pedal, just runnin' regular 87octane. After a 3" exhaust and a performance intake I pulled about 18/26.
The truck has alot of power but Chevy makes every thing too damm restrictive to see any decent mileage.
If you do get the truck best of wishes, I had mine for about 3 years now and had no problems,(bought it used with 12K on it)-----I keep up with the daily maintenance and have 40,000 miles on it. Anyway check out www.truckperformance.com they have some really cool stuff.
redly_one Posts: 122I recently got my first look at the 02 Trailblazer, which was pretty damn sweet. Is there any news about the S-10 being revamped soon? It would be a nice lead to follow
Part 3,Check message's #465Ǖ.Got truck back from GMC dealership here in town Fri.6/1/01.Service adviser said to drive and see if it is ok.I have to drive to K.C.Missouri (270)miles Sunday and then drive home Friday. Should know if problem has been corrected by end of next week? Service advisor said about $500.00 in parts so far. Don't know about labor? Stay tuned for Part 4, hopefully the end!!!!!!!!!!!
Well since they gave me such a good deal on the 2001 I decided to get it. Can you give me an idea as to how much you spent you your 3" exhaust and performance intake (as well as what kind) you put on your truck?
I've recently found an '88 S10 in my area. I'm looking for a truck specifically, don't know what kind, just to play around with. The truck that i found was an S10 extended cab, the interior is in excellent shape, but the exterior is rusted in the usual areas around the fenders, the rocker panels, and the bottom of the trunk. This is not my biggest problem as i can fix that easily. The problem is the 4.3L V6 has 245,000km on it. How much longer will it last? What are common problems that occur with a motor with this many km's on it? Is the truck worth buying for $850.00? I know that's not a lot but i've got other places to put my money and besides i'm already restoring another car, so there isn't that much money to be thrown into the vehicle. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Another question for anyone who would like to answer, how much can a 2WD '88 S10 with the 4.3L V6 and the trailer hitch built into the bumper tow? I'm looking for it to tow an 18' boat. Any replies are appreciated.
joe3891 Posts: 759Automobile Mag. note
CHEVROLET will call its new pickup the Colorado.The truck,which replaces the aged S10, is slated for launch in the first quarter of 2002.A companion model will supplant the GMC Sonoma.
Looks like at about 2005 it will be safe to buy one.
edk6 Posts: 2I have a 93 S-10 Blazer that I originally purchased brand new. It's the 4.3L "W" motor that's on its way out after only 110,000 miles. After just replacing the water pump, intake manifold and the precious fuel injector, the local dealer and another trusted mechanic inform me that the main bearing is knocking and it's time for either a new motor or new vehicle. Talk about a disappoinment! For a vehicle that was mostly dealer maintained with regular tune-ups and oil changes and never saw "off road" terrain. Anyone else experience this with this motor? I've been reading a lot of the other articles here and yes, ball-joint replacements....I'm there twice over. Oh, and I've replaced 3 alternators on this too.
A big hats off to the guy with the 410K miles on that vehicle. I guess some of us get lucky. I certainly expected more out of my Blazer, I don't think I'll be purchasing another one.
tkos Posts: 4This may seem like a stupid question but I'll ask anyway. I am looking into a 2001 S-10. Looking at dealer stock on Edmunds.com I was surprised to see the limited stock of 4wd extended cabs. It's obvious there is a decent price difference between 2 and 4wd. I am assuming this is the reason for the limited offering compared to it's 2wd counterpart. I am trying to decide if the 4wd is worth the money. I live in the Northeast and have owned front wheel or four wheel drive my whole life. Is the 2wd as bad in the snow as I have heard? Can anyone lend any insight?
I have a 97 S10 and would not do without 4WD. The truck is very light and won't go very well if at all in a decent snow. I even use it in the rain to try and maintain good traction.
I think you would be sorry living in the Northeast with a 2WD S10
This discussion has been closed.


text:
Does Nikon's latest professional 70-200mm justify its price?By Paul Carroll - Tuesday April 23 2013 Lens Review
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII: Getting the results you've paid for
The headline DxOMark Scores for the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II immediately bear out the phrase 'you get what you pay for. A DxOMark Overall Score of 29 places it towards the upper end of the performance spectrum, and the DxOMark Sharpness Score of 20P-Mpix, attached to a Nikon D800, is very good for this type of zoom lens. It's also a bright lens with a good DxOMark Transmission Score of 3.3TSto. But, as you would expect from a zoom lens covering such a large focal range, there is some barrel distortion at the wider end and pin-cushion distortion when zoomed in, but it's well controlled and achieves a good overall DxOMark Distortion Score of 0.3%.
As well as a very good overall DxOMark Sharpness Score, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II resolution performance is consistent across both the focal range and most apertures. For wider apertures between f2.8 up to f11, resolution is excellent, which is particularly encouraging for photographers needing fast shutter speeds in low-light, and it's only as the aperture is closed down to f16 that sharpness starts to tail off, but even at f/22 results are reasonable.
Vignetting is also an issue that plagues zoom lenses. The Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II delivers some excellent results however, with no dark orange or red areas on our Global Map. The unwelcome vignetting effect is most prominent at 200mm and f2.8 however, which is a little unfortunate as it's one of the common settings used on a lens like this. Fully zoomed in you'll need to stop down to f8 to remove the problem completely but if you do need a wider aperture pictures at f4 result in less vignetting than f2.8.
Another problem plaguing zoom lenses is Chromatic Aberration, which displays as coloured lines along contrast edges and is the result of the lens not aligning the red, green and blue light channels perfectly. The excellent performance of this lens continues in this regard however with Chromatic Aberrations well controlled at all settings.
Further readings for the Does Nikon's latest professional 70-200mm justify its price?
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.
Added by pcampan | February 03 , 2016
Where are the measurements and charts?
I might be doing something wrong, but I can't see the details around the score and the measurements for the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II. Have they been removed?
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First replies for this comment
Added by dralph | November 19 , 2016
Re: Where are the measurements and charts?
I for one am still waiting to see the charts and visual representation of the sharpness, etc., of the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8G VR II. The web commentator Tony Northrup has them on a Youtube review of Nikon vs Canon versions of this zoom. It is hard to believe that the Nikon lens could compare so badly.
Your putting the data up would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Added by Spirit1858 | May 16 , 2014
The D800 scores a sharpness value of 20 and the D800E scores 27 point! I dont think that the difference is that big.
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Added by Danijel Ljusic | May 20 , 2014
Re: Sharpness!?
I agree, from what Ive seen, the difference is negligible even at 100% crop,
there is no way the difference is this high.
Added by wtchdrmd | May 20 , 2014
Re: Sharpness!?
Keep in mind that you are comparing sharpness with your lens on the camera. Its likely that the sensor sharpness exceeds the sharpness of most lenses, so it would be impossible to see any difference using all but the best lenses.
Added by Sophie - DxOMark | June 02 , 2014
Re: Sharpness!?
Hi all,
Thank you for posting your comments on this forum.
The difference of sharpness is pretty high in the center. In the corners, this lens is slightly softer. Differences should be more noticeable in the center.
One other important criteria is that we measured it only in RAW: the difference on the final image can vary significantly depending on the RAW converter you used.
Hope this helps.
Added by Jim Lucier | May 05 , 2013
70 to 200 f/2.8 VRII on D800E
Ordered the 70 to 200 f/2.8 VRII for my D800E from Amazon., it should be in hand Tuesday (May 7, 2013). I decided to pass on the f/4 version reasoning that I would regret not having the low light capability and the pain of the higher price for the f/2.8 would subside in short order. This will also be a better compliment to my 24 to 70 f/2.8 which has been an absolutely astounding performer. Once I heal from buying this lens I may look at the 14 to 24 f/2.8 to complete the family.
Added by ag08025 | May 05 , 2013
comparation with canon
check this:
deserve the same score?
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Added by rbravofoto | April 30 , 2013
Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR
Hola amigos, ¿para cuando una prueba del nuevo
NIKON 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR ?. Estoy interesado en comprarlo, pero me fío mucho de vuestras pruebas y quisiera contrastar opiniones...
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Added by Emilie_DxOMark | May 02 , 2013
Re: Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR
Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.
This lens should be reviewed in June.
Best regards,
The DxOMark team
Added by shieldwulf | April 27 , 2013
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
Finally! Thank you for the review and test results!
Added by xkostja | April 26 , 2013
70-200 f4
Why is the Nikkor 70-200 f/4 not in the top 5 lenses with a score of 28?
Added by clwvanzyl | April 24 , 2013
Nikon 80-200 F2.8
First off great tests and an awesome resource!
Could you possibly look into putting the Nikon 80-200 F2.8 into the mix as well. It is still being sold new and it is a great alternative for some folks wanting a pro F2.8 lens at the fraction of the price. It should be interesting to see how it holds up?
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Added by Emilie_DxOMark | April 24 , 2013
Re: Nikon 80-200 F2.8
Thanks for your suggestion.
We will try to add it to the road map, but not sure we will be able to publish it soon :)
Best regards,
The DxOMark team
Added by ckambiselis | August 21 , 2013
Re: Nikon 80-200 F2.8
;D Thumbs up for the 80-200 f/2.8 test, waiting for your results so I can choose between the 70-200 or the 80-200.
Added by timj_uk | April 23 , 2013
Great Job
Thanks DXO, top review, very interesting results to boot.
Added by Toshik | April 23 , 2013
AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II review
Field map for vignetting between f/4 and f/2.8 zooms is shown for D3X, not D800 like for rest of review.


text:
MONT ROYAL/OUTREMONT, QC, JULY 4, 2012 – BMO Financial Group announced today that Les Griffons MU-10A du CSMRO, a group of U-11 boys from Mont Royal/Outremont, Quebec, have been selected as the twelfth BMO Team of the Week for 2012. As part of BMO's Canada-wide grassroots soccer program, the win comes with a $500 team prize, a $500 donation to the team's charity of choice, plus BMO Team of the Week tracksuits and a community celebration at the local BMO branch.
"Griffons' coaches and families work hard to ensure that these young boys will grow up to be good young men," said Joel Clancy, Head Coach of Les Griffons MU-10A du CSMRO. "I am not only proud of their accomplishments on the field, but also of the work they do to give back. Right now, the team is raising funds to host a youth boys soccer team from Haiti – a big undertaking. I have no doubt that our boys will see this through to completion, and learn something along the way."
"Les Griffons MU-10A du CSMRO are boys who play soccer for the love of the game, their team and their community," said Alan Desnoyers, District Vice-President, Montreal, BMO Bank of Montreal. "It's inspiring to see a team with so much spirit, and who are such conscientious members of their community, on a local, as well as international level. I'm honoured to present the Griffons with this week's BMO Team of the Week title."
Fifteen youth soccer teams (age 7-12) will be awarded BMO Team of the Week based on team pride, team spirit, community commitment and passion for the game. The fifteen finalists will then vie for the grand prize which will be decided by the Canadian public. Online voting begins August 13th.
The full team profile of Les Griffons MU-10A du CSMRO can be viewed at www.BMOsoccer.com.