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This is a rant. If you don't like rants, don't read it.
The first argument goes like this:
- Mastering is just a matter of balancing tracks with each other using EQ, compression and limiting
- I can get mastering EQ and compression plugins free with a pint of beer, nowadays
- Why would I pay someone else to do my mastering ?
- No-body buys CDs any more
- Nobody listens to albums any more
- Everybody uses mp3 players and crappy earbuds nowadays
- Why would I pay someone else to do my mastering ?
- I sent my last CD off to be mastered, and it came back sounding no different
- I sent my last CD off to be mastered, and it came back sounding the same but a bit louder
- I sent my last CD off to be mastered, and it came back sounding absolutely terrible
- Why would I pay someone else to do my mastering ?
Case closed, right ?
When I started out as a trainee mastering engineer, over 15 years ago, one of the toughest jobs was explaining to people what mastering actually was. In those days it truly was a dark art, costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gear just to obtain admission to the club. Nowadays you rip a few tracks into iTunes, burn a CD and you're a mastering engineer, right ?
My first set of replies goes like this:
- That's some of what mastering involves, yes. I wrote more about it here.
- You can buy plugins that say they allow you to do mastering EQ and compression, yes. Why don't the top engineers use them ? Leaving that aside for a minute, do you know how to use the ones you have ? Are your speakers good enough to hear what you're doing with them ? Do you have the experience to know exactly what things should sound like in your genre ? Do you know when it's a mix problem and when it's a mastering problem ? Let's try another tack. As a musician or record label, releasing your music to the world is a bit like having a really important job interview, and you need a new suit. Do you buy the cheapest, or the best you can afford ? Given the choice, would you have one hand-made by a master tailor using the finest quality material to fit and flatter your exact build and body-shape, or would you order one over the internet and hope for the best ?
- Why would you want someone else to do your mastering ?
- Actually over 75% of the music-buying public still want CDs. And soon all downloaded music will be losslessly encoded anyway, so it will sound the same as (or better than) CDs.
- True, no-one listens to albums any more. Instead, people listen to all their music on shuffle. Before long, all albums will be played at the same average level, as it is on Spotify, so you won't have those annoying jumps in volume, except where you're meant to for loud or quiet tracks. So it will be just as important to have your music correctly balanced in comparison to everything else as it has ever been, if not more so.
- mp3 players will soon sound as good as CD players - see above. And, crappy speakers or earbuds make everything sound crappy. As did AM radio. As poor-quality vinyl and record decks did. As analogue cassette did. As does DAB radio, and as do mobile phones. What's your point ? If recording high-quality audio was important then, why isn't it important now ? Do you WANT you music to sound crappy ?
- Why would you want someone else to do your mastering ?
My reply to all three parts of the third argument is:
That's because lots of people who call themselves "mastering engineers" have absolutely no right to the title. Putting it bluntly, they don't have a clue what they're doing, and they fuck it up on a daily basis.
Who am I, Derren Brown ? Is mastering really the world's most elaborate confidence trick ?
Why would you want someone else to master your music ?


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Commercial Grade Ellipticals and Crosstrainers. The elliptical trainer is considered by many to be the best cardiovascular piece on the market. Ellipticals offer a "no impact" workout with many programs and options to make the exercise experience more enjoyable. Many pieces also offer crosstraining or arm motion. These crosstrainers allow the user to use the arm motion to further the effects of his or her workout. The elliptical trainer or crosstrainer is an innovative addition to any home or fitness center looking for the best and most futuristic fitness program. Some of the following listings are for remanufactured items so please look for a remanufactured "tag" on each product page.
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subset: commoncrawl


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We oppose Islam, not Muslims. We are against hate, not faith
debunker wrote:Wait! according to the 'holy' Bible, the righteous Lut slept wit his two daughters and impregnated them... But Noah? Let me check that...
There's a lot of incest in the Bible, one might mix up the stories... but I do know that Abraham and Sarah (according to the holy Bible) were not only husband and wife but also brother and sister.... Ooooh I'm feeling the holiness of Yahweh filling my heart... Reading the Bible can be very uplifting you know... try it CM, you won't regret it.
By the way, Abraham (who married his half-sister), Jacob (who married two sisters), and Judah (who wanted his son to impregnate his dead brother's wife) were apparently living under different Yahweh rules. Because Yahweh in Leviticus 18:6-18 explicitly forbids all of this.
debunker wrote:by the way, Ronyvo... you're Coptic, right? I heard that your Bible is SUBSTANTIALLY different from the Western Bible, is that true? Like it's not only different translation but it contains different passages/books... is it true?
debunker wrote:I never read a single negative thing about the life of Mohammed in the main stream media, the media instead of worrying about if Jesus was married or not and wasting our time on those issues, they could instead expose Islam and Mohammed and explain to its readers why their is so much violence and terrorism by Muslims around the world, by being honest and explaining what the Quran actually says and what Mohammed did, killing, robbery, torture, rape, pedophilia, slavery...ordering hate violence and oppression against none Muslims...all the things Jesus was against
Instead the media attack's a peaceful religion like Christianity and calls the violent religion of Islam
a peaceful religion, and not a word about Mohammed's evil violent life....
good is bad, and bad is good with the liberal press.
bunch of dishonest people....their credibility is fast going down the drain.Dear S,
You know what I really hope for? Producing a program or a movie or a new series with the title: "Untold Stories from the Bible". Enough movies about Moses splitting the Sea... We want movies about Moses stoning men for waorking on a Satuday, Moses committing EVERY war crime there is on the Midianites, stories on how the city of Jericho was "devoted" to Yahweh, a story on how the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out with blessings from Yahweh.... etc, etc.... The Bible is a real treasure full of too many horrific scenes... I wonder why wouldn't the media or hollywood dare to tap into this age old book inspired by non other than Yahweh Himself?
debunker wrote:please note Brenda that the whole "tu quoque" thing started when one of the posters here, whined about why the Quran isn't mocked unlike the Bible. My response was, instead of mocking either why not make movies based on stories from these two books... I was trying to make the point that the Bible is FAR from being exposed.... too many stories are unknown to the vast majority of Christians... then we got into the "comparison" game... and by the way, I don't believe the lies in the Bible slandering Moses, other prophets and God.
Anyway, whether Moses existed or not, Yahweh exists or not, why not produce a movies about stories from both te Bible and the Quran? I don't see why do you object to the production of such movies?
BTW, according to a German professor, Mohammed also never existed...
Finally, it really irritates me when atheists think they have all the answers... what makes you think that archeology has given you the whole answer and the true size of the Kingdom of David?
Here is your SECOND post on the thread. You posted this right after it was mentioned that its too bad that Christianity gets slammed while Islam is portrayed in the media as the "Religion of Peace".
So when exactly did you start the tu quoque? Well you started in the THIRD post in the thread, your FIRST post with your slippery inferrence of the corruption of Christianity with your "Oh, isn't the Coptic Bible totally different" stuff.
Nah. The Quran is written by Allah, remember? Let's compare movies of the MAN-written Bible against the MAN-written HADITHS.
Actually, I would not object a bit if movies were made about the ALLEGED behaviour of the ancient Hebrews and the ACTUAL historical behaviour of the invading Islamic armies
And the opinions of this man matter why? Do you believe him? Do you discount the letters Mohammad wrote to the Syrians, the Persians, the Byzantines?
We know the history of Islam in its wars of conquest. You want to compare the unknown and unproven which happened or did not happen some 3,500 years ago regarding the Hebrews, with what is factually known about Islamic history and what is still going on today.
You want to compare some standard of religious behaviour ONCE practised long ago by the Jews but no longer adhered to, with CURRENT religious behaviour practised by Muslims and even backed up by modern day MAINSTREAM Islamic fiqh.
I grew up in a stong Christian background, being obliged to attend church and study the Bible. I have known many Christians of many denominations throughout my life. I do not know a single one who thinks that God wrote the Bible. Even the more fundamental Churches I have known have taught that the Bible is INSPIRED;
Because Islamic thinking is so rigid regarding their own holy book, they cannot seem to quite comprehend what many Christians really mean when they call the Bible "inspired". The Bible is NOT seen by Christians to be a rigid and static God rule-book.The best way I can explain this is to tell you that Christians will often claim that they will read a verse hundreds of times and it might mean one thing to them. Then one day the verse takes on an entirely different meaning - so they will say that God made the verse personal to them and revealed it in a different way.
The Bible is admitted to be a series of MAN-written books, albeit "inspired"; or comprised of stories which are supposed to be either about events or which are supposed to hold some moral lesson. The reason that Christians still keep the Old Testament as part of their Bible is because they perceive prophesies in them and because it gives a background to the Jewish religion - which was the religion of Jesus. Like the Hadiths, human written accounts of something - but unlike the Hadiths, much further back in history and not backed by any classification of "sahih" or chains of narration.
And, incidentally, it has not escaped my notice that you treat the hadiths in a very selective way. On the one hand you pooh-pooh the sahih hadiths regarding Aisha's age, and then on the other hand you maintain there is some evidence in the panicked (and debunked) damage-limitation speculations of her being much older based on....oh, you guessed: HADITHS.
Anyway, if you refuse to engage about all the nasty things devoted Muslims had to say about the prophet in your hadiths(and totally accepted and believed in by most mainstream Muslims, regardless of how you personally view them), then surely you should not be engaged in accusations based on old Bible stories which have no evidence backing them, not even chains of narration, and which are so far back in history that they are all but irrelevent in today's world - Unlike Islam and the transformation of Islamic religious belief into Muslim actions which we see all over the globe today and which are seen over and over throughout Islam's over 1400 year history.
Yahweh is ageless... after watching these movies they will spit on Yahweh for the herrondous crimes He ordered. The fact that the Jews ignore the Bible, doesn't make up for Yahweh's Satanic nature.
Anyway, if that's what you believe then why don't Christians allow Hollywood to produce movies about untold stories from the Bible? Would you support the production of such movies? Yes/No?
I challenge you to bring me one verse that says ALL of the Quran is for ALL time.
9:29 "Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and his apostle nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth (even if they are) of the people of the Book, until they pay the Jizya [religious tax] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
"Allah's Apostle said, 'Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords.'" (vol. 4, p. 55)
"Allah's Apostle said, 'I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me…" (vol. 4, p. 124)
"It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he has made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land…" (vol. 4, p. 161)
"Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him." (vol. 9, p. 45)
As i said its just that old stories, what the OT bible says means nothing to people living today
unlike Muslims who follow Mohammed's words and actions as Allah's last messenger and cannot be changed...so
what Muslims believe matters its the reason why their is so much violence in Muslim countries and oppression against all none Muslims, because of Mohammed and his violent book called the Quran, fight them until Islam rules and the only religion is Islam....
you don't see Jews or Christians killing people to force religion on people, only Muslims do, orded for all times to fight...
Since when does hollywood care what Christian's think ? there's no such think as untold bible stories, if its untold then why its in the OT ?........the better question is why don't you Muslims make a real movie about Islam and Mohammed also using the hadiths as recorded by Muslims historians, and not hide the real truth about Mohammed.....the good the bad and the ugly....nothing but the truth...
Christians follow JESUS not the laws in the OT for all times...
Jesus brought down a new teaching of peace, and Mohammed came after Jesus and went back to hate and violence for all times, until Muslims force every human into Islam or slavery....so says your Quran...
hate for all times and war against none Muslims for all times, Mohammed and the Quran order...
"It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he has made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land…" (vol. 4, p. 161)
9:29 "Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and his apostle nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth (even if they are) of the people of the Book, until they pay the Jizya [religious tax] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
"Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him." (vol. 9, p. 45)
"Allah's Apostle said, 'Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords.'" (vol. 4, p. 55)
"Allah's Apostle said, 'I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me…" (vol. 4, p. 124)
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Last week, we spend our wedding anniversary in Al Maha Desert Resort, Dubai, UAE.
Al Maha is a sanctuary for man and beast alike, a nature reserve reviving the surprising desert life.
A photographers paradise!
Designed to reflect a bedouin encampment, Al Maha is full of contradictions. On one side it offers a great luxury with a personalized service, your own private pool, fine food and wine, a signature spa, while on the other hand it's a rare sanctuary in pristine, beauty, tranquillity and peace.
The main resort takes up less than two per cent of the wild expanse in which it is cradled. A total of 225 sqkm gated desert landscape. As part of the conservation initiative, endangered animals are being carefully reintroduced into the wild. A typical example is the beautiful Arabian Oryx which last century was almost extinct. Today, 200 Oryx's can be found in Al Maha while the worldwide population is estimated to be around 3000.
Only about 50km from our home in Dubai, Al Maha was surely a great escape from the busy city life.
For more Al Maha photos, please click on the photos above.
Al Maha Desert Resort website


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Caltrain's Baby Bullet trains, which have been credited with boosting Caltrain's ridership since 2005, could stop running July 1 in order to close a projected $30 million deficit in the agency's fiscal year 2012 budget, Caltrain staff proposed this week.
But the rail line's governing board, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, urged the agency's staff Thursday to find another $3.5 million to save the Baby Bullet service and preserve the current 86-train weekly schedule.
Caltrain has faced a daunting and financially precarious future for several months. On March 3, the board declared a fiscal emergency for the third year in a row after Caltrain's partner agencies -- San Mateo County's SamTrans, Santa Clara County's Valley Transportation Authority and San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency -- expressed doubt that they would be able to fund Caltrain to the degree they have in the past.
Caltrain staff warned that, as a result, no trains would run during weekends and weeknights, service south of San Jose would end, and up to seven Peninsula stations would close.
On Monday, the three partner agencies along with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission hammered together an eleventh-hour proposal to close only three stations and eliminate 10 train runs per week. In addition, 12 stations would close on the weekends.
The $97 million in revenues would come from fares ($47.4 million), partner agencies ($25.3 million), parking fees ($2.8 million), shuttle service ($1.1 million), rental income ($1.8 million), AB434 and grants ($6.7 million), other income ($2.9 million), and other sources ($9 million), according to agency staff.
The proposed budget includes increases in fares and parking fees, as well as reductions in staffing, according to Caltrain.
But board members were not satisfied that the proposed 76-train weekly schedule was the best the agency could offer.
Board member Adrienne Tissier, a San Mateo County supervisor and chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, made a motion Thursday to delay voting on the proposed budget till April 21 to give staff time to find an additional $3.5 million to preserve the current 86-train schedule, including Baby Bullet service.
"For $3.5 million, we can bring all of those trips back. I will not support cutting the Baby Bullet or those three stations. We have been able to craft almost all of it," a frustrated Tissier said.
"The system is not broken, but we're looking today to break it. It is a model for a system that runs beautifully," Tissier said.
Possible funding sources could include a right-of-way repayment to SamTrans from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority; funds allocated for electrification and the Dumbarton Rail Corridor; and regional money from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for maintenance that could be converted to operating funds, a Caltrain press release stated.
Board member Liz Kniss, a Santa Clara County supervisor, seconded the motion, which passed 9-0.
She contrasted taking the train with driving a car.
"This is a habit when one gets used to it. It's that kind of habit we want to encourage people to have," she said.
Other board members said the idea of making any cuts puts their stomachs in knots.
They said they did not want to jeopardize the existing system for short-term savings that might cause a greater budget gap in 2013. Furthermore, the board may ask the public in the future to approve a dedicated funding source for Caltrain, and their case for supporting the rail line would be hampered without a robust and viable system.
Caltrain Deputy CEO Chuck Harvey estimated that 1,000 riders could stop taking the train each weekend due to scaled-back service.
A recent annual ridership count showed Caltrain customers using the rail service at an all-time high. The count, conducted in February, revealed average weekday ridership at 41,442, an increase of nearly 13 percent over last year.
Some members of the public who addressed the board Thursday said they wanted the agency to devise a sustainable budget now.
But Kniss tried to soften those expectations, saying that all levels of government have had to find band-aids in the current economic climate.
"I don't think there is a sustainable budget" right now to build on, she said. Though one-time funding is a concern, it's more important to maintain a viable Caltrain system that can be the building block for a future rail line ringing the bay.
Former Palo Alto mayor Yoriko Kishimoto, who spearheads the grassroots group Friends of Caltrain, Wednesday morning expressed regret that the Baby Bullet service, which makes either six or eight stops, could be eliminated. The slower "limited express," which stops at 12 or 13 stations, would become commuters' fastest option.
"It's still faster than non-express trains, but it's a significant trade-off. The Baby Bullet is the reason Caltrain saw a skyrocketing of ridership. The savings in time is needed to make the train competitive with driving," she said.
Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn however, said that with the proposed 76-train schedule, all trains during the peak commute will be limited-express trains.
"This will give more riders more choices and may even reduce travel times for some people who are not able to take advantage of the current Baby Bullet service," she said.


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How Wondrous and Great
31243, Hymns, How Wondrous and Great, no. 267
1. How wondrous and great
Thy works, God of praise!
How just, King of Saints,
And true are thy ways!
Oh, who shall not fear thee
And honor thy name?
Thou only art holy,
Thou only supreme.
2. To nations long dark
Thy light shall be shown.
Their worship and vows
Shall come to thy throne.
Thy truth and thy judgments
Shall spread all abroad,
Till earth's ev'ry people
Confess thee their God.
Text: Henry U. Onderdonk, 1789-1858; based on Revelation 15:3-4
Music: Attr. to Johann Michael Haydn, 1737-1806


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text: Are there any good indicators that bees are about to swarm? I mean like what trees are blooming then, or do they swarm before the trees bloom? I have all kinds of fruit trees and berries. It'd be handy to know when to expect the most swarming. I'm planning to put up at least 7 swarm traps. Some will be 30 miles away. thanks.


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Garza's no-hit bid spoiled as Crew drops series
New addition takes bid into seventh before decisive solo home run
MILWAUKEE -- While Matt Garza and Aaron Harang worked dueling no-hitters into the seventh inning at Miller Park on Wednesday, one wondered whether Garza was trying to earn all $50 million in his first Brewers start, or whether Harang was trying to turn back the clock in his debut for the Braves.
Both men finally faltered, but it was Garza who faltered first. He surrendered a two-out home run to Chris Johnson in the seventh inning that sent Harang and the Braves to a 1-0 win in the finale of an entertaining opening series at Miller Park.
"One mistake and that's it," Garza said. "This is the big leagues. You have to pay for things like that."
The price was a tough-luck loss in Garza's official Brewers debut, despite holding the Braves to only one run and two hits in eight electric innings, with a walk and seven strikeouts. He needed only 90 pitches to get that far, but he was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning because the Brewers so desperately needed offense.
They moved a runner to third base against Harang with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Ryan Braun was stranded there and Milwaukee never threatened again. In the three-game series against a Braves pitching staff battered by injuries, the Brewers scored four total runs and batted .184.
"I'm disappointed in that," manager Ron Roenicke said. "I think our offense is going to score runs and when we don't, I'm going to be disappointed. Sometimes you look at the other pitcher; I've seen Harang before and this was really a good ballgame for him. ... We're not an on-base team, so we need to swing it."
Said Brewers left fielder Logan Schafer, who had the first of the Brewers' two hits: "There's no panic in here about what our offense can do."
All of Atlanta's offense came on one swing from Johnson, who hit a low fastball from Garza over the left-field fence and into the Brewers bullpen with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Before that, Garza had retired 20 of the 21 batters he'd faced.
"The ball I hit was probably the only ball he missed out over the plate," Johnson said.
The Brewers were about to get going against Harang. Schafer singled leading off the bottom of the seventh and was erased on a fielder's-choice grounder by Braun, who scooted to third base on an Aramis Ramirez single. But Braun was frozen on Jonathan Lucroy's infield popout, and Braves reliever Luis Avilan retired pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks on a routine bounce-out to preserve Atlanta's advantage.
Harang won his seventh career decision against the Brewers by allowing only those two hits and no runs in 6 2/3 innings, with a walk and three strikeouts.
As the zeros started dotting the scoreboard, Harang and Garza were both aware of what was happening.
"You try not to pay attention to that stuff, but I looked up there after six and saw zeros all the way across on both sides and it's like, OK, wow," Harang said.
Coming off an uneven Spring Training, Garza had no-hit stuff from his very first pitch, a 94-mph fastball up and away to Jason Heyward that went for a groundout to second base. Twenty-four of Garza's first 30 pitches were strikes. He didn't allow a baserunner until Freddie Freeman worked a seven-pitch walk with two outs in the fourth inning, but it was not Garza nibbling. When he retired Johnson on a groundout to end that inning with a no-hitter intact, Garza had thrown fastballs for 38 of his first 46 pitches. A handful touched 96 mph.
The only hits he allowed were Johnson's home run in the seventh inning and a harmless Gerald Laird single in the eighth.
"Garza threw the ball really well. You could argue he threw the ball better than Harang did, and it's a shame we couldn't put more people on base and [score] more runs for him," Schafer said. "If he pitches like that all year, that's just going to be -- he's going to have a Cy Young year."
According to STATS, Inc., Garza became only the second pitcher in Brewers history to pitch at least eight innings and surrender two or fewer hits in his debut with the club. The other was Steve Woodard, who allowed one hit in eight innings against Roger Clemens and the Blue Jays on July 28, 1997. Odell Jones earns an honorable mention. He had appeared for the Brewers in relief before limiting the Indians to one hit in 8 1/3 innings in his first Brewers start on May 28, 1988.
"I just came in telling myself, 'I'm going to attack,'" Garza said. "I know they're great hitters and they've got a nice lineup, but I just had a lot more confidence in my stuff than in them." The Brewers still have enjoyed only one no-hitter in their first 45 years as a franchise -- left-hander Juan Nieves' five-walk, seven-strikeout win in Baltimore on April 15, 1987. Nieves is now the pitching coach in Boston, which happens to be the Brewers' next stop on the schedule following an off-day Thursday.
Garza entered the season with one no-hitter to his credit. He threw the Tampa Bay Rays' first no-no in franchise history on July 26, 2010, when he faced the minimum 27 batters against the Tigers in a 5-0 victory. Following tenures with the Cubs and Rangers, he signed a four-year contract with the Brewers on Jan. 26 that represented the richest free-agent contract in Milwaukee's franchise history.
On Wednesday afternoon, he was asked whether he'd ever been part of dueling no-hitters that deep into a game, and Garza had a surprising answer.
"Yeah," Garza said. "I faced [Roy] 'Doc' Halladay like 12 times. I've faced CC Sabathia. I've faced all good guys. You just tip your cap, man. It was one hell of a game, and I hope fans enjoyed it."


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Named scholarships
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If you are interested in making a significant contribution to student success, please consider a gift to the MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND MOVING FORWARD scholarship campaign, which is the University's most important initiative. You may also establish a named scholarship at The University of Akron, which can be created to honor a living person, in memory of a loved one, or to contribute to the growth of an area of study.
To learn more, please contact the Department of Development at 330-972-7238.
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Students who want to apply for scholarships should visit the scholarship page on the Financial Aid site.
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Search for a Named Scholarship
Gelin, Margaret T. and Bruce R. Scholarship
Margaret Tucker Gelin grew up in Akron, Ohio, and is a graduate of Buchtel High School. Her parents also grew up in Akron and both attended The University of Akron during the Great Depression. Her father, Charles S. Tucker Jr., graduated in 1935, but her mother, Julia Christine Harrington, was unable to complete college due to lack of funds. Their daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Bruce R. Gelin, have established this scholarship in the interest of providing deserving students with financial assistance in completing their college educations.
The Margaret T. and Bruce R. Gelin Scholarship will be offered to full-time undergraduate University of Akron students who are Ohio residents. Students must have a 3.0 or better GPA at the University and must maintain this standard to remain eligible for the Gelin Award. The recipient(s) must also demonstrate financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Preference will be given to students in the arts and sciences, education, engineering, and health professions. Scholarship award recipients will be determined by the Scholarship Committee of the University of Akron.


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Pro Bono News
Nomination Deadline for the ABA Pro Bono Publico Awards is March 8th
Monday, March 04, 2013
- ABA Center for Pro Bono
The ABA Pro Bono Publico Awards, given each year at the ABA Annual Meeting, highlight individuals and organizations who demonstrate outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged. Nominations are currently being accepted until this Friday, March 8. Please consider nominating an eligible attorney or institution this year. Nomination forms are online.


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One of your members earnestly reveals the plight of her inactive and overweight 9-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. She fears that if she doesn't do something soon, her kids will be doomed to a lifetime of obesity. She then asks why you don't offer fitness programs for children.
At first you want to tell her that she and her husband, who is also a member, are setting bad examples by both being overweight and only occasionally dropping by the club. Both parents have revealed that their busy schedules prevent them from better usage.
But she isn't the only one who has complained. Other parents have told you about how schools are slashing physical education classes due to budget cuts. Apparently, the local school board has deemed that there are more important things for a school to spend money on — and a child to spend time on — than good health.
So the question comes back to you. Because of the high demand for children's programming, why don't most clubs offer it? It is easy to assume that the demand would be enormous with childhood obesity at an all-time high.
While club owners should make every feasible effort to counteract the seemingly insurmountable problem of childhood obesity, it's important to know the difference between need and demand. To answer your member's question, you tell her that you've offered different programs, but the attendance quickly faded to almost nothing. You also mention that several equipment companies have created lines of children's equipment, but none have taken off. You even reference the bankruptcy of Discovery Zone, a national chain filled with playscapes and different apparatuses designed to get children active. Even McDonald's tried a similar concept but gave up after a couple of locations. Other companies have come and gone trying to license children's programs for clubs. They took a lot of space, and cash flow (demand) did not warrant the expense of such space and payroll.
The potential for children's fitness is enormous, yet solving the problem for a club is equally problematic. Studies have shown that children will not follow a structured equipment routine. The parents may be able to get them to a few classes, but after a certain period of time, the children will want to stop going. Why?
First and foremost, children are being reprogrammed at younger and younger ages to be inactive. Newton's law of physics states that a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest. The same principle applies to the human body. If humans don't move around and exercise on a consistent basis, working out can be an uncomfortable — even painful — experience. Due to technology, we use our bodies less than at any other time in history. Initially, this was just a problem for adults, but with the rising popularity of sedentary activities such as surfing the Web, watching TV or playing video games, children have become so inactive that even movement for them becomes uncomfortable. Just like adults, children are now so out of shape that most activity is met with complaints and excuses. Until they are about five years old, children are usually bundles of energy, but when they reach school age, more of their time is filled with inactive experiences. Plus, they see exercise as uncomfortable, boring and embarrassing (yes, some children stay active by playing sports, but unfortunately, these children are in the minority). So trying to get a child to follow a fitness routine may be met with complete opposition.
However, hope seems to be just around the corner. Now it appears that newer interactive games — combining video games and technology with movement — will have a positive effect on the health of children. The good news is that these games don't take much space in a health club. Now a child can play tennis on a TV screen by moving to hit the ball. Other games are coming out that have similar movements associated with "playing" the game or "dancing" a movement. This tricks the children into increasing their heart rate and getting some exercise. Ultimately, some movement may lead to more and more movement.
If filling your health club with children's fitness programs has a poor track record, consider a different approach. By investing in interactive games that get kids moving, you can help prepare these children for a lifetime of health club membership.
Bruce Carter is the president of Optimal Fitness Design Systems International, a club design firm that has created about $420 million worth of clubs in 45 states and 26 countries.


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Young Londoners Misguided Idea of Coolness!
Taking a stroll through various parts of this vibrant city of London I couldn't help but to notice a troubling sight. This first came to my attention almost two years ago.
Being naturally observant, I began to realise that there was a new 'stance', a very bad one, among the younger generation in the city. In the 1980s there was the b-boy stance; from the US, which was very cool. In the 1990s when Hip-hop ruled-and still does- the airwaves it became mandatory that Rappers grab hold of their 'Tool' as many times as possible during a performance. There was a barrage of disquiet about that. To allay these concerns, rather than to grab themselves inappropriately Rappers began to place their 'mic-free' hand on their lap while performing.
What is happening now beggars belief; youngsters are walking around town with –sometimes- both their hands thrust inside their pants! It is quite a common site in London. Occasionally I can't help myself but to gesture at them, and if they could lip-read it would be clear that what I'm saying is 'what the hell are you doing'?!
It is such an annoying thing to come across, presumably, done in the name of fashion/style/swagger. For the pre-teens I would cut them some slack, they are just little kids, but for those in their late teens and early twenties there is no excuse for this transgression.
In the urban scene we in the UK-like most of the world-tend to look across the pond to see what is happening on the US side of things. I remember when athletes and other African American celebrities started wearing tattoos and body piercing it was replicated in this country by black people, and yet hitherto these trends were associated with white heavy-metal rockers, Punks and Skinheads. What I am trying to uncover is where did the UK youngsters get this silliness from? If they are doing it for the ladies then we need the girls to speak out against it.
One such girl is Catia; and this is what she had to say about it:
Living in London has many advantages; such as multi-cultural communities and diversity in take outs; yes I love to eat, even though I look like a super-model who starves herself deliberately, to maintain the industry look. Girls should never starve themselves for anything or anyone.
The streets are so alive with lots of attractions and distractions; once you step out of your cribs you wonder where the time went.
However, with its benefits come the disadvantages, the so called gangsters that hang around street corners with hooded jumpers and track-suit bottoms hanging as lows as to their knees. In general, [they] usually mischievously glance at those who cross their paths and would not hesitate to start trouble at every opportunity that presents itself. Unfortunately, that is not enough for them; every time you see a pack of "hood-rats" (as we call them here in London) at least 50% of them have their hands down (inside), their pants. I believe this became a trend because there seems to be an association between having the hands in front of their underwear and looking deviant. I believe this trend to be plainly idiotic because it does not make them look "gangster" but instead you get the impression some of them may have contracted an STI,(Sexually Transmitted Infection) and as a result have an itchy situation that is bothering them down there. It's an absurd and an incredibly unhygienic way to conduct oneself. I am now reluctant to 'high-five' a lot of young guys knowing where they rest their hands for most part of the day.
As a female, I believe this act of disrespect and poor hygiene to be unnecessary and if I only but glanced at my male partner and I saw that he is trying to do the same thing, I would walk pass him and pretend that I don't know him. It is uncomfortable to see some grown men embarrassing themselves like that. This is a clear evidence of women maturing before men. You wouldn't see women doing that on the streets so why do men do it? In my opinion it starts at socialisation and if parents tell their children from a young age that hygiene is important and that they should be themselves and not pretend to be a "bad boy" because of peer pressure then it would be easier on us women when trying to find a decent partner, as we wouldn't have to witness such things. It's bad enough to see men urinating on street corners; now we also have to be subjected to seeing them putting their hands out of site and looking at women while biting their lips and whistling as if we are pieces of meat just for them to feast on.
I believe that positive role models in the media would also do well to speak out against this disgraceful immature act. Hopefully this trend like other negative ones would be over soon.
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I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...


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jeffnaz necesitaba un nuevo diseño de banner publicitario y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 81 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
Motor Vehicle Services (motorvehicleservices.com)
When I run a contest I'm very good about providing quick feedback with details so you have an excellent chance to improve your design and win the cash prize.
The banner ads are for an auto warranty company who helps families achieve financial peace of mind by helping them protect their cars from high repair costs.
This is NOT a branding campaign. I need banners designed that will get visitors to click and go to our website for a FREE ONLINE QUOTE.
You have permission to use the .psd logo file and change/shrink the logo to fit your design. I do not want the company name to be the most dominating piece of the banner because this isn't a branding campaign. Our goal is to get visitors clicking our banner so they go to our website.
new and used car owners
Need a banner ad in the following sizes:
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Please use the color palette associated with the website and I prefer images of people versus things (like cars). Using people with cars is OK.
If you have a better idea for ad copy you have permission to use your judgement. These banners will be used all over the Internet to push traffic to our site.
I uploaded the logo in .psd format so you could have the freedom to use it with your best judgement....(it is being registered and trademarked with the US Government, so please do not copy it for other design projects or you'll face legal issues...thank you kindly!)


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Clinical Trials
Multi-center Comparison of Fluconazole (UK-49,858) and Amphotericin B as Treatment for Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Information provided by (Responsible Party)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
First received: November 2, 1999
Last updated: March 11, 2011
Last Verified: July 1991
History of Changes
To compare the safety and effectiveness of fluconazole (FCZ) and amphotericin B (AMB), alone
or in combination with flucytosine (FLC), as treatment for acute cryptococcal meningitis in
patients who have not been treated previously or who have relapsed after a previous
successful treatment.
Cryptococcal meningitis is an important cause of disease and death among patients with AIDS. Usually AMB is given either alone or with FLC to patients with this infection, but these treatments are not always effective and both have toxic effects. Animal studies and preliminary studies in humans show that FCZ is active in cryptococcal meningitis and suggest that it may be less toxic than either AMB or FLC.
Meningitis, Cryptococcal
HIV Infections
Drug : Flucytosine
Drug : Fluconazole
Drug : Amphotericin B
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Multi-center Comparison of Fluconazole (UK-49,858) and Amphotericin B as Treatment for Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis
Further study details as provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):
|Primary Completion Date:
|July 1991 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Detailed Description:
Cryptococcal meningitis is an important cause of disease and death among patients with AIDS.
Usually AMB is given either alone or with FLC to patients with this infection, but these
treatments are not always effective and both have toxic effects. Animal studies and
preliminary studies in humans show that FCZ is active in cryptococcal meningitis and suggest
that it may be less toxic than either AMB or FLC.
Patients accepted into the study are randomly assigned to FCZ or AMB. Patients assigned to FCZ take FCZ by mouth daily for 10 weeks. Patients assigned to AMB are given intravenous injections of AMB daily for 6-10 weeks. Non-AIDS patients assigned to AMB also take FLC by mouth daily. The use of FLC in patients with AIDS is decided on an individual basis. Patients with AIDS who respond satisfactorily to FCZ receive maintenance therapy to prevent relapse for an additional 12 months. Patients with AIDS who respond to AMB may qualify for another Pfizer Central Research protocol. Patients without AIDS who respond to therapy are observed for 6 months for relapse. During therapy, samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (by lumbar puncture) are taken periodically in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug treatments and to identify possible toxic effects.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria
Concurrent Medication:
- Immunosuppressant therapy.
- Cyclosporin plasma concentrations should be monitored and appropriate dosage adjustments made when used with amphotericin B or fluconazole.
- Antiviral therapy.
- Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
- Treatment of intercurrent opportunistic infection as long as no investigational agent, or approved agent for an investigational indication, is used.
- Antipyretics, hydrocortisone, or meperidine to prevent or ameliorate side effects associated with amphotericin B.
- Radiation therapy for mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.
- Written informed consent obtained from the patient or from the patient's legal guardian.
- One of the following:
- (1) Tentative identification of Cryptococcus neoformans in culture of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results of baseline cultures need not be available when therapy is begun, but therapy is discontinued if the baseline CSF culture is later found to be negative for C. neoformans, or (2) Clinical and CSF findings (cell count, protein, glucose) compatible with cryptococcal meningitis plus one of the following:
- (a) Positive CSF India ink examination, (b) Culture or biopsy evidence of extraneural cryptococcal infection, (c) Positive serum of CSF cryptococcal antigen test, or increase in titer for previously treated patients with suspected relapse, or (d) Biopsy evidence of central nervous system cryptococcal infection.
- Treatment status of either no prior systemic antifungal therapy for cryptococcosis or relapse after prior therapy. The success of prior therapy must have been documented by negative CSF culture at the end of therapy.
- Successful prior therapy for cryptococcosis, but no more than 1 mg/kg/week amphotericin B.
- Immunosuppressant therapy.
- Antiviral therapy.
- Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
- Acute or chronic meningitis based on any etiology other than cryptococcosis.
- History of allergy to or intolerance of imidazoles, or amphotericin B.
- Moderate or severe liver disease defined as any one or more of the following:
- SGOT or SGPT > 5 x upper limit of normal, total bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dl, prothrombin time > 5 seconds over control, or alkaline phosphatase > 2 x upper limit of normal.
- Comatose patients.
- Drugs with low therapeutic ratios that undergo hepatic metabolism may not be used with fluconazole until possible drug interactions have been clarified.
- Coumarin-type anticoagulants.
- Oral hypoglycemics.
- Barbiturates.
- Immunostimulants.
- Investigational drugs or approved (licensed) drugs for investigational indications.
- Systemic antifungal agent other than the assigned study drug.
- More than 1 mg/kg/week amphotericin B.
Concurrent Treatment:
Patients must have:
Prior Medication:
Allowed within 4 weeks of study entry:
Exclusion Criteria
Co-existing Condition:
Concurrent Medication:
Concurrent Treatment:
Lymphocyte replacement.
Prior Medication:
Excluded within 4 weeks of study entry:
Contacts and LocationsChoosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision.Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00000708
Locations Show More
|United States, Florida
|Univ of Miami School of Medicine
|Miami, Florida, United States, 331361013
|United States, Louisiana
|Tulane Univ School of Medicine
|New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
|United States, New York
|Bronx Municipal Hosp Ctr/Jacobi Med Ctr
|Bronx, New York, United States, 10461
|Mem Sloan - Kettering Cancer Ctr
|New York, New York, United States, 10021
|United States, North Carolina
|Univ of North Carolina
|Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 275997215
|United States, South Carolina
|Julio Arroyo
|West Columbia, South Carolina, United States, 29169
Sponsors and CollaboratorsNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
|Study Chair:
|Armstrong D
More Information
|Responsible Party:
|National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00000708 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Protocol 159
|Project 056
|Investigator 556
|Study First Received:
|November 2, 1999
|Last Updated:
|March 11, 2011
Keywords provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
Injections, Intravenous
Cryptococcus neoformans
Drug Therapy, Combination
Administration, Oral
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Amphotericin B
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Meningitis, Cryptococcal
Amphotericin B
Liposomal amphotericin B
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on May 24, 2020
This information is provided by ClinicalTrials.gov.


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2011 was a great year in the search for exoplanets, and it looks like 2012 is shaping up to be pretty fruitful, as well. Yesterday morning, just four days into the new year, astronomers announced the discovery of four massive new alien worlds, each one orbiting a star of its own.
And here's something else that bodes well for exoplanet-hunting in the year ahead: these new planets were discovered not by NASA's hugely successful Kepler space telescope, but by the Hungarian-made Automated Telescope Network (HATNet) Project — a set of six, wide-field telescopes based at two observatories right here on Earth. Remember: in a little less than 3 years, the Kepler mission has quadrupled the number of worlds known to exist beyond our solar system; relative to findings made by Kepler, Earth-based discoveries like the one announced yesterday are actually pretty rare.
The four new planets — dubbed HAT-P-34b, HAT-P-35b, HAT-P-36b and HAT-P-37b — are all what astronomers refer to as "hot Jupiters." As their name suggests, hot Jupiters are gas giants that are typically at least as massive as the Jupiter in our own solar system, with one key difference: hot Jupiters orbit their parent stars at a much closer distance, hence "hot" Jupiter. (Another name for a hot Jupiter is "roaster planet").
Details of the discovery have been posted to arXiv.
[arXiv via Discovery News]
Artist's depiction of a hot Jupiter via NASA


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Join us here as we talk about the game, live as it happens! Help us cheer on the STEELERS as they take on the hated divisional rival Bengals! This is a HUGE game for both teams and the Steelers need to take the Bengals out! This one will be a typical hard fought AFC North matchup, but this time the reeling Bengals will be desperate as their playoff chances will take a huge hit if they lose this one.
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, OH.
Monday Night Football on ESPN, 8:30pm EST
The Steelers Talk section will be closed just before kickoff and will reopen immediately following the game.


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"Somehow we have developed this large contingent of know-it-all baseball fans who bay like wounded coyotes at any mention of wins, losses, RBI or batting average. I never know whether I should blame myself for this or not.." (Bill James)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Pellas OnThe Pirates: Make Mine Pomeranz!
1) While his low 90s, average fastball velocity is a bit of a concern, he does have an exceptional---and very rare---breaking pitch: a knuckle-curve. To my knowledge there are very few pitchers in all of big league history who have mastered the knuckle-curve, and the two most prominent, Burt Hooton and Mike Mussina, were both righthanders. The surprise factor of this pitch all by itself should be a significant weapon, and Pomeranz's other pitches, while not great to this point in time, were good enough to make him this season's SEC Pitcher of the Year. Speaking of which....
2) Like Paul Maholm, he comes from an elite college power conference, meaning he is at the top of the heap in terms of organized amateur competition. Most observers consider the SEC to be equivalent to High Class A or perhaps even Double A, which of course means he'll get to Pittsburgh faster than a high school arm---of which we have plenty from last year's draft and, I expect, we'll get plenty more this year. What's wrong with picking the occasional collegiate pitcher, provided they're not already used up or ready to break down?
3) If he gets here by 2012---certainly do-able given his pedigree if he stays healthy---wouldn't it be great to add him to our first big wave of all-at-once homegrown prospects? Provided we continue to draft and pay for overslot high school and international arms further down in the draft, what's wrong with picking Pomeranz at the top? Didn't we follow the same strategy last season with Tony Sanchez? Yes, we did.
I'd be very happy with Pomeranz. Manny Machado, of course, would be a "best available player" pick where Pomeranz would be more of a "need" pick, but Machado is going to be another drama queen signing---if he can even be signed, since he has Darth Sidious as his agent---and in any case it's not a hard and fast or night and day distinction. In other words, it's not like you have the chance to pick Stephen Strasburg but take Daniel Moskos instead. (Speaking of Moskos, by the way, he is doing very well at Double-A Altoona and looks like at least a seviceable major league reliever before much longer.)
The bottom line for me is that I have no problem whatsoever with a mild overdraft at the top of the draft---which even I concede is probably true of Pomeranz---AS LONG AS the team continues to draft and pay over-slot for more projectible arms and players further down. Whatever else is true of the current ownership and front office, they have demonstrated beyond all doubt that they are committed to this very sound draft and talent acquisition strategy and that they are willing to back it up with cash (believe it or not!). The Pirates should stay the course, take Pomeranz, and get ready for him and Brad Lincoln at the top of the rotation by 2012.
(GW and Will had a little chat about the draft, and we agree on the suits' way of operating: pick the more prepared college guys first, sprinkle in some high-level, high risk prep kids, and overslot for them as the budget allows. It's a good formula.)
7 comments:
Who are "most observers"? I can't remember anyone even comparing the SEC to AA OR High A, let alone saying that they are equal. The whole idea behind taking Pomeranz, to avoid a better/more expensive player, is insane!!! Who said that the Pirates can't take the more expensive, higher upside player AND pay over slot to prep talent later in the draft. After shitting the bed on Moskos and Sano, they better shell out some cash to get Grade A talent. Any Pirate fan who makes excuses for this leadership team not taking the best player available has no right to ask for a team that ever wins more than 70 games.
- June 4, 2010 at 11:43 PM
- Ron Ieraci said...
Hey Anon - thanks for the note. The question is determining the best player available; how do you compare high school kids with college players? It's a tough call.
Tim Beckham was the #1 pick in 2008; he's playing High A ball now. The guy taken behind him, Pedro Alvarez, should be at PNC this summer.
There are exceptions, but overall a college kid has a much greater chance of coming up through the system and helping the team in a quicker time frame, maybe 2-3 years instead of the five it took McCutchen. And the Bucs do need bodies now.
Still, an argument can be made either way, but a prep player is almost always a greater risk than a college player in the draft.
And even with all the hype the high school kids have gotten, 2010 isn't considered a very strong draft class, which always makes the prep players look a little better.
As far as college leagues versus minor leagues, the elite players (like Pomeranz) from the SEC or ACC are usually considered to be High A, sometimes AA, ready when they're drafted, not the entire league.
Sorry if that wasn't clear in the blog piece, but obviously 95% of the college kids aren't going on to the pros when they graduate.
- June 5, 2010 at 12:54 AM
- WilliamJPellas said...
It's also a myth that the current front office doesn't or won't spend on acquiring talent. It's true that the Pirates under Bob Nutting don't spend on established major league veterans, certainly, and that is frustrating, no doubt. However---and this is established fact, you can look it up---the Pirates have outspent the universe on the draft for two years running. No other team, repeat, no other team in all of major league baseball has spent more on the draft over the past two seasons than the Pirates. I say this in the interest of truth, and I say it against my personal dislike of Neal Huntington, who I find to be rather unpleasant and apparently lacking in people skills. However, there is no doubt about his draft strategy as far as I am concerned.
Further, just spending money does not, in and of itself, equal winning baseball on the field at the major league level. That is true regardless of whether we are talking about overpaying for high school or collegiate or international amateurs, or whether we are talking about overpaying for established major league players. Look at the New York Mets in recent years, who have spent literally tens of millions of dollars on ex-Pirate Oliver Perez, among many other personnel gaffes. Perez is barely hanging on in the big leagues at all and is a good candidate for an unconditional release, and yet many fans were ready to burn Pirates ownership in effigy when the team traded him away. Good organizations are good at evaluating talent and allocating their resources---whether few or plentiful. Bad organizations are not. It's that simple.
Note, also, that the Pirates have drafted collegians with their first pick in each of the Neal Huntington drafts while also paying overslot for high schoolers (most of whom had previously committed to college) further down in the draft. The blog piece was perfectly clear that that is the strategy we are advocating. We are NOT advocating being cheap for its own sake, not at all. If you had read the piece carefully, you would have seen that that was the case.
- June 5, 2010 at 11:34 AM
- WilliamJPellas said...
As for the High A or Double A comparison, it's not just that 95% of collegians don't make it to the majors. It's probably close to if not higher than that percentage for professional minor leaguers, as well. That is, the vast majority of players, whether they are in college or in the minors, are never going to sniff the bigs. That's true whether we're talking about the SEC and Division I college baseball, or whether we're talking about professional A or AA ball.
The statement I made was that the elite conferences in college baseball are probably roughly equivalent to High A or perhaps Double A in terms of the top to bottom aggregate skill of all the players involved. Most good college players can step right into pro ball at a fairly high level; the elite players sometimes skip the minors altogether, players like Mike Leake. Others have a very abbreviated minor league tour, like Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen. The bulk of good college prospects probably start out in High A. Thus, my statement that elite college power conferences are probably roughly equivalent to High A professional leagues, perhaps Double A. But High A for sure.
I'll see if I can find some scouts' comments comparing the caliber of play in major college conferences with that in the professional minor leagues. But I stand by my piece, every word.
- June 5, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Great analysis -- I see what you are saying on comparing elite SEC talent with AA talent, and in that light I agree. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Great webpage.
- June 5, 2010 at 12:03 PM
Though unlikely, becasue this class isn't as strong as say next year's, do you think that the Pirates are at the point now where they can combine their 2008 and 2009 draft plans to make a draft that would combine the grade A talent like a Machado as well as putting another 4-6 million into eating up top prep talent that drop later? This would change the face of the draft bc the Bucco's would be spending 10 - 12 million on one draft class. They have been spending money, i agree, but I think this is an even more agressive step. As fans, why cant we ask for that after nearly 2 decades of hell? Of course, this is based on the idea that the talent is there - which it may or may not be this year. Thanks again.
- June 5, 2010 at 12:09 PM
- Ron Ieraci said...
Anon - if they go with a HS guy, I'd have to go with Machado, because I think they have an infusion of young arms to evaluate from 2009 (see the "Sunday Morning" post) and could use an everyday difference-maker.
As for the budget, if my memory serves, they spent nearly $11M in 2008 and $8M in 2009, both top five for MLB teams. I agree that they have to keep the pot at $9M or so until they refill the system, which is slowly recovering from the Littlefield years.
Even if this administration fizzles, at least they'll leave the next crew with a viable minor league organization.
- June 6, 2010 at 9:45 AM


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Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh led from the front as his four-wicket haul brought Punjab right back in the hunt on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Saurashtra in Rajkot on Saturday.
Harbahajan grabbed four for 60 ---his best figures in the current Ranji season as Saurashtra were bowled out for paltry 170 which meant Punjab were required to chase 349 in 109 overs as the hosts had a commendable 178 run first innings lead.
The visitors were 45 for two, needing another 304 runs with eight wickets in hand. In-form players Jiwanjot Singh and Taruwar Kohli were dismissed by left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat.
However Punjab's chances will depend on how the trio of Ravi Inder Singh, Mandeep Singh and Uday Kaul negotiate the spin twins offie Kamlesh Makvana and left-arm spinner Vishal Joshi.
Punjab made a spirited comeback after being dismissed for 299 in the first innings with Harbhajan opening the bowling attack alongside Siddharth Kaul, who snapped three for 53.
It was the senior spinner who removed the stodgy veteran Shitanshu Kotak (53), Aarpit Vasavada (6) and Kamlesh Makvana in one of his spells as Saurashtra from a relatively comfortable position of 102 for one lost seven wickets for the addition of 28 runs.
With the fourth day's track offering some help, Harbhajan got appreciable turn and bounce as none of the Saurashtra batsmen looked comfortable during the 26 overs that he sent down.
Only first innings centurion Sheldon Jackson (44 no) offered some resistance but that wasn't good enough with as many as seven home team batsmen failing to register double digit scores.
Kotak (53) and Sagar Jogiyani gave the hosts a good start in the second innings putting 50 runs before Jogiyani was dismissed by left-arm spinner Bipul Sharma.
Rahul Dave started off well during his innings of 23 but became Harbhajan's first wicket after being adjudged leg before for 23.
Saurashtra were at that stage 102 for two from where Harbhajan and Kaul ran through the hosts.
Brief scores: Saurashtra 477 and 170 (Shitansu Kotak 53, Sheldon Jackson 44 not out, Harbhajan Singh 4-60, Siddharth Kaul 3-53) vs Punjab 299 and 45-2 (Ravi Inder Singh batting 10, Mandeep Singh batting 11, Jaydev Unadkat 2-20).


text:
If You Could Choose Just One Dumb Question...
A few weeks ago, I was looking around my apartment for something really sharp with which I could gouge out my eyes, or perhaps carve my initials in my spleen. I couldn't find anything, so to produce the same effect, I went on a date with an idiot.
I can't stand stupidity. And I like it even less when I'm paying for its dinner. Yet I have a knack for dating it. I think it's less that I am attracted to stupidity (trust me, I'm not), and more that the majority of people out there possess the quality.
I can't fault the stupid people completely. They were raised to be stupid. They were raised to ask stupid questions, thinking it would help them get to know other people. They were raised to create bizarre scenarios where every answer is pointless and then quiz their dates on the minutia of their answers until their heads explode.
"So if we were to get married, and then I died, and you got remarried, and then you both died, would you spend more time in heaven with me or her?"
"Well honey, that's a...POP!"
A date once asked me what I'd bring if I were stranded on an island. My answer was simple - a boat. She pointed out that I didn't know how to drive a boat. I countered by saying I didn't know how to drive an island either, and I'd probably have better luck with the boat. She insisted I answer her for real. But since I pride myself on being practical, I asked her which island.
"If it were Staten Island, I'd bring a ferry schedule. If it were Long Island, maybe I'd bring a diner, some hair gel, an attitude. And if it were Fantasy Island, I'd bring condoms for all the cheap sluts I'd bang. I mean, who knows where they've been! I want to be safe for you, honey."
So we broke up. Which freed me to date the next girl, who asked me which vegetable I could be, if I could choose any one vegetable.
"Um, what?"
"If you could be a vegetable, which would you be?"
I don't recall ever actively wanting to be a vegetable, so I wasn't sure how to answer. Maybe there are other people who secretly dream of being carrots or asparagus or kelp, but I have never thought through the consequences of being a salad.
"I kind of want to be a ninja," I said. "Is that a vegetable?"
"Come on," she said. "If you could be a vegetable - any vegetable - which would you be?"
"Oh, ANY vegetable? Well, then I'd be a pirate."
She was getting angry. I think it was because if you've ever seen what a pirate wears, you'd know that pirates are much closer to the fruit family (badum!). She seemed to want a clear answer - but I didn't even fully know what my choices were. I thought back to 4th grade when we learned the difference between fruits and vegetables. Mrs. Hershenhous (whose name I could not accurately spell in 4th grade or now) said that if it has seeds, it's usually a fruit. Using this method, I chose my vegetable.
"Fine," I said. "A seedless ninja."
It was then that she claimed I wasn't taking her seriously. And that pissed me off.
I was 23 years old, a published author and a graduate of an Ivy League school, and she wouldn't date me unless I told her what vegetable I'd be. And I wasn't taking HER seriously.
And apparently I wasn't, because she demanded I pick a vegetable.
"Any vegetable?" I asked
"Yes, any vegetable," she responded.
"Fine," I said. "Your uncle Alan."
So we broke up.
Since then, I've dated girls who have asked me what book I'd like to live in, if I'd rather be blind or an amputee, and would I prefer world peace or to cure all diseases (because apparently, the two are mutually exclusive).
"Well," I said, "it would be awfully difficult for me to do either, since I am just a piece of kelp, stranded on an island with my future dead wife."
So we broke up. Which is too bad, because I really liked her. I liked her so much that even tried carving one of those hearts with our initials.
Too bad I couldn't find anything around the apartment that was sharp enough.


text:
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Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Outdoor Ottoman
designed by Charles and Ray Eames
At A Glance:
Sharing the same graceful lines of the original Aluminum Group, the Eames Aluminum Ottoman is now suitable for outdoor use! The strong, lightweight aluminum frame keeps things in check while still making it easy to move around, and the durable weave fabric is up to the task of standing up to the elements. A lounge chair is lovely, but a lounge chair with an ottoman more or less defines the pinnacle of seating comfort.
Coordinate the Ottoman and the Eames Aluminum Outdoor Lounge Chair for a perfect match.
See the entire Herman Miller outdoor collection.
What's To Like:
When people talk about "lounging around," they're talking about the kind of lounging where you've got your feet up and a cool drink in your hand. Maybe with a good book, or a game on the radio, and a nice breeze fanning your hair. And you can't do that without an ottoman! The Eames Aluminum Outdoor Ottoman not only looks good - it'll also be outside for you where you need it.
What's Not to Like:
The material isn't as refined as leather - you'll never find an outdoor ottoman with leather, so that may not be a drawback for you.
The Bottom Line:
The Eames Aluminum Outdoor Ottoman is well balanced, richly appointed, and an icon of the mid-century modern era. It's immediately recognizable for the enduring quality of its design, and will be an heirloom-quality feature anywhere you put it - on the patio, or indoors.
- Overall: 18.75" h x 21.5" w x 21" d
- Lightweight, outdoor-ready aluminum frame
- Footrest surface is made from quick-drying polypropylene/copolyester
- Made from 64 percent recycled materials, and is itself 95 percent recyclable
The Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Outdoor Ottoman is also known by the following manufacturer Item Number: EA523
Design Story
In 1953, industrialist J. Irwin Miller commissioned a remarkable triumvirate to create a new house for him and his wife in his home town of Columbus, Indiana: Eero Saarinen designed the building, Alexander Girard masterminded the interiors, and Dan Kiley handled the landscape architecture. Noting a lack of outdoor furniture that had the desired look, Girard turned to his friends Charles and Ray Eames.
The Eameses chose aluminum for their chairs. It made Charles slightly nervous: "When you've committed yourself to casting, you've committed yourself to the kind of freedom that can really give you the willies," he told the magazine Interiors in 1958. "At that moment you find yourself face to face with sculpture, and it can scare the pants off you."
Scared or not, the Eameses arrived at a design that included a fabric seat slung between two aluminum Ls held in tension by cross-braces, which the designers called "antlers." The first chairs used polyester—also new at the time—developed with the textiles division at Herman Miller. But the new material didn't stand up well to either heavy weather or heavy use, and the Aluminum Group was redesigned for the indoor use that made it famous. The new outdoor line thus brings this popular furniture group full circle.
About the Designer
Charles and Ray Eames are perhaps the most celebrated designers of the 20th century. Married in 1941, the Eames duo are responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed furniture designs of the modern era. Amongst their most famous designs are the wire chair and the molded plywood chair group. Although they are most often remembered today for their furniture designs with partner Herman Miller, the Eameses engaged in artistic expression across a broad range of mediums- including architecture and filmmaking.
Herman Miller and Charles and Ray Eames had a lasting collaboration that resulted in some of the great furniture of the modern American scene. From the Eames Lounge Chair to the Hang-It-All, their contributions to design have been unique and uniquely stellar. But it all started with the clever, deceptively simple, beautiful and challenging Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair. Smart Furniture is very proud to now have a role to play in this legendary partnership, and be able to sell this chair to our customers with the approval of Herman Miller and the Eames family. Get your Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair, whether it be a dining room version or a version with metal legs, today.
About the Manufacturer
Herman Miller is an industry leader in the integration of cutting edge technology to furniture and other household items to make everyday life more comfortable, convenient, and stylish. Herman Miller stands out at the forefront of such fields as ergonomic technologies, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, and customizable furniture items.
In addition to producing some of the most outstanding office furniture in the world, Herman Miller has also taken on the responsibility of manufacturing some of the most celebrated furniture designs by some of the world's most famous designs. These "modern classics" include works by Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. Herman Miller celebrates these famous mid-century designers' works through its extraordinarily precise manufacturing techniques and industry-leading green production processes.
Herman Miller is a global company with operations, sales offices, dealers, and licensees in more than 40 countries in North America, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, serving customers virtually anywhere in the world. Herman Miller is headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, while manufacturing facilities are located in the U.S., China, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Materials & Measurements
Lightweight aluminum frame, polypropylene/copolyester weave seat material
Overall: 18.75" h x 21.5" w x 21" d
Package Dimensions: 18" x 22" x 21"
Package Weight: 20 lbs.
Care & Maintenance:
The materials of the Herman Miller outdoor furniture are built for strength and durability. The construction results in long-lasting and easy–to-clean products.Please note that suntan lotions and sprays, as well as insect repellants, may discolor the chair material. Acid-based liquids, such as coffee, wine, and fruit juice, need to be wiped up immediately using a clean, soft cloth. The longer a spill remains, the more difficult it will be to remove and may stain.
For normal cleaning, use a solution of 1 tablespoon of Tide detergent powder (unscented) that has been diluted in 1 cup of warm water. Dip a clean, dry cloth into the solution, and wipe the Outdoor Weave mesh material. After cleaning, rinse the mesh material and the entire chair with clean, warm water, and wipe dry with a clean, soft cloth.
Do not use abrasive, acid, alcohol-based, or solvent-based cleaners; they could damage the mesh material. Do not use a power washer to clean Aluminum Group Outdoor chairs; it could damage the mesh material.
Note: do not leave your Aluminum Group Outdoor chair standing in water.
Ultraviolet (UV) and Fading
When you're not using your Aluminum Group chair, we recommend covering it to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
We recommend you bring your Aluminum Group chair indoors for storage if the temperature stays below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period.
Environmental Information
The Eames Aluminum Outdoor Ottoman is made of 64-percent recycled materials and are 95-percent recyclable at the end of their useful life. The chair contains no harmful PVC.
Shipping & Delivery
Standard Shipping: Free
With Standard Ground Shipping, shipments are typically completed with UPS or FedEx to your front door or main lobby. Once shipped, items generally arrive within 2-5 business days. Simple, fast and easy service. Tracking will be emailed to you upon order shipment.
*If additional tracking info/scheduling is needed, both UPS and FedEx have sign-up services on their website which allow for more detailed tracking/options. Shipment signature may be required, or signing the delivery note authorizing the shipper to leave the next day.
*Some larger products or multiple quantities may ship with a freight carrier (not UPS/Fedex), which will call you for a delivery appointment if delivering to a residence (or business hours for commercial address). We'll send you an email with the shipper/tracking info as soon as your order ships either way.
Questions & Answers
Under normal use, the Eames Aluminum Outdoor Ottoman is warranted for a period of 3 years.
Do you have specific questions about what's covered under Herman Miller's warranty for this product? Give our sales team a call at 888-467-6278 to get your questions answered.
Did you purchase a piece of Herman Miller furniture that's not working as expected? Send an email to email@example.com or contact our customer service department at 888-762-7841, and we'll take care of you. We usually ask for a photo or video of the warranty issue that you're experiencing, so if you want to expedite the warranty claim process, you can e-mail us with those attachments, and we'll jump on filing the claim for you right away
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