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Hugh Grant has never played a detective on screen, but he can sure play one in real life.
The British actor and former girlfriend Jemima Khan won a court order against a shuttered tabloid accused of hacking into the personal phones of celebrities and crime victims, thanks to a conversation Grant secretly taped with a reporter.
A High Court judge ruled on Wednesday that police must hand over any evidence that could prove Grant's and Kahn's voice mail messages were intercepted by a private investigator employed by Britain's News of the World or any other tabloid, Reuters reports.
Grant has been an outspoken critic about the phone-hacking scandal that has rocked Rupert Murdoch's media empire, News Corp. The actor caught reporter Paul McMullen admitting to the hackings on tape and published the transcripts in April, according to Bloomberg.
U.S. & World
"[Paul McMullen] started boasting about how my phone had been hacked and about all the dirty tactics used by News of the World, and about their relationship with the police and their relationship with five successive prime ministers, and I was revolted and astonished," Grant told the BBC earlier this month.
The court also ordered Clive Goodman to hand over notes from when he was a gossip and royal editor at the defunct paper, the Guardian reports.
Grant is not the only A-lister accusing the tabloid for illegal snooping. News of the World apologized to Sienna Miller for listening to her personal voicemail and settled for 100,000 pounds in damages, according to PopEater. NOTW investigators are also suspected for targeting the royal family.
Neither one of the British celebrities were present at the 20-minute hearing. Grant and Kahn, a newspaper reporter, had split in 2007 after dating for three years.
Selected Reading: The Guardian, BBC, Forbes


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Tonight, at 7:00 p.m. inside the Cam Henderson Center, these two storied basketball programs will renew their rivalry on the court. Off the court, however, things got a 24-hour head start when several UCF player tweets sparked some spirited back-and-forth.
Part of the bad blood between these teams can be traced to current UCF head coach Donnie Jones. Jones used to be the head coach for Marshall, before leaving the program for the greener pastures of Central Florida. Marshall fans now refer to him as "Benedict Donald." It's intense.
So intense, actually, that people went a little crazy when some UCF players incredulously tweeted pictures of their shoddy hotel accommodations. Chuck McGill, a Marshall beat writer, compiled a nice synopsis of the whole thing. Players tweeted pictures of tube televisions, peeling wallpaper, empty vending machines and a handwritten sign announcing their presence.
Can you imagine? Not having a flat screen in the free hotel room you stay in the night before you play basketball for a school, most likely, that is paying for your "education"? And no snacks in the vending machine? Just what, exactly, are these guys supposed to spend their stipends on, then?
Things quickly turned ugly as UCF fans took gratuitous out house shots at West Virginia only to have the good name of their hospitality management program questioned. With all the pregame fireworks, this game is shaping up to be the Duke-North Carolina of Florida-West Virginia college basketball rivalries.
UCF student-athletes create Twitter firestorm [Chuck McGill]
UCF coach Donnie Jones, players prepare for hostile rivalry game at Marshall [Orlando Sentinel]

subset: commoncrawl


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National Jamboree Troop Flagstevejb68 on August 14, 2013 in Jamboree, Memorabilia
I was the scoutmaster for one of two troops the Central Minnesota Council sent to the 2001 National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. I had three wonderful assistant scoutmasters, a fantastic group of youth leaders, and a great group of Boy Scouts in Troop 1417. At the reunion gathering held a month after the Jamboree I told the parents that I never want to be a scoutmaster for another Jamboree troop again, because this troop set the bar so high and behaved so well that I felt I would never again get another batch of Scouts like this. Troop 1417 was nearly a perfect Boy Scout troop.
Scoutmaster Mike of Jamboree Troop 1418 and I received quite a surprise during that reunion gathering. The chairperson of the Jamboree committee came forward to speak to the Boy Scouts and their parents about the Jamboree experience, and to present Mike and I with a couple tokens of appreciation. The first was a nice looking plaque which now hangs on my wall with other Scouting honors. The other was the troop's flag used for the Jamboree.
Mike and I both glanced at each other when we were presented with the flags. I do not know if he expected it, but I did not. My first thought was "What am I going to do with this? It is huge!" I thought it would be better to display it at the council office, or in the ceiling rafters of the Scout Shop. I have no place to hang something like this.
Twelve years have now passed since that reunion. To tell the truth, even though the flag is nicely folded in the tote that stores my Jamboree stuff, it is now probably my most prized part of the collection. After all, it is a one of a kind item. There is only one flag for Troop 1417 from the 2001 National Jamboree.
But you know what really adds value to this flag, at least in my eyes? Nearly every member of Troop 1417 signed their name along the white border on the right edge of the flag. I only have two items in my collection that are signed by the Scouts and troop leadership, the troop tee shirt (mentioned in a previous article) and the troop's flag. They are very special.
My question is this. Is it a tradition in your council for Jamboree troop members to sign the troop flag and present it to the scoutmasters of the troop?


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Joe Tucci is of counsel in the firm's Federal Tax Practice Group. Mr. Tucci specializes in the federal income taxation of corporate transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, transaction structuring, and post-acquisition integrations. Mr. Tucci has also advised clients on foreign and domestic capital markets transactions, REIT structuring, private letter ruling requests, tax controversy matters and a broad range of general corporate tax planning matters.
Mr. Tucci earned his J.D. from Cornell University and his B.A. magna cum laude from Washington State University.Show More
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LiveTelescope posted a topic in EEVA - Reportshello this is my polarex 132F (((( https://youtu.be/7gPlOR__86w )))) POLAREX 132F video like New, this telescope pier has no scratches on it \(=,^)/ thank you, telescope from the 1950s


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Baby's Breath
Gypsophila, commonly known as Baby's Breath, is an ideal filler flower as the delicate burst of small white blooms is subtle and allows the flowers around it to stand out. It is becoming more and more popular and a feature flower that lends itself well to creative shapes and designs. Baby's Breath symbolizes everlasting love, while also representing purity of the heart and happiness. We always suggest receiving these flowers 2-3 days before the event so the flowers can re-hydrate and be ready for your bouquets or arrangements. Pictures shown online are an accurate representation of the actual flower, however, since flowers are a product of Mother Nature and due to variations in computer monitor resolution, the exact color shades of this flower may vary to some degree.
Additional Information
|Flower care
|Dry packed flowers often come out of their box looking a little tired and thirsty. They've had a long flight from the farms to your door. Once you give them some water and a bit of love they will perk right up. After you pick them up from our store there are three simple steps to prepare them for your special event: 1. Unpack the boxes immediately and remove any plastic wrapping. That plastic wrap holds in moisture and promotes mold growth. 2. Prepare your containers with at least 4-5 inches of clean water and flower food mixture before you begin processing the flowers. Keep in mind the blossoms are really thirsty and will drink up those first few sips of water quickly, so check the water level after a few hours and every day after that. Adding fresh water makes flowers happy. 3. To process your flowers fill a sink with water and place the bottom of the stem under water. Using a very sharp knife, scissors, or clippers, cut about a half-inch off the bottom of the stems and immediately place them in your prepared containers. Make sure to remove any leaves that fall below the water line before placing them in the container. You can now store your flowers in a cool location. We suggest no warmer than 76 degrees. Avoid placing them right in front of A/C vents or close to appliances that produce heat and definitely keep them out of direct sunlight.
|Shipping info
|In order to secure the best possible price we recommend placing your order at least 17-21 days in advance. Since the flowers will need to be processed and hydrated, we suggest a pick up date three days prior to your event. Remember, when you receive the flowers they will not be processed in any way. Your flowers are boxed and shipped directly from the farms. They will arrive looking thirsty and a little sleepy. This is normal. They will perk up once they are cut and get a nice drink of water! Flowers are living things so slight variations in color are to be expected. Even the resolution on your computer screen can impact the color you see when you place your order. This means it can be difficult to get a bloom to exactly match something else. When coordinating colors our designers recommend selecting a complimentary hue that is slightly lighter or darker than what you are trying to match. Flower selection and prices are based on availability and are subject to change due to weather and market conditions. In the event a substitution is necessary to ensure your flowers are received on time, we will make sure the blooms are as close as possible to your original flower choice even if it means substituting flowers of higher value. We will always inform you in this case. If we are unable to reach you, substitutions may be made without verbal confirmation.


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Basic Salsa Verde (Mexican Tomatillo Salsa) Recipe
The Food Lab
Unraveling the mysteries of home cooking through science.
A basic salsa verde made with simmered tomatillos and cilantro.
- Yield:Makes 1 quart
- Active time: 5 minutes
- Total time:15 minutes
- 1 1/2 pounds tomatillos, husks and stems removed
- 1 to 2 jalapeño or serrano peppers, stem and seeds removed
- 1 small white onion, skin removed, split in half
- 1 bunch fresh picked cilantro leaves and tender stems
- Kosher salt
Combine tomatillos, serranos, and onion in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce to a simmer. Simmer until vegetables are completely softened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure all sides are softened.
Drain vegetables then transfer to a blender. Add cilantro and a large pinch of salt. Blend on medium speed until a chunky puree is formed, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a bowl, season to taste with more salt or lime juice if necessary, and serve. Cooled salsa can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.


text: Twenty-four artists, 37 spots, 5 cities, 8 months. While millions of eyes look to London this week, these small numbers come together for a big purpose. Brandalism, a 'crew' and project that takes inspiration from Sean Tejaratchi and Bansky, has been re-appropriating ad space (billboards in particular) to creatively interpret big brands.Continue reading


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Reliance Life Insurance Company Limited.Health Insurance
Reliance Term Insurance
Reliance Insurance provides a wide range of term plans. Reliance term insurance plans cover the risk of death, so the sum assured is paid only in case of death during the policy term. There is no maturity in the term plans. The plans are available in the online and offline modes.
Reliance Insurance e-term Plan:
This is an online term insurance plan. The premium of this plan is cheaper as compared to offline term plans. The minimum sum assured is Rs.25 lakhs. The policy term can be selected between 10 to 30 years. The maximum entry age for the plan is 60 years and the maximum maturity age is 70 years. The sum assured is paid to the nominee in case of death during the term and the plan does not have any maturity benefits.
Reliance Insurance Term Plan:
This is pure term insurance plan and is available in offline mode only. There is no limit for maximum sum assured under this plan. The maximum entry age for the plan is 60 years and the maximum maturity age is 65 years. Accidental death and disability rider is also available with this plan with an option of waiver of premium. There is no maturity benefit in this plan.
Reliance Insurance Simple Term Plan:
This is pure term insurance plan with a fixed sum assured of Rs. 10,000 and fixed term of 3 years. The premium varies depending upon the age. The maximum age of entry in this plan is 44 years. The sum assured is paid only incase of death within 3 years of policy term.
Reliance Insurance Special Term Plan:
This is return of premium term insurance plan, where all the basic premiums are paid back to you if you survive till maturity of the policy. Incase of death during the policy term, the sum assured is paid to the nominee. The minimum policy term is 5 years and maximum term is 30 years. Critical illness, Accidental death and disability riders are also available with this plan.
Reliance Insurance Credit Guardian Plan:
This is a decreasing term insurance plan for covering your loan (home loan, personal loan, etc.). The sum assured of the plan decreases over the period as the outstanding loan amount also decreases. This plan has a limited premium paying term and also has single premium payment option. In case of death, the decreases sum assured as on date of death is paid to the nominee, which can be used to repay the outstanding loan.
1 Insurance Plan available
Company Trust NoteThis Know Your Insurance section covers only those products and sectors that are related to personal finance. The content available here has been collated from existing, publicly available information and are only indicative in nature. They are designed to give the user a general idea of insurers and products. The details given here should NOT be taken as the final word. The user must contact the respective insurer to get full details about any policy or product.
Apnainsurance.com is neither an insurance agent nor an insurance broker. Please consult your personal finance advisor, insurance agent, or broker before taking any decision to buy any insurance product.


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For the last year, this neighborhood Italian restaurant, located at 64-02 Fresh Pond Rd. in Ridgewood, has shaped and reshaped the definition of what it means to be family in the world of comfort food.
Aside from their welcoming staff of servers, Bella Lena's Chef Ivano takes the cooking to a new level with his years of training on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, and most recently at Trattoria Lucia in Bellerose.
Last week, we tasted some of the chef's top dishes and were pleasantly surprised by what they had to offer.
Appetizers like the fresh buffalo mozzarella with eggplant caponata and the fried calamari were both filling and had just the right amount of flavor. A favorite of ours was the jumbo coconut shrimp with homemade honey mustard sauce.
The chicken lorenza was cooked to perfection and served off the bone with a healthy helping of sausage, potatoes and pepperoncini peppers, while the flounder filet francese was also carefully constructed over homemade spinach.
Although it was difficult for us to find our favorite dish, we were especially surprised with the delicacy of the pasta fioretti boscaiola, a money bag-style pasta dish, stuffed with cheese and covered in a mouthwatering pink sauce with peas, prosciutto and mushrooms.
Bella Lena's owner Karen Calle noted that while the restaurant is a great place for families to relax after a long day, they also specialize in catering and party planning, with a hidden second dining room for large parties.
Calle and her staff have truly found the right mix between fine Italian dining and family-style ambiance.


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The Jewfish Key boat dock will grow in size soon.
But by how much is unknown right now.
At the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting Thursday, Feb. 11, the board approved a variance request to extend the current 50-foot dock an additional 176-feet into Sarasota Bay.
However, if two of the homeowners don't sign on to an agreement to build a 12-slip boat dock for the five lot owners who can't build their own private dock, an eight-slip boat dock with six boatlifts and two community slips will be built instead.
In short, if three homeowners sign up for the dock, the eight-slip dock will be built. If four homeowners sign up, a 10-slip dock will be built. And if all five homeowners sign up, the 12-slip dock will be built.
The homeowners have 60 days to let town staff know whether they agree. If they choose not to be a part of the process, they would have to come back to the town in the future for a variance request to the dock.
Because large sandbar west of Jewfish Key makes it impossible for at least five of the lots to build their own private docks, the main dock is crucial to some current and future residents trying to get to and from the mainland. Construction workers and businesses that offer their services to the island also use the dock.
As a condition of obtaining a building permit for the proposed new dock, and as part of a consent order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to close the violation case, the section of the dock illegally added in 2004 will be removed.
Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].


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Re: RPG: The Will Of The Emporer (space marines vs clones)
May I join in?
Message Boards - Boba Fett Fan Club → Role Playing → RPG: The Will Of The Emporer (space marines vs clones)
May I join in?
((Adeptus_Astartes isint here but he should in a day or so.))
yep, you can join
(Let me know If this isn't okay. I'll assume this is during the Clone Wars. yes?)
Name: Raj'el Vhett, Alpha-89
Rank: Deserter, Mercenary
Class: Commando
Armor:Blood red and sand stained white
WOC: Mandalorian Disruptor, Ion upgrade
WOC2: Echani Vibrosword, Cortosis Weave, Ionite Edge
Secondary weapon: Standard Issue Commando DC-17m pistol
(I won't post any actions until It's approved. I figure this is exactly the kind of twist it needs.)
( I wasn't sure if the Character was in regs, so to speak. He's a little out there. He's got no Idea where he is, only that he's follwing the Unyielding. The trail dead ends here.)
:An old Miy'til starfighter appears in space above the canyon, picking up the trail of the Unyeilding. There was no out-system hyperspace trail, only repulsor exhaust leading to the surface. He put down on the shelf above the canyon, carrying his weapons with him as he exited his craft. He would watch from above until he found signs of life.:
I will don't worry.
Zaal looks at the probe, and triggers his jump pack, refusing to run from a probe. He fires a shot from his bolter while still in the air and destroys it. He lands on the plataue and grins, replacing his helmet, he voxes Thours "The probe has been destroyed but your advice is very sound, we must move and find the source of this, I can scout the high ground and cover you"
Shadow was victorous over his enemy. Shooting him twice to make shure he was dead, he then decided to look for survivors abord this aparent ghost ship. searching through the empty corridors he suddenly heard gun fire, he ran at a sprint towards the sound.....
Armor:White with black oil stains from head to wast.
Weapon:E-11/wirst blade and other gismoses.
Fixer woke. 'Damn' he thought, 'I fell a sleep again.' Fixer stood up, blaster fell to the floor. SPASH! 'What the-' he thought. Then he heard foot steps. "Stop!" he belowed. To late he had some one on top of him. "Shadow, stop" Fixer yelled. The beating stoped.
"Fixer is that you?" asked a voice.
Shadow running at top speed had sliped on a oily piece of floor and sliped...right on top of a clone, cover head to toe with oil. Fixer is that you? he asked.
"Yes,"Fixer said.
Hmm..sorry Fixer. He helped Fixer too his feet and said: Dont you hear those blaster shots? Comon, we got to help!
"Yes," said Fixer. He pick up his rifle. "Damn it," he said, "my gun is jamed!"
Shadow Sighed, damit Fixer, your suposed to keep your gear in fighting shape at all times!
"When you hit me I droped it,"Fixer lied. Fixer looked at his blaster. He tried to fire it. BOOM! A explosion knocked both off there feet. "Damn!"yelled Fixer. "What?"asked Shadow. "The one of the engiens has exploded,"Fixer said.
"Great know you dont keep the engines in working conditon either", Shadow said. "I guess you droped it too huh? Anything eles you wana let me know you dropped?"
"Damn you," Fixer said. Then the pool of oil caght on fire. "Oh damn," said Fixer.
"ah fierfeck....." Shadow muttered.
"Run!" yelled Fixer.
RUN!! they said at the same time. They both jumed down a garbage shute as the oil tank blew.
"Oh damn,damn,damn,damn,"said Fixer "I get started on the door and-" "Oh Damn the walls are moving,"said Shadow. " Thank you for tell me that, Shadow" Fixer Said.
"your welcome" he said. "Now help me prop the walls with somthing!!"
:Raj'el heard rumlings frm the canyon below, where he had just seen a commando run past. He boost jumped to te base of the canyon with the jetpack he had aquired, not any good for flying, but for falling slowly...He followed the footprints in the sand, much like his own, still in their Kamino-issue Commando boots. H efound the two clones in the chamber, the floor on fire and the walls closing in. He atached a cable resevoir to the bottom of his disruptor and fired at them. He'd worry about whether they were friend or foe later.:
"Catch! I'll pull you out!"
Zaal had been moving for a while, using his pack in short bursts to jump from cliff to cliff, he and Thorus were heading in the direction of the crash site of the other ship. He rounded a corner and saw it, a large craft, triangular with a mast-like deck rising from the back, it had landed roughly and was mostly intact but had been damaged by shells. He knew that boarding such a craft with two men was suicide, but there was no other choice, and as his former sargent had told him before his death by the hands of traitor marines underneath a bridge virtal to the efforts to quell a rebellion, you must improvise. He wondered what had become of his former freind Uriel Ventris.
He pushed such thoughts from his head as he became impatient with Thourus to catch up and started for the ship.
"I'll get started onthe door," Said Fixer. "If I am right about this I can get that door open." Fixer ran to the door pannel and tore off the cover. "Hurry," said Shadow. "I am damnit!" Fixer Yelled.
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Mohammed Sayes was a young boy from the north of the Gaza Strip where he used to live in a two-story light brown house with his parents and siblings. In his neighborhood of Zeitoun, everybody has been grieving with the large family after they lost Mohammed on July 29.. The week after he died, many of them would come to visit, and one of the neighbours told Palestine Monitor that she feels she can't stop thinking about how the situation is unfair and tragic.
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'100 to 1 Odds': Man Survives 15-Story Fall in New Zealand
At seven-stories high, only 10 percent of people would survive, says ER doctor.
June 17, 2013 -- Against all medical odds, a 20-year-old man survived a fall from a 15-story apartment building in New Zealand, after attempting to get into his locked apartment from a balcony above.
An American emergency room doctor said the chances of living through a fall from that height are about 1 in 100.
The man, identified by the New Zealand Herald as Tom Stilwell, a British man in Auckland on a "working holiday," returned home after a night out with friends and found he did not have a key to get into his locked apartment. Stilwell tried to jump down to his balcony from the balcony of the apartment above, but instead plummeted to the roof of a building below.
Man survives fall from the Empire State Building
Stilwell's story astounded his doctors in New Zealand as well as in the United States.
"It made me wonder what the roof looked like that he fell on," said Dr. Nicholas Kman, associate professor of emergency medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center.
"It's pretty abnormal for someone to fall that far and survive," Kman said. "For every fall like that, the odds of living are very rare."
Doctors use a formula called "lethal doses" to determine the likelihood of death in a fall. At four stories, or about 48 feet above the ground, half will survive. But at seven stories or 84 feet, only 10 percent are expected to live -- that is, 90 percent will die, according to Kman.
Man dies after falling from building in San Francisco
According to local reports, Stilwell fell 13 stories. At first, he was in critical condition at Auckland City Hospital, but was later upgraded to satisfactory with neck and back fractures, a broken wrist and suspected internal injuries.
ABCNews.com reached out to the hospital, but its public affairs office was closed because of the time zone difference.
Stilwell's upstairs neighbor, Geraldine Bautista, 28, told the Herald that he knocked on her door on the 15th floor of the Volt Apartment building at about 2 a.m., asking if he could jump off her balcony onto his to get into his own apartment.
According to the Herald, he went straight to the balcony and Bautista grabbed his hand, but he fell.
"It happened so fast," she told the newspaper. "It happened within seconds. I couldn't even scream for help. He was like a paper falling from here."
Friends said that Stilwell had "a fair bit to drink" before the incident, according to the Herald.
Doctors say that although there is no evidence that alcohol softens the blow to the body, they have heard that anecdotally about car accident victims.
"There is no science behind that," Kman said. "Most doctors are reluctant to say it happens. But in my experience in trauma, it does seem to be something that happens. But that is not likely from a fall."
A person's age, the height of the fall, the nature of the surface hit and the body part that first touches the ground are all factors in the severity of the injuries and the prognosis for recovery.
"If you fall out of a tree and hit a bunch of branches, it may slow the fall," he said. "Landing on grass is better than cement."
Head injuries have the lowest survival rate, according to Kman.
Other dangerous injuries occur when a person lands feet first.
"The heel hits and transmits the force up the back," he said. "When someone jumps off a parking garage or building they break their heel bones and then the lower spine. When they break the feet, we always X-ray the back, because that's a common injury."
Sometimes, paralysis can occur if there is a spinal cord injury.
Emergency room doctors see most fall victims during the summer months, and they are usually window cleaners working on scaffolding and roofers.
Falls are most common among the elderly, the second cause of unintended death for trauma behind motor vehicle accidents, according to Kman.
"Young healthy kids have better outcomes than the elderly," he said.
In the animal world, cats fare much better than humans.
Last year, Sugar the cat, fell out of a 19-story apartment building in Boston and survived, probably because she landed on a pile of mulch. The local animal rescue league reported that after the fall, the cat ran back into the apartment building.
The reason, say veterinary researchers is that cats have a larger surface area for their weight as they fall with legs extended, which gives them a lower terminal velocity -- about 60 mph, compared to an average-sized male at about 120 mph. When cats hit the ground, they have fewer injuries.
In physics, terminal velocity is the constant speed attained by a body while falling through a gas or liquid.
"Terminal velocity is something that plays into this," Kman said. "But people are not meant to fall off three-story buildings. And I have a feeling that you reach [terminal velocity] some point before 15 floors."


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7-Nov-2001, 10:02
Howdy All, Just a quick question concerning purchasing a new lens which appears to be a bet ter deal than a used lens purchase. I'm interested in the super angulon XL 72mm lens and have found that robert whit e which is a dealer mentioned all the time at this site stocks this one for appr oximately $450 u.s.d. less than the new york outlets. Are there taxes or tarriff s involved with bringing one of these into the U.S. Any other pitfalls that i sh ould consider?? Have any of you gone this route and care to comment please... thanks much! miles


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Corcino could be Cueto: Part II for Reds
Righty prospect drawing comparisons to hard-throwing veteran starter
Rarely have I heard one player compared to another as often as I hear Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect Daniel Corcino compared with his teammate, Johnny Cueto. I'm sure the Reds hope the comparisons become true.
There are many similarities. Both are from the Dominican Republic. Both are 5-foot-11 and are right-handed starting pitchers. At age 23, Corcino is four years younger than Cueto. He is also 10 pounds lighter, at 205 pounds. They both throw hard.
Corcino, No. 7 on the Reds' Top 20 Prospects list, is in the developmental stages of his career. Cueto is a proven Major League veteran.
Corcino began his career in 2008 as a 17-year-old pitching in the Dominican Summer League. He threw 34 bullpen innings in 23 games. Corcino had a lofty 5.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.50, pitching to a 6-2 record.
Corcino remained in the bullpen, learning the critical components of pitching, until he was converted to a starter in 2010. Combined at Rookie League Billings and Class A Dayton, he started 15 games and threw 71 innings, yielding fewer hits (69) than innings pitched.
Improvement came in Corcino's age-20 season, in 2011, when he lowered his ERA to 3.42 in 139 1/3 innings covering 26 starts at Class A Dayton. I first saw him at the Reds' 2012 Spring Training camp in Goodyear, Ariz. The buzz at the back fields was about Corcino. Club personnel were raving about -- you guessed it -- "the next Johnny Cueto."
Corcino relies heavily upon a 91-94-mph fastball with late life. I have seen him increase the velocity to the higher 90s. But there is effort involved in Corcino's delivery -- lots of effort.
Because he isn't tall and can't pitch downhill like a pitcher with long arms and legs, the stocky Corcino rotates his hips and lower body and almost twists himself around as he delivers the pitch. He throws across his body. Corcino's landing spot is probably the most inconsistent part of his delivery. In fact, I saw him land toward first base, toward third base and straight ahead to home plate.
However, I don't think Corcino's aggressive mechanics are a compromising issue. If there is any concern, it is his inconsistent command and control. Corcino has to throw strikes to be effective. But at times, I saw him try to ratchet up the velocity to a point that it cost him control. I am confident that will smooth with time.
In addition to his bread-and-butter fastballs, Corcino also has an above-average slider, which I think may be an even better pitch than his fastball. The pitch breaks late, almost like a cutter. It's extremely effective against right-handed hitters.
Corcino's third pitch is a changeup that fades and sinks, changing the eye level and the balance of the hitter. It's a good pitch that finishes hitters, but it isn't one that he uses in each sequence.
This past season at Triple-A Louisville, Corcino regressed in most pitching statistics. He pitched in 28 games, starting 23 of them. In 129 innings, Corcino gave up 141 hits and threw to a WHIP of 1.659. He had a whopping 5.86 ERA, as his command and control were elusive.
Looking at the projectable capabilities of Corcino, he has the makeup and the repertoire to succeed.
A combination of the left-handed Tony Cingrani and the right-handed Corcino could one day form a solid one-two punch in the Reds' rotation. For now, however, Corcino's job is to command his pitches and prove he is a capable Major League pitcher.


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Gen-6 cars took damage at Preseason Thunder crash, but no tires left the ground
CONCORD, N.C. — Aric Almirola didn't immediately feel his car decelerate. He didn't hear the flaps deploy on the roof of his race car. All that he knew was that he was crashing — and that his vehicle was staying on the ground.
"When you start wrecking and stuff, the last thing I was thinking about was my roof flaps opening," the Richard Petty Motorsports driver said. "I couldn't tell. But I think that's one of the things that a lot of us drivers, we just take it for granted until after the wreck's over and someone brings it to our attention that the roof flaps deployed and we didn't get upside down. We appreciate it."
"I never felt like my car got light. I felt like my car was on the ground the entire time."
— Aric Almirola
Video: Watch cars stay grounded during Daytona wreck
Last Friday's drafting accident during the Preseason Thunder test at Daytona International Speedway seemed the perfect recipe for sending a vehicle into the air — cars at the front of the pack being turned sideways, others skidding through the infield grass, several spinning down onto the apron or jouncing up and down in the turf. And yet they all remained on the ground, thanks in part to the larger, redesigned roof flaps on the new Sprint Cup Series cars, the latest weapon in the battle to prevent vehicles from going airborne at restrictor-plate tracks.
It's a challenge NASCAR has faced for years, one mitigated but not completely eliminated by the use of restrictor plates at the sport's largest facilities. The latest example was this past October, when Tony Stewart's car rolled over the vehicle of Paul Menard in a chain-reaction accident on the final lap. The crash in Daytona testing didn't include nearly as many cars, and marked the first time the Generation-6 vehicles have been involved in a drafting pileup. But the difference was still obvious, and seen in the form of giant roof flaps popping up like oversized dorsal fins.
"We were pleased with what we saw," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, at a Charlotte Motor Speedway test originally scheduled for two days, but due to weather was limited to Friday afternoon.
In addition to being much larger than those used on the previous-generation vehicle, the new roof flaps also appear to deploy quicker, popping up before an out-of-control car reaches too severe an angle. They also contain what Pemberton calls "parachutes," pieces of canvas stretching from one corner of the flap to an opposite corner of the housing, designed to further disturb air and raise the speed required for a car to go airborne.
The new flaps were mandated by the shapes of the new cars, which include a great deal more brand identity and are not uniform from one manufacturer to another. Daniel Honeycutt, director of vehicle engineering at NASCAR's Research and Development Center, had been experimenting with improved roof flaps before the series phased out the previous car, Pemberton said. When it came time for NASCAR and its manufacturer partners to design new vehicles to roll out in 2013, the series needed roof flaps in a different configuration to better wrap around the tops of the cars.
"We are better with this car than we were with the previous cars," said Pemberton, an assertion that seemed on display in last week's crash at Daytona. The new flaps were tested in a wind tunnel owned by Dodge, which is large enough that vehicles inside can be turned 360 degrees, and which the carmaker continues to allow NASCAR to use even though it withdrew from the sport after last season. The two flaps on the hood are also larger, in keeping with the two on the roof. The fact that the Generation-6 cars are 150 pounds lighter than their predecessor did not factor into the change, Pemberton said.
Both RPM cars, those of Almirola and Marcos Ambrose, were caught up in the melee at Daytona, which involved about a dozen vehicles. Ambrose's No. 9 Ford was the spark, slamming into the outside wall after being tapped from behind by Dale Earnhardt Jr., its flaps popping up as it turned down into traffic and began bouncing through the grass. Almirola's No. 43 was trapped in the aftermath, turning sideways high on the backstretch, its roof flaps deploying as it began a long skid.
"I never felt like my car got light," Almirola said. "I felt like my car was on the ground the entire time. Ran into plenty of stuff, and bounced off quite a few other cars, but never felt like my car was going to get off the ground."
Immediately following the crash, all RPM competition director Sammy Johns thought about was the fact that he had two wrecked race cars. "Had we come through that, we'd have three Daytona cars (per team) sitting in our shop. Right now, we have two," said Johns, who added that the damaged vehicles were slated to be used in the Sprint Unlimited exhibition, but will probably be relegated to backups. It wasn't until later when he realized that none of the cars had gone airborne.
"I think you're going to find a circumstance where you hit the wall hard enough or whatever, and you get enough force to pick the car up off the ground, you're going to get air under it," he said. "But the crash at Daytona, that couldn't have happened in a better spot for a car to get airborne, and nobody did. Cars got in the wall and backward, and Marcos hit the wall pretty hard. There were a lot of circumstances there where cars would have gotten upside down in the past, and we didn't see anybody get upside down."
Johns said Ambrose told him that the No. 9 car felt like it was going up in the air at one point, but never did. The new flaps are "a lot bigger to help disturb the air even more to keep the cars grounded," he said. For that, he credits the continuing work NASCAR does on the safety front. The flaps are among several safety enhancements on the Gen-6 cars, which also include an additional roll bar in the windshield area, stronger windshields, and more secure window netting.
"You never know what to expect in racing," Johns said. "We've seen cars hit walls we never thought they'd hit before. In every crash, I think there can be the element of the unexpected. You just don't know. We're going so fast, and so many different things can happen. I think the tracks and NASCAR and everybody are doing an extremely good job of being proactive nowadays, and not reactive. So as long as we can stay proactive on the safety side, I think we'll continue to have a safe sport."


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What HP's Meg Whitman Appears to Have Learned From Steve Jobs
Among the many comments that Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman made during yesterday's conference call with analysts, one in particular stood out to me. Here it is, emphasis mine.
First is fixing our execution, ensuring we have the right systems, processes and people. This includes things like optimizing our supply chain, including SKU reduction, to remove unnecessary complexity from the way we design, manufacture and deliver products; upgrading our sales tools and systems to respond more quickly to customers; and increasing the productivity of our sales force by rationalizing our go-to-market.
For those who don't know, a SKU — pronounced "skew" — refers to something called a stock-keeping unit. It's business shorthand for a particular model or type of product. A PC with a certain processor, certain amount of memory and certain capacity hard drive, and in a particular color, is a SKU. The same goes for models of printers, smartphones, or different versions of products sold into different distribution channels or with different options inside the box.
What Whitman is saying is that HP is producing too many different types and configurations of products, and this is injecting a lot of expensive operational complexity that might be getting in the way.
My ears perked up at this during the conference call, and when she repeated the phrase on CNBC today (see video below). It took me back in time to — of all things — the very first Steve Jobs MacWorld keynote I ever attended. The year was 1998, the MacWorld Expo that year was in New York and I had begged my boss at the time to let me go. Apple was in those days a company that many media organizations could afford to ignore because its relevance was limited to people who used Macs, which included me.
This was the year the first iMac was about to explode on the scene, and indeed, Jobs talked in great detail about it during this keynote. But not before he set about explaining the strategic problems at Apple he had sought to solve during the preceding several months.
One of them was the fact that Apple made a comparatively dizzying array of computers, nearly all of them labeled with numbers that had no clear meaning to anyone. During his talk (part of which I've embedded in a grainy video below), Jobs wiped away the complex list in favor of a four-square grid with four kinds of products. Consumer desktops, consumer notebooks, pro desktops and notebooks.
For a young business reporter just starting out, which I was, the clarity of Jobs's argument was a revelation: A complex product offering can cause problems both for the customer and the company selling the goods. First, it muddies the waters for customers, especially when two or more versions of a product suit a particular need. Second, it adds operational cost and complexity.
One product — say, a printer — may be manufactured in just one way, but then customized in a mind-numbing set of different variations for different lines of business. There may be different accessories in the box or different service options, or whatever. Each of these is a SKU all its own that has be tracked and marketed and sold and supported, adding costs along the way.
Being the biggest tech company by revenue, working in five major business segments and operating in 166 countries adds plenty of complexity by itself. Why make it more complex than it has to be? Clarity and simplicity work.
Let's compare Apple and HP on their choice of computers. Shop for a Mac today, and the four-square grid that Jobs showed in 1998 still stands, mostly: There are two kinds of notebooks, and they vary by screen size, and three kinds of desktop machine each aimed at unmistakably different needs, for a total of six. Of course there are variations within them for memory and hard drive and screen size, but you get my point.
On HP.com I see six different notebooks for "everyday computing," five ultra-mobile machines, six "high performance" notebooks and four machines sold under its "Envy" brand. I count 21 different notebook options, and I haven't even looked at the desktop models yet. Does anyone really need that many choices?
A sense of clarity is good for business, and it's an important lesson that many companies of a certain size have to re-learn from time to time. When Jobs learned it at Apple in 1998, its product complexity was nowhere near the level that Whitman now faces at HP. But we all know how keeping it simple worked out for Apple. And while the problem is probably an order of magnitude more complicated at HP, the fundamental business lesson still stands: A stripped-down product portfolio could work for HP, too.
Here's part of the Steve Jobs keynote I mentioned above. This is Part 2, and he goes on to describe the simplified product strategy in the the first few minutes of part three here.
And here's Whitman's appearance from CNBC earlier today.


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92 days!!!
Finally, some preseason rankings. But Athlon has us at #2, which is way too high. They're right that our schedule is easy, but. But. I'm sorry. I'm a huge fan, but I'm also a pragmatist. Our defense last year was not up to par, and I just don't buy that we've rebuilt enough to get the job done.
Here's the key sentence in Athlon's analysis: "The secondary needs three new starters to fill in around safety Marcus Griffin, who contributed 90 tackles and a pick last fall, and there are experienced hands available at each vacancy." Exactly. We need three new starters, and while we may have some experience at those spots, they're not experienced enough to handle Stephen McGee.
And then there's the offensive line. J'Marcus Webb, who likely would've been an important part of the offensive line (especially since Blalock is gone) is transferring out. (By the way, Webb was born on 8-8-88. Wasn't that the day the rapture was supposed to happen? Nope, it was just the year.)
Call me a pessimist if you want. I prefer "realist." But I called our national championship a full eight months in advance two years ago, and I was right about last year, too.
None of this changes the fact that we are only three months and one day away from the first game. I ran into 23 in West Campus this morning. He'll be back from nerd camp and Lima in time to get our matching t-shirt tributes to our favorite player ready for the season. Woo-hoo!
Labels: football


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Portable Modular Assembly: Attached Knobs (tool-less) and Hex Key Connections (tool included)
Don't be fooled. Not all lightboxes are the same. SuperNova Lightboxes are brighter, bolder, and more durable. When combined with our HD fabric graphics, no lightbox is more vibrant or attracts more attention. The VK-1961 and VK-1960 are attractive, practical, and portable lightboxes designed for the serious exhibitor. Both designs include SEG fabric and direct print graphics, shelves, and a monitor mount. The VK-1961 includes the MOD-1560 pedestal with an angled standoff graphic, MOD-1329 iPad stand, and locking storage. Want a different pedestal? See all your options in the Counters and Pedestals Gallery. Nearly 200 choices.
The display packs in portable roto-molded cases with wheels, jigging, and reusable packaging. All parts are individually numbered to match the detailed set-up instructions.
For more information on these displays, contact us using the Contact Us link or give us a call. Made in the USA.
Portable Assembly: Knob and Hex Key Connections
Download the Complete Tablet Solutions Product Brochure
A Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG) is a high-resolution dye-sublimated fabric graphic finished with a thin silicone strip (or welt/gasket). The silicone strip is sewn directly to the edge of the graphic, and the strip is then inserted into a frame with a recessed groove. The size of the graphic must be precise so the fabric is taut when installed in the frame.
The result is a large format graphic that mimics the old fashioned hard panel graphics commonly found on custom displays and interior spaces.
Silicone Edge Graphics can be any size or shape, backlit or non-backlit. They are dependent only on the frame and the lighting options.
Typical Uses:
The SEGUE Sunrise Portable Hybrid Display is a tool-less display featuring Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG). The engineered aluminum frame assembles with attached knobs in about the same time it takes to assemble a pop-up display. The Sunrise is the perfect alternative to a traditional pop up. The fabric graphics are lightweight, easy-to-install, and very durable.
The Sunrise features lightweight aluminum extrusion and large format tension fabric graphics. Choose from 10 x 10 and 10 x 20 designs, single and double-sided graphics.
Trade show regulations vary slightly from venue to venue, but most North American halls adhere to these common regulations for inline and island booths. Exhibitors with international experience will recognize that North American rules are very different from those in Europe and Asia. For example:
Standard/Linear Booth (10' depth)
Any booth that shares a common back wall and abuts other exhibits on one or two sides.
Maximum height is 8 ft. This 8 ft. height may be maintained on the sidewall of your booth up to a distance of 5 ft. from the front aisle. The remaining length of the sidewall may be no higher than 4 ft.
In European shows, the display may extend 8 ft. to the aisle, which is uncommon in North American shows.
Classic Exhibits Inc. warranties the performance of its portable, modular, and custom hybrid systems during normal use, excluding excessive wear and tear, as per the instructions. This covers the workmanship and locking systems as long as the exhibit has a useful life. All remaining parts are covered against defective materials or workmanship as long as the exhibit is in service. The warranty is transferable should the product be sold or assigned to another party.
The manufacturer cannot be held responsible for damages due to abuse, misuse, or shipping damages. This warranty does not cover laminate cracks and chips, wood crate and roto-molded case damage (excluding workmanship), aluminum extrusion scuffs, mars, and scratches from normal use, and graphics wear and tear or misuse. The manufacturer is not responsible for lost or missing parts once the owner has assembled, accepted, and used the product.
Should there be any questions regarding the warranty, please contact your local Classic Exhibits Distributor.
The lead time for the VKDH-1960 | Inline Lightbox is 12 Days.
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Then email your "My Gallery" to colleagues, friends, or your favorite exhibit designer. There's no better way to begin designing a display that reflects your exhibit marketing goals.
Note: My Gallery uses a temporary browser cookie to store your gallery. We recommend that you send your gallery to your email address if you need to retain it for longer than 30 days.


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You can't believe everything you hear on television, or so our mothers told us. But tonight's X Factor Season 2 performance finale drove home that message loudly, grinningly and cacophonously.
Lest you think I'm exaggerating, let me present a selection of the bald-faced lies that dropped during the course of a strange, though not entirely un-entertaining two-hour telecast:
* "That was one of the most fun moments I've had on this stage: It was just amazing. I had a blast." –Carly Rose Sonencla to LeAnn Rimes, following their cataclysmic duet
* "I remember the first time I saw you on stage." –Britney Spears to Carly Rose Sonenclar (Oh come on! Britney can't remember what she had for lunch!)
* "There's no second place. There's no third place. There's only the winner." –L.A. Reid (Um, whether or not X Factor producers withhold that info or announce it come Thursday night, one act will, in fact, be the runner-up when the phone lines finally close.)
PHOTOS | The X Factor: The Inside Story on Season 2′s Wildest Production Numbers
* "It's a really, really big deal." –Mario Lopez, mentioning that the Season 2 X Factor champ will have his/her/their debut video double as a Pepsi "pop-star commercial"
* "Guess what? The new love of my life is country music!" –L.A. Reid, who just doesn't care and will say whatever it is they're yelling into his earpiece, since he's not coming back next season anyway
Clearly we need some truth to counterbalance the deceptions. I can assure you the following set list is 100% accurate to the best of my ability (to Google search country-music lyrics). My grades? Well, as much as I'd like to think they're factual, too, they're merely one humble blogger's opinions. Read on!
Round 1: "Greatest Hits" (aka Save Money By Not Clearing Any New Songs Round)
Carly Rose Sonenclar: Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" | Carly Rose is obviously a powerful vocalist with prior acting experience (that X Factor producers have never acknowledged), but I'm not sure Meryl Streep could've pulled off the task of looking into Britney Spears' half-interested eyes during their final mentoring session and convincingly delivering the line "I just wanna make you proud." (Somehow, I suspect the kid has more important motivations than bringing glory to a woman who probably gives her no more than five lucid minutes per week.) Anyhow… Carly Rose kicked things off atop a flight of steps, just like every reality singing competition performance of "Feeling Good" ever — but in a departure from her Season 2 audition she delivered the lyrics with an oddly heightened pronunciation — "fish in the sea," for example, became "fish in the say-ay" — while an odd squeak cropped up on the final repeat of phrases "new dawn" "new day" and "new life." That latter hiccup served as a reminder that I was watching a middle-schooler gussied up in leather pants and knee-high boots and delivering lines like "freedom is mine!" Strange. On the plus side, Carly Rose commanded the stage in a way few contestants have all season, but when the show cut away to her hometown celebration and a random shot of a woman with tray of cupcakes, it reminded me how much more I enjoyed this song when Jennifer Hudson belted it in her legendary Weight Watchers commercial. And also when Adam Lambert did it on Idol. And even when Melanie Amaro did it on X Factor last season. And yeah, when Dez Duron did it on The Voice just a few weeks prior. (That's a lot of people "Feeling Good" lately; maybe the song needs a time-out in 2013?) Grade: B
Tate Stevens: Randy Houser's "Anything Goes" | I'm not sure if it was on the teleprompter or just an unfortunate ad-lib from Khloe, but I will admit I chuckled when she introduced Tate as "a simple street worker from Belton, MO." Then, of course, we got Tate's most overt/obnoxious get-out-the-vote speech of the season. "They want to win," he said of his teenage female rivals. "I need to win." Seriously, dude? Did you forget that Fifth Harmony's Dinah Jane lives in a house with 32 of her relatives? Also, if quitting your day job actually put your family at risk of financial ruin, maybe you shouldn't have spent the last three months burning bridges with comments like "I can't go back to laying asphalt." (A job, mind you, that tens of thousands of out-of-work Americans would be quite happy to have.) Okay, okay…end of rant. Tate delivered "Anything Goes" with a certain amount of schmaltz, but I suppose that sentiment is as vital to the song as a chemical patina of maple syrup "flavoring" is to the McGriddle. It wasn't exactly exciting, but it was most certainly in tune — and it was maybe the sweetest moment of the season when Tate got choked up after his hometown mayor revealed that the Belton water tower had been painted with the message "Home of Tate Stevens: Live the Dream." Tone-deaf Mario, of course, couldn't leave a tender moment alone, barking that Tate was choked up "because he doesn't have to go back to work. That's what that's about." OMG, Mario, shut your carefully groomed pie-hole (even if you haven't actually allowed yourself a slice of pie since 2003)!!! Grade: B
Fifth Harmony: Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen" | You can find more nuanced examples of villainy at the end of Scooby Doo episodes than what Simon did to his "other" group Fifth Harmony to kick off the Season 2 finale. I mean, I know the acts were all giving encores of their best performances, but 5H's first attempt at "Anything Could Happen" occurred only seven days prior — during the Season 2 semifinals — and then Simon had them deliver it with the same exact pastel Mad Hatter tea party staging (save for the addition of a GIANT PEGASUS on the backdrop). Why not give them a new set? Or new costumes? Or a new arrangement? They could've done it a capella! Making matters worse, La Cowell shared that 5H's semifinal showstopper "was the moment I saw something special in these girls" — essentially implying that he'd spent almost an entire season less-than-impressed by their body of work. (!!) My biggest problem with this rendition, though, was that the backing track was blasting so loud, it was hard to tell if the quintet even had their mics turned on. Yeah, you could hear Lauren, Camilla and Dinah Jane when each gal took her turn on lead vocals, but the final third of the performance might as well have been pre-recorded by five of the Kardashian sisters, filtered through 27 computers, and spat back out through the X Factor sound system. That tactic made no sense considering every memeber of 5H has a legitimately good singing voice, but I can't in good conscience give the performance anything higher than… Grade: C+
Round 2: Duets With Established Artists
Carly Rose Sonenclar (with LeAnn Rimes): "How Do I Live?" | "Was Lindsay Lohan not available? What about Kanye West?" I thought, when I first heard Carly Rose had been paired with tabloid staple LeAnn Rimes for her finale duet. Even putting aside Rimes' questionable current Q-rating, though, Carly Rose simply isn't a country artist. But if the pairing made little to no sense on paper, it became even more baffling in practice. For starters, this particular arrangement of "How Do I Live" felt like it had been pruned down using a hacksaw — the opening line "How do I…get through a night without you?" was dropped wholesale, so when Carly Rose (in ghastly orchid leather pants!) began the song with the words, "if I had to live without you," I wondered if somehow she'd missed her cue from the band and botched the intro. (In retrospect, though, that wasn't really a lyric you'd want to hear from a 13-year-old.) Things got even crazier when Rimes took the stage for verse two — adopting a languid, behind-the-beat phrasing that was chock full of unnecessary runs and hinky enunciation. When Carly Rose joined LeAnn on the second chorus — singing the melody in a straightforward fashion — it sounded like the two women were singing two completely different songs in unison, the musical equivalent of a toddler hitting a wooden spoon against a toy xylophone. If Carly Rose loses out on her long-expected X Factor coronation, then this is the moment where the queen had the crown knocked out of her hands. Grade-A Mess
Tate Stevens (with Little Big Town): "Pontoon" | Last week Tate gave us "Bonfire," a working-class party anthem about kickin' it with pals low-fi style. "Pontoon" offered a variation on that theme, only with the sexy ladies of Little Big Town (Karen Fairchild's gold pants were the single best piece of fashion on the X Factor stage all season) and a water theme instead of a fire one. I loved that Tate danced playfully during Fairchild's verse, delivering the classic "come on over here" hand gesture with great gusto; dude looked and sounded like he'd managed to briefly escape the overarching awfulness of the X Factor experience and genuinely enjoy this collaboration — even if it's one half of us might forget by this time next season. ("He was groovin'! I'll tell you that much!" yapped Mario, who really should stick to the teleprompter.) Grade: B+
Fifth Harmony (with Demi Lovato): "Give Your Heart a Break" | Speaking of fun collaborations, 5H and Demi looked so joyous and sounded so on-point here that I briefly forgot that Simon had saddled his last remaining act with yet another repeat performance from earlier in the season (they first tackled "GYHAB" on Dec. 5). Combined with their semifinal rendition of "Impossible" and their double-encore this week, that made for three consecutive repeats from the underdog girl group. (Is Simon punishing them for coming into the X Factor cafeteria and eating the lunches of teacher's pet Emblem3? Perhaps. And perhaps even just subliminally.) There wasn't a moment of this simple, straightforward arrangement that I didn't enjoy, and Dinah Jane's solos were particularly awesome. If the ability to exist and thrive in the real world is a requirement for an X Factor winner, 5H did a pretty stellar job of making their case on this performance. Grade: A-
Round 3: "Emotions"
Carly Rose Sonenclar: Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" | This was a prime example of the whole being less than the sum of its parts: We had a classic tugs-the-heartstrings ballad, a 187-person (approximately) Gospel choir, a heavenly setting of billowing white fabrics and chandeliers, and an angelic teenage vocalist — but it simply didn't resonate with me. Maybe it's because "Hallelujah" has been sung by so many reality competition contestants and been used in so many "dramatic montages" on scripted TV that I've become numb to it. Maybe it's because at the tender age of 13, Carly Rose doesn't really have the depth of experience to bring to life the song's esoteric lyrics. Or maybe it's because all the trappings of Carly Rose's performance came together to spell out cynical, test-marketed message — in all caps — yelling "YOU ARE WITNESSING A MOMENT! THIS IS WHERE SHE WINS!" Alas, though, when something's been processed so absolutely, it's hard to appreciate that it might have been produced from anything real or organic. I don't mean to rain on a little girl's dreams, but "Hallelujah" confirmed my nagging suspicions that Carly Rose could use another five, or maybe 10 or even 15 years of seasoning before I'm going to be really interested in buying any of her post-X Factor musical output. Right now she's an actor on a stage, reciting lines about love and loss and life, rather than an actual human being whose shared experiences are so vivid and true that it knocks me for a loop, awakens memories and emotions from my own life as I'm listening to her delivery a melody and a lyric. That's what great music is supposed to be about — and that's exactly what this rendition of "Hallelujah" was not. Grade: B-
Tate Stevens: Chris Young's "Tomorrow" | "I always enjoy what you do," said Britney, and while maybe that wasn't the most insightful critique, there was an unfussy honesty to it. Tate once again chose a "man rocks woman in his strong arms" ballad — albeit this time with a twist of regret and turmoil adding some bitterness to the cocktail — and sang it on pitch, in a cowboy hat, without any backup dancers or crazy set pieces. The guy is good at what he does. Like windshield wipers and forks and sweaters, there'll always be a market for him. Is there a $5 million market for him? I'm not sure. Will I be upset if he wins the whole enchilada? Absolutely not. Is he ever going to turn me into that fanatical woman from his hometown party who's got a dog named "Tater" and a look of crazy adulation in her eyes? Not as long as I have the number to a good therapist. Grade: B-
Fifth Harmony: The Beatles' "Let It Be" | It was strange hearing Simon call out his last remaining act as not really being a group so much as they are five talented young singers. I mean, hasn't he been beating the "sisterhood of the traveling microphone" drum for the last two months? Nevertheless, though, the comment/criticism made sense after watching Lauren, Ally, Normani, Dinah Jane and Camilla pass the melody from one to the next without really doing any kind of harmonizing or vocal blending whatsoever. Still, vocal cohesion is a slow broil kind of thing; you can't just pop five gals in the X Factor pressure cooker and expect a fully completed dish 15 minutes later. So while "Let It Be" wasn't 100 percent cohesive, all five portions of it were beautifully sung. I even liked Dinah Jane's doubled-up "Mother Mary" and Camilla's rapid-fire scat on "let it be, let it be, let it be." I mean, I'd have flipped my lid if Emblem3 had added a rap to "Hey Jude" last week, but I'm not such a purist that I don't think you can play a little bit with a Beatles' melody. Grade: A-
And with that, let me turn things over to you! Who should win Season 2 of The X Factor? Who actually will take the crown? Sound off in the comments, and for all my reality TV recaps, commentary and interviews, follow me on Twitter @MichaelSlezakTV!
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Citro2-Kleen combines oxygen and citrus technology to create an environmentally friendly, water-based, multi-purpose cleaner for all architectural surfaces.
Citro2-Kleen is a concentrated, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, multi-surface cleaner that utilizes oxygen and hydrogen as well as powerful citrus extract to provide the next generation in cleaning technology. This product is extremely effective when used with heated, deionized water. This product is designed for high-performance building restoration and preservation applications.
We recommend the use of one of Presto's stone protective treatments to protect the newly restored surface for years:
Coverage Rates
250 to 10,000 sq. ft. per gal. depending on dilution rate.
DilutionProduct can be diluted to any concentration needed.
Surface Preparation
Remove as much surface buildup as possible prior to using Citro2Kleen. We recommend heated, deionized water to remove surface buildup, and to rinse the surface after product application.
ApplicationThis product can be used with a sprayer or any chemical injection applicator. Using a pump sprayer, apply Citro2-Kleen to the surface using a side to side wetting pattern starting at the bottom and working upward. Make sure to fully and evenly soak the entire surface. Allow the product to soak on the surface as long as possible without drying. Reapply the product if areas become dry. Rinse using a pressure washer or water hose. Rinse all product from the surface. If heavy soils are present and it appears necessary, use a strong, short-bristled brush to agitate the surface.
If necessary, apply a second or third treatment to the surface and repeat the process as previously described. When finished, make sure to rinse the surface multiple times to ensure no residue is left behind – especially when a water repellent is to be applied afterwards.
This product will not harm the surface and can be applied as many times as needed. The product will work without the use of deionized water; however, it is recommended for superior performance.
The information provided by Presto for the safe and effective use of this product, and all of our products, is believed to be good and accurate. However, due to the many different possible applications of this product, careful considerations should be made when selecting its suitability for each surface.
The information provided should never be substituted for individual testing to ensure the product's compatibility with each surface intended for use. The purchaser shall assume all responsibility for determining the suitability of this product. When used as intended, this product will perform as stated. No other warranty can be made for this product, verbally or written.
Presto warrants this product to be free from defects. In the event this product is found to be defective, we will provide a sufficient amount of product to replace the defective product.
View our Stone Restoration Pictures Featuring projects that utilized our many products for their buildings restoration, maintenance or cleaning project.
After cleaning or sealing stone surfaces the glass windows and metal frames almost always need to be cleaned, and many time window spots and stains removed as well. View our glass and metal products that compliment our stone restoration and protection arsenal.
Citro2-Kleen is special order only. Allow 1 to 2 weeks to manufacture and ship. For cleaning stone surfaces that have been previously protected with Presto's Stone protective treatments such as Leach Stop or ElaSticone use Green-Kleen. For more aggressive cleaners for stone surfaces that are not protected with Presto's Stone protective treatments view the Stone Restore Series.
View All Products > Architectural Precast, Concrete, Brick & Block Restoration Products > Stone Maintenance Products >


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Joining CNBC Africa to discuss technology disruption in South Africa's insurance market is Anthony Miller, CEO, Simply Financial Services – whose business aims to secure the financial futures for South Africa's mass market.
Partner Content
Disruptive digital solutions is rewiring the DNA of Banking
By Kennedy Mubita, Africa Head, SC Ventures. Imagine a bank whose customers can tap on a wearable device to...
The future of banking; digitization and collaboration as growth accelerants
By Kariuki Ngari, CEO & Managing Director, Standard Chartered, Kenya & East Africa COVID-19 has upended the social and...
Star Quality Speaker Line-Up at Africa Tech Festival 2020
Acknowledged as the world's largest Africa-focused digital infrastructure and emerging tech event, the Africa Tech Festival has always attracted a stellar line-up of critical thinkers, analysts, futurists, keynote and inspirational speakers. 2020 will more than deliver on that reputation, with a stimulating array of visionary industry presenters, raconteurs and even some sporting greats.
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Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Unlike other online Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) courses, ours are created and maintained by practicing medical professionals. More specifically, our CEO Dr. Fritz Disque is a board certified anesthesiologist and pharmacist who works 40+ hour weeks in a hospital.
Our courses and certifications are recognized nationally and around the world. Our acceptance rate in the United States is 98%! If for some reason your employer does not accept our certification, we'll give you a full 100% refund.
This Disque Foundation and NHCPS are a non profit dedicated to advanced health care education to the undeserved around the world. Whether we are in Nepal, Ethiopia or right here in Chicago at the Ronald McDonald House, we're giving back to communities across the globe.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course and certification are eligible for AMA Category 1™ Credits! 8 for ACLS Certification, 4 for ACLS Renewal.
Yes, if for some reason your employer does not recognize our certification, just email us the details and we'll provide you with a full 100% refund! Paying for something you can't use is just silly! However, we do have a 98% acceptance rate in the United States, so it's highly unlikely you'll find yourself in this position.
Our courses and certifications adhere to the latest ILCOR standards and guidelines and are Joint Commission (JCAHO) compliant.
Our mission is to empower others to save lives.
We do this by providing advanced healthcare education to underserved populations of the U.S. and the world.
Through our Save a Life Initiative we offer the world's first free life support training courses online. Saving lives means giving others the chance to make a difference in the world.
Our goal is to empower a million people with the ability to safe a life by 2020.
people empowered to save a life in over
countries around the world.
The idea behind the Save a Life Initiative is simple. Take the same advanced life-saving training we developed for physicians, and give it to the underserved, at home and abroad at no cost. We work in conjunction with the Disque Foundation to fulfill its mission of advancing health care education to the underserved through advanced technology. When we put the knowledge, skills and ability to perform CPR and other proven techniques in the hands of people around the world, the potential number of lives saved is almost overwhelming.
NHCPS, the Disque Foundation and you. Together, let's save lives.


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Cooking Aids Online Store
These sesame seeds are perfect for sprinkling on top of salads or baking breads and desserts. Sesame is sometimes ground into a paste called "Tahini" which is used in hummus and baba Ghanouge. They are also used to make halawa, which is a confectionary treat also known as halva.
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|Results: 145Comments by: oXid_FoX
|File: Better Battle Pet Tooltip04-10-13
Re: Re: FR enhancement
Thanks. Can you give a French translation .... Done ;) Need to be check ingame (I don't have active account), but that's a good beginning. L.AlreadyBattled = "Déjà combattu%s%s" L.NotCapturable = "Capture impossible" --L.Parentheses = " (%s)" --L.PetString = "%s" --L.PetStringCount = "%s/%s %s" L.PetStringCountLevel = "...
|File: Better Battle Pet Tooltip04-04-13
FR enhancement
FR description update: http://www.wowace.com/static/base/images/flags/fr.png Afficher le plus haut niveau et qualité des mascottes de combat capturées dans les infobulles
|File: AtlasLoot_Source10-28-12
too huge
500kb ??? it's a joke? for an addon which must be tiny (it's only a plugin which add some info in tooltips, not a big addon like Atlas or Xperl...), it's really too much, I don't even give a try. Old AtlasLootReverse weights only 50kb. Why do you embed ID & items? It's already in Atlas Loot...
|File: Tankadin Cooldown10-14-11
clear zip
768kb :eek: ok, there is 2 jpg... I highly suggest to remove them, and make a zip, not a rar.
|File: Broker Factions06-04-11
This is an aesthetic thing.
This is an aesthetic thing. That's not only aesthetic, that makes reading harder with small fonts. Titan nil version.... line 272, just create your LDB addon with real addon name (so FULLNAME instead of MODNAME) (furthermore, it was the previous behavior of the plugin) show text, icon, color... about this point, instead of...
|File: Broker Factions05-15-11
Good job for expand/collapse sectio...
Good job for expand/collapse sections ! :banana: But hint lines aren't hidden according to the option... :( there is too many square brackets in text :p simple brackets were less "agressive" to the eye. I use TitanPanel as LDB displayer ; there is some basic option related to LDB plugin: -show icon -show title -show tex...
|File: Archy bugfix - DISCONTINUED05-15-11
Archy is officially maintained once...
Archy is officially maintained once more my myrroddin. Official releases have resumed at Curse. The updated file here is a dummy text file, telling you the exact same thing. at Curse, or just here on WoWinterface : http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info18283.html Anyway, thanks a lot for your fixes !
|File: Broker Factions05-09-11
Re: Re: bunch of errors
Originally posted by Zhinjio oXid_FoX mentioned a config problem too. Ok. I'll look into that. Thanks. I didn't see any LUA errors, just a title named "nil". (I don't test the lastest 3.2.3 Beta yet)
|File: Broker Factions05-08-11
some bugs I've found:
when you c...
some bugs I've found: when you click on a group title, tooltip disappears, it does not track session gain. I'm on FR locale. I see missing section title in config panel ("nil" values displayed, not in error)
|File: Ghost: Recon: Continued05-01-11
Changed slash command f...
changelog: Changed slash command from "/gr" to "/recon" to avoid conflict with french party chat command.thank you very much :)
|File: Broker Factions04-27-11
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bum...
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bump...
|File: Chat Timestamps04-27-11
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bum...
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bump... edit: works with 4.3 cataclysm :)
|File: Broker RaidSave04-27-11
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bump.
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bump.
|File: Grunt04-27-11
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bum...
seems to work with 4.1 with TOC bump... edit: works with 4.3 cataclysm :)
|File: Ghost: Recon: Continued04-17-11
as I said on "official" board, plea...
as I said on "official" board, please remove the slash command "/gr" : it's the french command to write in party channel (party = "groupe" in french)
|File: Sell-O-Matic204-17-11
Originally posted by Silmano
Originally posted by Silmano Please try version a039 and tell me if it doesn't work as intended. no changes. (even the item, I don't succeed to sell it in AH :D) BoE item used in this test: Tankard O' Terror (1H Mace) Class used: Mage (can't use maces) Disable class module, enable the other modules and sell your items, is...
|File: Sell-O-Matic204-03-11
Sorry for the delay.
BoE item us...
Sorry for the delay. BoE item used in this test: Tankard O' Terror (1H Mace) Class used: Mage (can't use maces) Disable class module, enable the other modules and sell your items, is the BoE item sold? no Disable item module, enable the other modules and sell your items, is the BoE item sold? yes Disable all modules (class,d...
|File: Sell-O-Matic201-13-11
Originally posted by Silmano
So t...
Originally posted by Silmano So the problem is that the addon is selling BoE items? yes :( and yes, this happens with a034
|File: Sell-O-Matic201-13-11
Yes, class module was enabled.
I f...
Yes, class module was enabled. I forgot to mention my Tankard is not BoP, but BoE. But the BoP shield (quest reward) is not sold. I want to sell , because BoE items can be sold at AH or disenchant by another toon.
|File: Sell-O-Matic201-12-11
bug report
only options ticked: Item options / Sell BoP. all modules loaded. My mage want to sell Tankard O' Terror (1h mace) and a green 1h axe, but not Bioluminescent Buckler (shield)... On the other hand, he correctly sells a green 2H axe and a green relic BoP... I don't understand... :confused: = { = { = true, }, },
|File: Sell-O-Matic201-01-11
* Added class module to s...
a031 * Added class module to sell all unusable soulbound items according to your class proficiencies (ej: Mage with plate).thank you! I'll try asap :cool:
|File: Sell-O-Matic212-27-10
Can I have more details about SellO...
Can I have more details about SellOMatic_Item : the only difference between "Use iLevel" & "iLevel value" is the second option doesn't care about quality? I guess something is missing in your example: If you want to sell all items below 100 item level: Enable Sell BoP, Sell BoE, Sell green, Sell blue, Sell epic. (the way you...
|File: Archy - Archaeology Assistant12-15-10
is it possible to add an option to...
is it possible to add an option to not show current digsites?
|File: QuestHelperLite11-23-10
FR locale
Hi! I've updated FR locale. http://wowi.pastey.net/143177-2cx5 important: please save this in UTF8 ! (otherwise special chars won't be displayed correctly)
|File: Grunt11-17-10
still works with 4.0.1 with TOC bum...
still works with 4.0.1 with TOC bump...


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This is a story about value investing and risk: specifically, the risk inherent in value investing and how to manage it. As with many things, value investing is perhaps best understood by starting with what it isn't; it's not growth investing. Growth investing is the anticipation that a given company's earnings will increase under the almost always accurate theory that when earnings rise so does a firm's stock price. The time frame during which most growth investors expect this anticipated earnings growth is typically measured in days, weeks or occasionally months, raising the question of whether it might be more accurately deemed speculation, rather than investing at all.
Value investing, on the other hand, is "investing" in the truest sense of the word, and value investors are, at least to my mind, at the top of the investment heap. Through diligent research and keen insight, value investors identify companies that have been undervalued by the rest of the investment community. That is, they believe the general consensus of the market is wrong about the underlying value of a company's stock, and then put their (and often, other people's) money where their mouths are. The success of their investments is dependent upon the rest of the investment community admitting their mistake in the future by driving the price up.
And there's the rub: Rather than a relatively quick spike in earnings that is obvious for all to see, value investors usually have to wait months (if they are lucky) or even years for the market to recognize the value they correctly identified early on. Value investing is not for the faint of heart, with the strength of their investment convictions often tested by more short-sighted investors, impatient bosses and the waning of their self-confidence. The history of investing is littered with value managers (and ex-value managers) who succumbed to the pressure to sell a correctly valued position before the market vindicated them.
Risk, of course, is a conundrum of its own. In the investment world, we tend to talk about risk as if it were just one thing, as measured by price deviation. For investors with very large portfolios and very long time horizons, standard deviations and price correlations probably do accurately describe their risk. But most retail investors don't see risk that way. For them, risk is the prospect of losing their money, a specter that is kept at bay only by investments that go up.
That brings us to the additional risk in value investing: being right while everybody else is wrong and watching your investment languish—or even lose value—while you're waiting for them to catch up. Again, we in the advisory community tend to talk about the relatively low correlation between growth and value returns as a good thing, but investors often don't have the perspective or the patience to see it that way. Consequently, they can be easy marks for salespeople who claim an ability to predict which asset class is poised to outperform.
To talk about how value managers can reduce the risk of long-term portfolio drag, I recently talked with Brien O'Brien, the CEO and president of Advisory Research Inc. in Chicago, Ill. ARI is a dyed-in-the-wool value investment house with some 37 years of experience searching out undervalued stocks that don't take too long to realize their true value. In 1987, the firm started using its proprietary bottom-up strategy, designed to mitigate the risks that result from the divergence between underlying investment values and the market's often-lagging valuation. Currently, ARI manages $9 billion, largely for institutional investors such as banks, insurance companies, and corporate, state and local government pension funds.
The firm's strategy appears to succeed in tightening the performance range of value investing: From Jan. 1, 1987, through June 30 of this year, ARI's aggregated portfolios have captured 107% of the up markets in the Russell 2000 Value Index, while losing only 79% of the down markets. On a quarterly basis, they've outperformed the Russell 2000 Value Index 63% of the time (71% of the rolling one-year periods, 93% of the rolling three-year periods and 100% of the rolling five-year periods), with an average outperformance of 5.1% and an average underperformance of -2.5%.
To get that kind of consistency, O'Brien and his team employ a Warren Buffett-like approach to identifying opportunities, with less emphasis on brand and more weight on downside protection. "Buffett puts more value on the brand," said O'Brien. "We tend to look at asset values to reduce our risk exposure, and, of course, we emphasize small- and mid-cap value companies. For our bottom-up analysis, we do all of our own research; we don't use any Wall Street research at all. We want unbiased thinking. And we don't look at future profit projections; nobody's smart enough to predict the future. Instead, we concentrate on what we can really know about a business: to identify stocks that have limited downside risk, with significant assets on the balance sheet and a management team that will utilize those assets to the benefit of the shareholders."
In addition to substantial net asset value, O'Brien believes that the key to reducing the risk of value investing is a strong identity of interest between a company's management and its investors. "We put a lot of emphasis on our management interviews, in which we're looking for two things," he said. "First, we're looking for a burning desire to be successful in senior management. Then, we look for a commitment to shareholders."
To support their positive impressions from good management interviews, the ARI folks then look to a company's track record in effectively allocating resources to achieve growth and increased profitability. Finally, they have to identify "a catalyst that will unlock the value on the balance sheet." That is, they want to see a concrete strategy designed to generate additional revenues and profitability.
Next, ARI looks to the overall composition of its portfolios with an eye toward maintaining a broadly diversified sector balance. Typically, they take positions in between 35 and 50 companies, with not more than 40% in finance and 20% each in other sectors. They stay fully invested as much as possible. On the sell side, their discipline is to sell stocks when their full value has been realized.
"We take a Darwinian approach to our portfolios," said O'Brien. "We constantly invest in the best opportunities we see and sell the weaker stocks. We have some stocks that we've owned for many years, where management has shown the ability to keep growing their balance sheets. That's the ideal situation. If we think a firm has reached its full potential, it's time to let it go. We also sell stocks if the company is acquired, if there is news that alters our original investment thesis, or if management is unable or unwilling to unlock shareholder value. We think it's vital to avoid the value trap: when you have dead money that's going nowhere. "
About eight years ago, ARI began applying its small- to mid-cap value investing strategies to international markets as well. There they invest in small and midsized global companies that are based in developed Asian countries like Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan, trading on the established exchanges in those countries, but doing a majority of their business in emerging markets. "By approaching emerging markets and their potential for double digit growth this way," said O'Brien, "we limit the investment risk and regulatory concerns associated with investing directly in the emerging space while gaining most of the upside potential. It lacks some of the sexiness of emerging markets, but lessens the effect of macroeconomics."
In March 2010, ARI began offering its value strategies to retail investors through independent advisors in four mutual funds: All-Cap Value (ADVGX), Global Value (ADVWX), International Small-Cap Value (ADVIX), and International All-Cap Value (ADVEX). These funds are designed to give clients much of the upside of small-cap stocks, both here and abroad, while mitigating some of the downside risk in the same ways that institutional investors have been doing for decades. Sure, there probably will be periods of underperformance while waiting for the markets to catch on to the real values, but ARI seems to have come up with a formula to shorten them considerably. "As value investors, we still need to have a thick skin," admitted O'Brien. "Sometimes you won't have the sexiest product in the room."


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - Work in progress Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Work in Progress View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "Work in progress" Marcelo95junior memberMember #Joined: 25 May 2014Posts: 8Location: Sverige Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 5:08 am http://bandido95.cgsociety.org/art/invasion-illustration-2d-1212693 Hello members of this forum ! I would like to share this illustration with you. Feel free to comment ._________________Concept artist Back to top [Shizo]memberMember #Joined: 22 Oct 1999Posts: 3938 Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:22 am Your line drawings are probably good but your coloring absolutely destroys them. Hey, you said I should feel free to comment. I felt free. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Work in Progress All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


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Welcome to Austin Accents Home Decor and Interior Styling
A gorgeous touch on a neutral tree! Also perfect for a little gift for a guest on a table setting!
Round about 4'
Austin Accents Home Decor is owned and operated by Laura Hennon since 2018. With a strong love for all thing creative and beautiful Laura loves to share her ideas with her customers and clients. Laura loves to collaborate in business and does Pop Up shows all over the Bay Area, CA. Austin Accents recently began Interior Styling and Design and is excited to bring our look directly to your home.
Copyright © 2020 austinaccentshome • Shopify Theme by Underground • Powered by Shopify


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Metals, coal, mining -- these industries are known for being cyclical. If you invest in these industries, you are probably well aware that companies within this space have boom and bust cycles. This week, Goldman Sachs upgraded its ratings on both AK Steel Holdings (NYSE:AKS) and U.S. Steel (NYSE:X) because a rebound in steel may very well be on its way. So should you heed the advice of Goldman and jump into these steel companies? Let's take a deeper look at both AK Steel and U.S. Steel and see whether they're worth your investment dollars or whether there may be better investments elsewhere.
Something has to give
America's steel industry -- just like the rest of the world -- waxes and wanes on the whims of the Chinese economy. In 2011, the country represented 46% of the world's steel supply and 44% of the world's demand. According to IHS Global Insight, Chinese steel demand will grow at a rate of 3%-4% between now and 2020. That's a major drop-off from the 11% growth between 2006 and 2020, but a growth of 4% over that time period would be equivalent to increasing U.S. demand over that same time frame by 255%.
The biggest question mark that hovers over much of the steel market for non-Chinese steel manufacturers is whether Chinese production of steel will slow down. According to Nucor (NYSE:NUE) CEO John Ferrolia, China has about 300 million tons of excess capacity that it has been unloading on foreign markets at prices well below market value. So as U.S., Chinese, and other major steel demand hubs pick up, there is still loads of excess capacity that will get in the way of domestic steel manufacturers.
Prices and demand in the U.S. are showing signs of life. Hot rolled steel coil prices -- a major market indicator -- are at their highest in more than a year, and demand from the automotive and energy industries here are taking off. That being said, another thing to consider for American steel manufacturers is that there is still a lot of excess capacity in the domestic market as well. The utilization rate for steel mills here at home is still well under 80%, which is leading manufacturers like U.S. Steel to shutter plants.
So there is promise that demand both in the U.S. and globally will pick up, but it will probably still be a pretty bumpy ride as companies such as Nucor, U.S. Steel, and AK Steel fight for market share.
Making an investment decision
The thing to remember when investing, though, is that you aren't just buying the macro trends. There's also the company itself you're buying. Over the past three years, U.S. Steel and AK Steel Holdings haven't exactly been shareholder-friendly, but then again its hard to be when you don't make a dollar over that period.
|Total Net Income Q3 2010-Present
|Total Free Cash Flow Q3 2010-Present
|Debt-to-Capital (Average Past 12 Months)
|U.S. Steel
|AK Steel Holdings
|Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD)
It isn't just coincidence that both Steel Dynamics and Nucor were able to generate a profit over these past three years while U.S. Steel and AK Steel didn't. These two groups of companies sit on two different sides of the steel industry. Both AK Steel and U.S. Steel's facilities use blast furnaces to create a majority of their steel from raw iron ore. In contrast, both Steel Dynamics and Nucor use electric arc furnaces to reproduce steel from scrap iron. Not only do these facilities have lower raw material costs, but electric arc furnaces can also run on natural gas like Nucor's new direct reduced iron plant in Louisiana. While AK and U.S. Steel do have some electric arc facilities, they aren't the primary manufacturing methods for these two companies.
Sure, the steel market looks like it will pick up, and every player will see some benefit. When you consider that both Nucor and Steel Dynamics have a distinct competitive advantage and much stronger financial positions to capture growth, though, it's much harder to see U.S. Steel and AK Steel capturing as much from an upswing in the steel market than their competitors.
What a Fool believes
Investing in commodities has a lot to do with the price and demand outlook for that commodity, but it isn't the only thing to consider. Be sure to look at the company that you plan to invest in as well, because its ability to turn a profit will have just as much of a say in your making a return as the price of the commodity itself. In the case of AK Steel and U.S. Steel, sure, they may see some gains from a turnaround in steel, and Goldman Sachs has some very valid points about the steel turnaround. As companies, though, they have much more ground to make up to become more profitable than Nucor or Steel Dynamics. I would much rather put my money in a market leader during a down market than one that's struggling.


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There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this comedian.
Steve Kaminski
Steve Kaminski moved to Chicago to pursue improvisation in 2000. He trained at the iO theater and performed there for several years.
In 2006 he moved to Las Vegas and became a part of the Second City Scriptless, an improvised show in the heart of the Flamingo Casino, on the Las Vegas Strip.
2008 saw Steve take his talents on tour as he sailed with the Second City aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, entertaining thousands of passengers a week.
In early 2010 Steve moved to sunny Los Angeles to pursue the "actors lottery". You've got to be in it to win it!
Steve Kaminski's Upcoming Shows
Steve Kaminski is Known For


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After being convicted for grand theft everything and leaving his cushy (if potentially deadly) job at Planet Express, Bender decides to cover every inch of his chassis with tattoos. All that ink pays tribute both to Bender's robotic roots and his package delivery adventures.
French artist Nicolas Le Borgne, also known as Odö combines animated characters, religious iconography, and classic tattoo styles to create surreal and often disturbing illustrations. His obsessions tend toward Disney and big-eyed, doll-like figures, but he seems to have a particular affinity for Futurama's kleptomaniac robot, who has gotten the tattoo treatment a few times now, with varying degrees of hallucinatory haze.
[Odö via Design You Trust]