text:
Kuwait: Risk Assessment
Country Risk Rating
Business Climate Rating
- Large oil reserves (6% of world total)
- Accumulation of substantial public and foreign surpluses managed by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) sovereign funds
- Political obstacles to structural reforms
- Business climate and competitive context could be improved
- Uncertainties associated with the succession to the Emir and tensions between the Executive and Parliament
- Location in a region of geopolitical tensions, specifically proximity to Iran and Iraq
Current Trends
Slight Recovery Forecast in 2018
The expansion in economic activity will strengthen in 2018. The oil and gas sector, accounting for 50% of national GDP, will remain positive thanks to slowly rising oil prices. The rate of growth could be limited with the renewal of the OPEC agreements, resulting in a cut in production of around 6% in 2017 against 2016. The State retains its central role in the national economy thanks in particular to its five-year development plan to increase the diversification of the economy – involving large scale public investment in infrastructures and a modernization of the refineries. These investments will drive growth in particular in the transport, property and healthcare sectors. They will help boost confidence among consumers and investors, thereby helping consolidation within the non-oil and gas sectors and growth of 2.5% in 2018. Household demand will remain strong in 2018 given the levels of disposable income and despite the austerity measures. However, given the lack of a domestic manufacturing industry, this will tend to drive up imports. The Kuwaiti banking system remains profitable and resilient thanks to strengthened banking regulations imposed by the Central Bank: the defined capital adequacy ratio is much higher than that required under Basel III and the level of bad debt is shrinking. In addition, the sector is not expected to experience a tightening in liquidity as has been the situation in other countries in the region; with the increase in public deposits making it possible to offset the weak expansion in private deposits. The financial sector has proven buoyant given the fall in oil prices and continues to finance the economy as it is able to satisfy the strong demand for private sector credit. Inflation will be higher in 2018, pushed up by the imposition, at the beginning of the year, of VAT at 5% throughout the GCC and increases in the cost of energy and food.
Continued Balance in Public Accounts
With oil receipts accounting for 88% of State income, the falls in the price per barrel since 2014 have forced adjustments to be made in current account spending, to maintain the equilibrium of the public accounts by means of a reduction in subsidies, in particular on electricity and water, and with limits being placed on government employee wages. Despite possible opposition from within Parliament, the Five-Year Plan is expected to remain on track. This capital expenditure will be covered by increased receipts following the moderate rise in oil prices, and fiscal reforms, namely the introduction of VAT and, potentially, through public-private partnerships. The transfer of 10% of State revenues to the Future Generations Fund will continue. This will generate a financing requirements as it creates a deficit of around 10% of GDP, which the authorities aim to cover using foreign debt, thereby avoiding the use of the national savings fund. Kuwait, subject to a highly rated sovereign risk by the three leading credit agencies, because of its substantial credit assets, raised $8 billion in March 2017.
Oil resources guarantee current account surplus
The gradual rise in oil prices in 2017, and that predicted for 2018, will allow Kuwait to improve its current account balance. This upturn will offset the rise in its import bill, reflecting higher prices for consumer goods. The balance of services will remain largely negative whilst the national tertiary sector remains unable to satisfy local strong demand. The current account balance will also be negative as a result of remittances sent by foreign workers living in the country. With currency reserves at 5.1 months of imports, Kuwait can guarantee the pegging of the Kuwaiti dinar to a US dollar-weighted basket of international currencies.
Atmosphere of Political Tension Surrounding Royal Family
The resignation of the government in October 2017, following a censure motion, makes the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of early elections in 2018 likely. The resignation came about in a context of recurrent tensions and impasses between the Parliament and the ruling Al Sabah family, the head of the Executive. The re-election of a Parliament at loggerheads with the government could lead to a political paralysis within the governing institutions and weaken the economy by undermining confidence in the household and private sectors, which determines the management of investments as part of the five-year plan. The issues within the ruling family concerning the Emir's succession are also clouding visibility on the political future of the country. On the diplomatic stage, the country is working to encourage a return to dialogue between the other members of the GCC and Qatar.


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Back to News
Former Spirit Player Snedeker wins at Farmers
January 30th 2012
Source: Helen, Ross...PGATour.com
LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Kyle Stanley's eyes were filled with tears waiting to tumble down his cheek.
It didn't take long. Not after someone asked Stanley how he would deal with the kick in the gut he'd just taken as he squandered a three-stroke lead on the final hole of the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday.
Stanley's chin trembled as he tried to compose himself. He blinked several times and his index finger flicked away a tear from the corner of his right eye, the first of many to come. He took a deep breath before he spoke.
"I don't know right now," Stanley said quietly and deliberately. "It's tough. I mean, it's really tough to take."
Brandt Snedeker, the man who ended up denying Stanley his first PGA TOUR victory in the playoff that ensued on Sunday, knows how Stanley feels. Only his emotional moment came after the final round of the 2008 Masters where he was tied for the lead when he made eagle on the second hole but faltered with eight bogeys coming home.
The question that evening at Augusta National was essentially the same as the one Stanley fielded. Suddenly Snedeker could contain himself no longer, burying his head in a white towel and finally letting go. "That says it all," Snedeker finally managed to blurt out before making a quick exit into the darkness.
Or, as Paul Azinger would later tweet, "unfortunately, heartache is a part of sports."
"I don't think anybody should feel embarrassed about showing their emotions," Snedeker said Sunday evening. "I think that's part of who you are. That's how much we care about it. If (Kyle) didn't show his emotions, I'd be a little shocked. I'm sure that was a pretty tough way to lose a golf tournament. He's going to have a tough night. There is no way around it. But he can be better from it.
"The thing I hope he doesn't do is dwell on it. I hope he moves past it pretty quick."
Still, even Snedeker, who won for the third time on the PGA TOUR and moved to second in the FedExCup, had a hard time wrapping his brain around the dramatic shift in emotions on Sunday at Torrey Pines.
He was in the media center, "completely content," as he put it, with what he thought was a second-place finish while Stanley was playing the 18th hole. Snedeker had done what he could, shooting a 67 which tied for Sunday's low round, but he had given himself too much ground to make up with Saturday's 74.
Or so he thought.
When Stanley's third shot sucked back into the water that guards the front of the green, it admittedly "piqued" Snedeker's interest. After Stanley found the back shelf of the green with his fifth shot, Snedeker decided to head back to the practice green, just in case. A three-putt later and suddenly the two were heading back to the 18th tee for a playoff.
The two traded birdies on the first extra hole, Snedeker finding the fairway bunker and tangling with a divot before hitting his third shot to 3 feet. The big-hitting Stanley was over the green in two but managed to coax his chip to 2 feet to prolong the affair.
Snedeker then ended the playoff when he got up and down for par from beside the TV tower at the 16th hole. He converted from just over 5 feet while Stanley missed his from 5 feet, 3 inches. After he hugged his caddy, Snedeker walked over and told Stanley he was sorry. There was nothing else to say.
"You never want to see anybody go through that," Snedeker said. "I don't care who it is, not even your worst enemy on the planet. Golf is such a funny game, and to have that kind of lead coming into the last hole and not to win is tough. It will be a tough night for him.
"But he's an unbelievably talented player, and the sky's the limit for him. And I hope he does not beat himself up too much over this. He should learn from it. I wouldn't be surprised if he's contending again really soon."
That's what Robert Garrigus did. He was leading Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson by three strokes two years ago at the St. Jude Classic when he triple bogeyed the 18th hole and ended up losing in a playoff. He won the Childrens Miracle Network Classic later in the year.
"If anyone knows how Kyle Stanley feels its me," Garrigus tweeted, adding that he will win more than once "before his time is up." He "just needs to keep grindin sorry bud."
As disappointed as Stanley was, he put up a brave face. Sunday marked his second runner-up finish in just 41 starts on the PGA TOUR, and he'll get another chance next week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Still, the tears were just under the surface as he bravely faced a situation he had never before imagined.
"I know I'll be back," Stanley said. "I'm not worried about that. It's just tough to swallow right now. I just need to be patient. One of my goals coming into this year was to just keep putting myself in position, and I'll do that."
While Snedeker acknowledged he "kind of backed into" Sunday's victory, it was hardly "tainted" as one reporter dared suggest. Snedeker took advantage of the opportunity when it came to him, posting his second straight top-10 in as many starts this season and positioning him to realize his goal of making the Ryder Cup team.
Not bad for a guy who was on crutches less than two months ago, rehabbing after his second hip surgery in less than a year.
"I feel fantastic," Snedeker said, the day's 180-degree shift in emotions evident in his broad smile. "... I fully believe this is going to be the best year of my career."
It's certainly off to a good start.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Emmalee Drafting Chair by Symple Stuff Reviews
Reference: 564474e2bdd4bbba4dbb148ae6189f1c
Read reviews (51 ) Write a review
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Emmalee Drafting Chair product by Symple Stuff
These polyurethane chairs adjust to fit most body types and workstations. Optional 6 way adjustable arm rests support a variety of arm placements for proper ergonomics. These polyurethane chairs are easily cleaned, making them ideal for almost any environment. These desk height chairs feature a powder-coated steel base with fixed foot ring. Optional casters and add height to the chair. Optional seat tilt provides 8 forward and 3 backward locking tilt for ergonomic posture support.
- Swivel: Yes
- Tilt Mechanism: Yes
- Seat Height Adjustment: Yes
- Locking Back Angle Adjustment: Yes
- Security policy (edit with Customer reassurance module)
- Delivery policy (edit with Customer reassurance module)
- Return policy (edit with Customer reassurance module)


text:
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, December 24, 1924, p. 1.
Bandits Spent Much Of Day In Marion
Officials Observe Men Acting Suspiciously and Watched Them for Hours -- Robbery Occupied but Little Time and Was Without Unusual Thrills -- Bandits Declared, "We Are Rough and If You Make a False Move We Will Shoot H---- Out Of You"
Six bandits, all of whom were armed, entered the Upland State Bank at 3:45 Tuesday afternoon, within fifteen minutes of the closing hour, held up Earl Bragg, cashier at the bank and Miss A. Atkinson, a clerk at the bank, and robbed the bank of approximately $2,500.
A good description of the men was secured by Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith, who conversed with six men at a filling station at Highland avenue and Washington streets about two-thirty yesterday afternoon. They asked the deputy sheriffs the road to Hartford City, stating that they desired to get on State Road No. 35.
Officials Present
When the five armed men entered the Upland bank, (one stayed outside) there were no customers in the bank and only the two bank officials were present.
One of the men approached the bank window, holding in his had a dollar bill.
As soon as Cashier Bragg came up to the window, he was covered with a gun, with a command to hold up his hands.
While this was taking place, Miss Atkinson was also covered with a gun, while a third bandit stationed himself near the front door.
Two other bandits then went inside of the bank and with the aid of another bandit attempted to lock Bragg and Miss Atkinson in the bank vault and after getting [t]hem inside found the safe would not work and they covered the two people and then started scooping all of the money in sight on the bank counters and then went into the safe where they secured all of the money in sight, which consisted of paper money and silver.
While they were at work, one of the bandits cautioned them against making any false moves under pain having "hell shot out of them."
"We Are Rough," They Said.
After getting all of the money in sight, they quickly left the bank and hopped into a waiting automobile, in which the sixth bandit sat, and departed, going north out of Upland, where it was reported they turned west.
Out Again, in Again
While the robbery was in progress, Dillman Stump, a resident of Upland started into the bank, but changed his mind about entering and started to go out, when the bandit near the door, grabbed him inside and told him to stick up his hands, which he did very promptly.
Cashier Bragg said that the men were not clean and were shabbily dressed and that one of the men was tall and heavy set, and that the four others appeared to be from 18 to 35 years old. He stated he was not aware of any bandits until the five came into the bank and was covered by a gun by one of the men.
Loss Fully Covered
The loss at the bank is fully covered by insurance, Mr. Bragg said. The exact amount of money taken will probably be known at some time today.
The robbery was reported at once to Sheriff Bert Renbarger and Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith went to Upland and made an investigation.
Both the police and sheriff believe that the men tried to pull off a robbery in this city, but that on account of being shadowed by officers, were unable to accomplish what they wanted.
The men were first noticed in the city about one-thirty yesterday afternoon by Detectives Humble and Andrews. The Moon car, which bore license number 443-554, passed them at Fourth and Adams streets.
Detective Humble noticed six men in the car and also noted the license number as being the number on a car which was in the city about a week ago, he said, when the car passed a stop sign at Fourth and Nebraksa streets and failed to stop when called on by a policeman.
The appearance of the men did not look good to the detectives, who later saw the car going the wrong way around the public square.
The officers were able to get a fairly good description of the two men in the front seat and a third man in the rear and a short time later one of the men, who had no collar and tie on, was seen to go in the Price Clothing Store, where he made a purchase of a collar and tie.
Close Watch Is Kept
The detectives followed him into the store and kept a close watch on him, the man doing the same to the officers. Later, another of the men seen in the car went into several downtown banks remaining in each bank only a minute.
The bandits also made a trip to South Marion State bank three or four times. Bank officials there seeing the car pass and repass, called the police and an officer was sent out to the bank. The bandits in passing the bank, traveled slow and were evidently sizing up the situation.
The suspicious actions of the six men in the car caused every policeman to be notified and all banks, jewelry stores and other business firms downtown were warned of the actions of the six men and that a robbery might be attempted and considerable money was hidden within the next few minutes.
Converse With Men
About two-thirty Deputy Sheriffs Schell and Smith came into the city from another call and seeing the detectives and policemen eyeing an automobile which was then going north from the square on Washington street followed the car, believing it to be a car which they had been looking for and which was said to contain a quantity of liquor. They followed the car to Highland avenue, where it stopped at a filling station, where a quantity of gasoline was purchased. The license number on the car was secured by the deputies, who then drove east on Highland avenue, ahead of the Moon car. They turned around, after seeing six men in the car who appeared to be suspicious characters. They stopped their car at the filling station and got out.
Deputy Schell walked up to the Moon car with the six men and the driver of the car asked Schell the road to Hartford City, stating that they wanted to get on State Road 35.
Schell told them that they were considerably off their road and directed them back to Third street, where they were told to go east. The man who was talking to Schell kept one hand in a coat pocket, which Schell believes to have contained a gun.
Gets Description
Schell was able to get a good description of several of the men. The man who was talking to Schell, appeared to be tall and had one peculiar eye, which Schell said had a light spot, giving it an odd appearance. Another bandit had on overalls, while the others appeared to be dirty and not well dressed. Another of the men who was in a rear seat, appeared to be sleepy while the others looked as if they had lost considerable sleep.
When the license number on the car was turned in to Sheriff Renbarger, he got in touch with the secretary of state's office at Indianapolis, where it was learned that the license number had been issued to George Millinger of Indianapolis. A call was then put into the office of the chief of detectives of Indianapolis, after news of the robbery had been received and it was learned that this car had been stolen about nine-thirty Monday night and that six men, with a Moon sedan had robbed a hardware store at Lebanon late Monday night, securing a quantity of shot guns, rifles and ammunition. It is believed that these six men in the city robbed the Lebanon store, came to Marion to pull off a robbery here and were frustrated on account of being watched too closely and that they then went to Upland, where they succeeded in their work.
Late last night no trace of the robbers had been found. Sheriff Renbarger notified many surrounding cities and Indianapolis, as it is thought that the gang has headquarters in that city.
That this gang was the same crowd who attempted to hold up a bank at Noblesville last week, was doubted by the police, who said that from the appearance of the six men here that they would be able to carry out any plans they made, while the attempt at Noblesville was evidently by boys who were scared out and left without robbing the bank.
This article is an account of the robbery of the Upland State Bank in Grant County, Indiana. The bank was held up by a gang led by my cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). In late 1924 and early 1925, Harry led a group of ex-cons in terrorizing a number of banks around Indiana. The Upland State Bank job, and others like it, laid the ground work for the later robberies of the Dillinger "Terror Gang." The robbery and subsequent capture of members of the gang, generated a lot of ink in the Marion newspapers.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a "shaded past." Bring out your ne'er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don't forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.


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Scientists developed this computer simulation
to better understand the movement of air
within the vortex of a tornado. Colored
surfaces in the diagram show areas of equal
air pressure, with pressure decreasing from
gray through red, orange, and blue. Air
inside the blue surfaces experiences the
most intense upward movement. "Marker"
particles that begin on the ground show
various airflow paths in the tornado; the
line behind each particle indicates its
relative speed and direction. The simulation
shows that one of the strongest parts of
a vortex is where a tornado touches the


text:
Buying vacuums is a pain in the butt. There I said it. The problem (in a nutshell) is suction. ALL vacuums have terrific suction when you first get them. Which is why you read articles about how wonderful most vacuums are, when in fact, they kind of suck. (Pun Intended).
The issue at hand is will they suck 6 months from now? Or a year from now? The primary thing you need to look for is how the filter functions, how easy it is to remove, replace, and clean. Can the filter be cleaned? There are only a few decent vacuums on the market today. In our opinion companies that make filters that come out easily, clean easily, are on the top of the list.
See when the filter gets clogged your suction goes into the garbage. You have a LOT less suction then you had before the filter got clogged. Some companies have figured out how to make units without filters, those are pretty slick vacuums. The Hoover Wintunnel Bagless series are pretty decent vacuums.
The first thing we like about them is they are cheap. Rolling in at about $159 USD they aren't a bad value at all. They use a patented Windtunnel technology and they last about a year if you vacuum a couple times a week and you have your kids doing it (think chores). After about a year they get kind of rickety, they don't seem to work as well picking things up, and everytime you use it you think about how you need to get another vacuum.
This is MUCH better than most of the other vacuums on the market that are in this price category or lower. We've tested vacuums that are $80 from Walmart and they last 3-6 months in a fairly busy household.


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The Atlanta Fed's macroblog provides commentary and analysis on economic topics including monetary policy, macroeconomic developments, inflation, labor economics, and financial issues.
Authors for macroblog are Dave Altig, John Robertson, and other Atlanta Fed economists and researchers.
Useful Links
Government Resources
- BLS Handbook of Methods
- Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Congressional Budget Office
- Economic Data - FRED® II, St. Louis Fed
- Office of Management and Budget
- Statistics: Releases and Historical Data, Board of Governors
- U.S. Census Bureau Economic Programs
- White House Economic Statistics Briefing Room
« Symmetric goals, asymmetric risks | Main | Labor force nonparticipants: So what are they doing? »
May 10, 2012
A take on labor force participation and the unemployment rate
By now, if you've been paying attention to the coverage following the April employment report, you know the following:
- The March to April decline in the unemployment rate from 8.2 percent to 8.1 percent was arithmetically driven by yet another decline in the labor force participation rate (LFPR).
- The decline in the LFPR, now at its lowest level since the early 1980s, is itself being influenced by a confounding mix of demographic change and other behavioral changes that nobody seems to understand—a point emphasized by a gaggle of blogs and bloggers such as Brad DeLong, Carpe Diem, Conversable Economist, Free Exchange, and Rortybomb, to name a few.
With respect to the first observation, in a previous post my colleague Julie Hotchkiss described how to use our Jobs Calculator to get a ballpark sense of what the unemployment rate would have been had the LFPR not changed. If you follow those procedures and assume that the LFPR had stayed at the March level of 63.8 percent instead of falling to 63.6 percent, the unemployment rate would have risen to 8.4 percent instead of falling to 8.1 percent.
It is clear that interpreting this sort of counterfactual experiment depends critically on how you think about the decline in the LFPR. The aforementioned post at Rortybomb cites two Federal Reserve studies—from the Chicago Fed and the Kansas City Fed—that attempt to disentangle the change in the LFPR that can be explained by trends in the age and composition of the labor force. These changes are presumably permanent and have little to do with questions of whether the labor market is performing up to snuff.
The following chart, which throws our own estimates into the mix, illustrates the evolution of the actual LFPR along with an estimate of the LFPR adjusted for demographic changes:
As the header on the chart indicates, our estimates suggest that roughly 40 percent of the change in the LFPR since 2000 can be accounted for by changes in age and composition of the population—in essentially the same range as the Chicago and Kansas City Fed studies. (If you are interested in the technical details you can find a description of the methodology used to generate the chart above, based on work by the University of Chicago's Rob Shimer.
In other words, 0.9 percentage points of the decline in the LFPR since the beginning of the past recession can be explained by demographic trends (as the baby boomers age, the labor force will grow more slowly than the total population [ages 16 and up]). Subtracting the demographic trends still leaves 1.5 percentage points to be explained, a number right in line with Brad DeLong's back-of-the-envelope calculation of "cyclical" LFPR change.
As DeLong's comments make clear, the interpretation of the nondemographic piece of the LFPR change requires, well, interpretation. And the consequences of connecting the dots between changes in the unemployment rate and broader labor market performance are enormous.
In the recently released Summary of Economic Projections following the last meeting of the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee, the midpoint of the projections for the unemployment rate at the end of 2013 is 7.5 percent. Turning again to our Jobs Calculator, we can get a sense of what sort of job creation over the next 20 months will be required given different values of the LFPR. For these estimates, I consider three alternatives: The LFPR stays at its April level, the LFPR reverts to our current estimate of the demographically adjusted level (that is, increases by 1.5 percentage points), and an intermediate case in which the LFPR increases by 0.7 percentage points—the lower end of DeLong's estimate of "people who really ought to be in the labor force right now, but who are not."
DeLong asks:
"Are [people who really ought to be in the labor force right now, but who are not] now part of the 'structurally' non-employed who we will never see back at work, barring a high-pressure economy of a kind we see at most once in a generation?"
As you can see, the answer to that question matters a lot to how we should think about progress on the unemployment rate going forward.
By Dave Altig, executive vice president and research director at the Atlanta Fed
May 10, 2012 in Data Releases , Employment , Labor Markets | Permalink
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Listed below are links to blogs that reference A take on labor force participation and the unemployment rate :
Seeing as there was an event, the Great Financial Crisis, and employment and participation have both trended in the down direction, perhaps we should look at them as aspects of the same thing, a decaying job market. Thus, the jobs calculator is a good thing -- the unemployment rate adjusted to a steady participation rate is a very good metric for gauging the real state of the labor market.
To say that part of the change in participation is due to demographics certainly cannot be proven by the relatively primitive analysis cited from the University of Chicago. In previous times of stagnating wages, for example, participation went up, thinking of the late 1970s into the late 1980s.
The layman's take is that participation is going down because jobs cannot be had and people are making other arrangements, whether taking disability, early retirement, borrowing to go to school, or adapting in another manner. Certainly it is a common perception that if the economy picks up, there will be more people entering the labor force.
Posted by:
demandside |
May 10, 2012 at 10:49 PM
I posted this on Mark Thoma's "Economist's View" in response. I thought I'd repeat it here, too.
Something is wrong here.
I perused the linked reports from the Chicago and Kansas City Fed's. The data in both reports show an INCREASE in Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for workers over 55 between 2001 and 2011. Look at Chart 8 in the Kansas City report and Table 4 in the Chicago report. The LFBR increases for older workers.
The Kansas City report even offers a reason for the increase:
"The rise can be explained by longer term developments, such as improving health and longevity, the need to build retirement savings due to the shift away from defined-benefit pensions, and decreased availability of retiree health benefits (Kwok and others)."
But then BOTH reports go on to say that overall LFPR is declining due to older workers LEAVING the workforce. This is directly at odds with the data.
A LARGER percentage of of older workers are putting off retirement, and this proves that more older workers are retiring earlier??
I'm no economist (obviously), but as a layperson, I don't think I'd buy this product.
It doesn't make sense.
Posted by:
havnaer |
May 12, 2012 at 07:51 PM
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text:
The official website for MineCon, the first annual celebration of all things MineCraft, is incredibly difficult to get to at the moment, as tickets for the big November event have officially gone on sale for $99 apiece.
Held November 18 and 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada, MineCon is a chance for MineCraft players around the world to converge, swapping server addresses, patting each other on the back for the nifty things they've built, and basking in the shadow of creator Notch and his crack team of programmers, artists, and business peoples. Tickets are on sale now for the recently announced event, with an advance price of $99 per person.
The first 500 fans that register for MineCon will be entered to win the "Ultimate Fan Experience", which includes a hotel room for the show, VIP access to panels, and a meal with Team Mojang. Considering the strain fans are putting on the site at the moment, I'd expect that bird to have flown already.
In fact, the registration page seems to be suffering from some severe technical issues at the moment. Hopefully they'll get that fixed shortly and we'll be able to accurately judge how fast tickets sell out.
Get Your MineCon Tickets Here [Official Website]
You can contact Michael Fahey, the author of this post, at firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.


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Lincoln Ancestry Challenged
NEW PROVIDENCE - Abraham Lincoln, savior of the Union and emancipator of American slaves, was born the illegitimate son of Nancy Hanks and businessman Abraham Enloe in western North Carolina. In order to get Nancy and her infant son away from the Enloe household, Mr. Enloe sent mother and son to Kentucky and arranged a marriage with Thomas Lincoln, a drunkard who beat his wife and "adopted" son and gave them a ramshackle hut with barely a floor to sleep on. He was paid in mules and cash.
Abraham Lincoln was probably about six years older than his faked birth date of Feb. 12, 1809, and no more resembled Thomas Lincoln than his true half-brother, Wesley Enloe, who shares the same ultra-lanky frame inherited from their father (see a photo comparison).
These facts are just part of the covered-up truths of Abraham Lincoln's genesis, kept quiet by the president's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, and cooperative biographers who wanted for various reasons to present the "Kentucky Sunday School" versions of Mr. Lincoln's life, according to New Providence resident Robert Vincent Enlow.
His sources include writers from a century ago who he says interviewed locals from Rutherford County in North Carolina where Lincoln was really born. Those sources swore they not only saw Nancy Hanks' baby, Abe, but also held him in their arms.
For Lincoln history buffs, two of the sources he uses are James H. Cathey, a North Carolinian state legislator who wrote "The Genesis of Lincoln" in 1899, and Dr. James Coggins, president of Atlantic Christian College, who published a work, "Abraham Lincoln, North Carolinian With Proof" in 1927. Mr. Enlow also insists that Lincoln's partner in law, William H. Herndon, was determined to find the truth and traveled many miles throughout Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois to interview those connected with the Lincolns. He should have gone to North Carolina, said Mr. Enlow.
Why, if it is true, has it not been accepted?
Mr. Enlow points to Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, as the leader of "the great cover-up."
"The political ambitions of Lincoln's son Robert, Secretary of War and mentioned for the presidency, figured in the surveillance and censorship of material for publication. Educated at Harvard, mover in high social circles, he did not want his father's humble beginnings aired in public. Those who would not tinker with or falsify history paid for it with near literary oblivion. They were not welcome at the same table with the 'kid-glove' biographers, many of whom had already cased in and who had plans for further exploitation of this great man. The small segment of the public to whom the genesis truth was known raised little fuss about the cover-up, probably knowing they were vastly out-numbered, and the rest could be expected to be resentful of anything disturbing an image they were comfortable with," Mr. Enlow wrote.
Surnames: Lincoln, Enlow, Enloe, Hanks
Adapted from an article by Jamie Duffy
Berkeley Heights-New Providence Independent Press, February 7, 2001
80 South Street, New Providence, NJ 07974


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NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Six members of the Harvard men's squash team have been named College Squash Association Scholar Athletes, the league announced Wednesday.
Seniors Charles Cabot, Shaw McKean and Jason Michas and juniors Brandon McLaughlin, Tommy Mullaney and Gary Power each earned the academic honor. To be considered for the award, student-athletes must be a two-time varsity letterwinner, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be a junior or senior.
Michas is a two-time recipient of the award. The senior co-captain went 10-1 in matches this season, playing primarily out of the eighth position. He also went 6-1 in Ivy League play to help the Crimson secure its first league title since 2006.
Fellow class of 2013 members Cabot and McKean were integral parts of the squad. Cabot went undefeated with a 3-0 mark playing at positions four and five, and McKean went 4-1, earning two wins at spots seven and nine.
McLaughlin and Power, who were both recently elected captains for the 2013-14 season, were also honored after stellar seasons. McLaughlin, playing out of the No. 2 position primarily, compiled a 13-3 mark during the season and went 1-2 in individual play, while Power was 13-5, including a dramatic, come-from-behind win in the national semifinal against Princeton to earn Harvard a spot in the title bout.
Mullaney rounded out the honorees, going 11-6 while splitting time at four different positions on the ladder.
Harvard finished the season 17-3 overall and 6-1 in the Ivy League. The Crimson went on to finish second at the CSA Team Championships, its best finish since 2004-05.


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About Your Speaker:
Natalie Ivey is President and CEO of Results Performance Consulting, Inc., a firm specializing in leadership and employee development training and continuing education programs for the HR profession.
Ms. Ivey is an author and a national public speaker with more than two decades of leadership and HR management experience with Fortune 500 organizations. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources certification (SPHR). Ms. Ivey is a nationally-known speaker on a variety of topics within the HR profession and is known for her "tell-it-like-it-is", direct approach to teaching HR education.
Ms. Ivey routinely works with individuals, small businesses, and larger corporations to address destructive leadership behaviors and organizational dysfunction. She designs customized training programs to help employers correct poor behaviors, minimize legal exposure, and improve performance and profitability.
HRCI Credits
This program has been approved for 1.5 re-certification credit hours for HRCI's PHR and SPHR designations through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or re-certification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HRCI of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HRCIs criteria to be pre-approved for re-certification credit.
SHRM Professional Development Credits
This program is valid for 1.5 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP designations. For more information about certification or re-certification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.Cannot Attend The Live Presentation?This presentation is also available in a recorded format, in On-Demand version, as shown in the pricing options below.


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Secure your spot on the starting grid of 2011's premier racing title, SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED™—the latest entry in the critically acclaimed Need for Speed™ simulation series.
The SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED Limited Version gets you exclusive access to the Nissan Silvia spec.R Aero (S15), the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV, and the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640—any of which you can drive in 40 career events. These include: Single-Type race events where each player competes in the same make of car; Old vs. New Challenge events in which classic cars go head-to-head against their modern counterparts; and Manufacturer Showdown events that pits some of the most iconic car rivals against each other in an all-out-battle to prove which one reigns supreme.
SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED pushes the revolutionary true driver's experience to the next gear with an all-new rendering engine and graphics overhaul, innovative helmet camera, night racing, and authentic degradation of tracks and cars.
Developed by the award-winning Slightly Mad Studios, SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED is available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Click here to order your copy now!


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Subaru has announced final pricing for the new BRZ sports coupe. How affordable? A base manual costs $25,495 before shipping and handling and a base auto runs $26,595. Top "Limited" spec adds $2K to each of those pricetags.
To recap,
Premium Trim
Manual $25,495
Auto $26,595
Limited Trim
Manual $27,495
Auto $28,595
The destination charge is $750 for all BRZs.
A Scion FR-S is $1,295 cheaper across the board. There is of course some suspension work that separates the two cars, but mica blue and a Pleiades badge might be worth the bump alone.
(Hat tip to Lone, Waiting for Schrödinger's Subie, Dork!)


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(Phoenix, Ariz. – Aug. 21, 2008) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the indictment of four individuals for an alleged Phoenix-based telemarketing fraud. The defendants allegedly obtained some $17 million selling fraudulent Internet business opportunities to customers throughout the country.
Brent D. Emerson, 36, of Phoenix, Anthony Kristian White, 30, of Phoenix, Gary D. Murdie, 32, of Scottsdale, and Tiffany Marie O'Donnell, 29, of Mesa, were each indicted on two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, two counts of money laundering, two counts of theft, two counts of illegally conducting an enterprise and one count of aggravated taking identity of another.
From October 2003 to December 2006, the defendants sold online pharmacy Web sites. In January 2007, after the Maricopa County Superior Court issued a temporary restraining order restricting the defendants' sales of online pharmacy Web sites, the defendants began selling online travel package Web sites.
The defendants allegedly did business under various names, including Guaranteed Prescriptions, Guaranteed Advertising, Premier Marketing Group and Executive Marketing Group.
This travel package business was conducted primarily under the names International Travel Connection, International Travel Brokers, International Travel Program, International Travel Network, T & L Marketing Services, L.L.C. and Smart Marketing.
The defendants also allegedly created the appearance that this travel package enterprise was operated, in part, by actual travel and marketing companies in California, Illinois and Oregon. These companies had no knowledge that defendants were using their identities.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
If convicted on all charges, the defendants each face up to 50 years in prison. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in Maricopa County Superior Court on August 28.
Also pending is a consumer fraud and civil racketeering action the Attorney General's Office filed in Maricopa County Superior Court in 2006 regarding this telemarketing operation.
For more information, please contact Anne Hilby at (602) 542-8019.


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My obsession with Kevin Beautymaker is not over so I bought one of these BB Mineral Concealing Creams to try for about £10.
Its supposed to be a Mineral and BB concealer – thus caring for the skin. It comes in 4 shades (there is a new one in addition to those pictured below):
I went for shade 4 which is the darkest, because I find that a lot of Asian products are a little light for me. This concealer is just about right for my NC35 skintone.
Its a pretty small tube – no doubting that I'm afraid, but its very concentrated.
The texture is lovely – although its highly pigmented and gives opaque coverage, it still sits on the skin without looking cakey or feeling heavy. There is a slightly silicone-slightly-oily feel to it – its lovely!
Here is my before and after:
I only used a very small amount of concealer for the side of my face and it worked a treat. In addition to that, it left my skin quite glowy without looking thick. I like it a LOT! A Lot! I really recommend this little concealer!
I bought mine from here.


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Be sure to check out the articles page for an interesting article on Natasha Richardson's
Fatal Accident
Note: I've included a 2-part Uranian manual wheel at the end of the explanations, that might be helpful for those of you who are new to Uranian Astrology.
If you are interested in a personal consultation contact me at email@example.com
Arlene Marcia Nimark; email@example.com
Tel: 718-377-0482, Cell: 917-776-7625
By Arlene Marcia Nimark
©2016 All Rights Reserved
Part II – Written 9/26/2016 (Part 1 is below)
I've looked at the charts of both candidates, with their progressed Sun's along with the transits on election-day, the only thing I came with was a headache! From the looking at both charts it looks like they could both win and they could both loose, because the one aspect that Uranian Astrologers look at, is the Sun/Kronos midpoint. However, it is unclear in this election, because Sun/Kronos indicates the king or ruling man.
In this election, we have for the very first time a woman running for President. If Hillary won, for the very first time, we would be looking at a Moon/Kronos midpoint, representing a female leader and ruler.
Having two separate conflicting aspects as a deciding factor to help determine the outcome was too confusing. Hence, I consulted with my dear friends and fellow Uranian astrology experts, Wayne Booher, and Gary Christen as to what method might eliminate the confusion. I decided to take a look at the election chart and added both Hillary's and the Donald's Sun and progressed Sun and their respective solar arcs.
For the election chart, I used November 8, 2016 at 12:01 am, Dixville Notch, NH, where the first votes are cast. Sun will be 16 Scorpio 13, and the Moon will be 20 Aquarius 47. I also added the Sun and Moon for 9:00 pm, when the poles close on the east coast. Sun will be 17 Scorpio 06 and Moon will have moved to 2 Pisces 22. The world will be watching this election very carefully. Sun at 12:01am, will be midpoint the cardinal axis and the Sun at the closing of the poles. This indicates that no one will go to sleep until the announcement is made as to who will reside in the White House.
The White House is represented by Poseidon/Admetos, which comes from my friend and colleague, Wayne Booher.
For me, the entire story is told by the 12:01 am chart where Poseidon/Admetos falls on the Moon and the Moon equals the Sun by Hillary's solar arc on election-day which is 69 degrees 51 minutes. The Donald's solar arc is 67 degrees 19 minutes. The Sun will be applying to Neptune by 22 ½ at days start, but will be exact by his solar arc. The Sun represents the day, and it appears to be a rainy day. The Sun is also the man, 22 ½ to Neptune indicates a weak man. This tells me a woman is going to the White House and Hillary will be our next President and not the Donald!
I also want to ad that the chart on election day at 9:00PM when the poles are closed also show a woman winning. Moon+ Mercury = Jupiter as Moon/Mercury + Apollon = 0 Aries. Elated female communication heard around the world.
Big money loses Saturn + Jupiter = 0 Aries.which is the over inflated Donald.
Uranian Astrologer Fortells Trump's Chance at the Oval Office Part One
Today is Tuesday August 2nd, after visiting the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, I dropped by to see my friend Melva Ortiz. The outing was a perfect way of welcoming the New Moon in Leo.
We fell into talking about the upcoming election and the Donald's chart. (June 14, 1946 at 10:54 am EDT, Queens NY) I immediately noticed that he is getting hit by both yesterday's new Moon and the Lunar Eclipse. The New Moon Falls smack on his Neptune Apollon midpoint, it will begin to become apparent that he is not presidential material. The lunar eclipse will be exactly at the midpoint of his MC and his Mars, and transiting Uranus has just stationed retrograde square is Venus/Saturn and the Saturn station direct which begins on the 9th of August will semi-square the Uranus, and his and his Venus/Saturn.
All of a sudden it hit me; the question is not will Hillary or Donald win the election, but will the Donald still be in the race when we finally get to the election.
Right now transiting Neptune is sitting at the midpoint of his natal and progressed Sun, and transiting Pluto is 22 ½ from his natal Sun. Furthermore, his progressed Moon at this time is midpoint transiting Neptune and his progressed Sun. His instability is becoming apparent to everyone. The combination of Pluto and Neptune aspecting both his natal and progressed Sun's indicates a loss of power.
Let me be the first to bring this to your attention.
When I checked the planetary pictures being created in his chart at the time of the election, I knew he would not be elected. Beginning with his progressed Moon conjunction his Saturn, and as transiting Saturn will be at the midpoint of his natal and progressed Sun. Next, he will have transiting Neptune sitting on his Sun/Mars and semi-squaring his Saturn and hitting his Jupiter by half solar arc. This confirms for me he will not be our next president.
Now, after looking at the transits hitting his chart at this time I do not think he will be on the ballot at the time of the election.
I almost forgot to mention the Mercury retrograde period coming at the end of August, and since he is a Gemini it is important.
Mercury will go retro on August 30th at 29 Virgo, a degree off the cardinal axis midpoint his Neptune and his Sun/Moon, along with his Jupiter and the transiting Neptune/Saturn, as transiting Pluto semi-squares his progressed Sun.. If he is still in the race at that time the Mercury retrograde a lot will come to light about his love /marriage life. Mercury will then go direct September 21st at the midpoint of his progressed Sun and the cardinal axis and transiting Saturn will set that off beginning November 4th.
Previous Articles:
East Coast USA Snow Storm,
on February 13th, 2014
Forgive some of my grammatical punctuation errors, I wanted this to get out ASAP and did not have this edited. SO forgive me.
By Arlene Marcia Nimark
On February 6, 2014 Mercury went retrograde conjunct Neptune with a little over a degree orb. Mercury Neptune is lies and deception. When it comes to weather a simplistic interpretation is moisture carried in the air, depending on where you live and its normal climate will determine whether it be snow or rain.
For the past 25 years I have been watching the Mercury stations retrograde and direct to determine if we are going to have rain, snow, and whether it be cold or warm. I gave a talk in October 2013 discussing what I look for and what had occurred to cause Sandy and then I forecasted the weather for the winter of 2013/14. I recorded that lecture and can forward it to anyone who is interested, for a fee.
Now back to today's storm, the Sun is semi-square Uranus, midpoint Saturn Admetos, an unusual and erratic day that will cause stand stills and delays but can also cause possible deaths. Everyone should take extra caution and stay home if you can. Mars/Saturn equals Mercury/Neptune via 22 ½ aspect, Mars Saturn can indicate death, due to today's precipitation. Another indication of accidents that can occur today into tonight is Mars/Uranus equals Saturn and the Sun Hades midpoint, tells me that is storm is more dangerous that it appears to be. Tonight will be very dangerous as many attempt to travel home from work as Mercury/Saturn equals Sun/Admetos all of this will equal Neptune/Hades. Mercury Hades means dangerous mistakes due to misjudgments, as catastrophes due to water can occur if not careful. Road and walking conditions are worse than it appears. Due to today's bad weather many will be disappoint tomorrow St. Valentines, as Venus will be 22 ½ to Mars/Saturn. Mercury will square Admetos, equaling Pluto, disappointment that can cause things to be said that should not be said, because it can cause irreversible damage as Mercury/Mars angry words or rash driving will be bringing in Mars/Uranus accidents and equal Neptune due to what you do not know, or can't see.
Take my advice and take it very slow today and tomorrow and forgive others because you and everyone around you are dealing with the same frustrations.
Storm Sandy, by Arlene Marcia Newark
November 2012
The east coast of the USA just experienced something it has never experienced before. A storm named Sandy wreaked havoc from Virginia up through New Hampshire. Everyone is blaming the full moon. Yes, full moons effects tides but that is not enough to cause a disaster of this magnitude to occur. So let us see what was going on Monday October 29th, 2012, besides the full moon. Just a refresher, black Tuesday occurred on October 29th, 1929. Another hurricane by the name of Mitch devastated Central America and made landfall at Choluteca, Honduras on October 29th, 1998.
Many times I refer to either a planet stationing retrograde or stationing direct. I owe my knowledge of these stations to the late great astrologer Eleanor Bach. Many of you reading this never heard of her, much less met her. She was a dynamic NY astrologer who produced a monthly publication entitled "Planet Watch" where she informed her readers of planetary and asteroid stations, retrograde and direct, along with her interpretations of what could manifest when these points are transited. I attended many of her lectures on planetary stations. When I became interested Uranian astrology, I applied that knowledge to all the planetary stations.
In her lectures she said that when a planet stations to go retrograde, the energy of that planet gets infused onto that degree until the planet goes direct and crosses over that degree again. But when a planet goes direct the energy of that planet stays infused on that particular degree until the planet goes retrograde again. In February, 2012, Saturn went retrograde at 29 degrees 30 minutes of Libra, which remained a sensitive degree until June 25, 2012, when Saturn stationed direct at 22 degrees 45 minutes of Libra. Even though Saturn is currently in Scorpio, the 22 degree 45 minutes of Libra will have a Saturnian – influence until Saturn goes retrograde again. The same principle applies to all planets, especially Mercury. Since Mercury goes retrograde and direct three times a year, and Mercury not only has to do with all forms of communications – it also has to do with weather; it has to do with air, especially the winds and wind velocity.
Back to "Storm Sandy" which hit the Jersey coast almost four hours after the full moon. To see what was transpiring to cause such devastation, I first set up the chart of the full moon for Washington DC. I saw that the Sun and Moon were semi-square sesquiquadrate the vertex, which means that what occurred was meant to happen, or for lack of a better description, a fated event. At the same time the MC Cupido conjunction fell midpoint Saturn and the full moon and 22 ½ from Admetos. This planetary picture describes the destructions and death of many communities as well as physical deaths. Another planetary picture in the full moon chart involves Mercury, which was square Neptune with only a four-minute orb and both of these planets were semi-square Zeus, implying fierce winds and water. If Mercury/Neptune = Zeus wasn't enough, these planets also equaled 0º Aries/Mars, Jupiter, which further indicated a mass violent disaster that encompassed at least seven or eight states.
Now what does all of the above have to do with planetary stations, you ask? While everyone is focused on Mercury going retrograde the evening of the election, no one is looking at the 1 degree 26 minutes of Leo which was the Mercury station direct degree of August 8, 2012, which continues to be a Mercury sensitive degree until Mercury goes retrograde again. This will not happen until November 6, 2012 at 6:04 PM EST. One of the main triggers of events is the transit of the Sun and Mars over sensitive degrees. At the time the full moon was transiting Mars at 16 Sagittarius 22, making a sesquaquadrate to the Mercury station direct degree of August 8, 2012. Also at the same time, these two points = Pluto/Admetos, representing the violent winds which uprooted homes, businesses and people. The electricial transformers that blew, as well as the fierce fires that destroyed over a hundred homes in Breezy Point, astrologically is indicated by Uranus making a 22 ½ to Vulcanus (never forget that 22 ½ can be a murderous aspect, literally and figuratively speaking).
Storm Sandy hit land on the Jersey shore at around 8:00 PM EDT. The transiting Sun/Saturn = the midpoint of the Moon and the Mercury station direct of 8/8/12, and the midpoint of these four planets was 22 ½ to Admetos, as the Moon = 0º Aries/Mars, Jupiter. When Mars is combined with Jupiter it can mean fortunate activity, or enlarged anger and/or violence, in this case it was the latter. Add Admetos into the mix, and you get intense and focused violence. Then you add Saturn, Sun, Moon and Mercury energy to the equation and you end up with violent winds that caused the physical and emotional destruction and disaster that will be very slow in healing and rebuilding. The hopelessness people feel is described by the Mercury, Neptune = Sun/Moon, as many are reduced to tears as they feel victimized by Sandy.
Another poignant planetary picture is Sun/Admetos, real estate, = Venus/Hades is to grieve, and we have seen many grieving over their destroyed homes and businesses. The last planetary picture I want to bring to your attention is Mars/Jupiter 22 ½ to the Uranus station retrograde of July 12, 2012 at 8 degree 32 of Aries, which brought about this sudden mass violence destructive eruption/occurrence.
Hurricanes, Earthquakes and Midpoints
This is an original piece by Arlene Marcia Nimark
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 occurred in Richmond VA at 1:51PM, EDT. This earthquake was felt in 22 states. Monday evening, August 22, at 11:46PM, MDT, (1:46 am, EDT) a 5.3 earthquake struck Denver, CO, just 12 hours prior to east coast earthquake.
As an astrologer I went to my computer after hearing what happened and as a uranian astrologer, I transferred everything to my 90 degree dial. The picture was crystal clear, Mars was squaring Zeus and both were at the midpoint of Saturn and the Admentos axis. This planetary picture translates into "the earth belched". It is a good thing that the earth did not fart at the same time or we would have been in really big trouble. Mars Zeus is to ignite, and the Saturn Admentos energy created a bottleneck. This planetary picture interprets an action or activity that causes insurmountable difficulties. Another planetary combination occurring at the same time was the Uranus/ Admetos midpoint which equaled the cardinal axis/ Neptune.
This earthquake was totally unexpected and stunned everyone. Whilst this combination was occurring, the Sun was midpoint Uranus and Vulcanus. This translates as a day of menace and danger. The reason there was such minimal damage was that Apollon was squaring Vulcanus, so it was part of the planetary picture with Uranus and Vulcanus. Apollon (expansion) is also the reason that the earthquake was felt in 22 states. This transneptunian planet contains a Jupiter Mercury quality, it can also be beneficial, but it can spread what it is involved with far and wide.
Wednesday, August 24th, with the earthquake behind us, the east coast is bracing for Irene. This is classified as a category 3 hurricane that could turn into a category 4 hurricane before it hits land. This is occurring as the Mercury stations to go direct. This Mercury station direct will be a little unnerving, depending as to where it is falling in your chart or the chart of the city where you live. It will be making a sesquiquadrate otherwise known as a sesquisquare, 135 degree aspect to Uranus. This could bring sudden unstable violent winds such as a hurricane. I informed some of my friends and clients that even though the hurricane season normally begins in June, this year, the real hurricane season will begin on this current Mercury station direct.
The last Mercury station direct in was squared by Saturn, and that produced deadly tornados that destroyed everything and anything in its path.
On a less dramatic tone, the Mercury Uranus tells us to expect the unexpected to come our way. Come mid-to-end of September, Uranus will be midpoint Pluto and the cardinal axis, at the same time, Hades will be the midpoint of Uranus and the cardinal axis. There will be sudden changes and more unexpected changes. Some may be nasty and unpleasant while others may bring pleasant surprises. My advice to you, my readers, is to tread carefully for the next month at least!
On Sunday, August 28th, Saturn will be semi-square Neptune and both will be midpoint Mars and Zeus, resulting in water damage and destruction especially with machinery, like cars, boilers, computers, etc. If you are living in the path of Irene, place all of your movable mechanical appliances in high places. Then on the 29th, Jupiter will station retrograde; some will experience some form of financial losses! We then move into September and Summer ends as the midpoint of Pluto and the cardinal axis equals the midpoint between Uranus and Hades. General changes can occur due to sudden meanness and nastiness. This planetary picture gets worse as Mars's energy is added to the mix.
On September 6th , Mars will be 22 ½ Cancer on the cardinal axis. He then moves to 22 ½ to Hades, and then on to Uranus, thereby ending his reign of terror in a big way. Mars then makes a 22 ½ to the Pluto station direct, while at the same time falling midpoint Saturn and Jupiter on September 16th. Transiting Venus sets off Hades and Uranus. My suggestion to all of you out there in cyberspace is to hide or cut up your credit cards especially on the afternoon of September 21st as Venus will be midpoint Saturn and the cardinal axis.
September 22nd, Venus moves to the midpoint of Hades and Saturn. September 23rd, Venus comes to the midpoint of Saturn and Pluto, while the Sun will be on the cardinal axis setting off Uranus and Pluto ... Yuk, Yuk and more Yuk! One thing for sure, we will be living the Chinese curse: "May we live in interesting times!"
We Live in Interesting Times
At the end of May, 2011, I was preparing to write about the three eclipses and the Saturn station direct when the Neptune station retrograde got into the act, and suddenly I totally vegged out. Now, as Saturn is stationing to go direct, I am back on track again.
Neptune, I would say, is the most misunderstood planet. Some would refer to it as the planet of spiritually, and mysticism. I, on the other hand, refer to Neptune as the big deceiver that turns us into con artists and illusionists -- that have to pay the piper when Saturn comes around to get into the game, like now.
I have found that as Neptune goes retrograde its veil of deception begins to crack, and when it goes direct again the emperor's new clothes are revealed and this scammer stands as naked as a jay bird. Neptune had gone retrograde June 3rd two days after a solar eclipse. It's clear to see Neptune at work as a new can of worms has been opened with the Wiener photo scandal.
Previously an individual had a certain amount of anonymity on the internet. Now, with face book and twitter what you put out there comes back to haunt you big time.
Before I go forward with this, I want to take you back to April 23rd when mercury went direct opposite Saturn. Until Mercury goes retrograde again in August, we are living under the influence of Mercury/Saturn. Look at all the scandals that came to light since Mercury went direct: Dominigue Strauss-Kahn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and now as Neptune was going retrograde, Anthony Wiener.
On Sunday June 12, Saturn will go direct and the cosmic bill collector will be out, demanding payment for unwise deeds done and wise deeds left undone.
On June 1, we had a solar eclipse at 11 Gemini 02, Venus/Kronos was midpoint Pluto and Uranus, and Hades was only minutes away for 0 cardinal. The world heard about a very narcissistic political leader who had aspirations of becoming the next Mayor of New York City. He sent pictures of himself on twitter that had sexual overtones. What makes it so funny is that he is funny! I guess that is the Neptune station retrograde. Then Saturn stations and he gets slapped down because this solar eclipse squared the midpoint of his Sun Uranus and semi-squared his natal Venus, and Neptune stationed retrograde conjunct his Saturn. This person is Anthony Weiner and his birth date is September 4, 1964, Queens, New York, time unknown.
As Saturn will go direct at the midpoint of Mars and Admetos, there will be a decrease of work. Many projects come to a standstill and the unemployment numbers should go up again. It also means your actions are etched in stone especially since Saturn is going direct with Hades on the cardinal axis. Hades on the cards means your dirty laundry is flapping in the wind and will be talked about for a very long time. On the day Saturn goes direct Mercury will be conjunct the Sun and the midpoint between Saturn and Sun Mercury equals the Moon. This combo says face it, the gig is up and take your lumps. The public will not be able to close their eyes to what is going on any longer. And, if the public wants things to change they will have to speak up.
Then, on June 15, three days after Saturn goes retrograde we have a lunar eclipse of 24 degrees 23 minutes of Gemini/Sag. and semi-square Poseidon. After what had come to light this past month or so many couples will be looking for insight into their relationships to see if there is any hidden signs of trouble. At the same time Hades will be on the cardinal axis 22-1/?2 to Venus, as Hades cardinal axis is midpoint lunar eclipse and Kronos. There will be more sexual secrets coming to light that will be used against them at the appropriate time. This planetary picture also indicates sex crimes are on the rise due to police cut backs.
On July 1, we will experience another solar eclipse at 9 Cancer 30 squaring Saturn with a tiny degree orb, and this Saturn will be 135 to Anthony Weiner's Jupiter. He most likely lost his bid to be Mayor long before the candidate process starts.
On a more mundane note this solar eclipse will be 22 1-2 to the midpoint of Mercury and Venus. It is summer vacation. At this time, many will be making party plans for the 4th of July weekend. My suggestions to you is keep the costs down as the Pluto/Uranus midpoint will be the midpoint of Saturn and the cardinal axis, as Pluto will be midpoint Saturn and Hades. The financial picture will be unstable, and if not careful and you give into your urges, things can turn out ugly – as the Venus/Uranus midpoint will be Hades. Then, ten days after the solar eclipse, Uranus will go retrograde, and the Uranus Pluto midpoint will be at the midpoint of Saturn and the cardinal axis. On July 13th Venus will be squaring Saturn, with a bad financial picture as Mars will be 135 to Neptune. This planetary picture indicates financial losses due to some destructive deceptions. On the morning of July 15th, there will be a full moon at 22 degree 28 minutes of Cancer/Capricorn, which is on the cardinal axis. In the evening of the same date, Mercury will be semi-square Uranus. Something weird will hit the airwaves. I think hurricane winds will blow. It looks like we will have a very intense hurricane season – and that it will start early.
One thing for sure is, we will be experiencing the Chinese curse, which is; "May you live in interesting times".
Charlie Sheen: The Man and His Demons
By Arlene Marcia Nimark
Charlie Sheen was born September 3, 1965, at 10:48 pm EDT in NYC, 40N45, 73W57, the youngest of four children of Martin and Janet Sheen.
The first aspect that caught my eye when I looked at Charlie Sheen's chart was his Mars square his MC. It indicates that he is an aggressive individual and someone who does it his way. My next thought was, how complex an individual he is and why at this time he is on such a self- destructive path. Since he is a public figure, I set my sights on the cardinal axis and looked at his compulsion to live his life out in the public eye with no closed drapes to retreat behind. Then I looked at his chart on the 90 degree dial and saw that the midpoint of his Sun/Venus = Uranus/Cupido = the cardinal axis = Hades. In 1974 at age 9, when his progressed Sun was at the midpoint of his Moon and his Uranus, he was given a small part in one of his father's films, and that paved the way and influenced who he was to become.
He pursued acting in high school which graduated into film roles. His Sun/Venus = cardinal axis planetary picture tells us that the public would receive him in a positive manner as would the opposite sex, big time. But his Sun/Venus = Uranus/Cupido = cardinal axis = Hades planetary picture tells a darker story, and when hit by a transiting planet shows us a nastier side. Uranus/Cupido = the cardinal axis could indicates changing cast member; adding his Sun/Venus = Hades tells us that he likes the attention he gets from females. Add Hades and you get someone who likes hookers, and the seedier side of sex (where hurting his partner is part of the game). He is one person who should never have married. He is not monogamous, especially since the cardinal axis + his Moon = Jupiter, and this Moon is 22 ½ to his Venus. This man can only be faithful to one woman for a short period of time. He can be very charming but does not know about humility
At the same time he has a Mercury 22 ½ to Pluto. He would rather tell others what to do than be told what to do. He was also born when Saturn was opposite Uranus. This says that at times he will find himself between a rock and a hard place. On the 90-degree dial, his Uranus falls on the midpoint of his Saturn and his Pluto, and this bring in his Mercury by association. He does not take no for an answer, wanting things done his way.
He married his first wife, Donna Peele, on his birthday in 1995, with Saturn at the midpoint of his Pluto and Jupiter after a stint in rehab. He wanted to show the world he could curb his wayward behavior. The divorce came a year later on November 19, 1996 as transiting Saturn came back to the cardinal axis for the second time and transiting Uranus was semi-squaring his Pluto, and the midpoint of both was his Mercury. He then married Denise Richardson on June 15, 2002 four days after transiting Neptune stationed retrograde, setting up a picture of natal Moon + tNeptune station retro = Venus. What was he thinking? He married Brooke Mueller, his third wife on June 30, 2008 just after transiting Uranus stationed retrograde with his Moon at the midpoint of his Jupiter and transiting Uranus. One thing is very clear he never consulted an astrologer before he got married. All three of his marriage dates indicated that they would have a short life span.
On April 23, 2003, Two and a Half Men aired as transiting Jupiter fell on the midpoint of his Pluto and the cardinal axis - what a configuration for a successful change in his world! At the same time, his progressed Sun was 17 Libra 12, (keep that figure in mind) semi- square his Ascendant and on the midpoint of his Moon and Mid-heaven and 22 ½ to his Mars. He began a whole new career and different phase in his life.
His latest troubles began at Christmas, 2010 when the cops were called in the wee hours of Dec. 26th by a hooker who was entertaining him as the cardinal axis and his Hades were on the midpoint of transiting Saturn and of his Sun and his Uranus, and transiting Pluto was semi-square his MC/ASC career axis. All this heralded the beginning of the end, as transiting Uranus was midpoint his Moon and his Jupiter. A scene of total irresponsibility was acted out that night in the presence of the media.
Now remember that I said his progressed Sun at the time his program, "Two and a Half Men, first aired was 17 Libra 12. Well, on January 26th 2011 Saturn stationed to go retrograde at 17 Libra 14, just a little over a month ago. Saturn will give you rewards if you have your nose to the grindstone. On the other hand it will yank it all away if you are playing games and are taking life for granted, as Charlie was and is doing.
Transiting Uranus is getting ready to cross the cardinal axis again. This will set off his entire chart on March 12th, and then Mercury will go retrograde on the 31st of March on the midpoint of his Neptune and the cardinal axis, preparing the stage for his exit from center stage. The midpoint of his natal and progressed Sun, which tells you where he is at this stage of his life, falls midpoint the Mercury station retrograde and his Sun /Uranus midpoint, then on April 9th Pluto will go retrograde at 7 Capricorn 30, 22 1/2 degrees from his Uranus and the midpoint of his Pluto and his Saturn, and on the midpoint of his Moon and Venus. Not very good for his wallet. Then Mercury will go direct on April 23rd, on the midpoint of his Mars and his Pluto and 22 ½ degrees to his Moon /Uranus midpoint, and his Mercury and ASC. There is one aspect I forgot to mention; where is his addiction is indicated in his chart. It is not the Neptune alone but the combination of Pluto (obsessive compulsion), and Neptune "to need to escape" and this midpoint in his chart falls on his ASC. This midpoint is 22 ½ degrees to his Mars and was set off by the Saturn station retrograde. It will be transited three times by Mercury, beginning with the full moon of March 19th. His ride on the fast track to destruction could either land him in a mental hospital or the morgue.
Transneptunian planets that this system of astrology is known for including:
Cupido: Family, marriage, groups and community, society as a social group, art and artist colony. The negative side is clannishness and exclusivity.
Hades: Secrets, matters that can be nasty, vile or evil. We all know this can be contained in secrets. Hades also has to do with the three major professions: medicine, especially surgeons; astrology; and prostitution (not necessarily in that order). I, for one, think we should include legal practices as a Hades manifestation. Lawyers actions are sometimes more criminal than the activity of their clients. Hades also has to do with poverty and neediness. Our newspapers and news broadcasts are working hard to make us aware that no one is immune to the effect of Hades.
Zeus: Fire, machinery, rockets explosives. Power to rise above, productive performances, creative energies. Goal oriented. Fearless and independent. Negative side is misdirected or out of control energy like rage. Overconfidence and egotism. Procreation rather that creation.
Kronos: Ruler, leader, father, master, king, nobility. Authority, judge, D.A. head doctor, the boss man/woman. Head of state, police. Independence and mastery. Kronos is anyone who is looked up to and held in high esteem.
Apollon: A combination of Jupiter and Gemini, and translated into mass communications and/or great success. It also has to do with far and distant places. It is commerce, trade and science. A strong Apollon one can get away with murder. Great powers of intellect, and multiplicity. Negative, overconfidence, overlooked details, not seeing the trees from the forest.
Admetos: Beginning and ending of life. It is the womb and the tomb. Closed in spaces like closets, boxes and coffins. It is cycles combined with closed in spaces washing machines come to mind. It represents fences that enclose a space. Most Uranian astrologers have a strong Admetos, because we use dials that turn and use focus and deep concentration. Plus raw materials, landfills, real estate and durability.
Vulcanus: This transneptunian represents great strength, powerful force, and volcanic eruption. It is vitality and good recuperative powers. Omnipotence, power plants and storms. Violent and out of control energies is Vulcanus's negative side.
Poseidon: Stands for enlightenment, spiritual and intellectual wisdom. This transeptunian planet represents illumination. You will find that inventors have a prominent Poseidon. Religious leaders, psychics, spiritualists, mediums, and prophets have a strong Poseidon. It is also found in charts of those who are in the spotlight like performers and movie actors.
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Part of National Museums Liverpool
World Museum is the oldest of the museums and galleries operated by National Museums Liverpool. It first opened on 8 March 1853 in the Ropeworks district of Liverpool, and it moved to its present site on William Brown Street in 1860.
It has expanded to become one of the great museums of the British regions, with collections and displays of life sciences, earth sciences and human cultures around the world.
You can read and download a complete history of the museum, 'Liverpool's museum: the first 150 years' here:
When the 13th Earl of Derby died in 1851, he left his natural history collection to the town of Liverpool. The town council arranged for the collection to be moved to a hastily built museum on the corner of Slater Street and Parr Street, not far from the docks. The mayor of Liverpool declared the new Derby Museum of the Borough of Liverpool open on 18 March 1853.
The New Central Technical Schools and Museums Extension Buildings. [larger image]
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When it first opened, the museum showed a tiny part of the Earl of Derby's collection, some paintings, models of Liverpool, and samples of imports that had been shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.
In 1857 the curator installed aquarium tanks in the museum - the second public aquarium in the world.
The museum was popular attracting 157,861 visits in its first seven months, and the building was too small to accommodate the crowds.
The council found a site close to St George's Hall for a new larger museum and public library. William Brown (1784-1864), a wealthy Liverpool merchant, banker and politician, offered to finance the building. The design of this new building on what would become William Brown Street, reflected that of the hall across the road - fashionably neo-classical.
Liverpool Museum's entrance hall. [larger image]
William Brown originally offered £6,000 for the building, but actually spent more than £20,000 on it. He handed over the new museum and library building to the Mayor of Liverpool on 18 October 1860. The museum was renamed the Liverpool Free Public Museum, and it opened to the public exactly a year later on 18 October 1861.
In 1884 a schools-loan service started up in the museum - the first in any museum - and it circulated 16 boxes of exhibits to 64 schools in its first year.
On 19 October 1906 the museum was extended with a new building shared with the Liverpool Central Technical School. The museum had two floors with large galleries now occupied by Bug House and World Cultures. Today's ground floor museum cafe was the examination hall of the old Technical School.
As war threatened in the 1930s many of the rarest and most valuable objects were moved away from the museum for safety. Liverpool was bombed intensively and on 3 May 1941 the museum was burned down after a 500 pound high-explosive bomb fell on the library next door. Fire raged through the building, leaving large areas just a burnt out shell. It was 15 years before even part of the museum could be reopened.
On 26 January 1956 the least damaged bit of the museum reopened after the war damage. A temporary concrete staircase up the front of the building gave access to a single large gallery. The rebuilding of burnt-out parts of the building took longer, and Prime Minister Harold Wilson opened first phase of the rebuilt museum on 25 March 1966.
The Natural History gallery in the Upper Horseshoe gallery following the bombing. [larger image]
The damage suffered by the Egyptian gallery during the May Blitz of 1941
The museum's planetarium, said to be the first in the UK outside London, opened in to the public on 22 May 1970.
The museum was one of a group of museums and galleries that were 'nationalised' on 1 April 1986 under the new organisation, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, now called National Museums Liverpool.
The museum's ground-breaking Natural History Centre opened on 1 August 1987. It was the first hands-on centre in a museum and has been imitated across the globe.
The museum was renamed World Museum on 29 April 2005 when a new aquarium, refurbished galleries and a new entrance were opened.
Today the museum is famous for its great collections, its history of innovation and the family-friendly experience that it offers. In 2010 visits to the museum totalled 748,065 making it one of the most popular and respected museums in the UK.
How World Museum looks today [larger image]
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Have you stopped by NDISB.com to registered for the ADSR7? Layout artists from around the world compete in this amazing race around the digi scrap world. You can't believe the stunning work that comes out of the race. Don't miss out, sign up today! Only 5 days left until registration is over.
In the mean time, stop by the forum for the pre party going on daily until the start of the race. We have games, and contests and free give-a-ways. Just head on over and join in.
Detours are NEW this year for the ADSR. These are EXTRA challenges hosted by some of designers here at NDISB.com during the race. These detours do NOT count towards the grand prize..
- Each detour will be posted by one of the designers listed below, either here in this forum, on their blogs, twitter or facebook page, you just need to find where.
- Each challenge also has it's own prize and each designer will give you her rules for that challenge.
- You may do one challenge or all of them or none of them.
Meet the designers hosting a Detour
By the Shore Designs from Pammie~K
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The first Detour starts May 6 you just need to find where!


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Trout, Calhoun pace Angels' prospects
Help for Halos set to arrive from bevy of recent first-rounders
By John Parker / Special to MLB.com | November 14, 2011 5:30 AM
The Angels' farm system produced mixed results in the standings in 2011. Although three affiliates advanced to the playoffs -- Double-A Arkansas, Class A Advanced Inland Empire and Rookie-level Orem -- only the latter posted a winning record during the regular season.
Nevertheless, the organization boasts a number of top-level prospects and has proven very successful with its recent Draft picks. Two first-rounders from 2009, outfielder Mike Trout and right-hander Garrett Richards, made their Major League debuts this year. Taylor Lindsey, a 2010 first-round pick, was named Pioneer League MVP. The Angels' top two selections this June, slugger C.J. Cron in the first round and lefty Nick Maronde in the third, also did well in Orem, which boasted the Pioneer League's best record.
While the Major League club has missed the postseason each of the last two years after reaching it in six of the previous eight, the Angels' system is poised to help the team reload.
Angels Organization All-Stars
Catcher -- Carlos Ramirez, Cedar Rapids (31 games), Inland Empire (52 games), Arkansas (four games): For the second straight season, Ramirez got off to a slow start only to catch fire in the second half. At Cedar Rapids in 2010, the Arizona State product hit .176/.308/.289 before the All-Star break and .287/.373/.496 after it. This year, returning to the Kernels in April, Ramirez batted .259 with three homers in 31 games before a promotion to Class A Advanced Inland Empire on May 20.
The 23-year-old went 3-for-3 in his first game with the 66ers and never looked back. In 52 games the rest of the way, he hit .348/.403/.530 and was named the organization's Defensive Player of the Month in July. After throwing out 42 percent of potential base stealers in 2010, his percentage dipped to 24 percent this season, but he made great strides in the other aspects of the trade.
"He's been unbelievable," Inland Empire manager Damon Mashore said. "As a rule of thumb, catchers are last looked at for defensive player of the month [awards], but he's improved 100 percent. He had a game where he had 27 blocks, and to his credit the pitchers feel comfortable with him behind the plate. They can throw their breaking balls and know he will block them."
First base -- Frazier Hall, Orem (62 games): One is hesitant to heap too much praise on Rookie League and short-season players who play half as many games as their full-season counterparts. But the Angels' affiliate in Orem featured an impressive group of youngsters that led the Owlz to the best record in the Pioneer League.
Hall, a 2011 16th-round pick out of Southern University, is one of them. In his first three games as a pro, he went 9-for-13 with a homer, three doubles, five runs scored and four RBIs before an ankle injury kept him out of the lineup for eight days. From July 22-30, he reeled off seven consecutive multi-hit games, going 17-for-31. A left-handed hitter, Hall batted .372 against southpaws.
The 23-year-old ultimately ranked third in the league (and second in the organization) with a .355 average while slugging nine homers and driving in 46 runs in 62 games. Despite playing almost exclusively at first base, Hall was named a Pioneer League All-Star at designated hitter. Originally scouted as a catcher, a corner outfield position might be the quickest way to get Hall's bat into a lineup.
Honorable mention: Efren Navarro, Salt Lake (133 games), Angels (eight games)
Second base -- Taylor Lindsey, Orem (63 games): Lindsey was a first-round pick (37th overall) out of Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., in the 2010 Draft. Like Hall, he got off to a remarkable start, going 7-for-9 with a homer, three doubles, four RBIs and seven runs scored in his first two games. In his second Pioneer League contest, he tied a league record by scoring six times in a 23-1 rout of Casper.
Lindsey barely cooled off as the season progressed. After falling a triple shy of the cycle against Ogden on Aug. 5, he completed the feat the following night, going 5-for-5 in the process. The left-handed hitter batted .362 (best in the system and second in the Pioneer League) with nine homers, 46 RBIs and 64 runs scored in 63 games. He also posted a .976 fielding percentage, committing only seven errors in 62 games at second base. The phenomenal campaign, in which he led the league in runs scored, hits and total bases, earned Lindsey the MVP award and made him the fans' choice for the Best Short-Season Hitter MiLBY Award.
Honorable mention: Michael Wing, Inland Empire (73 games)
Third base -- Jeff Baisley, Salt Lake (134 games): After years of injuries had derailed the 2006 Midwest League MVP, Baisley was almost an afterthought when the Angels signed him -- only because Freddy Sandoval was injured -- three days before Minor League training camp began.
"I was prepared to go play independent ball," Baisley said. "[The Angels] basically told me when Freddy got healthy they were going to release me. I was playing for my job every day."
After six seasons in the A's organization, the 28-year-old began his Angels career with a flourish, going 3-for-3 against Reno in his first game. He hit .400/.432/.718 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 21 April games to earn Angels Minor League Hitter of the Month honors. By the time Sandoval returned in July, any thought of releasing Baisley had vanished, since he'd just represented the Pacific Coast League at the Triple-A All-Star Game.
The big Floridian finished the season with a career-high .303 average while leading the Angels system with 100 RBIs and ranking second with 20 longballs. While he did not get a big league callup (he played 14 games for Oakland in 2008), Baisley should be more than an afterthought next spring.
Shortstop -- Gil Velazquez, Salt Lake (123 games), Los Angeles (four games): A veteran of 13 Minor League seasons, Velazquez's first campaign in the Angels organization produced career highs in batting average (.328), doubles (25), RBIs (58) and stolen bases (17). He led all Angels full-season farmhands in batting and paced Triple-A shortstops in hitting and runs scored en route to being named a Pacific Coast League All-Star and a postseason Topps Triple-A All-Star.
The Los Angeles native, who turned 32 in October, went 0-for-2 in his first game in the system on April 10 before rattling off hits in his next 18 contests. He also had hitting streaks of nine and 11 games during the season. Velazquez appeared in four games with the Angels in September, going 3-for-6 with an RBI. A 1998 14th-round pick by the Mets, he previously played in nine big league games with the Red Sox in 2008-09. Along with Baisley, he became a free agent following the season.
Designated hitter -- C.J. Cron, Orem (34 games): Limited to 34 games in his first professional season -- a knee injury ended his campaign on Aug. 7 -- Cron made quite an impact. The Angels' first-round pick in June (17th overall) led the Owlz with 13 homers while batting .308, scoring 30 runs and driving in 41.
Cron, who played several positions -- including catcher and first base -- at the University of Utah, served solely as Orem's designated hitter due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He collected RBIs in each of his first four games and fell a triple shy of the cycle in just his ninth outing as a pro. When the calendar flipped to August, the former Golden Spikes Award semifinalist delivered an offensive outburst of impressive proportions. On Aug. 1 at Ogden, Cron homered, tripled and drove in four runs. The following night, he homered three times -- becoming the first Orem hitter to do so -- doubled and plated four more runs. After going 0-for-4 and 3-for-5 in a two-game series against Idaho Falls, the 21-year-old ripped Ogden again on Aug. 5 for two longballs, two singles and six RBIs. In all, Cron slugged six homers and drove in 17 runs over five games.
"There were some stretches in college where I was seeing the ball well, but this is a completely different level of game," he said. "Doing it on this level is something special."
Honorable mention: Paul McAnulty, Salt Lake (118 games)
Kole Calhoun, Inland Empire (133 games): At 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, Calhoun is a little shorter and stockier than the ideal Minor League prospect. But he certainly played like one in 2011, leading the Angels system with 22 homers and 73 walks. The Arizona State product, an eighth-round pick in 2010, ranked second in the organization with 99 RBIs and 94 runs scored, third with 36 doubles and 11th with 20 stolen bases. Calhoun batted .324/.410/.547 overall, with the .324 average ranking third among Angels full-season farmhands.
Those numbers made him the 66ers' lone representative on the California League postseason All-Star squad and the Angels' Minor League Player of the Year.
Calhoun's season was remarkable, not just for its quality but for its consistency. He hit .324 in both halves, batted .303 against southpaws and .332 against righties, and reached base in 47 straight games between July 12-Sept. 3. He also compiled a 19-game hitting streak from June 4-26 during which he batted .432 and struck out only four times.
Matt Long, Inland Empire (121 games), Arkansas (17 games): Calhoun's teammate for much of the season, the 24-year-old Long was a run-scoring machine at both Inland Empire and Arkansas. His 119 runs scored were 25 more than anyone else in the system and third-most in the Minor Leagues. The Santa Clara product ranked second in the organization with 34 steals, fourth with 18 homers, 84 RBIs and 64 walks and fifth with 34 doubles.
A 2009 30th-round pick, Long twice flirted with the cycle. On Aug. 31, he went 4-for-4 with a homer, double and four RBIs for Arkansas. Playing for Inland Empire on April 28, Long hit a second homer when he needed only a single, going 4-for-6 with two roundtrippers, a triple and a double.
While his power numbers were no doubt boosted by the homer-happy Cal League environment -- he hit only four longballs in 125 games for Cedar Rapids in 2010 -- Long's speed and ability to get on base were no fluke. He played all three outfield positions for the 66ers and his top-notch arm helped him rack up 18 assists.
Mike Trout, Arkansas (91 games), Los Angeles (40 games): Trout's selection is hardly a surprise, but it's worth reviewing exactly how much the young outfielder who turned 20 on Aug. 7 has accomplished in 2 1/2 pro seasons.
The 25th overall pick in the 2009 Draft, Trout began the 2011 campaign as MLB.com's No. 1 prospect and did nothing to prove that selection misguided. He was named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America after hitting .326 with 18 doubles, 13 triples, 11 homers, 82 runs scored and 33 stolen bases for Arkansas. The .326 average ranked second among Angels full-season Minor Leaguers, while his 33 steals were second in the organization, even though he appeared in only 91 Minor League games.
Trout was the youngest player to appear in the Major Leagues when he made his Angels' debut on July 7. Seventeen days later, he became the first teenager since Arizona's Justin Upton to homer when he hit his first big league blast on July 24.
With Torii Hunter, Peter Bourjos and Vernon Wells slated for the Angels outfield in 2012, it's unclear where Trout fits in the club's short-term plans. In the longer term, however, he has all the makings of a star.
Honorable mention: Jeremy Moore, Jerod Yakubik, Orem (60 games), Cedar Rapids (19 games), Inland Empire (two games)
Right-handed starting pitcher -- Garrett Richards, Arkansas (22 games), Los Angeles (seven games) and Matt Shoemaker, Arkansas (23 games), Salt Lake (four games): A pair of Arkansas Travelers finished atop the Angels system with a 3.15 ERA. Although Richards trailed Shoemaker in strikeouts, he was more successful at keeping the ball in the park, allowing 10 homers to Shoemaker's 20 while going 12-2 with a .233 batting average against.
Both hurlers were named Texas League postseason All-Stars. Shoemaker, a 25-year-old non-drafted free agent signed out of Eastern Michigan in 2008, was second in the organization with 141 strikeouts and was named Pitcher of the Year by the Texas League and the Angels.
The 23-year-old Richards, whom the Angels selected with the 42nd overall pick in the 2009 Draft, won 10 straight games between May 4-July 30, posting a 1.69 ERA over 14 starts, and was the fans' choice for the Double-A Starter of the Year MiLBY. He made his Major League debut on Aug. 10 and went 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA in seven appearances.
Left-handed starting pitcher -- Nick Maronde, Orem (11 games): Maronde's first season as a pro could hardly have been better. A 2011 third-round pick out of the University Florida, he went 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 11 starts for Orem. He struck out 50 batters over 46 1/3 innings while holding Pioneer League hitters to a .217 average.
Although all but one of Maronde's 58 appearances over his final two years in Gainesville came out of the bullpen, the Angels' decision to put him in the Owlz's rotation paid dividends. He yielded more than one earned run in only two of his 11 outings and tossed five one-hit frames on Aug. 2 at Ogden to earn his first victory.
Maronde turned 22 in early September and figures to move rapidly through the system. Following the season, Baseball America rated him the Pioneer League's top pitching prospect.
Relief pitcher -- David Carpenter, Inland Empire (25 games), Arkansas (19 games): Comparing relief pitchers is difficult because the roles of setup men, closers and long relievers are so different. This selection, however, was easy.
Carpenter, who turned 24 at the beginning of September, began the season with Inland Empire and allowed three earned runs while fanning 36 over 29 innings. He converted 11 of 12 save opportunities, posted a 0.93 ERA and was named the Angels' organizational pitcher of the month for May.
The Texas native was even better following a mid-June promotion to the Texas League. In 18 2/3 innings over 19 appearances with Arkansas, Carpenter did not allow a run. Relying heavily on ground-ball outs, he held Double-A foes to a .182 average -- just .059 (1-for-17) with runners in scoring position.
Overall, Carpenter's ERA was 0.57 -- he gave up three earned runs on 35 hits (including one homer) over 47 2/3 frames. Relief pitching doesn't get more dominant than that.
John Parker is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More