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With historically-low interest rates upon us, there has never been a better time to refinance your mortgage. "While rates may have been a little lower in the 50s and 60s, they are now the lowest anyone has seen in the recent generation of homeowners," according to Scott McElmurry, president and CEO of Bank of Little Rock Mortgage in Arkansas.
With that in mind, it's probably no surprise that so many people are choosing to refinance in 2013. Why is that? Because according to Joe Libin, a loan officer with Graystone Mortgage in Salt Lake City, UT, those low interest rates mean you can't go wrong by taking out a new loan.
Here are three stories of people who took advantage of these rates - and saved big time.
Success Story #1: Refinancing to keep their first home, and buy a second one
Gene and Sheila P. are both in their early 40s and work in the medical field. He is a medical educator and trainer, and she works in nursing.
A few years ago, they packed their bags and left their home in Illinois to relocate to Texas for a job transfer. But Gene and Sheila weren't ready to sell their home in Illinois. Instead, they decided to rent it to a tenant to try and cover some mortgage costs.
The initial mortgage they took out in 2007 was for $270,000. It was a 30-year fixed-rate loan at an interest rate of 5.875 percent. The monthly payments were $2,304. The property, a 2,066 sq. ft. home, has three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a 2.5 car garage.
Once they moved, the couple made the decision to also buy a home in Texas. However, they knew they couldn't afford an additional home in Texas without lowering their monthly payments on their Illinois property first. The solution? Refinancing the mortgage on their Illinois home to a lower interest rate.
"A lower payment would get them closer to breaking even monthly, where their rent received from the tenant paid the mortgage," says Dylan Kramer, a mortgage consultant at American Portfolio Mortgage, who helped the couple refinance. The rent they received from their tenant was $1,700 a month - which meant they had to personally cover over $500 per month to make up the difference between their mortgage payment and their rental income.
[Think refinancing is right for you? Click to compare rates from multiple lenders now.]
But getting the refinance wasn't necessarily smooth sailing. "The balance of the mortgage was $252K when they came to me, but the value [of the home] was estimated to be under $250K," Kramer says. In most situations, this would mean that they would be unable to refinance without paying down the loan to get out from "underwater". This is the term used in situations where the value of the home is lower than the balance on the mortgage.
However, their 2007 loan was owned by Fannie Mae, so they were able to refinance through the government Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). HARP is a federal housing program that helps underwater homeowners - who got their original loan through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac before May 31, 2009 - refinance.
So what was the result? Gene and Sheila P. were able to refinance for a new loan of $261,400 at 4.875 percent. "The new loan is also a 30-year fixed and the payment is $2,045 versus the $2,304 that they had before," Kramer says. That's a savings of $261 per month. "Thanks to the refinancing, the clients met their objectives in getting the payment closer to the rent being received," Kramer explains.
Success Story #2: Reducing monthly payments without "resetting" the loan term
Dawn and James Cohen, a 36 and 38-year-old married couple, respectively, who both work in the medical industry, wanted to refinance to reduce their monthly mortgage payment. But they wanted to do it without starting over with a new 30-year term.
Their original mortgage, taken out in 2009, was a 30-year, $288,000 loan with a fixed rate at 5.250 percent, explains Glenn Toher, director of sales at DLJ Financial in Irvine, California, who handled the Cohen's refinancing. Their monthly mortgage payment was $1,590.35.
The Cohen's 1,890 sq. ft. home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and is set on a 6,650 sq. ft. lot.
The couple was able to refinance to a rate of 3.375 percent.
The great low rate was due to a number of things: First, they had great credit ratings - over 740, which Toher says is considered A+. "They also had great equity at the time," Toher adds. The couple had a 60 percent loan-to-value ratio on their home - meaning they owned 40 percent - which typically scores you the best rate the market offers, Toher says. Plus, the couple had steady jobs, (he's a manager of a medical supplies company and she's a nurse) which also contributed to the low rate.
In addition to their great rate, the couple didn't have to start over with another 30-year term. Instead, the new mortgage was a 25-year fixed-rate, which didn't add any more years to their loan. With the new interest rate, they lowered their monthly payments to $1,294.14 - savings of $296 a month.
[Want to see if you can lower your mortgage? Click to compare rates from multiple lenders now.]
Success Story #3: Refinancing a devalued home
Sarah Gibbs, a physical therapist, was in her mid-50s when she purchased her home at the height of the market for $309,500 in 2008.
"When the appraisal came in last fall, the value had dropped to $180,000," says Paul McFadden, a loan officer with The Legacy Group in Bellevue, Wash., who worked on her refinance. "The home had lost value due to all the distressed properties sold in the area."
McFadden started working with Gibbs after she was referred to him by her financial advisor. She owed $273,000 at an interest rate of 6.375 percent on her three-bedroom, two-bath home with 1,500 sq. ft. of living space.
At the time, the monthly payment on her 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was $2,062.
Since she owed $273,000 on the property, but the home's value of $180,000 was well below that, refinancing through a conventional loan was nearly impossible.
"The good news is she could refinance as her credit was strong and she had other assets," McFadden explains. She also qualified for the new HARP 2.0 program, as her loan was owned by Fannie Mae, and was originated and closed before May 31, 2009.
"Since her original interest rate was over 6 percent, she stood to save quite a bit by refinancing," McFadden says.
The result? Refinancing gave Gibbs a 30-year fixed mortgage at 4.25 percent for a loan amount of $273,000. The new monthly payment was now $1,607, for savings of $455 per month.
"This loan was especially gratifying as she was able to save a significant amount per month, and it helped with her future planning this year, including paying for a wedding," McFadden says.


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603 N. Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78703 512-472-5050 Open 9AM - 11PM The largest independent bookstore in Texas!
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What Light Can Do: Essays on Art, Imagination, and the Natural World (Paperback)
An evocative and captivating collection of essays on writers, place, poetry, and photography with accompanying photos throughout from Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner Robert Hass
Renowned for his magisterial verse, Robert Hass is also a brilliant essayist. The New York Times hailed him as a writer who "is so intelligent that to read his poetry or prose, or to hear him speak, gives one an almost visceral pleasure." Now, with What Light Can Do, Hass's first collection of essays in more than twenty-five years, the lauded author returns to and enlarges the territory of his critically acclaimed and much-loved collection Twentieth Century Pleasures, recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award.
These acute and deeply engaging essays are as much a portrait of the elegant thought processes of an unconventional and virtuoso mind as they are inquiries into their subjects, which range from meditations on how we see and how we have treated the earth, to the relationship between literature and religion, from explorations of the works of writers as diverse as Korean poet Ko Un, Wallace Stevens, Cormac McCarthy, and Anton Chekhov to the ways in which photography embodies much like an essay a sustained act of attention.
A perceptive and evocative mixture of memory, philosophical interrogation, and criticism, the essays in What Light Can Do, finely attuned to the pleasures and pains of being human, are always grounded in the beauty of the material world and its details, and in the larger political and social realities we inhabit.
Praise For…
"Drawn to compelling subjects that he makes his own, Hass writes prose every bit as zestful, penetrating, and sure-footed as his poetry. . . This powerful collection affirms Hass' stature as a philosophically attentive observer, deep thinker, and writer who dazzles and rousts."

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Introductionmeningitis (mĕnĭnjĪˈtĭs) [key] or cerebrospinal meningitis sĕrˌəbrōspĪˈnəl, acute inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other organisms, usually introduced via the bloodstream from infections elsewhere in the body.
Sections in this article:
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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X5 Superlite
X5 Superlite Nano Tourmaline Folding Travel 1" Curling Iron
- Overview
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X5 Superlite Nano Tourmaline Ceramic/Iron Folding Travel Curling Iron is Dual Voltage and emits hydrating negative ions and infrared energy to condition the hair for healthy, silky shiny curls. The 1" iron heats up instantly and maintains a constant temperature for long lasting results without damage. The dual voltage (110 / 240v) auto-sensor feature makes this iron perfect for the international traveler. The folding handle allows for easy storage and takes up less room when packing. A cool tip prevents accidental burning and a super-strong spring securely holds the hair in place.
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The next generation of professional styling tools, X5 Superlite hair dryers and flat irons are ultra lightweight and super quiet. Built with the power of nano, silver, and tourmaline technologies, X5 Superlite dryers and flat irons deliver up to 3 times the negative ions of a standard styling tool. The more negative ions, the healthier, happier and shinier your hair will be.


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Poppie Jones Colorblock Dot Crew Sock, 2 Pack
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Item # 252087
Start your day off right and slip on a fun sock! This exciting pack from Poppie Jones is cozy, comfortable, and fun!
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The American Legion Auxiliary unit #73, Huntington, Cleveland, Elmo will be meeting on Mon., Feb. 20 at the Huntington Town Hall at 4 p.m. All members are urged to bring potential members. Call President Carolyn Randall for more information or a ride at 653-2579.
The Emery County Historical Society will be holding a meeting on Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of the San Rafael. They will be installing new officers and they will have a guest speaker on the Spanish Trail.
Ferron Stake will hold a merit badge pow wow on March 16, 23, and 30 at 6 p.m. at the church on the hill. Contact your scout leader for applications. Entries must be in to Valarie Winn by March 7. For more information call Valarie at 384-2592.
The American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days will end March 1. Order yours by calling Cathy Sitterud at 381-5647, Cathy Anderson at 286-2399, Dana Olson at 381-5640, or Patsy Stoddard at 381-2431. The price is $10 per bunch or $25 for three bunches. The delivery date is March 20. Daffodils are the flower of hope.
Orangeville PTO will be sponsoring a scrapbook fundraiser on Feb. 25. It will be at the Cottonwood Elementary from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Come crop all day, buy scrapbook layouts, creations, supplies, and food. There will be a $1 entrance fee, and children under 8 are free.
Applications are now being evaluated for the Ten Star All Star summer basketball camp. The camp is by invitation only. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible to apply. College basketball scholarships are possible for players selected to the All-American Team. For a free brochure call 704-373-0873.
Ferron City Peach Day Committee will hold a planning meeting on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ferron City Hall. All interested citizens are encouraged to attent.
Ferron Elementary will be registering kindergarten students for the 2006-2007 school year. Registration will be held Feb. 8 from 8 a.m.-12 noon at the school. Bring an original birth certificate and immunization record. For more information you may contact the school at 384-2383.
Numerous scholarships are available to students, a sample example include: Handicapped Student Scholarships, Members of a Church Scholarships, Scholarships for "C" Students, Veteran Children's Scholarships, Scholarships for Minorities and much more. For information send a slf -addressed, stamped, business size, #10 envelope to: The U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance, P.O. Box 650067, Potomac Falls, VA 20165-0067.
Orangeville animal licenses for 2006 are due by Feb. 28. Rabies clinic will be held at the old Orangeville Fire Station, Sat. Feb. 11 at 9 a.m.-12 noon. License fees are $8 for neutered/spayed animals and $25 for un-altered animals.
A Navy Log is the permanent public registry where Sea Service members and veterans can record their service information. To enroll your information or family members go to www.lonesailor.org
Anyone interested in helping with Ferron Peach Days is invited to attend a Peach Day Planning Meeting that will be held at the Ferron city hall on Thurs., Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to volunteer to serve on a committee please contact Ferron city hall.
The Utah Science Center and the University of Utah are seeking entries for the 2006 Salt Lake Valley Science and Engineering Fair from 5-12 grade students and also adults to serve as judges and in other volunteer positions. It will be held on March 30-31 at the Tower at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah. You can register at www.utahsciencecenter.org/sciencefair.
You may qualify for a refund of up to $4,400 through the Federal Earned Income Credit - even if you don't owe any taxes!
You may be eligible if: You have one or more children and your family earns up to $37, 263, or you have no children, are between the ages of 25 and 64, and earn up to $13,750.
Have your taxes done for FREE, keep more of what you've earned, and use it to invest in your family's future! That's the Earned Income Credit, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and Utah Saves - all available in your community. To find out more, call 2-1-1 or visit utahsaves.org
Come one, come all to the Emery County Community Theatres' presentation of "Seussical. You can see this musical play starring all your favorite Dr. Seuss characters on Feb. 9-11 and 13 at the Emery high auditorium at 7 p.m. A special Saturday matinee performance is included this year on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. All tickets are $5, a price well worth spending for this exciting and colorful show.
The Camp Dale DUP's will meet on Mon., Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Castle Dale Senior Center. There will be a luncheon in honor of Valentines Day. Please come and enjoy.
Castle Country King Crawlers (CCKC) is your local 4x4 club for Carbon and Emery Counties. We hold competitions and monthly trail rides. Our club meetings are held monthly every third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. April-September located at the King 4X4 park in Carbon County Fair Grounds and October-March in the county GIS building. For more information call Scott Edwards 435-613-0204.
Cleveland Town will sponsor a rabies clinic on Feb. 18 from 9 a.m.- 12 noon at the Cleveland cemetery storage building, 200 North 600 East. Dr. Jensen will be the vet this year. All dogs are required to have a current rabies shot before they can be licensed for the new year. All dogs must by licensed by March 1.
Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy a Valentine's Carnival on Feb. 10 at the Huntington Elementary Gym from 5-7:30 p.m. There will be tons of games, food, crafts and a bake sale.
A nonprofit public benefit organization that specializes in helping people with drug or alcohol addictions offers free professional assessments, advice and referrals to more than 11,000 treatment centers nationally. Drug addiction can be overcome and Narconon can help by calling (800) 556-8885 or visit www.drugrehab.net.
An Arbor Day poster contest will be held for all Utah elementary school students. For registration materials contact the Utah Arbor Day Committee at the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands in Salt Lake City at 1-801-538-5555.
Yur local soil conservation district and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food are sponsoring a free of charge ground water testing program for people who have their own water supply systems. Water will be tested for bacteria, pesticides, nitrates, and inorganic materials. Owner information is confidential. Call Mark at 1-801-538-9905 or Rich at 1-801-538-7190 to make an appointment.
The Emery County Democrats will be holding a dinner to discuss issues,recruit candidates and build party support on Feb. 11 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Museum of the San Rafael (96 North 100 East in Castle Dale). All interested people are invited to attend. State and local party leaders will speak. Dinner, and prize drawings will also be provided. Tickets will be available at the door or contact your precinct chair or party officers: Gary Petty, FloAnn Wilson, or Kim Player.
The Huntington City 2006 dog licenses are now due. Proof of current rabies vaccination must be presented before license can be issued. Deadline for dog licenses is March 1. Dog licenses may be purchased at the Huntington City Hall or at the rabies clinics which will be held: Jan. 28, 9 a.m.-noon, Dr. Griggs; and Feb. 25, 9 a.m.-noon, Dr. Jensen.
Applicants are needed for the 2005 Days of 47 Royalty Pageant. Information concerning qualifications, prizes, and applications may be picked up at Meier and Frank Department Store, or through a DUP members. For more information contact Marie at 637-7688.
Emery Town dog licenses are due by Feb. 28 and are available for purchase at the town office with proof of a current rabies vaccine. A rabies clinic will be held at the tool shed next to the old Emery church on Jan. 28 from noon-2 p.m.
Habitat For Humanity of Castle Country, an affiliate of Carbon and Emery Counties, is building a wheelchair accessible house in Castle Dale. Please send your donations (large or small) to help finish the roof and buy shingles to HHCC, P.O. Box 724, Price, UT 84501. You can: volunteer for workdays, attend Board meetings, save aluminum cans, get on our mailing list, help sponsor a fund raiser, or get an application by calling Katherine Foster, President, 650-0074 or Sylvia Nelson, 435-687-9184 (leave a message) or you can pick up HFHI information at the Castle Dale RSVP/VOA office.
Orangeville animal license for 2006 are due by Feb. 28. Rabies clinics will be held at the old Orangeville fire station Feb. 11 from 9 a.m.-noon,
Stitches from the Heart needs volunteers to knit, crochet or quilt blankets, sweaters and hats for babies in needs. These items are donated to hospitals all over the country. Patterns are available. Donated yarn desperately needed for seniors and childrens knitting programs. Contact Kathy Silverton at 1-866-472-6903 or e-mail at email@example.com.
Emery County Gun Club's January-February schedule is: Feb. 11 and Feb. 28. All shoots begin at 1 p.m. Night shoots will begin the first or second week in January and will be held on Thursday or Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. Contact Jason at 384-3279, Jeremy at 381-2057 or Eric at 749-0432 to let them know a preference for the night. Also, anyone interested in starting a shooting league should let them know.
A senior English class at Emery High school has been asked to conduct interviews with miners and county residents who have knowledge of the mining industry from about 1900 to 1950. These interviews and stories will be published by the WAAIME to preserve the history and heritage of Emery County and the mining industry. If you are a retired miner or know a retired miner or his family who would like to be involved in this project, please contact Wendy Whittle at Emery High School, PO Box 499, Castle Dale, 381-2689, 384-2248 or email@example.com
Feb. 10-11 brings the second annual Genealogy and Family Heritage Jamboree to southern Utah. An early bird special is being offered to those who purchase tickets for the February conference by Dec. 31,. Tickets are available at www.myancestorsfound.com.
Warming Families collects warm items such as blankets, hats, socks, slippers and other warm items to homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and nursing homes throughout the country. Visit www.warmingfamilies.org for more information or to donate items.
Quilts of Valor, a program that provides quilts to each injured serviceman or woman, is being organized in Emery County. This program needs funds and interested people to help with making the quilts. For more information contact Hazel McMullin at 653-2246, Michelle Anderson at 687-9445, or Reva Fillmore at 687-2649.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is looking for volunteers for their 2006 summer camp program. Volunteer counselors are needed to help young people with neuromuscular diseases. For more information call 800-572-1717 or www.mdausa.org/clinics/camp/index.cfm.
A Depression and Bipolar Alliance (DBSA) support group is now forming in Sanpete County. DBSA groups are peer-led, confidential and supportive meetings for those who suffer from depression and bipolar syndrome, and their families and friends. Our meetings will be at the Central Utah Counseling Center, 390 West 100 North in Ephraim. No fees are required to attend. For more information call Sheila at 462-3925.
AA meetings will be held at the Castle Dale Senior Citizen building, 85 North 200 East. AA will be Friday nights from 6-7 p.m. For more information call 381-5119, ask for Jonathan. All addictions welcome.
Every second and fourth Monday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. a free legal clinic will be held at the Price Court House. Call Utah Legal Services at 1-800-662-1563 to set up an appointment.
LDS 12-step meeting is every Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Delta Seminary. Everyone is welcome.
The MS support group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at South Eastern Utah District. Health Dept., 28 South 100 East, Price. Family members and caregivers are welcome too. Wheelchair accessible.
A tip line has been introduced in Emery County. The Emery County drug task force is requesting help from the residents to report any suspicious drug activity. The number is 381-2888, and all callers will remain anonymous. It is very important for citizens to be actively involved in helping remove drugs users and pushers from Emery County. AWANA Club
AWANA club for children age 3 through sixth grade will be held at Desert Edge Christian Chapel on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. There will be fun, games, Bible lessons, treats and fun. The theme for this year is Red, White, and Blue, the Lord Loves You. For more information call 653-2361.
To donate to Operation Home Support, a program to send packages to local soldiers stationed overseas, contact Jan Hess, 384-2753. Donations can be mailed to American Legion Auxiliary #42, P.O. Box 209. Ferron, Ut. 84523.
Project ChildSafe, sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation will be distributing free gun locks throughout Emery County. Members of the community may call their local law enforcement agency for information on how to obtain a free gun lock.
Drug addictions can leave an individual feeling helpless and out of control, especially if you are the family member or friend of an addict. Narconon Arrowhead can help. Narconon offers free counseling, assessments and referrals to rehabilitation centers nationwide by calling 1-800-468-6933 or logging onto www.stopaddiction.com. Don't wait until it's too late. Call Narconon now.
Grief support group for parents who have lost a child will be held Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the classroom at Castleview Hospital, 300 North Hospital Drive, Price. For more information contact 637-4800, ext. #4018 or 820-0287.
The Three Wishes Inc. Program makes available power (electric) wheelchairs to senior citizens (65 years and older) and the permanently disabled at no cost to the recipient, if they qualify. Call toll free at 1-800-817-1871.
Each year hundreds of children in Emery and Carbon counties become wards of the juvenile court system due to child abuse, neglect or abandonment. The child welfare system can only devote so much time and attention to each individual case and, consequently, to each individual child. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Volunteers are ordinary men and women who find it in their hearts and their schedules to help these abused and neglected children. Those interested in volunteering should contact Kerrie, the CASA coordinator at 435-381-5595.
All Medicare recipients should now be aware that if they suffer from conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders, and have difficulty walking or propelling a standard wheelchair, they maybe eligible to receive an electric wheelchair paid for by Medicare. For information on Medicare eligibility contact Gregory at 1-800-810-2877.
The in home Rx programs makes available breathing medications and nebulizers to patients who may have asthma, emphysema or COPD at no cost to the recipient, if they qualify. Call 1-800-344-5764 or visit the website www.inhomerx.com for more information on the details of this program.
The Senior Mobility Program makes available to senior citizens and the permanently disabled, power electric wheelchairs at no cost to the recipient, if they qualify. Call 1-800-451-0971 to see if you qualify.
Utah Valley Cancer Center, located at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center has a new toll-free phone number. Anyone can call 1-866-549-3800 to schedule an appointment, get information about local cancer support groups or to find out more about IHC cancer services and physicians. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Senior Wheels USA Program makes available power (electric) wheelchairs to senior citizens (65 years and older) and the permanently disabled at no cost to the recipient, if they qualify. Call toll free at 1-800-246-6010.
The Wheelchair Foundation, Intermountain Healthcare, and the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation are partnering to distribute free wheelchairs to disabled Utahns. Persons interested in getting a free wheelchair can call 1-877-387-3839, or apply at www.wheelchairfoundation.org/utah
Donations are needed from Emery County residents to the Emery Chapter of the Salvation Army which provides emergency assistance for the people of Emery County as well as people traveling through the area. Mail donations to the Emery County Sheriff's Office, Box 281, Green River, Utah 84525 or Emery County Sheriff's Office, Box 817, Castle Dale, Utah 84513. For information, contact Cheryl Keener at 435-564-3432.
Attention, union meeting for local 6363 will be held the third Wednesday of every month at the District 22 office in Price. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.
Girl Scouts need leaders in Emery County. Call Nina Green at 800-678-7809 to volunteer.


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ASICS Cumulus 13 Running Shoe
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Item # 222829
Indulge yourself in a completely cushioned and comfortable stable gait as you move through your run. The ASICS® Cumulus 13 running shoe is built to cater to the neutral to over-pronating runner with a need for superior cushioning. ASICS® has incorporated the GEL® cushioning and DuraSponge® outsole to aid in its most comfortable shoe around.
- Mesh and synthetic upper
- Lightweight Solyte® midsole
- Reflective detailing
- ComforDry™ sock liner with anti-microbial elements
- ASICS I.G.S® (Impact Guidance System) for a natural gait
- DuoMax® dual-density midsole for stability
- Rearfoot & forefoot Gel® cushioning systems for shock absorption
- DuraSponge® forefoot and AHAR® (ASICS High Abrasion Rubber) rubber outsole
- Imported
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Everyone has an opinion. Here's your chance to share yours! Be the first to write a review of this product and help your fellow shoppers pick the best of the best.


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Jordan Eberle Comparables, Part II
Jonathan Willis
August 31 2012 11:06AM
Yesterday, the Oilers re-signed Jordan Eberle to a six-year, $36 million contract extension. If you were wondering what that shrieking noise around mid-afternoon yesterday was, now you know (and you also know that its epicenter was Wanye Manor).
Earlier this month, I looked at some comparables for Jordan Eberle. It's a pretty good looking list. Today, I'm going to try something similar but with some modified criteria.
The problem with my first list – a list that included Jason Allison, Patrice Bergeron, Martin Havlat, Ales Hemsky, Marian Hossa, Vincent Lecavalier, Patrick Kane, Anze Kopitar, Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Mike Richards, Sergei Samsonov, Alex Semin, Paul Stastny,Petr Sykora, Alex Tanguay, John Tavares, Joe Thornton and Jonathan Toews – was that it was based solely on points. The criteria on that list was to look at all forwards from 1997-98 on to have a season with a points/game total between 0.90 and 1.05 at the age of between 20 and 22 (Eberle, with a 0.97 points/game season at age 21, fell midway between those points).
Doing it that way doesn't take into account Eberle's unreal shooting percentage. At 19.8 percent, Eberle had a higher shot percentage than can reasonably be expected to continue (the league leader since the lockout, the phenomenally selective shooter Alex Tanguay, has an 18.0 percent conversion rate).
So, while the list of names above is nice and rosy, it's not a list I particularly trust.
The Pessimist's Method
Since shooting percentage is fickle from year to year – and history shows, barely short of certainty, that Eberle's true accuracy level is lower than he managed this season – I decided to ignore goal totals and instead focus on two other things: assists/game and shots/game. Then I sorted every player since 1997-98 who came close to Eberle's assist totals (within 10 over an 82-game season, basically) and shot totals (plus or minus 20% of Eberle's shots per game this season) and came up with a list of 43 seasons between the age of 20 and 22. So, I narrowed it down some more. I removed all of the centers from the list, leaving only wingers, created an adjusted point column (basically assists plus shots multiplied by the group average shooting percentage) to negate shooting percentage differences and removed everybody who was no longer within 10 points of Eberle.
I haven't compensated for individual points percentage (Eberle's has been on the high side over his first two NHL seasons) and I also haven't really allowed for Eberle's high on-ice shooting percentage – at least not directly. Eberle's 5-on-5 on-ice shooting percentage was driven in large part by his personal shooting percentage; 36.4% of 5-on-5 goals with him on the ice came off his stick (as per behindthenet.ca). By negating Eberle's personal shooting percentage, we negate a good portion of his insanely high on-ice shooting percentage as well.
That's a lot of explaining, but basically what we're looking at here is a cynic's list of comparable players. It's the kind of list designed to handle the objections of a guy like me. Here's the list:
It's a pretty strong list, overall. Aside from Heatley those names lack star power to some degree, but when we look at their average 82 game performance over the next seven seasons (as long as Eberle's under contract in other words) we get this:
The "S-1" column asks whether the player had a comparable season to Eberle the year before the big breakthrough; in a surprising number of cases the answer was yes. The players that didn't – Horton and Friesen – are both below average on this list. The "Data" column indicates whether there were seven full seasons to grab information from after. Meanwhile, the "Drafted" column shows overall draft position in an attempt to add the context of these players' pre-NHL career.
Looking at the data, I don't really think Eberle's going to crash and burn the way Friesen did, and I don't really believe he's going to set the NHL a-flame the way Heatley did, either. I think we're probably looking at a pretty good player – at worst, a Milan Michalek fringe-first line type, and with the potential to be a Patrik Elias-style winger. Elias might sound like a disappointing comparison, but he is not: he had a 96-point season and was a top line power-vs.-power winger on a very good Devils team for years.
The group average is in Petr Sykora/Bobby Ryan country: a 30-35 guy during a healthy season. For those who believe Eberle's a significantly above average NHL shooter (the group average here is 12.8 percent – an excellent number and not far from where I'd put Eberle), feel free to bump his goal totals a little higher.
I tend to be more cynical than the norm on Eberle. This list reflects my thinking on what constitutes a reasonable baseline – not necessarily the best-case scenario, but a reasonable baseline. Looking at it now, I'm not wild about the Oilers' long-term offer to Eberle – I'd like a shorter term, or some patience getting him under contract – but I'm also not terribly worried it's going to be an ugly overpay either.
Bottom line: if you're a true believer that Eberle's a franchise player and that his shooting percentage was for real, stick to that first list, the one that looked at him strictly by points. If, on the other hand, you're more pessimistic on him (as I am), I think these comparables send the message that at worst – even with shooting percentage regression – he's going to be a pretty good player for the next seven years.
A question we should be asking is "How many times does a player's best statistical season correspond with his best shooting percentage?"
Elias has 4 seasons of higher point totals then his best season in terms of shooting %. Heatley's best shooting% season is tied for 4th amongst his best years. Havlat 2nd best season. Gagne 4th best season. Ryan Tied for 3rd best (out of 4) Sykora Best season. Williams 2nd best Bouchard 2nd best Horton 6th best. Samsonov 4th best season.
Seems like most of Eberle's comparables put up more points in seasons other then their strongest season of shooting percentage. Guys like Havlat, Gagne, Bouchard, Williams, the majority of players who did not put up a number of seasons better then their high sh% season generally have had careers marred by injury.
Virtually all of them increased their shots taken per year through seasons 1-4 of their careers. That is the main reason I don't think you can put a cap on Eberle's potential yet. We don't know how many shots he will be taking in his prime. Its way too early to be talking about Eberle's past season being his outlier.
See SP% Craig Simpson???????????????
You are pessimistic about everyone. Let's face it. I wouldn't be surprised to see averages with any player fluctuate from game to game and season to season. I have generally stopped reading your posts because they are boring. It's too bad you can't enjoy the game more and stop trying to be an over-analytical stats gnome.
September 01 2012, 05:47AM
It would be interesting to see if Nuges other linemates had high shooting percentages. Who had the first assists on Ebs goals? Maybe Nuge is the anomaly that caused the push in Ebs shooting percentage. Not luck.
September 01 2012, 06:22AM
Patrick Elias/Daniel Briere type is where I put Eberle. So your column seems online. 70 ppy average, very special in the playoffs.
6 mil per year? about right.
IN DEFENCE OF STATS. They make for conversation and raise expectations on the game and players . It's like handicapping the horses - value added and heightened expectations . Stats are an integral part of game and often strategies are made by each team to reflect that . Like it or not we all analyize game before we go and also during play -just not very often statistically . If the stats were not flexible and fluctuating it would make for a dull game and unentertaining a majority of times . They merely show with a modicum of accuracy certain trends that one might expect or look for . THUS IT ADDS TO ENJOYMENT OF GAME OVERALL . It does sadly lack in the human element and circumstances a majority of times , however . Stats are TRENDY (pun) .
September 01 2012, 09:14AM
It would be interesting to see if Nuges other linemates had high shooting percentages. Who had the first assists on Ebs goals? Maybe Nuge is the anomaly that caused the push in Ebs shooting percentage. Not luck.
Unlikely, otherwise you'd see guys playing with other elite playmakers consistently put up insane shooting %'s
I get that stacking offensive players together often doesn't result in more points for everyone. But it is more likely then most other situations.
Chemistry between hockey players is a fickle thing.
Crosby and Malkin both seem equally effective with or without one another. Placing them on the same line hasn't seemed to really increase either of their offensive outputs.
Then you have situations like Hartnell's and Lupuls. Where chemistry plays such a large role that the weaker player produces far more pts then their talent level would be indicate be reasonable.
But its important to look at the big picture for Eberle. Around the league combos like Zetterberg Datsyuk. Getzlaf Perry Sedin Sedin Gabo Richards Spezza Alfy Ovie Backstrom etc... are far more likely to have success then the rarities like Lupul Kessel. A pair I am still skeptical of.
When you have the amount of talent the oilers have, together for 9 years. The odds that SOMEONE generates good chemistry with someone else increases dramatically.
So when I say it is reasonable to expect eberle to put up 25g and 45a next season I don't think I'm far off. We already know he can click with Nuge. What we don't know is how he will work alongside Yak or with J Schultz on the back end. All I'm saying is I like his odds of repeating. 13% SP and 70pt season I predict.
Completely reasonable.
And that's if he only plays 10 games. Art Ross 574 pts in p. 82 gp. 215 pts is still respectable Wayne.
September 01 2012, 09:56AM
Don't forget Gagner's 656 point year.
September 01 2012, 10:18AM
An example I can think of is Hull and Oates. Hull's best shooting percentages were the three years with Oates. Stamkos and Stlouis, and Gretzky and Kurri are other examples.
September 01 2012, 12:14PM
An example I can think of is Hull and Oates. Hull's best shooting percentages were the three years with Oates. Stamkos and Stlouis, and Gretzky and Kurri are other examples.
Kurri also shot 20.8% his last year with Gretz and 20.6% his first year without.
Ebs shooting percentage is high because he is too smart a player to go down his wing and flip a muffin in the goalies crest.He will always make the smart play(well most times he is human....sorry Wayne)be that pass or shoot.
Can't seeing that changing .He is not going to lose that great hockey sense he has .It will only get better.
Now for comparisons.Normally don't go there as I feel each player is their own player.But will this time because I'm all giddy about the two signings.I'm going to say it......Joe Sakic.
Smaller player, very cerebral,quick accurate shot.Plays hard every game.Good defensively.Captain material.
September 04 2012, 04:36PM
I might get torn apart for saying this but Eberle and his traits as a player and a guy who can take the physicality and maintain his cool in tight and around checkers reminds me of Peter Forsberg. How many highlights have we seen Forsberg dipsy doodling in tight and having his way down low? Much the same way Eberle has been doing.
Mind you Forsberg played the formidable years of his career in the dead puck era says he has way more skill then Eberle or at least more strength. I think the comparable here is Eberle is Forsberg Lite. Once he puts on more weight and gets stronger Ebs is going to be a force all on his own. Forsberg never once got accused of having a howitzer shot but the guy could score and dangle.


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text:
1989 Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg 1ere Trie Huet
Cs (12x75cl)
Cs (12x75cl)
0 immediate, 10 marketplace
Cs (6x75cl)
Cs (6x75cl)
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Domaine Huet is widely regarded as one of the greatest estates in France. Their Chenin Blancs are one of the most collectible offerings from the Central Loire as they drink deliciously on release but can be aged for decades. The estate covers a total of 35 hectares of vines. These are primarily split among the three single vineyards of Le Haut Lieu, Le Clos du Bourg and Le Mont, and produce a range of sweet, demi-sec and sec Huet wines.
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We deliver Monday to Friday; charges are £ 16 + VAT for up to 10 cases (12x75cl or equivalent) for most UK postcodes.
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Our storage costs are highly competitive. We will happily accept cases or single bottles, charging pro-rata based on the number of bottles and length of storage period.
Unlike many other wine companies, our service includes storage of duty paid wines as well as in bond from any reputable source, not just those bought through FINE+RARE.
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FINE+RARE can arrange delivery of your wines to your personal fine wine storage account:
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text:
Bilbo/Bilbao apartment for 3 guests
Size32 m²
Floor No.1
- Towels
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- Kitchen
- Lockable room
- Family/child friendly
Accommodation summary
|48005 Bilbo/Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
|Property type
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Reviews of this property
All perfect with good atecion floor by the owner, located in downtown area near the lively but noise problem streets. The house is very comfortable and very new. 100% recommended :)
Todo perfecto con buena atecion por parte del propietario del piso, situado en zona centrica cerca de las calles animadas pero sin problema de ruido. El piso es muy comodo y esta muy nuevo. 100% recomendable :)
Nice apartment in the center. Quiet, but a road raged already life.
Schönes Apartment mitten im Zentrum. Ruhig, aber eine Straße weiter tobte schon das Leben.
Beautiful apartment in the historical histórico.A a street 100 meters from lively and full of bars for all tastes. Well soundproofed kitchen. Were greeted by Carlos who gave us good details of bilbao. Totally recommended. with wi-fi without hesitation would be 5 stars
Hermoso apartamento,en el casco histórico.A 100 metros de una calle movida y llena de bares para todos los gustos. Bien insonorizada con cocina equipada .Fuimos recibidos por Carlos que nos dió buenos detalles de bilbao. Totalmente recomendable. con wi-fi sin dudar sería 5 estrellas
Reviews for this host's other properties
nice little house in suburb of sorrento.
well equipped kitchen and cosy living room.
couldn't stay in the huge garden because of too many moskitos.
garden wasn't very clean at all.
the linen package, we extra paid for, was a joke.
The people were very friendly, the studio offered everything you needed, the bed was comfy and the location was good, just 350 m to the beach. You had your own terrace and parking lot, which was great. It is a very quiet location, good to calm down and relax. For two persons it is very big, I was scared, but of course most of people would enjoy that luxury of lots of space. The accommodation definitely is a great choice for that price!
The location of the apartment was great and the size was excellant plus with a private parking space in France unbelievable. Downside was cleaning fee per person when the floors were SO dirty that you wouldn'd want to walk on them without shoes on.
Danielle was very helpful. The house, next to her family's home was very clean and comfortable. The view of the mountains was wonderful. we highly recommend Landhaus Wegscheider to anyone interested in traveling to the Innsbruck area.
Fab apartment, fab views. All amenities on our doorstep, would highly recommend this apartment, will definitely be booking again. (unfortunately there are no English TV channels so bring a book)
Beautiful view of the Zugspitz from a private patio. Pleanty of room for two couples with 2 bedrooms. Beds very comfortable. Clean with friendly service.
A group of five girls stayed here and it was fantastic! The views were spectacular the location was spot on couldn't fault the apartment it was spotless and the finishing touch of the towels made up as swans on each bed with small toiletries was a lovely touch. We picked up the keys early from the interhome office the lady was extremely helpful. Would highly recommend we will be using this apartment again on our next visit to benidorm. Thank you
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Sunnyside City Council selects finalists for City Manager
The Sunnyside City Council selects four finalists and one alternate for the office of City Manager.
Tonight, a community social will be held to allow citizens to get to meet the finalists who will be interview next week by the City Council. Tonight's community social begins at 5:30 PM and will be held at Bon Vino's Bistro & Bakery, 122 N. 16th St. in Sunnyside.
The candidates are:
Donald Day, who has served the County of Colfax, New Mexico, as County Manager since 2007.
Steven Golnar, who was most recently City Manager for the City of Rawlins, Wyoming, serving four and a half years.
Ashton Harrison, who most recently served as County Administrator and Budget Officer for the County of Montezuma in Cortez, Colorado, serving eight years.
Arthur Sciorra, who is currently serving as an Executive Director for Clements Agriculture Research Institute in Lisbon, New York. Prior to that, he served as City Manager for the City of Ogdensburg, New York.


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Hungarian Hockey League Hijinx!
Jason Strudwick
October 15 2012 08:17AM
With the lockout looking like it could go on for a while I thought I would share an interesting story from my time in Hungary last lockout. I went over there in January with my cousin and great friend Rob Niedermayer. It was great to play in an organized league after so many months of just waiting around.
We had a great time there and we were treated incredibly well. I have many great stories from our time in Hungary but I will start with this one because it is something I don't think I will see again!
Our team, Ferencvaros, is an old club with a lot of history. We both loved the history of the club and the green and white colored jerseys. During the time of communism in Hungary, Ferencvaros was known as the team that went against the state. For that reason, they had and still do have many, many die hard supporters.
We would typically practice in the evening because many of our teammates were in school or had other jobs during the day. There was a very nice rink that we would use for ice times and we had never had an issue before but on this particular day right away we could tell it wouldn't be business as usual.
We arrived at the rink ready to go when one of our team mates told us the ice was doubled booked. At times the message would get lost in translation but basically there was some disagreement between the rink and our club so they gave our ice time to a bunch of recreational league players. It didn't look like we would be practicing.
Our coach, a Russian guy, who spoke about as much English as I do Russian wouldn't accept that decision. He decided we were still going to practice. So we all got dressed and went out on to the ice with rec leaguers. They were playing shinny and we started to do our regular practice. Talk about having to keep your head up! It was crazy out there. Players going in every possible direction.
The rec leaguers were really cool about it and many were big fans of our team. After a while they said they were going to leave so we could practice for real. Very cool move by them. But this is when everything went sideways!
The rink manager called the police to come and kick us off the ice. Four policemen showed up. They walked around to the bench and from their arm gestures I could tell they wanted us to get off the ice. Our coach said to keep practicing. The police starting yelling and were getting quite upset.
After about ten minutes our assistant coach went over to talk with them. He was a pretty calm guy but after about one minute his discussion with the police exploded into yelling! The police then grabbed on to him and were trying to pull him into the bench!
Our whole team rushes over to the bench to help our assistant coach out. It turns into a tug-o-war for out coach between the four policeman and our players. Back and forth our poor coach goes. Finally one of our guys decides to put an end to it. He slashes one of cops on the head!!! Bam!
The tone of the negotiations takes a dramatic turn into negative territory after the slash! The cops let go of our coach, they get on their radios call for back up and our head coach decides now is a good time for practice to end!
Rob and I have mainly been watching all this happen but we now decide it is time to get out of here. Fast! We get into the dressing rooms, throw our gear off and run into the showers. All I can think of is being thrown into a jail cell in a foreign country, not my idea of a good time.
(Photo: Jakob Sigurdsson/Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)
As we are having a quick shower, in walk a bunch of police in full riot gear! I am naked in the shower and a cop in full riot gear is yelling at me in Hungarian to get out. I didn't like my chances if a donnybrook broke out so I went right into the locker room.
I am sitting in the locker room with only a towel on with all my teammmates and at least twenty police in full riot gear wanting to know who slashed their guy. We are all told no one is leaving until the guilty player is found. If not, we are all going down to the police station were we will remain in custody until this gets sorted out.
At that moment I was getting a little nervous. If I could have spoken Hungarian I would have squealed like a pig and pointed the finger. Yes, I would have become a rat!
But I couldn't so I sat there freezing and more than a little uncomfortable. They came around asking for our license and passports. Both Rob and I lied saying we didn't have them here. I wasn't going to give those up, I didn't know if I'd get it back.
There we sat for over two hours until our team president was able to sort it all out. Cooler heads prevailed in the end and we were all allowed to go without the guilty player being discovered.
Of course as part of the deal we were not allowed to return to that rink again, which made sense. We started to practice outside which was awesome. Rob and I both loved it, we even played a game outside which is one of my best hockey memories.
I often wonder if Ferencvaros ever worked out a deal to get back into that rink. I hope they did. It was a pretty crazy day but a story I will be telling my great grandkids. I guess the lesson to be learned from this is 'don't slash cops.'
Previously by Jason Strudwick
October 15 2012, 08:28AM
What The Fist?
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Sam Gagner has signed with Klagenfurt in the Austrian league...same team that Tyler Myers just signed with.
October 15 2012, 09:09AM
This is a great story. Loved it. Keep em coming Jason. Naked donneybrook in the shower: LOL
October 15 2012, 09:16AM
Yeah, I've got nothing constructive to add other than to say that I really enjoyed the story.
October 15 2012, 09:32AM
Gino Reda's mustache would roll over in its grave if it saw the amount of hair in the FIST pic!
Admit it. It was you that threw the slash, wasn't it? ;p
so who was the Hungarian McSorley?
October 15 2012, 10:51AM
Lol. pain, the universal language. Nothing brings out passion quicker than a subtle pile drive to the face....a little slewfoot or spear behind the knee. Good times seem always linked with passion.
Maybe if you would've made a B line towards them, layed down a snow shower and started screaming at him in english you could've finished practice, no? Have to think an enraged Jason Strudwick berating him in english would certainly put him on his heals as well. An opportunity to provide some leadership may have been missed here.
One post here on Oilersnation Jason, a bottle drive would've quickly been organized to help bail you out.
October 15 2012, 10:56AM
Hahaha. This had me giggling as i read it. So funny.
Wait, so after the cop is slashed and it looks like you're all going to end up going to jail you decide the best strategy is to get naked and lather up?
Was this instinctive, or are there other past stories about prison life that you'll only tell at charity golf tournaments?
I had a couple of buddies (brothers) from Calahoo who had played in the BCJHL who went over there in late 1994. Their parents were born in Hungary, but came over with their family after the invasion in 59 (I think). Rob was 21 and Mike was 19, but unhappy with his team. A grandparent saw an ad for try-outs for a Hungarian team in Toronto, so they both decided to give it a whirl.
Both of them were over 6' 2", Rob was 220+, Mike was 190, Rob was arguably the heavywieght champ of the BCJHL, Mike was more of a mucker, but both were very accomplished athletes in other sports.
Anyway they made the team, basically ran over everyone at the try-outs, because the coach told them they were looking for Canadian-style players. Coach promised them the moon, but it wasn't as expected when they arrived.
They played for Ujpesti Uge in Budapest, the one with the outdoor rink. Their goalie always drove a brand new high-end sports car (Ferraris and Porsches) - he was caught a couple years later (bank robber). Read this in Sports Illustrated.
There were a few accomplished Russians that played over there, but I don't know their names. I had asked the boys to bring home some game tapes, the coached promised, but didn't deliver....I have one tape from tv news sports highlights, where Mike runs over the d at the blueline, but the puck gets to the net and the bad guys scored. Actually I think it may have been your team they were playing.....
Immediately after Mike beaks off at the bench and gets pulled in, somehow he escapes. Then fists start flying, Rob basically takes on three players, you see one player on the bench run over and try and chop him with an overhead two-hander, but misses. The other Ujpesti guys weren't anywhere to be seen though. They didn't know the language, so they had a tough time and spent up to 6 hrs a day riding the subway to the rink and apartment, plus the money wasn't as good as promised. They did their own negotiation, so there was no agent involved.
The straw that broke the camel's back was when Rob got high sticked in the lips, and his broken tooth was protruding through his bottom lip. No penalty, so he skated to the ref, spit blood on the ice and was given a penalty for unsportsman like conduct. That was their last game, I think they were there for maybe 3 months.
When they got back to Alberta the senior team in Peace River picked both of them up. Apparently they almost picked up Bob Beers, but took Mike instead. They stayed at the coaches house and Mike kinda got involved with his twin teenaged daughters.....so that was their last year there.
That was their last year in hockey until I got the idea that Mike still had something left to prove, so I acted as his agent and got him a try-out with Abilene in the WPHL in 1999. Rob was 26 and I had asked him if he was interested in finding a team, but he was pessimistic, until Mike got signed. I got him a try-out with Lubbock, Rob May's team. In the end Rob made Lubbock, Mike was cut and that was the end of his "career". Rob was later traded to Abilene, which then folded about 25 games into the season. Rob played with 3 other teams, but that was his first and only year down there.
Later that year I was watching the morning show on A Channel and they were looking for players to go one-on-one with the Panda's goalie. The winner got 6 tix and limo ride to the Oil vs Flames in Calgary. Mike won, but due to a Vegas trip him and his buddies were going on, he donated the tix back to the station with the proceeds going to Cross Cancer Institute.
Anyway, I figure this might be entertaining for someone.....
Jason - good story although seems a bit embellished. Showers (not a good place to run) and passports in a foreign country which was really never communist. Even if the cops would take your passports you would get out out of there without a problem. Good on you to promote hockey in Hungary though!
I messed up the last part, I submitted Mike's name, without him knowing and he was selected. I think there were 8 skaters....
The following day Mike was all over the show with him saying things like: "you gotta go higher". I think it was great for him, even though I think he was slightly embarrassed, at the same time I think it made him feel like a hockey player again. It was great for him to "finish" like that by giving back.
Ha great story! I feel like I'm sitting in Mr. Strudwick's living room with a nice beverage, having some laughs.
Thanks for a pleasant taste of hockey humor during a particularly crappy hockey year.
October 15 2012, 08:54PM
This is actually Strudwick!!! I don't know how to change who it signed in on the computer.
Sounds like the guys had a pretty crazy time over there. That is what it can be like over there. The Wild West of hockey contracts!
Good story!
October 15 2012, 08:58PM
Jason - good story although seems a bit embellished. Showers (not a good place to run) and passports in a foreign country which was really never communist. Even if the cops would take your passports you would get out out of there without a problem. Good on you to promote hockey in Hungary though!
I didn't embellish any of this. It happened just the way I said. We ran into the showers as all players do after every skate across the world.
Also Hungary was a communist a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union from 1947 - 1989. We did a lot of sight seeing when we were there. The stories that were shared with us were incredible. I felt very lucky to live in a country where that never happened.
October 15 2012, 09:04PM
I didn't embellish any of this. It happened just the way I said. We ran into the showers as all players do after every skate across the world.
Also Hungary was a communist a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union from 1947 - 1989. We did a lot of sight seeing when we were there. The stories that were shared with us were incredible. I felt very lucky to live in a country where that never happened.
Man you got ugly Strudwick.
This is actually Strudwick!!! I don't know how to change who it signed in on the computer.
Sounds like the guys had a pretty crazy time over there. That is what it can be like over there. The Wild West of hockey contracts!
Good story!
Yeah there were a few other crazy stories they told, lots of threats of violence, one game where all kinds of things were being thrown at them from the stands, riot police and dogs and a police escort for them on the subway/train. I wonder if the guy who slashed the cop was the same guy who tried chopping Rob from the bench, lol.


text:
Questions That Need Answers: Fifth Edition
Jason Gregor
March 25 2009 12:17PM
When MacT inevitably does get fired, who would you peg as the front runners for Tambellini to replace him with? Does he draw from his Vancouver days to bring in Marc Crawford? Does he go with former teammates? I know he's played with current NHL coaches, Joel Quenneville (unlikely since he's HC of Chicago) and Mike Kitchen (possibility since he's an AC with FLA)? Personally, I'd like to see him go after Brent Sutter if he chooses to resign from NJ. What do you think? —Dino
MacTavish won't get fired; he will leave on his own. I had a conversation with a member of the Oilers' organization last week and I left with the feeling that it will be MacTavish's decision if he comes back next year or not.
If they miss the playoffs, I think MacTavish will resign. But if they make the playoffs it will be interesting if his mindset changes. When MacTavish got his four-year extension in the summer of 2006 he admitted at his press conference that if the Oilers had missed the playoffs, before their magical run, he would have moved on.
MacTavish will eventually get into management for some team, but it's hard to figure if coaching is out of his blood right now. If he resigns, does he move into a management role or does he look for a coaching position around the league? I sense he still enjoys coaching and his decision will depend on how they do in the playoffs.
As for potential replacements, I don't see any of the current assistants being promoted. Marc Crawford has ties with Tambellini, but I don't see him coming here.
Brent Sutter's name will come up, but I'm hearing that he might just go back to the farm and coach the Red Deer Rebels. He owns the Rebels, and this past year they had close to 1,000 season ticket holders not show up for games periodically. The business side of the Rebels is weighing heavily on his mind, not to mention he misses his family.
If Sutter resigns in NJ, like everyone expects, and the Oilers are indeed looking for a new coach next year, you can guarantee that the Oilers will give him a call to see where his head is at.
Front-runners could be Geoff Ward, assistant coach in Boston; Paul MacLean, AC in Detroit; and possibly a guy like Don Lever, AC in Montreal who played with Tambellini in Colorado. The Oilers won't even hint at who they are interested in since MacTavish is still their guy.
Which players in the AHL do the Oilers have under contract for next year, and do they have any good new players coming in next year? —Alan
The guys under contract for next year are: Peckham, Sestito, O'Marra, Paukovich, Lerg, Trukhno, Chorney, Hrabel, Bendfeld, Wild and Pitton. They will want to re-sign Brule, Dubnyk Potulny, Stone, Schremp and Spurgeon. It will be interesting if Schremp re-signs or elects to go Europe for a season or two.
They will need to sign some veteran D-men. Jake Roberts is a tough, solid AHL D-man, and they will desperately need some experience on their blueline next year. As for kids coming out, Jeff Petry is a possibility. Linus Omark is someone they would love to bring over from Sweden. Milan Kytnar from the Saskatoon Blades might go down there as a 20-year-old. Chris Van De Velde has one year left at North Dakota, but if he elects to leave he would help a lot.
It will be interesting to see what the Oilers decide to do with Alex Plante. If the Hitmen win the Memorial Cup, I think he goes to the AHL for sure next year, and even if they don't I think playing in the "A" as a 20-year-old would be more beneficial in his development. The other possibility is Riley Nash, but I'm hearing he will stay in college and hopefully put on more weight and get stronger.
My buddy, who loves Crosby, says that Ovechkin scores more goals than anyone because he plays in the SouthLEAST division. Is this true? —Adam
Ovechkin scores more goals than anyone because he is better than them, plain and simple. But for argument sake let's look at it.
To date Ovechkin has 51 goals. He has scored 13 goals in 19 games within his division for a 0.68 GPG average, and he has 38 goals in 56 games outside of his division, for a 0.67 GPG average. In fact, the Caps are 12-7 v. their division, 12-4-3 v. the NE and 12-2-4 v. the ATL division.
They have scored 61 goals in their 19 divisional games for an average of 3.2 GPG, and in the 56 against the rest of the league they have scored 179 for a 3.19 GPG.
The Caps have fewer points from divisional games than they do against the rest of the East, so is their division that weak? The stats prove that this season Ovechkin and his teammates don't pad their totals because they play in the Southeast.
Last year, he had 22 goals in 24 divisional games, and 43 in the other 58 for a 0.91 GPG within his division and 0.75 GPG outside his division. It helped him a bit last year, but definitely not this year.
If the NHL were to once again engage ESPN in contract talks to show games in the US what arguments could the NHL possibly make to encourage ESPN to invest back into the NHL product? (Obviously ratings is not one of those arguments). Do you have any idea what kind of data or information the NHL could use in forming their arguments? —Clarke
The NHL gets more money from Versus than they ever did from ESPN.
Versus is starting to get into more homes every day, and in a few years it quite possibly could be part of the basic cable package. Staying with them, with the money they get compared to ESPN paying them nothing, makes better business sense.
I don't see the NHL having any numbers/stats that could sway ESPN into thinking that buying the rights back would make any sense. Ratings aren't high and their ticket sales haven't jumped enough in the States to make the ESPN executives believe that fans are flocking to the NHL.
I don't see the NHL and ESPN being together again in the next two years at least, and probably longer.
Why do people who sit at the back of the plane immediately stand up when the plane reaches the gate?
I don't understand why so many of you do this. You end up standing for ten to 15 minutes waiting for the people in front of you to get off. Are you in that big of a rush to grab your carry on luggage? Do you think if you stand up first you get off first?
Unless you have made a deal with the flight attendants to let you off first so you can make a connecting flight, standing up first accomplishes nothing. In fact, it makes it harder for those in front of you to get out of their seat and grab their bag. Sit your ass down, relax and wait for the rows in front of you to leave.
Have questions that need answers? E-mail Jason Gregor at email@example.com.
They can get off on their own if you get it
Gregor: Yes, it's hard to quantify and that's the thing, I know. I can get down with "energy" guys if they hold serve - and that point I'll just call them low-event - and I could really believe in these guys overall if they could make a difference on the PK unit.
But I have a hard time believing in fellows that just go out there and bang around for 7-8 min at EV and come out somewhat under the minus line.
GSC: Glencross had some great counting stats down the '08 stretch and those proved somewhat repeatable given what he's done ~70 games into the season. So, he looked to be more than just "energy" and he's certainly been valuable for the '09 Flames.
All that being said, there was a piece in the Cgy Herald just like week where Glencross himself was talking about his little stint on the first line and he said that wherever he landed, he was always mindful of his plus minus. So, that really goes back to outscoring as much anything else.
You can Google for that article if you don't believe me.
Dennis wrote:
GSC: Glencross had some great counting stats down the '08 stretch and those proved somewhat repeatable given what he's done ~70 games into the season. So, he looked to be more than just "energy" and he's certainly been valuable for the '09 Flames. All that being said, there was a piece in the Cgy Herald just like week where Glencross himself was talking about his little stint on the first line and he said that wherever he landed, he was always mindful of his plus minus. So, that really goes back to outscoring as much anything else. You can Google for that article if you don't believe me.
I'm not disagreeing with you at all, I'm simply noting that many perceived Glencross as replaceable and that his stats weren't indicative of him being worthy of the raise he received in Calgary.
March 26 2009, 01:31AM
"I'm not disagreeing with you at all, I'm simply noting that many perceived Glencross as replaceable and that his stats weren't indicative of him being worthy of the raise he received in Calgary.|
Those people were obviously f'ing idiots and didnt see what he brought to our fourth line. A scoring touch, an identity, and a force to be reckoned with on most nights. Glencross brought what this team has sorely lacked all year long.
Dennis wrote:
Glencross had some great counting stats down the '08 stretch and those proved somewhat repeatable given what he's done ~70 games into the season. So, he looked to be more than just "energy" and he's certainly been valuable for the '09 Flames.
He did have great counting stats, but it seemed like every other person would point to his shooting percentage and say 'it's not sustainable!!'. And they were right, but they couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that a player can still be useful with a sub-10 shooting percentage and sub-20 goals over the year.
Not sure is anyone else has seen this but its priceless!!...haha.
Hejda was a harder gem to identify but we had both him and Glencross for a trial run and for whatever reason we didn't bring them back.
Hejda left in the summer of '07 and maybe that was a by-product of him being one of the 100 or so D we had that year that wasn't adept at making a first pass. So, MacT went out and started focusing on puckmovers or offensive guys and somewhere along the way, Hejda got lost.
With Glencross, I just wonder if the Oilers came to a decision that there was only so much money they could spend for bottom sixers like 18 and 34. Sure, it all happened during the chase for Hossa and you'll hear that there wasn't money for anyone but if the Oilers were confident enough that Glencross could be the new Moreau or Pisani, they could've tried to turf one of the older guys.
March 26 2009, 09:49AM
@ Dennis: I thought the Oilers were not going to spend that money on Glencross but instead use it in the ridiculous attempt to land Hossa. Is that false?
March 26 2009, 09:55AM
Jason Gregor wrote:
He has coached four years in the NHL, and he made the playoffs twice. He has won one round in the playoffs. His regular season record is: 148-140-40…Winning % is .511
And this is the problem with judging head coaches solely by winning %. Nolan spent fully half of his NHL coaching career with that joke of an Islanders team. It's a miracle that he's above .500 at all.
In any case, his junior numbers are far better; his overall record there is 226-144-27, and that's including an 18-42-6 record in his rookie year as coach with a rebuilding Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds team.
His problems with management have got him blacklisted, but that's no reason to downplay his abilities as a coach.
March 26 2009, 09:59AM
GSC wrote:
Couldn't agree more about the energy factor. See: Glencross, Curtis. Numbers weren't there, but anyone with an eye for the game could see that he was a great fit in the lineup and was well worth the $1.2-$1.3 MIL he's now earning with the soon-to-be Northwest Division Champs.
Energy isn't a bad thing, but Glencross's real value is as an outscorer. Energy's everywhere - hell, half of the AHL roster would bring you energy (Brule, Stone, Sestito, Spurgeon, Lefebvre, Paukovich, O'Marra) and the minor leagues are filled with these guys. Energy is easy to find.
But a player who outscores his opponents at an NHL level is a little more elusive - it's a positive for the team that he brings energy, but let's not get confused about which of the two is keeping him in the NHL.
March 26 2009, 10:05AM
And not to mention Glencross made the 2 guys he played with exponentially better. In that stretch last year, that 4th line was a threat some nights whereas they are mostly invisible this year.
As far as everyone has said, we were waiting on Hossa, Glencross's group were waiting on us, and in the meantime Calgary offered his group a 3 year deal. What sickens me about the whole thing, is why did we just resign him and deal with the 1.2 million later? In my opinion one of the biggest Kevin Lowe blunders I can think of.
Perry Pearn or Dale Hunter anyone?
March 26 2009, 10:30AM
The most important questions of the day:
When will the GDB be up today?
Why doesn't McD's serve breakfast after 11?
March 26 2009, 10:48AM
Jonathan Willis wrote:
hell, half of the AHL roster would bring you energy (Brule, Stone, Sestito, Spurgeon, Lefebvre, Paukovich, O'Marra) and the minor leagues are filled with these guys. Energy is easy to find.
You seriously don't believe this statement do you? None of those guys, outside of Brule, have the ability or speed to play in the NHL. Energy isn't just the ability to hit someone. It is the ability to change the momentum of the game back in your favour. The willingness to play hard every shift.
Stone can't skate fast enough to hit anyone, Paukovich is softer than Penner, O'Marra is just plain lazy right now, Lefebvre is not an NHL player. Spurgeon is a good faceoff guy, but doesn't bring a physical side to change the pace of a game.
If you think those are energy players, you are mistaken.
If an energy player ends up -2 on the year, but kills lots of penalties for your team, he will stay. You want people to accept stats more, which is fine, but then you need to understand that energy isn't graded solely on stats. You have to watch a game to see how it unfolds.
Pisani can be a useful player that outscores the opposition, but he will never be considered an energy guy. That isn't a knock on him, that is a fact. Moreau on the otherhand might not outscore the opposition, but his contributions to the team are just as valuable. And if you look at their regular season totals, Moreau scores just as much as Pisani.
While the stats might show otherwise, Moreau is coveted by many other teams. I have spoken to many opposing scouts in the pressbox the past few years, and every one of them asks how Moreau is playing. Outside of Hemsky, and lately Gagner and Cogliano, no forward attracts more attention/questions from opposing scouts.
His energy is consistent every game. Sure he takes aggressive penalties, and sometimes dumb ones, but his ability to compete every shift is what makes his a valuable energy guy. Dogged determination, and an NHL skill set is what keeps him in the league. The players you mentioned aren't NHLers, and outside of Brule and maybe Spurgeon, none will play in the NHL.
March 26 2009, 11:43AM
Jason Gregor wrote:
If an energy player ends up -2 on the year, but kills lots of penalties for your team, he will stay. You want people to accept stats more, which is fine, but then you need to understand that energy isn't graded solely on stats. You have to watch a game to see how it unfolds.
I don't think we disagree here Jason - an energy guy who ends up -2 on the year (for most teams, Detroit and the like excepted) is probably doing just fine (not outscoring, but holding his own), and if he's a good PK guy he has lots of value. But a guy like Curtis Glencross is far more valuable than say Eric Nystrom not because he provides energy but because he's outscoring.
Basically, what I'm saying is that of the two (outscoring/energy) outscoring is the more valuable trait to possess. You call Lefebvre "not an NHL player" and you're right, but it isn't a lack of energy that keeps him out of the league - he changes momentum with big hits and fights and hard work; he just doesn't have the talent.
BTW, Paukovich isn't soft - he's one of the dirtiest players in the system and he likes to hurt people. His problems don't stem from a lack of aggression.
How bout steve ludzik as a coach. I like him on his show and he seams to like schremp.
or possibly don hay of the vancouver gaints. I like the job he did there because the gaints are a top team every year.
I haven't said this before but 18 has definitely kept his word to Gregor as per cutting down on dumb penalties. So, kudos to him for that and it makes it much easier to like him.
And it's also nice that in his stead, 44 has picked up the pace for dumb penalties!
I doubt there are scouts who watch as many Oilers games as actual fans and I'm not sure if they'd like 18 as much if they had to watch him every game. he no longer grades as a plus PKer and there's no way he'll replicate his '09 goal scoring given all the weird goals he's scored this season. Plus, he's gonna have a hard time covering his contract.
Gregor: I guess '06 is the ultimate for every point but if you equate energy with grinding, there's no way that the old Torres-Peca-Pisani troika wasn't money any way you cut that line.
And I"m gonna be really interested to see if Brule can make it as anything other than a scorer. I don't think he's smart enough to play in a role where you're only looking to hold serve.
March 26 2009, 04:49PM
Jonathan Willis wrote:
BTW, Paukovich isn't soft - he's one of the dirtiest players in the system and he likes to hurt people. His problems don't stem from a lack of aggression.
Hitting from behind a few times doesn't make him physical. He has had a few blatant cheap shots on his resume, but all the scouts I talk with say he doesn't hit consistently and rarely brings energy. You are correct that he has a reputation of the cheap hit-from-behind garbage, but he doesn't bring an energy to the game.
It's too bad. If he channelled his size and nasty side into a consistent effort he could be effective. He might get another one-year deal with the Oilers, just because he might GET IT and be consistent, but right now his energy level and consistency is no where near where it should and could be.
March 26 2009, 04:58PM
dbushie wrote:
or possibly don hay of the vancouver gaints. I like the job he did there because the gaints are a top team every year.
Look at Don Hay's career...when he coaches in the pros, either NHL or AHL he has never won a round in the playoffs in five seasons.
He is a great WHL coach, but he deals better with kids rather than men. I can tell you with certainty that he will not be on the short list, when the Oilers eventually get around to looking for a new coach.
@ Jason Gregor: Jason Gregor wrote:
Look at Don Hay's career…when he coaches in the pros, either NHL or AHL he has never won a round in the playoffs in five seasons. He is a great WHL coach, but he deals better with kids rather than men. I can tell you with certainty that he will not be on the short list, when the Oilers eventually get around to looking for a new coach.
Thats to bad about don hay not being considered. I thought he would do good with edmonton because of our abundance of young developing players. Maybe even help with brule since he coached him before.
How bout Steve Ludzik than.
April 06 2009, 02:31PM
I gave it 6 months before i decided, but i think 1260 can do better than Jason Gregor.
Bring in Murph or give it to Brownie.


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Encouraging women participation for election on constitutional drafting committee (Training Workshop on Advocacy, Campaigning and Lobbying)Dec 22, 2013
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) organized training workshop from December 18-21, 2013 for women candidates for forthcoming elections in Libya. The objective of the training is to provide and equip women relevant advocacy and lobbying tools useful in election campaigns. The training also provided an opportunity of networking among the candidates to share their experiences. Moreover, policy analysis and gender equality were also among the topics discussed during the workshop.
In post revolution Libya, the participation of women shows a slight improvement. After revolution, women had only one seat in the National Transitional Council. In the currentGeneral National Congress,women seize 16.5 % of the seats in the national assembly. According to the newly adopted election law for the constitutional drafting committee, women will have 6 seats (10%) out of sixty members to be elected. The interest of women's participation in the political process is growing gradually as civil Society Organizations and members of the GNC are showing interest of cooperation to ensure women's representation in the constitution drafting committee.
The training is relevant as the challenges facingwomen candidates are several in the upcoming elections and this kind of skill building training will definitely support women to analyze the political situation in Libya and it will enablefemale candidates to create network and coordinate among different associations for common goals that women want to be integrated in the constitution, said one of the participants in the training.
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Sanho Tree
IPS Fellow Sanho Tree is director of the Drug Policy Project, which works to end the domestic and international "War on Drugs" and replace it with policies that promote public health and safety, as well as economic alternatives to the prohibition drug economy. The intersection of race and poverty in the drug war is at the heart of the project's work. In recent years the project has focused on the attendant "collateral damage" caused by the United States exporting its drug war to Colombia and Afghanistan. Establishing humane and sustainable alternatives to the drug war fits into the IPS mandate as one of the major contemporary social justice issues at home and abroad. He was featured in the ABC/John Stossel documentary on the drug war and has also appeared on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. Currently, he serves on the boards of Witness for Peace and the Andean Information Network.
Mr. Tree is also a former military and diplomatic historian and he has collaborated in the past with Dr. Gar Alperovitz on The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb and the Architecture of an American Myth (Knopf, 1995). From 1996-97, he assisted entertainer Harry Belafonte and continues to work as an occasional consultant for him on international issues. He was also associate editor of CovertAction Quarterly, an award-winning magazine of investigative journalism. In the late 1980s he worked at the International Human Rights Law Group.
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While international condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to increase after a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down this week, it's unclear whether such pressures will be enough to cause the leader to abandon his campaign of meddling in eastern Ukraine.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 — en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 298 on board — crashed in a rebel-held area of eastern Ukraine on Thursday. According to the U.S. military, the jetliner was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, likely by separatists supplied and trained by Russia.
"Putin is cornered like never before, and the question is how he behaves," says Anders Aslund, a senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C. "He needs to do something not to become a complete pariah."
MORE: Malaysia Airlines releases MH17 flight manifest
MORE: Ukraine, rebels agree on security zone at crash site
Condemnation has been swift since it became clear the Malaysian jetliner was shot down, but world leaders have yet to take concrete action.
Ian Brzezinski, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO Policy under former president George W. Bush, says the USA and Europe should bolster Ukraine's military with more advanced anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missile, intelligence and advisers, while also dramatically increasing sanctions on Russia.
"This is an incident where Putin now has blood on his hands that is the blood of Westerners," he said. "We should hit the Russian economy hard … Incremental steps are not going to be sufficient."
At the crash site, there are signs Russia and its separatist allies in Ukraine may be trying to obstruct the investigation.
On Saturday, Ukraine charged that separatists had removed at least 38 bodies from the crash site and accused Russia of helping rebels destroy evidence. Rebel leaders denied such charges and said they were encouraging the international community to help with the cleanup.
Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe, told reporters that the 24-member monitoring delegation's movements were being limited by rebels at the crash site Saturday and that the team was unable to conduct a full-scale investigation.
"We have to be very careful with our movements because of all the security," Bociurkiw said. "We are unarmed civilians, so we are not in a position to argue with people with heavy arms."
Meanwhile, U.S., Ukrainian and other Western officials have pointed at intercepted conversations and rebel social media posts that provide strong evidence that a surface-to-air missile fired by pro-Russian separatists brought down the plane.
It is also unclear who is in possession of the flight's black boxes. Igor Strelkov, a rebel military commander in the Donetsk region, reported on his website that eight of the aircraft's 12 recording devices had been recovered but later denied having them.
Brzezinski says the incident is only a "potential game changer" because it depends on how the West will respond.
"If the West sticks to its previous path of slowly ratcheting up sanctions, (Putin) is going to stick to his previous course, which is escalations," Brzezinski said. "Every time we've ratcheted up sanctions, Russia's reaction has been to provide more assistance to separatists."
The airline disaster will create a moment of unity in the West, but it's not clear for how long, says Toby Gati, who helped shape U.S. policy toward Russia during Bill Clinton's first term as president.
"There will be that moment when everyone will be focused on getting to the crash site and finding out what happened," Gati said.
But it might take a much longer time for Europeans to "overcome their fear of losing access to Russian gas" and to consider additional steps to sanction Russia, she said.
"The situation on the ground in Ukraine changes so quickly that it's been hard to form a clear picture of the level of Russian involvement," Gati said, adding it will take a long time and a real commitment from the USA to help Europe improve its energy independence.
Putin is likely to adjust his reaction based on European and U.S. behavior, says Steven Pifer, who helped shape U.S. policy on Russia and Ukraine in the administrations of former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
"Putin is calculating how much blowback will there be from the international community," Pifer said. "He's going to look mainly at Europe."
Putin will not be happy to find out that German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged France on Friday not to move ahead with the sale of two aircraft carriers to Russia, Pifer said.
"If this event triggers a decision in Europe to take sanctions way beyond what Europe and the United States have done to date, Putin will consider whether to change course," he said. "This is a moment for the international community to talk about seriously hitting Russia with much stronger sanctions."
But even then, it's not clear how Russia will respond.
"(Putin) likes to keep a lot of options open but also watches to see what the other guy's going to do, and how to make that turn to Russia's gain," Pifer said.