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Everything gets darker, as it goes to where there is less light. Darrel Tank (5PM drawing instructor)
I learned that with UPS - they will let you pay for the insurance, but then refer to the above policy when you have to make a claim.
I have to accept some risk when I order bees (either packages or queens) because of my location - USPS Priority has consistently been the lowest risk option. My only other option is to not ever order bees.
Interesting.......04-15-2012, 10:19 AM#352
Join Date: Sep 2010Location: Stafford, VirginiaPosts: 86
Re: Dealings with Long Creek Apiaries
Perhaps the state of TN doesnt give a hoot, but the Federal Authorities will. I am retired federal and given the volume of posts, his misconduct must be above $50,000.00 which is the threshold. He is using the internet, mail, taking checks and credit cards, that is mail and wire fraud all federal crimes. What we need is one person to put this collectively together and take it to a United States Attorney. I know who to take this to so here is what I am willing to do. If you have paid and not received your money or your products, send me your name, dollar amount, email and phone number, and I will put a spreadsheet together. If we can get over the 50k, I will forward it to the appropriate federal authorities. Here is my email address: [email protected] Put Long Creek in the subject line. If 350 people post with a majority of them having negative views, coupled with an F rating at the BBB, then this is not someone down on his luck, this is done with malice and he should be stopped because his predatory ways on new and unsuspecting beekeepers will cause the rest of us trying hard to do it right to pay a hefty price. Lord knows this work is tough enough without wondering whether you are going to receive what you paid for.
Jerry Mattiaccio
Wow. We have had an issue with packages being shipped out of Blackshear GA that went through jacksonville Florida with several damaged and several dying in shipment. We are refunding our customers. This happened from April 27 to now. Our customers are being contacted and we have been addressing these issues with UPS. About 85 packages were involved in damage, die offs. No one from my company sent dead bees, or stole from anyone. An error has happened, and we are fixing it. This is indeed regrettable. We have sent packages for five years and it is the first time we have ever had a situation like this occur. However, it is also the first time we ever used UPS as well. Thank you.
Jerry Mattiaccio
I don't know why anyone uses UPS. or Fed ex. They rarely cover loss of bees. I use the USPS at least i can get my money back if they arrive dead.
Why didn't the buyer pay the extra for insurance? I would have insisted on it. OR at least figured in the cost of insurance into the price of my bees.
Okay I need to add my two cents worth. I ordered my package and was part of the shipment UPS managed to mess up. In defense of Rock Hill they have sent out an email to all effected customers on filing a claim for a refund and have regularly updated by email. I had two packages ordered and one was fine the other was not. Jerry was very responsive to inquires with a reply usually within 24 hours. I went with Rock Hill on the suggestion of a fellow beekeeper in my area. He actually got an earlier shipment this year and was extremely pleased so I decided to try Rock Hill. I spoke with my local UPS guy and he said the reason for the customer to file a claim is because UPS will many times ask for the damaged (dead) package as proof for refund. According to my local UPS rep its actually common for it to be done this way as it makes it a quicker process then the shipper having to coordinate between UPS and the customer. I have never met Jerry but I have spoken with his wife when I was ordering and I thought she was very nice and extremely helpful. I think everyone is jumping to conclusions about this situation based on upset customer. I speaks volumes to me that a customer would go so far as to post the mans home phone but neglect to report the mans effort to email everyone and resolve the situation. I have no personal connection to Jerry or Rock Hill, but I think everyone should know the rest of the story that is conveniently being left out. They even sent out pictures of the damaged dead package received from UPS.
BClemens-I would venture a guess that you were part of the emails that went out as soon as the problem was discovered. The email came before I even knew there was a problem. Patience to allow the business to try to resolve the problem may have benefited you more then going on a rant. If you deny these facts, I will gladly post the emails sent to everyone by Rock Hill. It seems to me you just weren't getting the resolution as you deemed acceptable. Understand that with that many orders messed up by UPS if they were to call you and every other customer individually they would probably not have time to resolve the issue with UPS.
Fed ex i think requires the shipper to file the claim. The post office i think requires the shipper to file the claim.
AND all of them will deny the claim if you do not notify them upon pickup or delivery that there is damage or the bees are dead.
Two months ago I purchased two nucs from Rock Hill Honey Bee Farms and I have yet to receive them. I did receive an email two weeks ago about weather issues, but thought that they were to ship out the following week. I still have not received them, I have left messages, and emailed but no bees. I trust that the bees will come soon and hopefully in good condition as I paid for overnight shipping. If you see this post Jerry please respond.
Okay, I am happy to report that all affected customers have been refunded and we are in the process of resolving this issue with UPS. I am pleased that my customers have been taken care of, but they did not receive their bees and that makes them, and me, unsatisfied. We have shipped bees for several years. Bees die in shipment, but never to this extent. We have used the postal system each and every time except this year. When a UPS rep approached us and said we can get your bees to your customers faster we were all ears. Our customers want their bees soooner and pay handsomely for the service. But, as we now know, things went wrong. UPS is looking at thier policies and procedures and we will also take a lessons learned from this. One of them being, no shipping bees UPS next year. To my customers and everyone here on Beesource, I cannot apologize enough for what happened. I have provided the photos that UPS sent to my customers. UPS placed the bees in a glassed in building outside, closed the door for the weekend putting the bees together with no spacing. The temperature must have soared in that room, killing the bees. We were told the bees would be shipped out via truck that Friday and apparently were misinformed.
Now, here is where I am displeased. Mr. Clemens emailed me today and believes that the moderator (Barry) here and I have conspired to have him banned from Beesource (his words) and as a result, he no longer wishes to have anything to do with bees. That is an absolute fallacy. I have had no contact with Barry throughout this whole process. I dont know him, nor would I ask him to have someone banned unless there was threatening behavior. This is an area that Mr. Clemons and I will have to disagree on along with his statement that we knowingly sent dead bees. I personally looked at every box of bees before they shipped along with J & J Honey and they were in excellent shaped when they shipped.
What has upset me is the gentleman from Pennsylvania who posted our home phone number and encouraged people to call it. Whether such activity is a crime is still a matter for our prosecutor to resolve. Two people left death threats on our home phone. The Stafford County Sherrifs office is investigating and to my surprise, neither of the two who left the threats are customers! They didn't lose anything out of this deal, but now are going to endure legal fees and become "guests of the county for a short stay" for their actions. It defies logic. Among everything else we were faced with trying to resolve these issues, attempting to respond to a myriad of phone calls, emails, and coordinating with UPS, I had to deal with our local sherriff because two people saw our home phone number posted here and thought they would call as a prank and threaten us. As a retired federal law enforcement officer, this surprises even me.
I truly am sorry that my customers endured these losses and I have made them financially whole. I cant bring the bees back to them, but we as a business did the next best thing. Wishing you all the best,
Jerry Mattiaccio
I would like to thank Jerry, for saying he was going to refund my money, I recieved a refund check in the mail sat for the the three packages that died in shipping. Thanks again.
Gene Johnson
I got my check on Saturday for all the nucs. Thanks.
Thanks for the updates. Sorry this happened to you. I confirm that we have had no correspondence except for what is posted here in this thread. Mr. Clemens was banned due to his unwillingness to work within the guidelines of this forum by making false allegations and being disrespectful in correspondence. Glad to hear UPS is active in helping you resolve the delivery issue(s).
Regards, Barry
I wanted to update everyone and to provide some information that UPS passed on to us. UPS paid all claims and we received three checks to settle the claims made to them for the dead bees. In total, a little over $11, 000.00. However, UPS made it clear, that they have a policy that bees are considered persihable items and therefore not reimbursable as part of the claims process. As such, they made an exception this time due to the clear and unmistakable error made by UPS in the Jacksonville office in placing the bees in the glass building which resulted in the bees dieing. We also had made it clear, that we were prepared to take this to court if needed. All of our customers were refunded well before we recieved the UPS refund. We will not utilize UPS in the future for shipping bees, queens, or Nucs. Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience to all our customers, and thank each and everyone of you who filed the claims with UPS. It really did make a difference!
That's good to hear, Jerry! It's refreshing to see a problem handled right and followed up on.
Regards, Barry
I just drove 2600 miles round trip to meet with this clown Jerry Mattiaccio www.rockhillhoneybeefarms-inc. I was to buy some deep singles. He tried to sell me the most pathetic looking hives I have seen. 6-7 frames of honey and a frame and a half of brood and bees. These were just thrown together at a moments notice. He hedged against refunding my deposit but he did, I had to make a scene in front of his other victims. I was told I was his most difficult customer. I guess asking questions and wanting a straight answer is too much trouble. There was another couple of guys there from Indianna, they had to root through all of the hives to find 24 that were only acceptable, the rest was garbage. Jerry Mattiaccio, the Florida Panhandler!
Last edited by promo487; 04-18-2016 at 06:53 AM.
As the late/great Paul Harvey would say, here is the rest of the story.
My wife and I contracted with Mr. Jim Truckey, above to purchase 60 colonies of bees from us in early April. We pushed the date one more week due to a matter I could not control. He was supposed to pick up bees on April 11, 2016. On Friday, April 8 while I was five hours away pulling honey, this wonderful gentleman calls and says he has an extremely drunk helper with him and wanted to be loaded that night so he could leave ASAP. I told him that there was no way I could do that and to please respect my time.
On April 11 I met him at a hotel just outside the bee yard. I smelled alcohol on his assistant and asked him if this gentleman was "good to go". We were traveling onto my ranchers property and I didn't want there to be an incident as my rancher might be liable. He assured me all is well.
Upon arrival, his assistant began to get belligerent and was using obscenities. It was 3 pm and they both were opening brand new bee suits and gloves. At this time, Jim Truckey tells me his vehicle won't haul 60 colonies. Only 36. He was using an escalade and a trailer. I've had no problems hauling singles with a Tahoe and trailer, but I deferred. Disappointed he didn't tell me prior so that I would not have moved the bees to a location close to the entrance of the property. Truckey was concerned about loading up at this time. I told him we could wait until nightfall. He went over and lifted the kids off two colonies and came to me and said, hey, there isn't enough brood in these boxes and I want my money back. I told him look thru and if you don't want them, we can replace them. There were 200 colonies about 250 yards away from where I had staged the bees. He decided he didn't want to do and wanted his money back. As I was assisting the other customer, Truckey became impatient demanding his money. I told him as soon as I was done with this customer I would take care of him.
As I was refunding his money, he told me that he would buy from me next year. I told him not to bother as I don't have time for these antics.
Truckey then tried unsuccessfully to buy bees from other Florida bees telling people he was going to convert 50-60 colonies into 800 Nucs for his customers.
And Jim you should take caution in calling someone a scammer and avoid using only some of the facts. It makes you look foolish especially when your actions were observed by an objective third party.
You also told me you had court the week you were supposed to provide them but you were buying package bees. That's another lie. Shall we continue?
Packages were picked up Tuesday. I had to testify in court on Thursday. As retired federal law enforcement I told you I was not blowing of court. Enough. I will deal with this in another way.


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Track flaw went unrepaired
Inspectors saw rail problem days before train derailment in Bridgeport on May 17, 2013
The engineer of the ill-fated Metro-North Railroad train that derailed last May on the Fairfield-Bridgeport line spotted something odd moments before his train careened off the tracks at more than 70 mph.
"Something was unusual that caught my eye, that might have been a broken rail," Metro-North Engineer Steven Bauer said during testimony before the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the May 17, 2013, accident that injured more than 70 passengers.
"By the time I saw it, I was on top of it. It looked like the two rails were apart. It was definitely too late to stop or anything and then the next thing that I know, the cars behind me were on the ground," Bauer said.
"There was all kind of screaming and yelling and people broke the emergency doors. I looked out the window and I saw that the train was derailed. I got on the radio, screaming our emergency call: "Emergency, Emergency, Emergency," Bauer told investigators.
Bauer's testimony is just one part of a wide-ranging and ongoing NTSB investigation of the Bridgeport derailment and subsequent collision with an oncoming train, records reviewed by Hearst Connecticut Media show. Investigators have also produced an animated reconstruction video that offers concise details about the accident.
The video concludes the crash was caused by a broken section of track that rail workers had repaired a month earlier -- but failed to again fix two days before the crash.
The records also offer photos showing a gap in the rails. The photos were taken by a camera mounted on an Amtrak train 48 minutes before the accident.
Four other trains passed over the break before Bauer's New Haven-bound 1548 derailed and was hit by a southbound train.
Keith Holloway, a NTSB spokesman, said the video and other documents are part of the ongoing investigation. Although the NTSB has not yet reached a conclusion regarding the accident, Holloway said the documents and video posted on the agency's website are "factual."
"We put out factual information. But we have not analyzed the information and can't tell what conclusions to draw," Holloway said.
Joint bar
The video and other documents report that on April 4, 2013, Metro-North replaced "completely broken" joint bars at milepost 53.25 -- later to became the site of the accident -- after inspectors observed the track "pumping," a railroad term for the vertical movement of rails as trains pass over.
Joint bars hold sections of track together and any "pumping" action suggests instability in the rail.
On May 15 -- two days before the May 17 Bridgeport derailment -- Metro-North inspectors again noticed a "pumping" action at the same previously repaired section of track.
Yet no corrective action was taken, according to NTBS documents.
"Two days before the accident, Metro-North track inspectors again documented a pumping condition and inadequate ballast support on track number 4 at milepost 53.25. No corrective actions were noted in their report," a narrative of the video portrayal of the crash said.
The video said that when inspectors first found the joint bar problem in April, "the joint bars on the gage side and the field side were completely broken through at this location. ... The broken joint bars were replaced and the area was hand tamped to correct the pumping condition."
The gage side of a rail is the side facing the other rail in the track, while the field side is the side facing away from the other rail.
Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders declined comment on the NTBS documents or video.
Burn out
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, said Metro-North should have again fixed the track after "pumping" action was observed a second time.
"There was an abundant reason to repair this," Blumenthal said. "Metro-North had abundant notice this track joint needed repair. They saw it was not stable and vulnerable to breaks."
"There is no reasonable justification for failing to act. The railroad knew about this potential catastrophe waiting to happen," Blumenthal said.
In testimony before the NTBS, Metro-North Assistant Track Director Richard Kerner indicated crews are too overwhelmed to fix defects in a timely manner.
"We have smaller amounts of time to do the work that we need to do. So I mean, you can't get as much done in a night as you used to. And it just, you know, it takes you more nights to do something or more days to do something and with nights, you just -- you know, we're burning our people out," Kerner told investigators.
"We're getting, definitely we're getting less done. We've been complaining for years. Sometimes, well, you feel like, you know, they think you're a big pain in the butt," Kerner said, referring to management reaction to complaints.
Blumenthal also questioned why the NTSB still has not issued its final report, noting that documents already produced report the cause of the accident.
"NTSB should have issued a report long ago. They are pinpointing the reasons for the derailment," Blumenthal said.
Lucky trains
The NTSB video shows at least four Metro-North trains passed over the broken section of track during a 48 minute period prior to the accident -- from about 5 p.m. on May 17, 2013, until the crash about 6 p.m.
That conclusion is based on pictures snapped by unmanned cameras mounted on an Amtrak train as it zipped by the broken section of rail less than an hour before the accident. The Amtrak train was operating on an adjacent section of track.
The photos show an obvious gap in track before 1548 derailed.
Bauer's testimony indicates the lead cars at first felt no impact as they passed over the broken section of rail.
"I heard nothing and then I heard the bang and I knew right away" that the train had derailed, Bauer told investigators.
Bauer said cars behind him began quickly began piling up. Seconds later, Bauer said an oncoming train struck his derailed train.
The engineer operating the train that struck 1548 first noticed something was wrong after seeing a flash from overhead electric wires ahead of him.
Train 1581 hit the brakes and slowed from 74 mph to 23 mph before striking the crippled train, NTSB documents show.
Bauer told investigators he wished there had been more time for him to respond after spotting the broken section of rail.
"It wakes me up every night and every day I'm thinking about it," he told investigators. "I guess that's what it was. But I just saw it too late. I mean, I wish, I wish somehow I could have saw it 50 yards earlier. I don't know if that would have changed anything or not."

subset: commoncrawl


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Wondering whether a home loan refinance is a feasible option for you? Understanding the math behind the question will help you determine whether or not a refinance will save you money on your mortgage in the long run. If math isn't your strength, you are in luck. We have a calculator just for you.
First, a little background: When you closed on your home loan, you paid closing costs. What some people don't realize is a refinance also involves closing costs. So - in almost all cases - refinancing a home loan is only a good idea when the amount you'll save in interest over the life of the loan is greater than the closing costs you'll pay up front.
This easy-to-use calculator will show you how many months it will take for the amount you'll save in monthly payments to be equal to or greater than the amount you'll pay in closing costs. In other words, it will help you figure out if refinancing is a smart decision for your situation.
After you've given the calculator a go and you're ready to refinance, find a mortgage loan professional in your area for a complimentary consultation.
Select the edit icon to edit your custom html
Calculate the number of months to break-even if you refinance the loan.
This calculator is for informational purposes only. Results are an approximation based on the information you enter. Please speak with a Waterstone Mortgage loan professional for specific information and current market conditions.
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Aundrea Kinney/Review • Pig races are a popular event at the Washington County Fair, which was held Aug. 1-5.
Aundrea Kinney/Review
4H youth Kathleen and Molly showed llamas Coppertone and Paloosoo at the Washington County Fair Aug. 5.
Pig races are a popular event at the Washington County Fair, which was held Aug. 1-5.
Bayli of Scandia sat with Mimi, the 2-year-old crested magpie duck, in the shade of a barn at the Washington County Fair Aug. 5.
Nate and Katie competed against each other in the Rock, Paper, Scissors contest, which garnered attention from children and adults alike.
Aundrea Kinney photos/Review
submitted photo • Lake Elmo Rotarians Jackie and Ray Marshall posed by the club's free shuttles before a volunteer shift at a past Washington County Fair. This year the shuttles will be offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, through Sunday, Aug 5.
For the past eight years or so, the Lake Elmo Rotary Club has provided a free shuttle service at the Washington County Fair for those with mobility issues.
Washington County Fair 2018 - A Special Section published by Lillie Suburban Newspapers
The candidate filing period for state legislative and county commissioner seats closed June 5 and the following candidates have filed for elective office in the Review coverage area.
Aundrea Kinney/Review • From left to right, Jason Hanlon representing Stillwater Sunrise Rotary; Jim Stevenson, president of Woodbury Rotary; Greig Metzger, Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf director; John Buettner, Lake Elmo grant chairperson; Tedi Carlson, president of Lake Elmo Rotary; and Larry Probst the grant mentor of Woodbury Rotary.
The Lake Elmo Rotary Club presented the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf a $21,700 check March 7, to help the nonprofit purchase new refrigerators and freezers.
Community Thread will be offering free tax-filing assistance to low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older.
State Rep. Leon Lillie of North St. Paul and state Sen. Chuck Wiger of Maplewood, both DFLers, are hosting a town hall meeting to take questions and talk about priorities for the legislative session at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23.
The traffic lights at the busy Hadley Avenue and Highway 36 in Oakdale have long been a safety concern, and last week the Transportation Economic Development (TED) program announced that the intersection has been selected to receive $4 million to
Toting tubes, winter sledding enthusiasts took to the groomed family hill out at Green Acres Recreation in Lake Elmo Jan. 25.
A collection of photographs from the Oakdale-Lake Elmo, Maplewood, and Ramsey County Review area. (photos by Linday Baumeister/Review)
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text:
Edward J. Joyce, a principal software engineer, chants the mantra of "free the mallocs" daily at CA, Inc.
One day I was blasting through a couple of screenfuls of unread email, trying to set a new record for speed reading, when I came upon it. There in the local IEEE bulletin between the meeting notice for "The Evolution and Revolutions in Disk Drive Recording" and the list of "New Senior Members" was the announcement "SCIENCE FAIR JUDGES NEEDED."
For those of us who make a living in the computer industry, the science fairs of our formative years, back when the earth was still cooling, probably lacked a computer science category. Even today students rank computer science low in their choice for science fair projects. At the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair, for example, for which the IEEE was recruiting judges, only 3 percent of the projects were in the computer science/math category.
I re-read the IEEE announcement. I had put in my time behind the keyboard, a career of cobbling together software, patching code, and making programs work under duress (sales contracts pending) but did I have the qualifications to help mold the minds of the next generation? I posed the question to my wife, my children, my co-workers, my therapist. Their answer was unequivocal and unanimous.
Ignoring that advice (as I sometimes -- okay, often do), I responded to the email link and offered my services as a science fair judge, ready for on the job training.
While waiting for the reply, I wondered if the judging business would require gavel, black robe and even a wig. Two days later, came the three-sentence response: "I have forwarded your contact information to the science fair organizers. They will reply with details on when and where to meet at Heinz Field. What is your choice for lunch: turkey, tuna or vegetarian?" (Ah, my first decision as a judge.)
That was it. I was an officially sanctioned judge for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Along with five other IEEE members, I would be spending a day at Heinz Field evaluating the research of budding computer scientists and engineers, grades 6 to 12.
Wait a minute -- Heinz Field, the home turf of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Did I just get drafted to judge a punt, pass, and kick competition? Would students face-off at the 50-yard line to demonstrate homebrew recipes for rocket propellants? Would these aspiring scientists be measuring the adhesive qualities of nacho cheese on stadium seats?
I soon discovered there's more to Heinz Field then, well, the Field of Heinz. There's The Coca-Cola Great Hall and other we-have-a-naming-opportunity-for-you halls that can accommodate 1000 students and their tri-fold presentation boards lined side by side.
The Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Science Center organizes the fair, funding it with contributions from sponsoring corporations, universities, government agencies and associations such as the IEEE. Besides paying for judges' lunches (a footnote -- nay, a toe-note -- on the ledger), the money underwrites awards for outstanding projects chosen by the sponsors. Four senior division students are presented all-expense-paid trips to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno, Nevada. Colleges and universities, looking to entice the most promising of the student-scientists, offer tuition scholarships.


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Apple iPhone 4S full review
It's because Apple sets the bar so very high that expectations can run away even higher. Like Pavlov's dogs, the worldwide tech audience has been conditioned to start salivating around June-time, every year since 2007, anticipating the next incarnation of the iPhone.
So when Apple missed its own notional summer deadline this year, rumours refocused on an Autumn launch – pushing that bar up even higher. All eyes were now on a brand-new super-slim iPhone 5. Hardly surprising then that when iPhone 5 proved a no-show, hearts sank.
Instead, Apple banked on a refit of the iPhone 4, as it had done before with the iPhone 3G morph to iPhone 3GS.
Only this time for the iPhone 4S, there are more changes. And they're all effectively invisible. See also Samsung Galaxy Nexus review
Invisible that is, until you start to use an iPhone 4S. Looking over the case of the 4S, we find an identical armoured glass front and black, covering a supremely sensitive IPS touchscreen. Eighteen months after the Apple iPhone 4 launched, this 326ppi Retina display is still arguably the best of any current smartphone. Its resolution is so fine, you simply cannot see the LCD dots.
But look around the edge of the iPhone 4S, and there's the single tell-tale – the antennae band. After last year's debacle over an innovative but maligned external aerials, Apple has redesigned the radio system. We suspect it refined the concept in a bid to remove any vestiges of doubt about its efficacy.
So now the eagle-eyed can spot an iPhone 4S from a 4 by the positioning of tiny black lines in the steel band. Both have a line on each side near the base. The iPhone 4 has one such line by the headphone jack, while new iPhone 4S has two, one each side near the top.
See also: How to protect your iPhone from Theft
This fronts an RF setup said to comprise two discrete antennae for GSM calls, left and right sides, with the phone's RF baseband processor selecting one for optimum performance during each call. What's not clear is which part of the circumferential band is now used for each of Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi duties.
Regarding reception, we didn't experience dropped calls or similar issues with the original iPhone 4; and in a week's steady use with new handset, nor did we on the 4S. Signal level strength was about the same, gauged by the point at which we'd lose data connectivity on the underground section of a daily commute.
Next in the data chain is the 3G modem which has received a gentle upgrade. It's now specified for 14.4Mbps HSDPA, against the iPhone 4's 7.2Mbps.
Best pay monthly, pay as you go & sim only deals on iPhone 4S (16GB)
Best pay monthly, pay as you go & sim only deals on iPhone 4S (32GB)
In the UK, you're unlikely to see mobile data hitting double-digits. But we were pleasantly surprised to see faster transfers. In central London, we measured 4.1/3.1Mbps for down/upload on Vodafone, where our fastest on an iPhone 4 at the same location was around 2Mbps. On the Three network, we saw download speeds peaking at 5.1Mbps.
An upgrade to the GPS radio brings a new facility – access to GLONASS, the former Soviet Union's satellite navigation network, now back in action and with worldwide coverage under Putin's Russia. It's not known yet what apps will be able to access GLONASS satellite positioning data.
Apple iPhone 4S: New Processor
The original iPhone 4 is really quick in day-to-day tasks like web browsing, emailing and running third-party apps. Yet Apple has potentially doubled the new phone's processor performance by fitting a dual-core Apple A5 chip in place of single A4. The graphics subsystem gets a healthy boost too, also now taking the same class-leading Imagination Technologies graphics processor as iPad 2.
We'd prefer any upgrades were made in the battery department, rather than upgrading a component that's more likely to downgrade battery life. Yet, just as with the change from original iPad to Apple iPad 2, we saw no lessening of battery performance. Meaning: expect to get aroung two day's active life before recharging, mixing voice calls with texting, web browsing and snapshooting. And all without any of the obsessive app quitting or powering-down of features that some Androiders use to get beyond 24 hours runtime.
Bluetooth is one such radio service that could sap battery life. That's now less likely as Apple has embraced the latest v4.0 standard. As well as promising faster data transfers – somewhat moot these days, as Bluetooth is less popular now as a means of simple data transfer – Bluetooth 4.0 has a low-energy mode which should further reduce battery drain.
Apple iPhone 4S: New Camera
We're sceptical of specs that trumpet megapixel upgrades of digital cameras. Adding extra pixels is not so difficult: ensuring the sensor and lens can show you the benefit of increased resolution is the harder part.
For the iPhone 4S, Apple does seem to have put the work in to support the move from 5Mp to 8Mp. There's talk of improved optics and a backside illumination sensor. In practice, photographs from the 4S have a conspicuous edge over the 4's, especially in terms of natural white balance. In our sample shots using both cameras together, visible noise levels were no higher but enhanced resolution did enable us to look deeper into any photograph. Exposure was improved too, making the HDR function more redundant.
We also noticed a distinct improvement to images capture by the front-facing VGA-res camera. They had lost their blue tinge, and now had the same natural colouring as images from the main hi-res camera.
Video footage is now full-HD resolution instead of 720p. This looks as smooth as before, only with enhanced resolution.
The faster processor means that camera shots are faster, from cold and between snaps. With new iOS 5, you can also quickly access the camera when locked, by double-clicking the home button.
Apple iPhone 4S: Let talk, Siri
Perhaps the biggest game-changer for the iPhone 4S is nothing to do with the hardware, but a software feature only available on this handset: Siri.
Once a third-party app and service, this digital assistant is the first voice-recognition system we've tried that (nearly always) actually recognises what we actually said. And crucially, does so in real-world conditions, and not just in quiet settings while speaking at the pace of an exchange-student conversation.
It's not the iPhone 4S that analyses and interprets your voice: instead Siri records your sound bites, and sends them up to a powerful online computer to do all the brain work. Once it's understood your sentence, the correct action and/or response are relayed back to your phone. You can ask it about the weather, to set alarms and reminders, and it recognises context, like 'Remind me to call the wife in five minutes'. It also has a devilish sense of humour once you start exploring certain themes...
It all happens surprisingly fast, when you consider the round-trip journey every request must make. You must be online for Siri to work though – no weather forecasts will be forthcoming on the Tube.
The very naturalness with which you can converse with Siri furthers the feeling that a Turing Test should be demanded to ascertain the service's sentience.
We sense that Siri is the real start of the anthropomorphisation of the computer, and a milestone in our relationship with it.
But Siri suffers one main drawback this side of the Atlantic anyway: it can't give directions, find business addresses – nor even tell you where you are. And that's a big weakness we hope gets fixed soon.
There's a minot security flaw user should be conscious of: by default, anyone can pick up your phone and send email, txts, etc – all without unlocking the hone first. If you'd rather a prankster or hacker doesn't spam your contacts with all manner of messages, switch off the function in Passcode Lock.
Siri is currently only offered in three languages, with some dialects: French, German, English, Australian English and American English. In Germany, the States and Australia, Siri is female; for the French and British, Siri is male. There's no option to change gender, so we're reduced to conversing with HAL for the moment. Just don't ask him to open the pod bay doors...
About the iPhone 5 absence...
Especially from a company that understands the marketing of image, it was a surprise to be kept waiting for a phone seemingly identical to one eighteen months old. Yet the iPhone 4S underlines the confidence Apple has in its own design, contrasting with companies taking a scattergun approach – making dozens of disparate models each year in the hope that something will sell.
If the iPhone 4 had been already trounced by recent Android competition, there'd be more ground to make up. Yet last year's iPhone 4 remains in 2011 about the fastest, longest-lasting and easiest to use smartphone on the market. The Apple iPhone 4S simply ups the ante with a faster processor – and graphics to take on dedicated consoles – improved camera optics and a talking assistant that can genuinely make your life easier. There's a lot to be said for refining an already winning formula. It may resemble last year's vintage, but the iPhone 4S pours a lot of new wine into an old bottle.
Next page: Original reviews of Apple iPhone 4S from Macworld US and PCWorld US >>
Jump to the PC Advisor Verdict >>
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Tete-a-Tete with 8 Awesome Benefits of In-Flight Audio
The competition in airlines industry is encouraging companies to come up with innovative ideas to serve their customers better, and charm them. The companies are leaving no stone unturned to create value for their passengers in whichever way possible. Some industry players bet on their price by offering cheap business class tickets or discounted air fare rates, while others focus on their efficiency, connectivity, and services.
Few of the services are very basic that almost every airlines follow like serving food and beverages even for a short duration flight. However, a very important customer service agenda that should be given enough importance is in-flight entertainment or what is commonly known as IFE. This can prove to be a very valuable tool to provide services par excellence to the passengers. IFE is not just related to television shows and movies, but it has a very wider aspect if looked upon closely.
Here are the prominent benefits of implementing in-flight entertainment for passengers as well as airlines –
- The unique requirements of the airlines can be met by appointing expert audio teams of IFE service providers, who can provide channels tailored to specific preferences. For instance, if your company is more popular amongst business travelers, then for them entertainment channels can be utter waste of time and beyond their interest. For them, you can opt for business channels or news channels. Likewise, for holidaymakers, their taste of entertainment can be vastly different.
- The audio teams of IFE providers who are associated with people from music industry or radio will have strong contacts with the popular record labels, which means that you can create a vast song library in your flight audio system.
- Top in-flight audio systems use eminent radio DJs who are well known and admired by people. Channels hosted by leading DJs bring lot of style and added quality to channels.
- By installing audio channels in the flight, companies can use this platform brilliantly for promotional activities. You can advertise on-board merchandises and services to the customers such as duty free products, new routes, and destinations covered.
- Having a huge library of tracks implies that broad range of music genres can be enjoyed by the passengers on-board. This will cover all jazz, pop, rock, classical, and simple listening.
- Even audio books can be of lot of value to the passengers. People love audio books and with this you can offer a different experience to flight boarders apart from music. This can work phenomenally well for long flights.
- Instead of just confining to audio music, by giving your customers an option to enjoy music videos, you can entertain them even more.
- There is a very interesting concept called pzzizz available for airlines. Passengers wanting to relax and have a peaceful sleep will love this product. This is definitely like going one step forward to serve your customers.
All the aforementioned points will be beneficial to passengers as they can enjoy their travel with these entertainment provisions on-board, while airline companies can promote this aspect as their USP and attract more people to choose their flight.


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Tech confidence vs. tech competence
One of our volunteers, kaberett, published an article today.
It's a really great post that captures one of the things that I really think is crucial to Dreamwidth's success as a project (and business), and it's the idea that anybody can contribute, everybody is valuable, and yes -- mistakes can and do happen and it's OK.
To pull out a bit from the article that really resonates with me:
[I]nstead, we work towards fostering tech confidence, through creating a culture where babydevs know that senior devs have their backs; a culture where people feel able to ask questions of the broader community, in public as well as in private; a culture where people learn how to test and debug and Not Give Up; a culture where our co-founders own their mistakes, and do so publicly, so that nobody has to feel alone. When people get discouraged, we give them pep talks. We remind people that it's okay to learn visibly, instead of having to pretend to be entirely competent all of the time. Everyone can learn from the mistake that anyone makes – and mistakes are caught soon after they happen, so consequences can be minimised.
Yup. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Contributing to Dreamwidth isn't about how much you bring to the table when you get here. We don't care how much experience you have or what your resume says or if you even have one. The fact that you're here and that you want to contribute? That's all you need. The rest can be learned.


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National Signing Day: Touted DE McDowell disobeys parents, signs with MSU--or has he?
The drama is over: Southfield (Mi.) defensive end Malik McDowell officially committed to Michigan State at a signing ceremony at his school on Wednesday morning, choosing the Spartans over Michigan, Ohio State and Florida State. McDowell is rated by 247Sports.com as the No. 38 player in the country, the No. 2 strongside defensive end in the country and the top player in the state of Michigan.
McDowell's recruitment rapidly developed into one of the more intriguing soap operas around the country in the past week or so. Long thought to be a Michigan lean — the defensive end grew up a fan of the Wolverines — he reportedly began favoring rival Michigan State, and he appeared set to become another fearsome piece in coach Mark Dantonio's stellar defense.
MORE: Signing Day Central | Photo gallery | Look at 5-star backs | Ten impact recruits | Top ten teams for 2014
But it emerged Monday that McDowell's parents weren't too keen on the idea of their son playing for the Spartans. His mother, Joya Crowe, told the Detroit Free Press that she didn't want to see Malik at Michigan State because "something happened" during McDowell's recent official visit to East Lansing, on which Crowe wouldn't elaborate; Sports Illustrated reported that Malik had a conversation with Spartan players about not going to class, which is what turned off his mother.
Greg McDowell, Malik's father, also told the Free Press that he hoped that McDowell would leave the state (which would mean him choosing the Buckeyes or Seminoles), so that he could avoid the type of "distractions" that he believed would come with playing for the Spartans.
But in the end, McDowell went with his heart and chose Michigan State. Leading up to the announcement, it appeared that the elder McDowell was more on board with a potential MSU pick than he was previously:
McDowell's dad reiterates to Freep's Mandi Wright that he would like Malik to leave the state but will support him if he goes to MSU
— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) February 5, 2014
Situations where parents refuse to support a recruit's decision can be sad, so hopefully McDowell's mother is on board as well.
After the announcement, McDowell told reporters that he knew where he wanted to go for a couple weeks and that while he listened to his family's input, he still made his "own decision."
"I felt like (Michigan State) can get the best out of me," said McDowell, who added the recruiting process was "really stressful."
McDowell becomes the eighth player rated four stars or higher by 247Sports to join Michigan State's class , which 247 currently grades as the 31st-best class in the country and the fourth-best in the Big Ten.
UPDATE: The Malik McDowell saga may not be over just yet.
According to Rivals.com's Mike Farrell, McDowell has not sent his signed letter of intent to the Michigan State coaches, which would officially end his recruitment. Apparently, the document McDowell signed at his announcement was just a plain piece of paper.
Looks like the impasse continues in the McDowell family, source told me letter hasn't been signed and @JoshHelmholdt has confirmed.
— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) February 5, 2014
It's unclear if the delay in sending his letter is simply because McDowell hasn't gotten around to it/is planning on sending it later on, or if there is still disagreement within his family about his college choice.
Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press reported that McDowell had said earlier he wasn't planning on sending his letter at all today, meaning it is likely the former situation. But there could be more developing.
Since McDowell is below the age of 21, he needs one parent's signature in order to validate his letter of intent. That means that even if his mother is not on board with his decision, as long as his father is (which appears to be the case), then McDowell would be able to sign with Michigan State with no issues.
The situation brings to mind the story of Alex Collins last year, whose mother didn't approve of his choice of Arkansas, and Cyrus Kouandjio in 2011, who committed to Auburn but then vacillated on signing day, ultimately choosing rival Alabama.
UPDATE (Feb. 8): The impasse continues. While McDowell's father has joint legal custody, he is not the custodial parent. That means that the only person that can sign off on Malik's letter of intent is his mother, Joya.
The elder McDowell told The Detroit News that "hopefully by Monday it'll happen. Maybe by the weekend. She wants to get more out of Malik on why he likes Michigan State."
Malik McDowell, DE (6-6, 292)
Southfield (MI) Southfield
What stands out: Power, suddenness, technique, hustle
What needs development: Pad level
What happens next: Big Mac will be terrorizing opposing QBs early and often.
Contributing: T.J. Gaynor


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DAC Collection Object Information
<< first < previous
next > last >>
record 1 of 1
Mexican bullfighting and lassooing,
Albumen print
Dimensions (Image): 94 x 139 mm (3.7 x 5.5 in.)
Inscribed on verso: number, size, and price
Accession number: 1918.104.22.168
Gift of Michael M. Senft, 1983
Work Type: photograph
Related Works: From a group of seven photographs of models and figurines posed in various tableaux of Mexican bullfighting and lassooing, 19184.108.40.206 – 19126.96.36.199
Keywords: Click a term to find other records with the same keyword.
http://dac-collection.wesleyan.edu/obj1246 is a persistent link to this page with no user-session information.


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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk meets with Primate of the Church of Greece
On 11 December 2011, the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, visiting Greece with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of His Beatitude Hieronymus, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, met with the Primate of the Church of Greece at his residence.
After the meeting His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymus gave a reception on the occasion of the visit of the Russian Orthodox Church's hierarch. Aalso invited were Metropolitan Vassileios of Elasson, Metropolitan Nikolaos of Messogaia and Laureotiki, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Ilion, Acharnais and Petroupolis, Bishop Feodorit of Nazianzus, Bishop Procopios of Christianopolos, Bishop Gabriel of Diavleia, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Greece Vladimir Chkhikvishvili, and Metropolitan Hilarion's suite.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece presented Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk with a panagia and a copy of the Greek edition of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's book "Freedom and Responsibility."
Source: mospat.ru


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Chocolate Banana Cream Cake
Total TimePrep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling
Makes12 servings
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1-1/4 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs, separated
- 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 cups cold 2% milk
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant banana cream pudding mix
- 1 can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting
- 2 medium firm bananas, sliced
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks. Beat in the bananas, sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
- In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Transfer to two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
- For filling, in a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.
- In a small bowl, beat frosting until light and fluffy. Place bananas in a small bowl; toss with lemon juice.
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 3 tablespoons frosting. Stir pudding; spread half over the frosting. Top with half of the bananas and the remaining cake layer. Repeat frosting, filling and banana layers. Frost sides and decorate top edge of cake with remaining frosting. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts1 slice: 490 calories, 20g fat (10g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 459mg sodium, 74g carbohydrate (52g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
Recommended Video
Dec 12, 2015
Best cake!Didn't use the frosting though,But still it tasted great.
Sep 10, 2014
Made this for my birthday & didn't want to share. Creamy & light.
Feb 24, 2014
Amazing! I would definitely make this again!
May 5, 2013
I made this cake a couple of times and it is delicious!!!!
Feb 7, 2012
Best cake
May 12, 2011
I made this for my dad's birthday, and I ended up liking it way better than I thought I would, not being a big banana fan. The cake is super moist, the filling is tasty, and I think it has just the right amount of chocolate flavor, although when I make it again I'll make my own chocolate frosting. Canned frosting is handy, but homemade tastes so much better.
Dec 26, 2010
Children loved it. Will make again.
Dec 21, 2010
Made this for my work party ! Huge hit... Everyone loved it... Going to make it again and again..
Dec 20, 2010
I have made this cake several times now, and everytime it is a hit! And I've never had to worry about the bananas turning brown...it never lasts that long!
Dec 20, 2010
This was an excellent cake and everyone said it was delicious. I thought the cake was "heavy" as specified, and will try to lighten it up a bit next time. I had only one cake pan, so I made a single layer cake, with the bananas and some raisins soaked in Grand Marnier, and also some more liquor in the frosting and pudding. Then added walnut halves for crunch.


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Home » Source Stream: eBooks » Are You Ready for the Dynamic Data Center
Previous Flipbook
Make Your Small IT Space Work No Matter What
Five common challenges IT professionals face, and tips on how to solve them.
Most Recent Flipbooks
Healthcare IT Infrastructure Solutions
Ecostruxure for Healthcare - A more efficient reliable and safer healthcare facility
Healthcare Secure Power Solutions Brochure
The Impact of Hyperscale Data Centers
A new study that sheds light on how hyperscale and colocation trends are impacting the current dynamics and future model of the data center value chain.
EcoStruxure Power for Healthcare Brochure
Managing Hybrid IT Ecosystems
Retail Back Office Solutions
Keeping up with industry evolution means retailers need to rapidly deploy new technologies that are secure, standardized, and always available.
The Connected Retail
Retail success depends on unique and streamlined digitally-driven customer experiences. Learn how to support your digitally-connected retail space and gain #CertaintyInAConnectedWorld.
Digital Retail Ecosystem
In today's multi-channel and highly-competitive retail marketplace providing a personalized customer experience is a must. In order to stay ahead in the market, retailers must transform their IT.
A Practical Guide to Data Center Planning and Design
This brief but thorough eBook guide provides tips, helpful links and references to inform and inspire your data center choices.
Edge Compute and Small IT Enviornments
Planning & Design, Rollout & Install, Operate & Maintain
Empowering 21st Century Learning with EcoStruxure for Data Centers
Power outages, space constraints, need for deployment without disruption, and budget, drove Moreno Valley Unified School District to come up with an alternative to building a traditional data center.
Keep pace with prefabricated data center solutions
EcoStruxure-ready Prefabricated Data Center Modules
Simplify your data center infrastructure with EcoStruxure-ready Prefabricated Modular solutions.
Identifying Power Quality Issues and Implementing Solutions
Don't let hidden power quality issues wreak havoc on your operations. Implementing power quality solutions is crucial to improving operations, energy efficiency and productivity, and saving money.
Thrive In Today's Digital Economy
Discover EcoStruxure™ A single, open IoT system lets you compete win today's digital world, EcoStruxure™ is a game-changer.
Knowledge is Power
Your electrical network has hidden potential. Our power management systems helps you find it.
Designing the Right Solution to Optimize your Business
IT Infrastructure Solutions in Healthcare
Creating solutions that help Healthcare IT professionals anticipate their information and data.
IT Infrastructure Solutions in Higher Education


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Shipping Policy
We only ship within the US and Canada.
We generally ship orders the next business day after we receive the order and we'll prioritize rushed orders placed before 9am MST but can't guarantee same day shipping after 9am.
Shipping within the US
- FedEx is our preferred shipper though we offer UPS and USPS Priority, too.
- Alaska & Hawaii orders are limited to 2nd day Air, Next Day Air or USPS Priority mail.
- APO, FPO and PO Box addresses are limited to USPS Priority Mail.
Shipping to Canada
We have partnered with FedEx for all of our delivery services to Canada. FedEx is one of Canada's most recognized and trusted brands. FedEx offers the most efficient system for package delivery from the USA to Canada, with quicker and easier border crossings. Sales tax and duties will be paid for upon checkout, so no additional fees will be collected from you at the time of delivery.
We offer two Canadian shipping options with FedEx:
1. FedEx International Priority (1 – 3 business days) This is our fastest shipping method available. This shipping rate is calculated by our FedEx rate calculator.1
2. FedEx IGD-Consolidated shipment (10 to 15 days) Our consolidated shipments are picked up every Friday by FedEx and offer the most cost effective shipping method if you are not in a rush to receive your order.1
1 You will be subject to a rural surcharge if your postal code falls inside of any of the postal code ranges found on the following chart. This additional fee will be automatically added to your Shipping and Handling total. $200 & Less = $25.00
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-We do not ship the first week of January and holidays can be a bear depending on the day they fall on.
-You can always check your order status by logging in to your account. See SIGN IN at the top of this page.
-We will email you a shipping confirmation with tracking number when it leaves our dock so you can track your order to your doorstep.
-Weather, acts of God (or Goddesses), and 'unforeseen circumstances' may impact delivery time. While these are beyond our control, we'll apologize anyways.
Outside of the US and Canada
-Visit the International SCARPA site to see the global collection
-Find your closest SCARPA supplier anywhere in the world
-Central and South American customers should contact us at Customer Service since we do service these regions from SCARPA North America, Inc. Extra time will be required to process properly. Customs duties and/or import taxes are NOT included in the published prices.


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|Adult MySpace Comments, Sexual MySpace Comments, and Girls for MySpace... Get all your free adult myspace graphics and adult myspace comment codes here -- click here now!
Before you enter this site, please know that you WILL find links to mature/adult themed material intended for adults and those legally entitled to view such things. While this site is NOT a porn site, you most likely WILL find links to sites that ARE porn sites once you move past this page.
Don't say no one warned you.
If you want mainstream, funny, sarcastic and generally amusing myspace comments, then please visit Sarcastic MySpace Comments or a site called Americas Best MySpace Comments. . . and leave the grown-ups alone. ;)


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A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Friday, December 3, 2010
2010 Review: Starting Pitchers
Bronson Arroyo -- Expectations: Medium, Grade: B-
Arroyo continues to grind out the 200+ inning seasons, topping the mark for an incredible 6th straight year in 2010. Arroyo is definitely not afraid of hard work and his tremendous durability continues to be his most valuable attribute. During his time in Cincy, almost without exception, Arroyo has taken the ball on his turn through the rotation.
However, the question remains whether he can continue to do so.
In 2010, Arroyo was almost exactly the same pitcher he was in 2009.
2009:__ 2.7___5.2____1.22____3.84
2010: __2.5___5.1____1.08____3.88
I suppose that type of consistency should be comforting, but the decline in his strikeout rate during his time in Cincy is a concern (at least to me), but so far it hasn't slowed him down. Starting in 2006, his first season with the Reds, Arroyo has posted K/9 marks of 6.9, 6.7, 7.3, 5.2, and 5.1. I have concerns about whether Arroyo can continue to post a sub-4 ERA with these peripherals.
However, over the last two seasons, Bronson has significantly outperformed his FIP. His 3.84 ERA in 2009 went along with a FIP of 4.78 and a BABIP of .270, while his 3.88 ERA in 2010 when along with a FIP of 4.61 and a BABIP of .246. At first blush, it looks like he was hit lucky, but he also managed to decrease his Line Drive rate to 18.5% in 2009 and 16.3% in 2010.
Another interesting aspect of his performance is the percentage of his strikeouts that were called and his contact rate.
Year: Called K%_Contact%
Arroyo is allowing more and more pitches to be put in play and getting fewer called strikeouts, both of which would seem to indicate a decline in stuff. He's fooling fewer hitters and relying on his defense to a greater extent. Can he continue to succeed by, in essence, controlling the contact and relying on the defense?
A moment I found to be somewhat reassuring about Arroyo's 2010 season was his performance in the playoffs. You won't find many offenses better than the Phillies or many situations that are more high leverage than a postseason start. Regardless, Arroyo rose to the occasion and managed to keep the Phillies off-balance for most of the night. Ultimately, his outing was cut short when the defense let him down with back-to-back errors by Phillips and Rolen.
As with the regular season, the performance was more smoke-and-mirrors than dominating, as he allowed too many baserunners and walked more than he struck out. It was the same high-contact pitching style that he utilized during the season, but this time the defense let him down. Even so, he battled and came away with a solid performance, but I'm still not confident that Arroyo is the pitcher I want on the hill in a must win Game 7 situation.
Arroyo continues to be something of a contradiction. His peripherals are arguably getting worse, but his overall performance has gotten better. From where I sit, something has to give. I'm just not convinced that Arroyo can maintain his 2009 & 2010 performance level while allowing so much contact. The general thinking is that pitchers cannot control the outcome of balls in play. Additionally, high contact pitchers with neutral GB/FB tendencies in a bandbox like GABP seem like an inherently poor fit. Arroyo also benefited from the league wide decline in power, which made contact less harmful than in years past but may not continue in the 2011 season. Maybe Arroyo can continue to thrive with varied offspeed offerings, but I wouldn't be willing to extend him out past 2011. In fact, given our pitching surplus, I wouldn't hesitate to see what Arroyo would fetch on the trade market.
However, the Reds will have to hope that Arroyo can maintain his performance level by throwing the kitchen sink at opposing teams. Regardless of the performance level, the Reds can confidently pencil Arroyo in for 200+ innings in 2011.
Mike Leake -- Expectations: None, Grade: B
What Mike Leake managed to do in 2010 was nothing short of remarkable. His performance in spring training was so strong that he broke camp with the team and skipped the minors entirely, which you simply don't see all that often. And, probably for good reason.
It was an interesting decision due in no small part to the fact that Leake had never started every 5th day. In college, he started once a week, so it seemed likely and logical that Leake would start the year in the minors to acclimate to the heavier workload. But, the Reds deemed him MLB ready and it didn't take him long to prove that he was.
Leake tossed a rather stunning 138.1 innings with a 4.23 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 91/49 K/BB ratio. He managed to induce ground balls at a good clip (1.58 GB/FB ratio) and produced solid ratios (3.2 BB/9 and 5.9 K/9) for a rookie who bypassed the minors entirely. Not surprisingly, his early season performance was much stronger than his second half. He simply hit a wall and wasn't effective late in the season. It was likely a combination of fatigue and hitters learning the book on Leake.
His monthly splits reveal his hot start and subsequent fade:
April: 3.25 ERA in 27.2 IP
May: 1.88 ERA in 38.1 IP
June: 5.22 ERA in 29.1 IP
July: 4.56 ERA in 25.2 IP
August: 8.83 ERA in 17.1 IP
Looking at his mid/late season fade, it is easy to call the decision to start him off in the majors a questionable one. The Reds did effectively manage his pitch counts, as his highest game total was 106 pitches, but Leake simply hadn't been stretched out to handle the grind of a major league starting pitcher. His performance level was sufficient, but his endurance was not. However, he showed in his first few months that he was polished enough to succeed at the highest level right away, which made him essentially a no-risk draft pick.
Both Mike Leake and Mike Minor were polished college pitchers who have so far outperformed their projected draft positions. Minor has better stuff than was commonly believed and Leake moved much faster than thought possible. Not sure why the scouting was off the mark on these college pitchers, but polish may be somewhat underrated these days.
Overall, it was a surprising and strong rookie debut for Leake. Not surprisingly, he faded as his innings total mounted, but he gave the Reds some real big innings and some stability in the rotation at a time when it was definitely needed. The future is bright and having a pitcher in the rotation who understands how to pitch will provide some real stability for years to come.
Johnny Cueto -- Expectations: Medium, Grade: B+
Johnny has been in the majors for three seasons and has made incremental improvement each year. Despite his annual improvement, it's hard not to be somehow disappointed. Obviously, that isn't fair to Cueto, but he is a victim of his own success. In 2007, Cueto blazed through three minor league levels with a 3.07 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9, and 9.5 K/9. That level of performance brought about notions of immediate MLB dominance. Instead, he has followed the more traditional path of incremental improvement.
In 2010, Cueto tossed 185.2 innings with a 3.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 138/56 K/BB ratio. It was a nice combination of workload and performance level.
2008: 4.81 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, and 8.2 K/9 in 174.0 innings
2009: 4.41 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9, and 6.9 K/9 in 171.1 innings
2010: 3.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, and 6.7 K/9 in 185.2 innings
He set a career high in innings pitched and improved across the board, with the exception of strikeouts which are in modest decline. Cueto is likely reining in his stuff in favor of improved command and control. As he has continued to evolve as a pitcher, Cueto has altered his pitch selection:
Year:__FB%__ SL%__CH%
Perhaps it's the influence of roving instructor Mario Soto, who deserves a decent amount of credit for his work with our young pitchers, but whatever the reason Cueto has de-emphasized his slider in favor of his change-up. The change in pitch selection has likely brought about improved control and slightly fewer strikeouts. In short, Cueto is learning how to effectively utilize his arsenal for maximum benefit.
All in all, it was a nice season for Cueto, but one that didn't get a great deal of hype. To a certain extent, Cueto was overshadowed by Mike Leake, Travis Wood, and Aroldis Chapman. Those three each made a bigger splash, but Cueto's quiet improvement was just as impressive and certainly shouldn't be overshadowed. If Cueto makes yet another incremental improvement in 2011, then he'll be approaching some rather rarefied air.
Travis Wood -- Expectations: Low, Grade: A-
Yet another pitching surprise for the Reds and a good one at that. Wood has long been a favorite of mine due to his plus change-up and clean mechanics, but he arrived on the scene in 2010 with slightly better top-end velocity than was advertised.
Wood made quick work of the competition, flashing good stuff, great command, and a very good feel for pitching.
He stepped up to throw 102.2 innings with a 3.51 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, and 7.5 K/9. Wood featured a four pitch mix, including a fastball (64.1% of the time), changeup (10.1%), cutter (19.9%), and curveball (5.9%). He's got a very nice repertoire, which he used to keep the righthanders off balance and completely dominate the lefties.
On the season, Wood gave up absolutely nothing to lefties. He gave up a slash line of .136/.219/.227/.446. He also did a very nice job against righties to the tune of .240/.289/.363/.651. Overall, the addition of the cutter has really given Wood the ability to handle righthanded hitters. It allows him to keep them honest on the inner half of the plate, which improves the effectiveness of his fading changeup on the outer half.
Of course, Wood also provided one of the singular moments of the season for the Reds when he nearly tossed a perfect game against the defending NL champion Phillies in their home park. Wood threw 9 innings and gave up only 1 hit, no walks, and 8 strikeouts. His perfect game was foiled by a Carlos Ruiz double in the ninth inning and the Reds inability to score a run. The game ultimately went to extra innings where the Reds came out on the short end, but it was a national coming out party for Travis Wood.
The only potential red flag on Wood is his GB/FB ratio. He exhibited a heavy fly ball tendency, which isn't ideally suited for Great American Ballpark and may come back to bite him if hitters catch up to him as he gets around the league for a second and third time. At that point, it'll be up to Wood to adjust, which shouldn't be a problem given his feel for pitching.
Overall, it was an exciting and impressive debut for Wood and one that is very encouraging for 2011 and beyond. Wood and Leake are two pure pitchers. They may not have the best stuff on the staff, but they understand how to utilize it and how to attack the hitters. They should be consistent and reliable members of the rotation for years to come, which will provide a nice counterpart to the more volatile high ceiling/low floor starters on the staff (see below).
Homer Bailey -- Expectations: Low, Grade: C+
Homer continues to be the ultimate enigma, which may be what he is right down to his core (A pitcher who prefers to be called Homer?). I won't spend too much time parsing his numbers and analyzing his performance, as it won't really throw any additional light on the true Homer Bailey. We've seen him at his best and at his worst, but it's still impossible to tell which version will show up on any given day. He still seems to have all the potential in the world, but his performance simply never reflects it.
Here's a quick overview of Bailey in 2010. He pitched 109.0 innings at the beginning and ending of the movie with a long injury stint in between. When all was said and done, Homer had a 4.46 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 100/40 K/BB ratio. The biggest positives are his career best walk (3.3 BB/9) and strikeout (8.3 K/9) rates. His April and May were forgettable, at best, while his August and September were fairly impressive. He also acquitted himself well in a 2 inning postseason relief appearance against the Phillies. It does bear mentioning that Homer's numbers are somewhat skewed by his dominance against the lowly Pirates (16.0 innings, 0.56 ERA, 15/0 K/BB). Additionally, even in his good starts, I was struck by the number of times he badly missed the target. The catcher would set up on the corner only to have to reach all the way back across the plate to catch the pitch on the other corner. So, I'm not convinced that he truly turned the corner in the final two months. Once again, Homer was maddening, showing enough upside to be optimistic about his chances in 2011, but not enough to allow any certainty in that regard.
For me, the most telling thing about his season actually occurred off the field. In late May, Homer was shut down and DL'd due to shoulder stiffness. Homer was upset about the decision because he didn't feel the arm was that bad, going so far as to refuse a cortisone injection.
Two things are really striking about this situation. First, Homer seemed to have no understanding of the severity of the problem. He protested going on the DL because he didn't believe that he needed to miss even two weeks worth of games. In the end, he didn't return to the majors until August 15th. It seems a somewhat shocking lack of self-awareness about the health of his arm. Either he simply has no clue about the condition of his arm or he did and simply refused to acknowledge it due to his innate stubbornness. I'm not sure which would be the preferable explanation, but I'd certainly hope that a pitcher has a better feeling for the condition of his arm.
The second thing that jumped out at me was his refusal of the cortisone shot, which manages to seem impressive, stubborn, and disconcerting all at the same time. It's impressive in that a 20-something kid actually steps back to consider a team doctor's advice and ultimately goes against the organization's advice. If an organization had invested millions of dollars in me and had a doctor telling me what I needed to get healthy, I'd probably take the doctors advice on all but the most major procedures. However, Homer was stubborn because a cortisone shot is a minor medical matter, not a major surgery. This is an instance in which refusing the team's treatment seems rather odd and unnecessarily stubborn. The team doctor and organization simply want Bailey to get healthy and back on the mound, which (in theory at least) is what Homer wants as well. There was no divergence of interests between the player and the organization, as both want performance and health over the short and long haul.
Homer either lacks trust of any kind in the organization or he simply suffers from an over abundance of youthful arrogance that leads him to believe he always knows best. Whatever the reason, this seems to be par for the course in his development as a player, as he has butted heads with the Reds coaches throughout his time with the organization. I can't easily recall any young player having so many issues and conflicts with an organization on his way up the ladder. Developing Homer Bailey is no small task and these problems are likely the root cause of his struggles. He has all the tools, but seems to lack the mentality to put them to use.
Once again, the Reds head into 2011 with reasonably high hopes for Homer Bailey. It remains to be seen whether those hopes will again be derailed by Homer's frequently misguided actions and stubborn attitude.
Edinson Volquez -- Expectations: None, Grade: B+
Edinson's grade is based largely on the complete lack of expectations. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in early August of 2009, it was pretty remarkable for Edinson simply to get back to the majors in 2010. Not only did he return to the show, but he had flashes of brilliance.
On July 17, Volquez made his first start of the season. Facing the Rockies, he tossed 6.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 run, and posting a 9/2 K/BB ratio. The other highlight of his season occurred on September 11th when he faced the Pirates. In that game, Edinson threw 7.0 innings allowing 1 hit, 0 runs, and posting a 10/1 K/BB ratio.
Unfortunately, there were also significant bumps in the road, the most notable of which occurred during Game 1 of the NLDS. Facing the Phillies, Edinson lasted a mere 1.2 innings in which he allowed 4 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and striking out no one. In arguably the biggest start of the season, Edinson couldn't have performed worse. That start set the tone for the entire series. It was a curious choice by the Reds brain-trust to start Edinson in Game 1, but there was some justification for it, as Volquez posted a 1.95 ERA in 27.2 September innings. So, the regrets about starting him in Game 1 are based largely on hindsight, as the decision made sense in foresight.
When all was said and done, Edinson pitched 62.2 regular season innings in which he posted a 4.31 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and a 67/35 K/BB ratio. Overall, the strikeout rate was as impressive (9.6 K/9) as the walk rate was unimpressive (5.0 BB/9). While Edinson's command has never been his strong suit, it was worse than usual in 2010. Clearly, he had yet to regain his feel for pitching, but the power was back. In 2010, his fastball averaged 93.6 mph, which was almost exactly what it has been every year since 2006. So, the velocity is all the way back and hopefully the command improves in 2011. Pitchers are usually better in their second year back from Tommy John surgery, so the Reds have to hope that's the case with Volquez, especially since the player for whom he was traded led his team to the World Series.
10 comments:
I say it alot but it's because you earn it, you do a great job Lark. We might bump heads a bit every now & again when it comes to projections and what not but your writing is top notch and on point virtually always.ReplyDelete
Just some thoughts here.
On Arroyo: Is there anyway to judge how his K/9 is when he finds himself in a position where he needs one? Certainly it would be somewhat subjective to come up with those occasions but I ask for this reason. Ever since he learned the grip Volquez uses for his change he has been throwing alot of the sinker and getting pretty good results at getting the ball on the ground more. I think his diminishing K/9 is in part due to the fact his preference is to pitch to contact most of the time. When he was a heavy flyball pitcher he had to K more batters.
On Cueto: Definitely agree with your assessment here. He seems to have decided more on control and that is a good thing. Noticed he is doing a better job of policing his mechanics in game. One negative though his weight could eventually become a problem.
On Leake and Wood: Love 'em both. One thing to remember on Leake is he also pitched in the AFL last fall which had to have some impact on his endurance down the stretch. That and by the end he wasn't getting regular starts so between the 2 I can see why he wouldn't be sharp. I think they are both #3 pitchers at worst. They aren't just pitchers they are ballplayers.
On Edinson: Love his stuff but his makeup isn't my cup of tea. Seems a bit immature, undisciplined and somewhat passive. Guy walks alot of people because he doesn't trust his stuff at times so he starts nipping at the corners. Plus his money is starting to come now. Might be time to deal him after next season. Here's to hoping he can have a good season to up his value.
On Homer: Deal him now. Just check out his H/9 sans the Pirates. That fastball is too straight for him to ever be an ace with that control/command.
i agree will, your one of the best writers around. Its amazes me there arn't more bloggers consistently on here.ReplyDelete
well cant wait for the prospect list!
Well thanks, I appreciate it! We disagree from time to time, but it keeps me honest. Besides, it's always fun to discuss different points of view.
Arroyo - It's a good point that he's using his change-up more frequently (last year seasons: 12.1% to 15.8% to 25.0%). So, pitch selection may well be responsible for the increased contact rate. At the same time, I'm not willing to buy into the notion that Arroyo can become a strikeout pitcher when he feels like he needs one. I don't have the types of numbers you wanted, but here's the best situational numbers I could produce:
Bronson Arroyo 2010
None On: 1 strikeout every 6.6 ABs
Runners On: 1 strikeout every 6.8 ABs
Scoring Position: 1 strikeout every 7.3 ABs
Bases Loaded: 1 strikeout every 13.0 ABs
Scoring Position w/ 2 Outs: 1 strikeout every 5.7 ABs
Of course, those aren't huge sample sizes, but I don't see any indication that he can get the K when he needs it. I'm just not convinced that Arroyo has the type of stuff necessary to pitch for the strikeout in big situations. It's not like he has a nasty breaking ball or 3-4 mph in velocity in reserve. He's a crafty guy, but I don't think he has more strikeout ability when he needs it. I'd love to be wrong, though.
Cueto - He's been impressive thus far. I do wonder how much projection he has left. He seems to be figuring things out and I'd be ecstatic if he could settle in as a good #2 starter.
Leake & Wood - I couldn't agree more. I love the idea of having two young guys who know how to pitch on the staff. They may not be able to dominate the way the top of the rotation guys can, but they should always be able to keep us in games. That adds a lot of stability to the rotation and prevents the bullpen from getting overworked. I wouldn't trade either of these guys right now.
...continued --
...continued --ReplyDelete
Edinson - I really don't know quite what to make of him. I didn't like the deal when it went down because of the cost, but also because Edinson never struck me as a guy with a good feel for pitching. As an unpolished thrower, he's pretty much the polar opposite of Wood/Leake - The Reds need to decide what to do with him. If he stinks in 2011, then a substantial portion of whatever trade value he currently has will evaporate. I'm hopeful for a big bounce back year, but not convinced that we'll see it. His poor command is disconcerting, to say the least.
Homer - At this point, I really have come around to the notion that his attitude and stubbornness are to blame. He's not injured and he doesn't lack for stuff, but it just never comes together for him. He just seems to be a complete nonconformist, which is fine if your way is working, but if it isn't then it becomes almost to justify the refusal to follow the organization's edicts.
Carlos Pena had a similar problem early in his career with Detroit and Oakland, as he wanted to hit how he wanted to hit. So, he did, but the production was terrible and he was labeled a problem. Once he landed in Tampa, he hit with a monster year and redeemed himself. If you produce, then you can be as obstinate as you want. If you don't, well...
I guess I give him a couple months to prove that his final two months of 2010 were something more than dominating the Pirates. His peripherals moved in the right direction, but watching him work continues to leave me unconvinced. His command is just not there with the fastball, which is why catchers are constantly reaching. He can get away with it against bad teams, but good teams simply won't help him out.
Here's a fun stat establishing Homer's performance level based on the winning percentage of the opposition over the course of his career:
.500 - .599 teams: 5.45 ERA in 142.3 innings
.400 - .499 teams: 5.69 ERA in 110.2 innings
sub .400 teams: 2.72 ERA in 49.2 innings
The Pirates of 2010 sported a winning percentage of .352. Just about every pitcher will throw better against weaker competition, but maybe the extreme differences in Homer's performance are indicative of something. Or, maybe not. He is, after all, a true enigma. ;)
Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the kind words! I was starting to build some readership momentum, but my writer's block and infrequent posting last year stalled that. It takes quite a bit of time and work to build up a blog, which I've found out the hard way. :)
Anyway, I always appreciate you guys' comments, which are always fun and insightful. So, keeping 'em coming!
love the new layout of the site lark! looks goodReplyDelete
Thanks! I was curious to know how it would go over.
I thought it was time for something different. I think this layout looks a bit cleaner. Also, the columns are a bit wider and the colors are bit softer, which probably makes for easier reading.
I may make another tweak or two, but I'm liking the results so far.
One of the very best sites around. Thanks for what you do, man.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the kind words, I do appreciate it! I shoot these blog posts into cyberspace without knowing how they are received, so it's nice to get a bit of feedback now and then.
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Runway, your way: How to wear colorful faux fur coats for fall
Wonder how to work catwalk cool into your own closet? Here's how to translate the trends for real life.
Now that we're fully into the fall season (hello, golden aspen leaves, Broncos tailgate parties and pumpkin-flavored everything!), we can also expect the temperatures to continue to dip – especially at night. And while you can likely get away with a light jacket for a little while longer, you know those cold days are on their way and a warm coat is about to become your BFF.
Ready to try on something trendy? The fall 2014 runways were filled with coats embellished with bright and colorful fur – both real and faux. From Pucci to Peter Pilotto to Prada; Dolce and Gabbana to Fendi to Gucci, reds, blues, pastels and multi-colored styles offered bold looks for freezing days. Here are nine faux fur styles to warm your fashion senses this season. Purrr-fect, right?
THE RUNWAY: Custo Barcelona, fall 2014
Wallflowers may shy away from this look-at-me faux fur coat, but for the fashion adventurous, it's a colorful hit.
The blues: Tiptoe into the colorful faux fur coat trend with shades of blue (the hue is also popular for fall). A dark blue looks glamorous, a bright blue is young and fresh and a fun blue collar perks up an otherwise forgettable coat.
Forever 21 collarless faux fur jacket, $44.80, forever21.com; Little White Lies faux fur cropped coat, $249, urbanoutfitters.com; Three Floor Alaska coat with faux fur collar, $476.08, asos.com
In the pink: Willing to add a little more flash (and sass) to your outerwear? Try faux fur in pink. From short and nubby to long and pet-worthy to a fuchsia collar, your faux fur will be a standout in any room.
Helen Berman vintage coat with faux fur collar, $218.99, asos.com; Unreal Fur De Fur faux fur coat, $370, topshop.com; Nasty Gal Fairy Floss faux fur coat, $88, nastygal.com
In technicolor: Not as nutty as the runway version, but definitely scene-stealing, these multi-colored faux fur coats are for the fashion forward.
Topshop faux fur patchwork coat, $178, topshop.com; Choices tie-dye faux fur coat, $88.19, choices.com; Wayf faux fur long vest, $110, Nordstrom.com
Lesley Kennedy writes for ShopAtHome.com. Email her at email@example.com or follow her on Instagram @shopathome.


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16 useful Mac cheat Sheets
Cheat sheet is a concise set of notes used for quick reference. Cheat sheets will contain most of the shortcuts needed to program faster. And it is meant for newbie users who can't remember the shortcuts or commands.
In this article , I have collected some of the useful cheat sheets available for Mac OS. These cheat sheets will definitely help you either if you are new to Mac or if you are shifting from Windows to Mac. These cheat Sheets also covers some of the useful keyboard shortcuts and things which you will be using in Mac daily.
You may think that one cheat sheet is just enough , but I feel that some cheat sheets may miss some points so its better to look through all of them and then choose the top 2-5 you think will help you the most. After that you can Print them out and hang them on the wall around your desk for quick reference.
My Mac cheat Sheet
Whether your Mac asks you for certain information or you're seeking help from Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), there may come a time when you need to have access to your serial number, hardware configuration, passwords, email server or internet access information. And then you discover that you've either forgotten or misplaced this information. If you forget it, don't worry, pull out your Mac Cheat Sheet instead.
Mac 101 – beginner's guide
If you're new to computers or simply need a refresher course on how to get the most out of your Mac, then Mac 101 cheat sheet is for you.
Macs All-in-One For Dummies
Macs come in all shapes and sizes, but you turn all of them on and off, and do things with the keyboard and mouse (or trackpad, if yours is a MacBook) the same way. Macintosh OS X Snow Leopard, Apple's latest version of the Mac operating system, has all the familiar boxes, windows, and mouse pointers as its predecessors. This Cheat Sheet of timesaving keyboard shortcuts, mouse actions, Mac-related Web sites, and definitions can help you get the most from your Mac right away.
Reference for EVERY Character Key on a Mac
Ever wanted to type the copyright icon, or do an accent over an A without having to resort to some character palette? We have, and it takes time and is an effort. So we put together a series of help sheets that reference all of the characters that aren't listed on your keyboard, along with their shortcut keys to make your life easier.
Switch 101 – Apple Mac cheat sheet
If you're a PC user who has just switched to the Mac and want to find out how to adapt your old working habits to the Mac OS, you've come to the right place. Whether you want to learn how to get around and access everything on your Mac; find out how to move your old PC files to the Mac OS environment; figure out how to connect your printer, iPod, digital camera, or other device; learn how to do those tasks you did on a PC on a Mac; learn how to use the software that came with your Mac; or even find out what to do when things don't go as planned; Switch 101 has got all the answers.
Leopard Cheat Sheet
Mac OS X keyboard Cheat Sheet
My First Mac guide
Below you'll find the My First Mac guide on how to use your new Mac when all you know is Windows. Of course this topic can go deep and take months or even years of training, so we will stick to the top dozen or so issues that new Mac users run into that makes them want to throw their Mac through the window.
Mac OS X cheat sheet
Avid Support – Mac cheat Sheet
It is intended to help properly configure and troubleshoot Mac editing systems – both PowerPC and Intel based. Included are some tips and tricks to maximize performance and stability of your system. Follow the tips in the document and the initial installation and configuration will be very simple.
MAC OS cheat sheet
Mac OS X Transition Cheat Sheet
Mac OS Quick Reference, Apple Mac OS X Tiger
Mac OS X Mail email settings Cheat Sheet
You can print (or copy and paste to a text document) and fill out the following "cheat sheet" to record your email
provider's settings. This sheet can make it easier for you to configure Mail in Mac OS X, or if you contact your
I hope that this list of Cheat sheets will definitely help you in handling Mac. If you have came across any good cheat sheet for Mac then do let me know.


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Bradford, Massachusetts
|This article is a stub. Help us to expand it by contributing your knowledge. For county and town page guidelines, visit U.S. County Page Content Suggestions.
Bradford is a town in Massachusetts. It was formed in 1675 and was previously called Southern. It can be found in Essex county.
For information about the state of Massachusetts see Massachusetts Family History Research.


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2010 V.E.R Frame – Pre-Order Information
Guys, we are DONE!
The new frame design was a hit and we are happy to announce that we are now taking deposits for our production run of the first (25) V.E.R. frames!
If you EVER wanted a vertical electronic frame for your AGD marker, this is the frame for you!
Pre-Order Deposit = $160.00
Complete Frame (Matte Black) = $450 + shipping & insurance
Complete Frame (Gloss Black) = $485 + shipping & insurance
What You Get:
(1) 2010 V.E.R Frame
(1) AGD Trigger Return Magnet
(1) Trigger Axle Pin w/ set screw
(1) Solenoid w/ set screws
(1) Set of Panels (black in color) w/ (6) Stainless Steel screws for mounting to frame
(1) UTB Controller Board w/ Wire Harness, Micro Switch, Capacitor, Power Switch, LED, & 9volt Battery Connector (battery not included)
(1) Choice of Finish: Matte Black(included in price), Gloss Black(or other color(see Questions section for current pricing), or Raw (un-polished)
We have (2) triggers to choose from:
(1) Magnus Talon Trigger w/ (1) Nylon Tipped Travel Screw & (1) Trigger Return Screw (20 available)
(1) Fireblade V2 Trigger w/ (1) Nylon Tipped Travel Screw & (1) Trigger Return Magnet (5 available)
(1) Custom Finish (Anno): You can get whatever color/finish you want other than the (3) finishes offered. Price = TBD by anno shop per customer order. Dependant on complexity of job.
What you need to have in order to make this frame work on your gun (Minimum):
(1) An AGD valve system that accepts an AGD ULT on/off assembly (I.E. – X-Valves, E-Mag Valves that have been drilled out, RT Pro Valves that have been drilled out)
(2) A properly tuned valve system (one that has a properly tuned ULT installed)
(3) A Rail (RT Classic Rail will not work unless a bushing is installed)
(4) A Body (we recommend AGD ULE bodies for those wanting Eye Systems installed)
*Option: You may use a Body & Rail Combo (Uni-body) such as a Pro-Team Products 2000 Micro Mag Body in lieu of a single rail & body
The 2010 V.E.R Frame weighs only 11.4 oz! (thats with ALL the parts!)
Questions & Answer Section:
Q: What does my $160.00 deposit get me?
A: It assures you a spot in the first run of (25) frames being made. It also doesn't purchase ANYTHING BUT YOUR FRAME! The other parts to complete the frame have already been purchased!
Q: What if I change my mind after I pay my deposit?
A: The $160.00 goes directly to the machine shop to make your frame. Once you send payment, you are locked in for at least (1) frame. If you decide you no longer want your frame, you may sell your spot to another person on your own terms. We will not sell a spot for you.
Q: Can I get extra milling/engraving?
A: If you would like some custom milling done to your frame, you best bet would be to order a frame finished raw, and find a shop that will handle custom work per your request. We do not offer any other milling beyond the production model finish.
Q: Can I get a custom finish done by the same anno shop where all the VER frames are going?
A: If you would like a different finish other than Matte or Gloss Black, you should select Raw as a finish and send your frame into a shop of your own choice.
Q: How long will it take to get my frame from the time I send in my deposit?
A: That all depends on how fast the first (13) frames sell. As soon as they are sold, the machine shop will cut all (25) frames at one time. From there, the first (13) people that bought frames will select their finish choices. Once that is done, the (25) frames will go to anno. Frames will come back, assembly will be completed, and the frames will ship. The first (13) frames will ship upon completion regardless if the remaining frames have been sold.
Q: What would happen if I paid in full immediately?
A: Your full payment would be counted as multiple "deposits". You would have (1) frame on order for certain, and we would allow you to have "first dibs" on the next frame after yours. If you choose not to take more than one frame, the money simply goes to your frame as a normal purchase for a single frame. You would be required to pay for the remaining balance on the second frame, which is $450.
Q: Can I order more panels as spares?
A: The first (25) panels are reserved for the production run of frames. If you would like another set of panels, we would have to inquire what that would cost to have them made. The price for that would be more than the cost of a production set since the mold is only being used for a single set rather than a bulk order. It's doable for a price.
Q: Can I get my panels in a different color than black?
A: Again, we would have to ask if that is possible. It would most definitely cost more money for a single set in a different color.
Q: What type of anodizing am I paying for when I buy this frame?
A1: If you are choosing Gloss Black, it will be a Type II Anodizing on a High Polished Base
A2: If you are choosing Matte Black, it will be a Type II Anodizing on a Satin Blasted or Etched Base
Q: What is Matte Black?
A: Matte Black is a finish that is black in color and lacks the "shiny" coating to reflect light.
Picture of a Matte Finish --->http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...attefinish.jpg
Q: What is Gloss Black?
A: Gloss Black is a finish that is black in color and has a polished look to the coloring, and sports a "shiny" finish.
Picture of a Gloss Finish --->http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/o...lossfinish.jpg
Q: Whats the real difference in the two types of anodizing offered?
A: The Gloss Black Anodizing has 1 extra step(s): high gloss polishing of the frame and a dip coating. The Matte Black has a blasting or etched base rather than a polished base and no dip coating.
Q: What if I want a different color than Black?
A: The price for a Matte Black finish is figured into your purchase price. If you want Orange (for example) in a Matte finish,... it will be $20 more. For a Gloss (Black or other color),.. its an extra $35. The price on a SINGLE frame and SINGLE trigger is not $35. $35 covers those customers that combine other parts with other customers to receive a group rate. Single colors of any finish not done in a bulk order WILL be more costly at the customers expense.
Q: Can the anodizing shop polish my extra parts I want anodized or do I have to do it myself?
A: You do not need to polish your parts before hand they provide this service for an additional +$10 per piece. You may do the polishing yourself to avoid an extra cost to you.
**NOTE: if the quality of your own polish work on the parts you send in for anodizing is not "up to par", one of two things will happen: #1 your parts will be anodized as is and finish will reflect your work against theirs (meaning parts may not match) #2: they will not anodize the parts to avoid conflicts.**
Q: Can the anodizing shop remove existing anodizing on parts I send in to be anodized with my VER frame?
A: Yes. They will remove existing anodizing on parts you send in FREE OF CHARGE as long as you use them for your anodizing (meaning,... you can NOT get your parts back un-anodized after they have been stripped, they MUST be anodized)
People on the Pre-Order List:
1 - PBChappy - - SHIPPED
2 - chettacheez - - SHIPPED
3 - rschoi_75 - - SHIPPED - sold to knownothingmags - NEW PANELS SENT
4 - ninja monkey - - SHIPPED - NEW PANELS INSTALLED
5 - mpsd - Gloss Black with Talon -Pending final payment
7 - smilestyler - - SHIPPED - NEW PANELS INSTALLED
9 - splat15k - - SHIPPED - NEW PANELS INSTALLED
10 - KoolKat - - SHIPPED
11 - Spazmok - - SHIPPED - NEW PANELS INSTALLED
12 - going_home - - SHIPPED
13 - MagPie - PAID IN FULL - SHIPS 4-6-11
14 - death594 - SHIPPED - NEW PANELS INSTALLED
15 - SoulCoffin - SHIPPED - NEW PANELS INSTALLED
16 - RagnaroktA - Gloss Black VER with Talon Trigger (pending payment)
17 -
18 -
19 -
20 -
21 -
22 -
23 -
24 -
25 -


text: We've been celebrating the 50th anniversary of Spy vs. Spy pretty hard the last few weeks! In fact, some would even say we've been celebrating TOO hard. And to those people we say, "Poppycock!" In fact, we're continuing the unrelenting parade of joy with ANOTHER amazing Spy design! Just take a look at today's outstanding custom figure from Simon Doonan! Amazing! Photographer: Irving Schild