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Peak oil a focus of 35th annual Earth Day
Dan Fiorucci
Anchorage, Alaska - On this 35th anniversary of Earth Day, environmental groups are saying that a top priority is fighting oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Two bills that would open the refuge to oil and gas exploration are moving through the U.S. Congress, and because of the new Republican majority, appear to have a better chance of passage this year than on previous attempts.
Meanwhile, in Anchorage, some local environmentalists gathered at the University of Alaska library to discuss the world's energy future.
Many described that future as bleak, after watching a documentary which argued that the world peak in oil production is taking place right now. Over the next four to five years, some energy analysts say, the world will be managing declining supplies of both oil and natural gas.
The documentary was called, "Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream." It made a sobering case that 80 million barrels of oil a day -- the amount now produced by the world -- is as good as it gets.
"It's the end of cheap and abundant energy," says one researcher. From here, the documentary said, oil production will decline. "Cheap oil is the party that we've been enjoying for the past 150 years. That party is coming to an end."
Many of those watching the documentary said Congress must now take strong measures toward energy conservation.
"If every household in America put in a renewable light bulb in their house, it would be the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road," said Kate Troll of the Marine Stewardship Council.
"If we have a sound energy plan in place that speaks to the people and not to industry, then we won't have the problems with wars and gas prices being so high," said Betsy Goll (left), a member of the Sierra Club.
But Sen. Ted Stevens says the peak of world oil production means that exploratory drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is more urgent than ever. He continues to push for legislation that will allow the refuge to be tapped for oil and gas.
According to scientists, fossil fuel burning is warming the Earth dramatically, especially in the arctic. Glaciers are calving and receding, the tundra is thawing and that is undermining structures throughout Alaska.
And, researchers say, the Porcupine caribou herd of northern Alaska and Canada -- part of the greatest migration left in North America -- is threatened because the arctic has warmed so much that the mosquito population has increased drastically. That has contributed to a drop of one-third in the herd, from 180,000 in 1989 to just 120,000 today.
"The time when they're giving birth is when they're most vulnerable to these mosquito attacks, and it is indeed impacting the herd," said Troll.
Environmentalists fear that drilling in ANWR could finish off the already stressed Porcupine caribou. They argue that the calving grounds on the Coastal Plain are so small and the caribou are so easily spooked that oil rigs are likely to disturb the herd enough that large numbers of calves will be separated from their mothers -- a death sentence for the calves.
Oil companies counter by saying that caribou numbers have increased on the North Slope since drilling started there in the late 1970s. Environmentalists say the Coastal Plain in ANWR is much smaller than it is around the existing oil development, and that makes all the difference.


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Jewel Confesses: I Don't Want My Son Kase To Ride Bulls Like His Daddy Ty Murray!
Kase is only 5 weeks old, and his parents Jewel and Ty are already worried about his safety! But, they agree that they will support his dreams, whatever they may be!
Jewel is the proud new mommy to beautiful 5-week-old baby boy, Kase Townes Murray. She and her husband, retired pro-bull rider Ty Murray, can't stop bragging about little Kase. But while they are loving and supportive parents, there's one activity they hope Kase will avoid when he grows up … bull-riding!
"We want him to find his passion. Whatever that is, we are fine with it," Jewel tells People magazine. "But I hope it isn't bull-riding."
Ty feels the same way. "I don't want him to ride," he agrees. "It is the most dangerous job in the world. But if he's crazy as I was about it, then what do you do? One of our biggest dreams for Kase is that he finds something he loves."
But Jewel and Ty don't have to worry just yet. Right now, they're just enjoying baby Kase. "Everything's new," Jewel confesses. "The love you feel for the baby is a life-altering experience. Seeing my husband be such a good dad is also a nice added bonus."
"We have parent goggles; we think he's perfect," adds Jewel. "He's mellow and chill."
Ty loves Kase just as much. "When he was born, I felt like somebody went to a cabinet, pulled out a perfect baby and handed him over," he gushes. "It's overwhelming."
Jewel had a little bit of a surprise when she had to have an emergency C-section. "I studied hypnobirthing and planned a natural childbirth," reveals Jewel. "But I feel so lucky that we have a healthy baby boy. That's all I cared about."
And now Jewel and Ty plan to raise Kase themselves on their 2,400-acre Texas ranch. "Neither of us want to have a nanny," admits Jewel. "Ty wants his relationship with Kase to be special, and the time you put in is part of that."
They have no complaints about parenthood except that they wish Kase would sleep a little bit longer. "One night he slept for eight hours," says Ty. "It probably won't again! Sometimes he gets up every hour, and sometimes he sleeps for longer stretches," Jewel puts in.
Jewel and Ty, congrats of the birth of your baby son Kase!
– Lindsey DiMattina
More Jewel Stories:

subset: commoncrawl


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TheOneRing.net's panel at San Diego Comic con is this Friday
If it's July it must be San Diego Comic Con, and with that biggest of popular culture events you can bet TheOneRing.net is right in the middle of it all. No, there are no new Tolkien films on the horizon, but there are new collectibles, in a variety of styles, coming to fans bookshelves soon. There are also fan gatherings, at SDCC and beyond, and plenty of other tidbits of Tolkien news just waiting to be shared with one and all. And there will be a few Middle-earth alums attending the con this year, chiefly Elijah Wood and Graham McTavish. So keep a wary eye on TheOneRing.net for any and all Middle-earth news, rumors and cosplay. Oh, and don't forget our panel, which is listed after the cut. (more…)Posted in Collectibles, ComicCon, ComicCon Rumos, Conventions, Elijah Wood, Events, Fans, Graham McTavish, Happy Hobbit, Hobbit Book, Hobbit Movie, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, LotR Movies, Meet Ups, Merchandise, The Hobbit, Tolkien, Tolkien Reading Day, TORn Book Club, TORn TUESDAYS Live!, WETA Workshop


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Dating is different when you get older. You're not as trusting, or as eager to get back out there and expose yourself to someone.
Someone who enjoys the outdoors, tries to eats healthy and likes to take a midnight stroll from time-to-time.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Flirthut is a completely free dating site where people like you meet other people looking for a relationship, love or just friends. You can message TyBaker by signing in or registering.


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When we talk about relationships between numbers on a table, we really go two different directions with it. First, we dipped our toes into algebraic thinking by discussing variables and algebraic expressions. We used variables to look at different tables and either determine the rule of the table, or use the rule to fill in missing information in the table.
Secondly, we discussed different ways we can describe a table. Developmentally, this is harder for a 4th grader than you might think. We began by looking at the relationship between the numbers 1 and 5. I asked the kids to think of a real-life relationship between 1 and 5. Someone said hands and fingers. We started discussing how many fingers are on 1 hand, 3 hands, 6 hands, etc. I asked them how we might organize our information so that we could see the relationship more clearly. We decided to make a table. Once our table was made, we looked at our relationship and came up with ways to describe it. The hardest part about this is that the kids tend to want to describe it in a way that is opposite of what is actually happening. For example, one of the ways our table was described was, "The number of hands is the number of fingers multiplied by 5." This is opposite of what is really there. This is a very common mistake for 4th graders! It led to a great discussion, though, about looking at what is reasonable. Could we ever have more hands than fingers? Not unless we'd had some very unfortunate circumstances. ;)


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Sugar Rush: Chocolate Trifle at Kitchenette
Your daily dose of something sweet.
My greatest weakness is anything that ends in "pudding." Bread pudding, banana pudding, chocolate pudding... double points if it comes in a mason jar, as does Sarabeth's, and, pictured above, this trifle from Kitchenette ($6) in Tribeca. Here, big chunks of chocolate cake are layered with cool gobs of thick, creamy chocolate pudding. Unfortunately, it was all more sugary than chocolatey, though the freshly whipped cream helped tame the sweetness. Overall verdict? Sugar Sweet Sunshine's chocolate trifle still ranks highest on my bakery-to-go list of puddings.
156 Chambers Street, New York NY 10007 map)
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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I have been dynamically loading assemblies using this:
// paramType is "NamesSpace.TypeName, AssemblyName"
myType = Type.GetType(paramType);
myObj = Activator.CreateInstance(myType);
This works with my assembly being in the same bin path as my app. Now if there is a possibility that the assemblies can be loading from a different path, is there a way i can just change the paramType and load it from a different path without code changes.
If i need to make code changes to do like an Assembly.Load instead, can it support both versions with same code - local load and path load of assembly?


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By Matt Smith, CNN
(CNN) -- Thursday's Supreme Court ruling upholding President Barack Obama's signature health care legislation effectively cements the cornerstone of his political legacy, observers said.
"This would be in the first paragraph of Barack Obama's summation of his presidency," said University of Minnesota professor Lawrence Jacobs, co-author of a 2010 book on the politics of health care.
"I cannot think of a policy by a Democrat or Republican that's going to have the kind of long-lasting impact on the lives of Americans in at least half a century, maybe going back to the New Deal," Jacobs said after Thursday's ruling.
In a long-anticipated ruling, the court upheld the individual insurance mandate at the heart of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often called "Obamacare." The 5-4 ruling allows the government to move ahead with implementing the legislation, some key provisions of which won't take effect until 2014.
And it advances a goal of universal health care that has eluded presidents dating back to Theodore Roosevelt, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin said.
"That this has finally gotten through the Supreme Court is the very historic accomplishment that all presidents wish for when they come into office," Goodwin said.
That titanic clash over health care began shortly after Obama took office in 2009, pledging to expand health coverage to the roughly 45 million Americans without it. It dominated Congress for nearly a year before he signed the bill in March 2010.
Conservatives complained that it would bust the federal budget and lead to worse health care, not better. Many liberals, meanwhile, wanted Obama to fight for a Canadian-style model or at least establish a public health insurance plan to compete with private companies.
Opponents railed against the bill for a variety of sins real and imagined, including a later-dropped "Cornhusker kickback" aimed at securing support from Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson and the false claims of "death panels" by critics such as ex-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who argued that the bill would lead to patients being denied critical care. Lawmakers found themselves facing angry crowds at usually sleepy meetings with constituents during their summer recess.
In the end, it passed over near-universal Republican opposition -- the sole GOP vote for it in either chamber was Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana -- with nearly three dozen Democrats voting against it as well. The battle fueled the rise of the conservative tea party movement and contributed to a sweeping Republican win in the 2010 congressional elections.
One of the politicians elected in that wave, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, called Thursday's decision "a loss for America." The Supreme Court's finding that the individual mandate amounts to a tax will give taxpayers more headaches in April, Rubio predicted.
"This has now turned the IRS into an enforcement mechanism for Obamacare," he said.
Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, urged followers to rally and "restore the Constitution to its rightful place." The group is a leading voice for religious conservatives and filed a friend-of-the-court brief attacking the law.
"Not only is the individual mandate a profound attack on our liberties, but it is only one section among hundreds of provisions in the law that will force taxpayers to fund abortions, violate their conscience rights and impose a massive tax and debt burden on American families," Perkins said. "It's now time to replace those leaders who disregarded the constitutional limitations of their authority and the deeply held religious beliefs of their constituents, voting for the government takeover of health care."
Jacobs said the individual mandate -- the single biggest complaint about the legislation -- will affect "maybe two or three out of 100 Americans." It's the rest of the law, particularly its regulations on insurance companies, that will have "a tremendous impact on the lives of everyday Americans."
"It completely rewires health care delivery and financing," he said. "We will think of this moment as before and after."
Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley put the health care reform victory in the context of some of Obama's other signature moments, saying it is clear he's made an impact in his first three and a half years in the White House.
"I think President Obama is now in very good stead to say, 'I passed the Affordable Care Act, I got Osama bin Laden, and I saved General Motors," said Brinkley, referring also to the raid that killed the al Qaeda leader and Obama's backing of the automobile industry bailout. "He has three real historic accomplishments."
Of those, the health care law is by far the most controversial even after Thursday's decision.
Goodwin said that while the battle over the law's constitutionality is over, "I think the battle for public sentiment lays ahead."
Before Lyndon Johnson managed to get Medicare and Medicaid through Congress, future President Ronald Reagan railed that "socialized medicine" would leave Americans "to spend their sunset years telling their children and their children's children what it was like in America when men were free," Goodwin noted.
"That's how deep that battle was at that period of time, and yet Medicare has been sustained and it's now approved," she said, adding, "One thing we have not gotten and what I think the president has started doing is to make a clear understanding of what this bill is all about."


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IISD Reporting Services -
This page was updated on: 12/09/10
Trade and Investment in Sustainable Development Key Publications and Online Resources Archives: 2008; 2007; 2006; 2005; 2004; 2003; 2002
Latest New Publications and Resources
Financing Climate Change Action and Boosting Technology Change
The Least Developed Countries Report 2010
Solar Lighting for the Base of the Pyramid: Overview of an Emerging Market
Financing Climate Change Action and Boosting Technology Change
The paper states that using market-based mechanisms can help ease the funding burden and steer investors towards low-carbon development. It says market mechanisms, combined with increased public funding to research and development, and investments in "immature" renewable technologies, are needed to give impetus and lower risk for private investors. [The report]
The Least Developed Countries Report 2010
This report, published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), highlights the vulnerability of LDCs to climate impacts. For example, the report indicates that the LDC small island developing states (SIDS) and LDCs in Asia are particularly vulnerable to the impact of storms and are also the least able to cope with the social and economic fallout from climate-related incidents. Although the LDCs as a group contribute relatively little to global warming — accounting for less than 1 per cent of the world's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — the report notes that they will be disproportionately affected by changing climatic conditions. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in LDCs (e.g. droughts, extreme temperature and floods) have been increasing, with five times as many such incidents occurring from 2000-2010 as from 1970-1979. The number of people in LDCs affected by these extreme events has almost doubled, rising from 100 million from 1970-1979 to 193 million from 2000-2010. During the latter period, economic losses in LDCs resulting from natural disasters amounted to an estimated US$14.1 billion. [The report]
Solar Lighting for the Base of the Pyramid: Overview of an Emerging Market
(World Bank, 2010)
This World Bank report underlines that, by 2015, solar portable lights could provide access to clean and safe lighting to an estimated 65 million Africans who are currently either un-electrified or under-electrified. Solar Lighting development potential is attributed to three factors: a significant improvement in the quality and performance of solar portable lights in the past five years; a decline in retail price; and product features that have been adapted to meet consumer needs. [The report]
Environmental Certification and the Global Environment Facility
This Global Environment Facility Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (GEF STAP) advisory document on summarizing the evidence base for eco-certification initiatives in generating global, national, regional and local environmental benefits. The paper highlights that the evidence base provides, at best, weak evidence for the hypothesis that certification has positive socioeconomic or environmental impacts. It thus recommends that GEF investments in certification should be made in projects deliberately designed to evaluate the environmental impacts of the certification program. Such design should not just monitor the status and trends of environmental indicators, but also allow credible inferences on whether the program is contributing to changes in the status and trends of the indicators. [The document]
Natural Hazards, UnNatural Disasters: The Economics of Effective Prevention
(World Bank, United Nations, 2010)
The report by the United Nations and World Bank, stresses the need for prevention to reduce countries' vulnerability to natural hazards in order to enable their sustainable and cost-effective development. It outlines a number of measures to prevent death and destruction from natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding and estimates annual global losses from natural disasters could triple to US$185 billion by the end of this century, without calculating the impact of climate change. One area in which the report calls for more spending is early warning systems, particularly weather forecasting. It also urges governments to ensure that new infrastructure does not introduce new risk, including by locating infrastructure out of harm's way. [The report]
Economic Diversification in Africa: A Review of Selected Countries
(AU, UNOSAA, OECD, October 2010)
This study, prepared by the African Union (AU), the UN Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (UN-OSAA) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), highlights that the global financial and economic crises exposed African economies' dependence on too few export commodities and how they can diversify their economies. The study notes that climate change negotiations are opening up new opportunities for greening African economy growth, such as the Clean Development Mechanism to provide emission reduction credits to private companies. [The report]
Economic Partnership Agreements: Comparative Analysis of the Agricultural Provisions
(UNCTAD, October 2010)
This study analyses the development implications of the agricultural provisions of the Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and 36 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries by quantifying the immediate monetary costs for non-signatory ACP countries; quantifying the immediate monetary benefits for signatory countries and analyzing the options for increased supply; analyzing the agricultural liberalization commitments of each region; analyzing how the actionable and non-actionable provision of agreements affect ACP agricultural production, trade and development. [The report]
Protected Areas for the 21st Century: Lessons from UNDP/GEF's Portfolio
The report, based on case studies from the portfolio of projects financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UN Development Programme (UNDP) addresses eight key themes that are shaping protected areas management in the 21st Century, namely: enabling policy environments; management planning; protected area assessment and restoration; governance and participation; capacity and sustainable finance; protected area networks and ecological gap assessments; and connectivity corridors and transboundary protected areas. For each of the eight themes, the report presents a snapshot of the current status of implementation, a set of emerging best practices, and one or more case studies that illustrate innovative and successful approaches. [The report]
Climate Risks and Adaptation in Asian Coastal Megacities
(Asian Development Bank, 2010)
The report, product of a two-year collaborative study by the ADB, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank, highlights the impact of climate change on Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila under a range of climate change scenarios through 2050. The report finds that costs from major flooding events on infrastructure and the economy could run into the billions of dollars, with urban poor populations likely to be the hardest hit. It concludes that all three cities need to take targeted, city-specific and cutting edge approaches to meet these challenges. [The report]
Catalogue of Biodiversity-Based Products
(GEF, Small Grants Programme, 2010)
This catalogue of biodiversity-based products from SGP's Latin American & Caribbean portfolio demonstrates the linkage between the sustainable use of biodiversity, community empowerment and poverty reduction. It incorporates high quality photography and offers possibilities for supporting marginalized communities in forming alliances with funders, retailers, researchers, governments and NGOs in order to improve their livelihoods and conserve biodiversity. [The catalogue]
Mainstreaming the Economics of Nature: A synthesis of the approach, conclusions and recommendations of TEEB
(The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), October 2010)
Compiling and summarizing two years of work carried out by over 500 researchers, the TEEB synthesis report calls for wider recognition of nature's contribution to human livelihoods, health, security, and culture by decision makers. It documents the multi-trillion dollar annual contribution of the natural world to the global economy, and formulates recommendations for policies and mechanisms that can help better account for, and protect, this contribution. The report approaches the challenge of bringing biodiversity to the political fore by focusing on making nature's values visible, and approaches this in three steps: recognizing ecosystems' value so as to understand what is at stake; demonstrating natural value in economic terms to support decision making; and capturing value by introducing mechanisms to incorporate this value into decision making at all political and non-political levels. [The report]
National Capacity Self-Assessments: Results and Lessons Learned for Global Environmental Sustainability
This report by Jean-Joseph Bellamy and Kevin Hill synthesizes the results of the National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) programme, launched in January 2000, to deepen knowledge on countries' foundational capacities to meet global environmental objectives. The programme focused on assessing the key individual, organizational and systemic capacities needed to sustain achievements that satisfy the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), collectively known as the Rio Conventions, and other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). The exercise also sought to develop an understanding of the key drivers of, and barriers to, sustained environmental protection and conservation, with particular reference to meeting and sustaining objectives codified within the Rio Conventions. [The report]
Environmental Goods and Services Negotiations at the WTO: Lessons from multilateral environmental agreements and ecolabels for breaking the impasse
This paper by Aaron Cosbey, Soledad Aguilar, Melanie Ashton and Stefano Ponte looks for paths to progress in the WTO's stalled negotiations on environmental goods and services – a set of talks that is frequently cited as trade policy's natural contribution to climate change objectives. It surveys the experience of a number of multilateral environmental agreements – the Rotterdam Convention (Prior Informed Consent or PIC), the Stockholm Convention (Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – and ecolabels (looking at coffee, fisheries and the Energy Star label) for lessons that could be of aid in WTO negotiations. [The paper]
(WIPO, September 2010)
This Lex database, developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization, provides a one-stop search facility for national laws and treaties relating to intellectual property. It features information to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of laws and treaties, and provides access to reference material on the global Intellectual Property System. [WIPO Lex]
Mapping the Characteristics of Producer Subsidies: A Review of Pilot Country Studies
(IISD's Global Subsidies Initiative, August 2010)
This paper is published as part of the series Untold Billions: Fossil-fuel subsidies, their impacts and the path to reform. This study helps increase the body of knowledge about the data sources that hold information on subsidies to fossil-fuel producers, by reviewing available data in a series of countries, diverse in terms of their level of data transparency, governance systems, energy markets and stages of economic development. Using a detailed matrix setting out the main subsidy policies, the type of fuel, and their main data sources, pilot studies have been completed for China, Germany, Indonesia and the United States. It was found that fossil-fuel producers are supported by a multitude of policies, ranging from direct payments to preferential access to government-owned lands. While direct payments were relatively easy to identify in government budget reporting, data was not always provided at a sufficient level of disaggregation to allow proper attribution to beneficiaries. Pilot studies also found that information on these support measures was held by a variety of government ministries and non-governmental organizations. [The report]
National Capacity Self-Assessments: Results and Lessons Learned for Global Environmental Sustainability
This report by Jean-Joseph Bellamy and Kevin Hill synthesizes the results of the National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) programme, launched in January 2000, to deepen knowledge on countries' foundational capacities to meet global environmental objectives. The programme focused on assessing the key individual, organizational and systemic capacities needed to sustain achievements that satisfy the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), collectively known as the Rio Conventions, and other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). The exercise also sought to develop an understanding of the key drivers of, and barriers to, sustained environmental protection and conservation, with particular reference to meeting and sustaining objectives codified within the Rio Conventions. [The report]
A Strategy to Engage the Private Sector in Climate Change Adaptation in Bangladesh
(IFC, September 2010)
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) published a report by Asian Tigers Capital Partners that highlights that involvement by the private sector is critical for Bangladesh to prepare for both the challenges and opportunities of climate change. While much of this report underlines the benefit and importance of private sector engagement in the battle against climate change, it also highlights that corporate climate change is perceived by the private sector as irrelevant or at best an extension of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and proposes measures to change this perception. [The report]
World Trade Report 2010: Trade in Natural Resources
(WTO, September 2010)
This report, by the World Trade Organization, examines the characteristics of trade in natural resources, the policy choices available to governments, the effects of international trade on the sustainability of natural resources, the environmental impact of resources trade, the so-called natural resources curse, resource price volatility, and the role of international cooperation, particularly of the WTO, in the proper management of trade in this sector. [The report]
Measuring Irrigation Subsidies in Spain: An application of the GSI Method for quantifying subsidies
(IISD's Global Subsidies Initiative, July 2010)
The report provides a starting point for a debate on the use of irrigation subsidies in Spain, quantified using the GSI's Method for quantifying irrigation subsidies. The report found subsidies to irrigated agriculture are in the range of €900 to €1120 million per year. More than half of those subsidies finance the modernization and rehabilitation of water distribution infrastructures in irrigated districts to allow for water savings. The study also found the Spanish Government should consider establishing legislation requiring water authorities to publicly provide information on water costs, revenues and subsidies in a more organized and usable manner. This would include establishing the minimum level of information to be provided, the adequate level of disaggregation, the methodology used to develop it, and the formats in which information would be presented. It also highlights the need to develop sound replicable methods for measuring and quantifying subsidies. [The report]
Climate-related Single-use Environmental Goods
This paper by Rene Vossenaar analyzes the identification of single-use environmental goods linked with climate-related technologies, looking at their trade flows, tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Its purpose is to clarify some of the environmental, trade and developmental implications of the WTO negotiations on environmental goods and services, in particular for developing countries. [The paper]
Focused Action: Priorities for Addressing Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific
(ADB, September 2010)
This paper outlines the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) priority areas for investments and action on climate change. The publication describes five priorities, namely: expanding the use of clean energy; encouraging sustainable transport and urban development; managing land use and forests for carbon sequestration; promoting climate-resilient development; and strengthening related policies and institutions. These priorities will be pursued through the following three modalities: mobilizing innovative financing; generating and disseminating knowledge; and fostering partnerships. [The paper "Focused Action"]
Hands-on Energy Adaptation Toolkit (HEAT)
(World Bank, August 2010)
This resource was prepared to support countries in assessing their vulnerabilities and adaptation options in the energy sector. HEAT uses a bottom-up, stakeholder-based, qualitative/semi-quantitative risk-assessment approach to discuss and identify risks, adaptation measures, and their costs and benefits. [HEAT web site]
Lights Out? The Outlook for Energy in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union
(World Bank, August 2010)
The World Bank has released this report on the energy outlook in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, which underlines that the challenge for these countries is to secure additional energy supplies quickly and at minimum cost, while limiting the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. Proposed measures include: undertaking of major energy efficiency measures on the supply and consumption sides, including reducing the large amounts of flared and vented gas; and minimizing the carbon footprint of the new capacity to be added. [The report]
The Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change: Synthesis Report
(World Bank, August 2010)
This Synthesis Report highlights that eliminating poverty is central to both development and adaptation, since poverty exacerbates vulnerability to weather variability as well as climate change. The study argues that investments should start with low-regret options, with measures that tackle the weather risks that countries already face, such as increased investment in water storage in drought-prone basins or protection against storms and flooding in coastal zones and/or urban areas. The study was funded by the Governments of the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the World Bank. [The synthesis report of the study]
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity – Report for Business
(UNEP, July 2010)
Released by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) research consortium at the first Global Business of Biodiversity Symposium, held on 13 July 2010, in London, UK, this third TEEB report highlights the business case for biodiversity and ecosystem services by illustrating the importance and immense value of natural services provided to, and affected by, a wide range of industries. The report contains chapters on: business, biodiversity and ecosystem services; business impacts and dependence on biodiversity and ecosystem services; measuring and reporting biodiversity and ecosystem impacts and dependence; scaling down biodiversity and ecosystem risks to business; increasing biodiversity business opportunities; business, biodiversity and sustainable development; and biodiversity and business growth. [The resource]
World Economic and Social Survey 2010
(UNDESA, June 2010)
The report indicates that many of the global crises in recent years – such as the food, fuel and financial crises – are to a large extent due to major systemic failures in the global economy and weaknesses in the mechanisms for global governance. The report suggests that a sustainable rebalancing of the global economy requires closer coordination across the trading system, the new regime for international financial regulation, the global reserve system and the mechanisms for mobilizing and channeling development finance and climate funding. The report recommends that the international community consider establishing a global economic coordination mechanism that goes well beyond the Group of 20 (G20). [The report]
Brazil Low-Carbon Country Case Study
(World Bank, 2010)
This study finds that Brazil could reduce its gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 37% between 2010 and 2030, while maintaining the development goals set out by the government for that period, and without negatively affecting growth or jobs. The study identifies areas with the greatest mitigation potential, including changes in land use (such as agriculture and deforestation), energy, transportation and waste management. The study also highlights that reaching a low-carbon scenario would require additional investments of around US$400 billion over 20 years. The report.
(World Bank, 2010)
The World Bank's Issue Brief #1 is part of a series of policy briefs on the topics of Climate, Finance and Development, and addresses how to track, monitor and report on various types of financial flows. It also explores ways to track additionality in official development assistance (ODA) flows. The briefs.
(World Bank, 2010)
Issue Brief #2 showcases how public finance can catalyze climate action, for example through combining resources and instruments to maximize synergies between climate and development, and finding opportunities to expand the scope for market mechanisms. The briefs.
(Asian Development Bank (ADB), 2010)
The ADB has launched a new Clean Air Portal, which is the point of entry for data and information on air quality, climate change co-benefits, energy and transport. The Portal's Knowledgebase allows users to search and upload articles, policies, organizations, projects and programmes, training courses, photos and videos, as well as to tag content thematically and geographically. Members can also participate in online communities of practice such as Air Quality and Co-benefits, Sustainable Transport, and Green Freights. The portal.
(World Bank, 2010)
This report, by Alexandre Kossoy and Philippe Ambrosi, World Bank Environment Department, indicates that the value of the global carbon market grew six percent, to US$144 billion, in 2009 despite being its most challenging year to date.
The Report indicates that, on the supply side, the reduction in access to capital made it difficult for many greenhouse gas emissions reduction project developers to lock in financing, causing project origination to grind to a halt. In addition, the global economic crisis also is reported to have negatively impacted the demand side because, as industrial output plummeted, the demand for carbon assets fell.
The Report analyzes data from the trading of European Union Allowances (EUAs) and secondary Kyoto offsets under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). It also evaluates transactions under the Kyoto markets: Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), Emission Reduction Units (ERUs), and Assigned Amount Units (AAUs), as well as data from voluntary markets. The report.
This report, published by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), focuses on the risks faced by farmers in agriculture from natural catastrophe to market and production risks that make their incomes unstable and unpredictable from year to year and that will steadily increase with the effects of climate change. The report notes that, although risks are inherent in agriculture, they can be managed. The problem arises when farmers and rural communities cannot afford the financial services offered by private insurers to manage the risks associated with agriculture. In some cases, particularly with small-holder farmers, outside help is necessary to guarantee insurance coverage. The report.
(UNDESA, May 2010)
This report notes that, although the world economy continued to improve in the first half of 2010, the pace of the recovery has not been sufficient to close the global output gap left by the financial crisis. In addition, the report indicates that the recovery has been uneven across countries. While growth prospects for a few developing countries are encouraging, economic activity is not encouraging in developed economies and even less encouraging in most of the developing world. The report highlights that macroeconomic stimulus is critical for recovery, to boost productivity and employment growth. The report.
(World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), March 2010)
This report is based on a series of UNEP FI-WBCSD workshops held in 2008 and 2009. These workshops provided a platform for companies and investors to collectively address barriers within capital market valuation processes that inhibit the proper disclosure and assessment of corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance—underpinning the materiality of ESG factors to long-term, sustainable business value and to the performance of investment portfolios. The resource.
This study by the World Bank notes that, although Africa's medium- and long-term development challenges remain large and complex, the progress underway is remarkable and undeniable. Progress is spurred by strong leadership, good governance, improved business climate, innovation, market-based solutions, engaged citizenry, and an increasing reliance on home-grown solutions. The study includes country cases from: Mali on linking farmers to markets through innovations in the value chain for mango exports; Kenya on irrigation pumps and adapting technology to development challenges; and Rwanda on the success of gorillas tourism and others. The success stories.
This report, issued by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), is the key annual reference for statistics and analysis on the latest trends in international aid. The report notes that, with only five years left to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the challenges due to the economic, food and climate change crises are mounting. The report stresses how aid should be delivered more effectively and how it can contribute to a cleaner growth process in developing countries. The report.
(World Bank, April 2010)
The World Bank's brief on "Multiple Solutions to Address the Climate Change Challenge" highlights the fiscal year 2009 efforts channeled US$9.3 billion in financing for climate-affected sectors. The brief notes that: new Country Assistance Strategies substantively address climate-related issues; low-carbon growth country studies have been undertaken for Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland and South Africa; the Latin America and Caribbean Region has developed an portfolio of approximately 180 activities with adaptation and mitigation co-benefits totaling over US$7 billion; and commitments for the fiscal year 2009 to climate-affected sectors (such as agriculture, flood protection, water supply and health), have more than tripled the average annual engagement in those sectors across the preceding three fiscal years. In addition, new renewable energy and energy efficiency financing reached US$1.3 billion, more than doubling the previous fiscal year's investment. The report.
(World Bank, 2010)
In order to mark the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010, this annual review focuses on the importance of biodiversity conservation in sustaining livelihoods and reducing poverty. It includes viewpoints on the importance of indigenous peoples in biodiversity conservation, protected areas, marine biodiversity, and invasive species and poverty. Feature articles address biodiversity funding at the World Bank, ecosystem-based solutions to climate change, and making wind power safer for biodiversity. The publication reviews projects such as the Global Tiger Initiative, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, and a World Bank-GEF-IUCN project seeking to leverage funds from private companies that use animals and plants in their logos to support species conservation efforts. It also includes regional reviews and developments on funding for biodiversity through REDD +, as well as voluntary standards. The publication.
The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)has published the 100th issue of CEPAL Review. This issue includes an article titled "The economy of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean: some stylized facts" ("La economía del cambio climático en América Latina y el Caribe: algunos hechos estilizados" in Spanish), authored by Joseluis Samaniego and Luis Miguel Galindo, Director and expert, respectively, of ECLAC's Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division. The authors analyze climate change evidence in Latin America, explain the methodology used to estimate economic impacts of climate change, identify these impacts in the region, and project impacts on specific sectors such as energy. The article.
(ICTSD, December 2009)
This paper, by Diarmuid Torney and Moustapha Kamal Gueye, seeks to provide trade negotiators and policy-makers with an overview of the current state of play of domestic climate change measures being implemented or considered in selected OECD countries – Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, and the US – that may have trade and development implications for developing countries. This paper focuses on five key issues as they relate to the trade and development concerns of developing countries: border measures, renewables, standards and labels, fiscal stimulus packages and Kyoto Protocol measures. The paper.
(World Bank, 2010)
This book presents ecosystem-based approaches to mitigation and adaptation as an essential pillar in national climate change strategies. It starts with an introduction to ecosystem-based mitigation and adaptation, then describes the role of natural ecosystems in mitigation through carbon stocks, sinks and reservoirs, and addresses how to reduce vulnerability through ecosystem-based adaptation. The book concludes by evaluating how to implement ecosystem-based approaches to climate change within the World Bank Group. The book.
(PLoS Biology, March 2010)
This study by scientists from 13 different organizations and research institutions states that forest protection offers one of the most effective and immediate strategies to combat climate change. The paper makes specific recommendations for incorporating protected areas into overall strategies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from deforestation and degradation (REDD). The paper.
(OECD, February 2010)
This paper offers an empirical assessment of the linkages between microfinance-supported activities and adaptation to climate change. Specifically, the lending portfolios of the 22 leading microfinance institutions in two climate vulnerable countries – Bangladesh and Nepal – are analyzed to assess the synergies and potential conflicts between microfinance and adaptation. The paper identifies areas of opportunity where microfinance could be harnessed to play a greater role in fostering adaptation, as well as its limitations in this context. It also explores the relationship between the top-down macro-financing for adaptation through international financial mechanisms and bottom-up activities that can be implemented through microfinance. The working paper.
This study reviews progress in Latin America and the Caribbean in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It highlights that, despite the growth in protected areas and success in eliminating ozone depleting substances (ODS), high deforestation rates, which are double world averages, and sustained increase of carbon dioxide emissions in the region are impeding compliance with the seventh MDG on environmental sustainability. The report.
(UNCTAD, February 2010)
This report, published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), focuses on the over 140 low-income and least developed countries, which account for less than 10% of energy-related GHG emissions of all developing countries. The report explores opportunities for low carbon growth, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies. It notes that no reduction of emissions from agriculture was included in the Kyoto Protocol or the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme. It describes how market-based instruments can help reduce the impact of emissions from the agricultural sector. The report.
(UNDP, December 2009)
This report, by the UNDP Regional Centre for Asia and Pacific, looks into the lessons learned from the past economic crises, the impact of the current crisis and policy responses in 14 countries in Asia Pacific. The analysis takes into consideration the rising threat of climate change and the recent experience of natural disasters in the region. The report.
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The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials are less than a week away – this Saturday, January 14, 2012. The race won't be televised live or streaming on the Web, though you can get minute-by-minute updates through Runner's World here. NBC also will be showing a tape-delay program of both trial races from 3:00-5:00 EST on Saturday.
The Stakes: The top three finishers in both the Men's and Women's category will make the U.S. Marathon team for the London 2012 games (assuming they come in under the qualifying times, which is an almost certainty).
Unique Course Layout: Contenders will be racing a specially designed course that starts out with a 2.2 mile inner loop followed by an 8 mile loop run three times. The course more closely resembles what athletes can expect at the London Olympic course. View the full course map here.
Weather: The weather looks to be a non-factor in this race, with a race day forecast of sunny skies and around 45 degrees when the gun fires.
Plenty of Challengers: With 147 men and 185 women qualified to run, there are bound to be some surprises and some truly inspired performances come race day. This is the first year when runners can qualify based on 10K, half marathon, or marathon times, meaning that there are lots of unknowns. Without any slight to the many other serious contenders in this race, here are a few athletes in particular to keep a close eye on:
- Shalane Flanagan: Flanagan is considered by many the leading woman on the course, even though she's had just one previous marathon outing (2:28:40 at the 2010 USA Women's Marathon Championships in New York). She won bronze in the 10K in Beijing and is coming off two recent half-marathon wins.
- Desiree Davila: 2011 was a year of PRs for Davila, including her 2:22:38 finish at the 2011 Boston Marathon, making her the fastest qualifier in the women's field. Expectations (and buzz) are high for Davila.
- Deena Kastor: At age 38, this would be Kastor's fourth Olympic Games. Still, she holds the fastest American women's marathon record (2:19:36, London 2006) and took bronze at the 2004 Games. No one should count her out.
- Magdalena Lewy Boulet: After finishing second at the 2008 Olympic trials, a knee injury kept Lewy Boulet from finishing the event in Beijing. She's a seasoned competitor in big races and all signs are that she's healthy heading into Saturday.
- Kara Goucher: With a fifth place finish at the 2011 Boston Marathon (in 2:24:52), Goucher trains alongside Flanagan and is shooting for big success in road races.
- Amy Hastings: A former teammate of Davila's at ASU, Hastings finished second at the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon and has been training with Mammoth Track Club athletes Kastor and Meb Keflezighi.
- Ryan Hall The American marathon record holder (2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston Marathon) is widely expected to finish in the top 3 if not to take the top spot.
- Dathan Ritzenhein: An injury-prone runner, all signs are that Ritzenhein is healthy heading into the trials. In addition to a second place finish in the 2008 trials, Ritzenhein has delivered personal bests in the 5K, 10K and half marathon since 2009. A top 3 finish would be a great way to start 2012.
- Meb Keflezighi: Keflezighi took a silver medal in the marathon back in 2004 in Athens. Coming off his personal best of 2:09:13 at the New York City Marathon in November, this 36-year-old may be in the zone or may have a tough time rebounding with only 69 days between races. Race day will tell.
- Brett Gotcher: With a debut 2:10:36 marathon (Houston, 2010) under his belt and coaching from Greg McMillan, Gotcher seems well positioned for a run at the top three.
- Jason Hartmann: A high school teammate of Ritzenhein, Hartmann gets noticed for his height (6'3") but would prefer recognition as an Olympic hopeful. He qualifies based on his eighth place finish at the 2010 Chicago Marathon (in 2:11:06).


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For several weeks on HorsePLAY! LIVE and in the GANG community, we've been predicting the release schedule for various killer features that will keep Hearthstone on our playlist and get more of our friends on-board. In our previous article on how to get the Hearthstone iPad app now (and get started right), we shared how to get rocking on your Apple device NOW but it seems the need for the work-around is quickly fading away. The B-Team Podcast has confirmed that the window is currently within a week or so. I am guessing before my birthday this Saturday, April 19th – that's great news, everyone!
B-Team PAX East Blizzard Interview Key Take-Aways:
- Blizzard qualifies this as CCG, not a TCG, which means we should not hold our breath for trading or auctioning of any sort.
- Hearthstone is the CCG for everyone.
- They're prioritizing creating a great game over the obligatory "merchandising bonanza" and cross-promotion.
- The iPad experience is the same as on PC and Mac.
- There are no pay gates or pay walls.
- One of their core philosophies is balancing the game so you can be competitive without spending tons of time or money.
All this is great news and should encourage newer players or anyone who is on the fence. I was surprised that there was no indication about spectator mode from any PAX East coverage. Blizzard has said it is a "top priority" but I reckon other components and features are the focus. I really feel that Blizzard is focusing on the more casual competitive community before catering to the hardcore eSports type players I'd say too much of a focus on eSports features which would make Hearthstone more exclusive and scary for the average gamer.
Our own Stan Faryna cited concerns with matchmaking and the new player experience, by extension. Blizzard confirmed that it is something they will keep fine-tuning. Hearthstone is the game many Blizzard developers have wanted to play themselves so they want it to be fun for everyone. During the B-Team interview, they briefly summarized how each of the primary gameplay modes handle matchmaking differently:
- Casual – As Stan says, casual play can be frustrating. I find that early in any season, the competition is most fierce due to a smaller player pool and sample data to work with perhaps. I do win most of my matches here unless I start experimenting too much.
- Ranked – This ladder mode looks more at stars and current rank so it's easier to find a close match, in theory. This mode seems to be the most fair mid-way through any season, with the exception of smurfs and fast-tracked/pay-to-win players.
- Arena – This uses a completely different system. Blizzard is unclear ("shocker") on what this means. I still find arena truly levels the playing field and rewards the most skilled players. Luck of the draw when building decks is an issue here, however.
Blizzard assures us that the client-server model, as opposed to peer-to-peer, so cheating should be minimized. The only issue Blizzard has encountered often is with trolls milking the timer. Never fear – they are working on improving that! Unlike their parent company, EA, I have faith Blizzard will commit to their promises and support this game for many years to come, much like they have with Warcraft III and Diablo II, two of my all-time favorite games.
Blizzard also confirmed during the PAX East interview what many of us have already noticed: [two of] the top Twitch streamers have gone up the ladder to Legendary rank within a week or two without spending money. I believe TrumpSC is one of them. Of course, if you want to see how NOT to play Hearthstone, watch me on Twitch or check out the NEW! TwitchPlaysHearthstone, which is similar to the newbtastic, cringe-worthy experience on TwitchPlaysPokemon.
Joystiq has a quick-and-dirty Hearthstone PAX East cheat sheet that does a really good job of highlighting the big things we can expect this year. The biggest details revolve around the upcoming Hearthstone expansion, affectionately called CoN.
Curse of Naxxramas is slated for Summer 2014 but I would not be surprised if the first boss encounter or episode is released within a few weeks as I write this. I reckon Blizzard wants to control the release of new cards so that newer players can avoid feeling overwhelmed. I think that is fair.
The first CoN corridor or wing (Arachnid) will be FREE but, as we see in arena, a buy-in will be required for new runs. While this expansion brings tons of singleplayer content, the addition of 30 new cards will certainly spice up PvP quite a bit. More seasoned duelists like myself, Sworen, and ObioneX2 are eagerly awaiting new cards but, honestly, I think the current card set is fine.
What's really important here is that Adventure Mode will give newer or lesser-skilled players the opportunity to test out new strategies in a more controlled environment since bosses will use pre-constructed themed decks. With less room to blame external circumstances or luck, players can actual train and improve! I know Stan will love what this expansion means for the game. For me, the fact that I have gamer ADD means that I need more variety and Blizzard is delivering so THANK YOU!
Quite a few cards have been revealed but let's discuss the ones most of us find interesting. First and foremost, you'll see that they are committing to the deathrattle mechanic quite a bit; however, there are still no signs of new classes and archetypes. That means no elf, unicorn, dragon, or orc synergies… Perhaps that would make the game less accessible.. Sorry but it's true. If you want over-complicated game mechanics, consider Scrolls, SolForge, Magic The Gathering, or Yu-Gi-Oh!, where the possibilities are endless.. almost to the point of utter frustration just keeping up with the current meta and most viable strategies.
Okay, okay, here are the cards: Undertaker gains a +1/+1 when minions with deathrattle are summoned. Baron Rivendare will cause the deathrattle ability to trigger twice, which will certainly shift the meta and make for some interesting video highlights. I can't wait! We wonder if this will replace Murlock aggro/rush decks as the new over-played core mechanic. Deathrattle is already sexy but now we will see it as a theme around which decks will be built.
Dear Blizzard, you *NEED* to add more deck slots. Hell, you can even monetize and bundle it with big-ticket purchases to justify expediting feature. Really, additional deck slots would be a value-add just because it would allow players to compare different builds with their favorite heroes/classes. Deck and class-based stats could then be introduced, too! We'd play a whole lot Hearthstone with these features in place. Currently, getting attached to a deck is not possible so naming them is almost arbitrary and pointless. Just sayin.
Shade Of Naxxramas is a 3-cost minion who starts at 2/2 with stealth and gains +1/+1 at the start of each turn. Shade sounds like a stronger Jungle Panther, since this minion has the ability to stick and scale. That means she will have the opportunity to get more damage out, which is HUGE. Dancing Swords is 4/4 3-mana card. It's deathrattle effect gives your opponent cards, which makes this card questionable at first but…
We have seen a rise in Priest with heavy card draw mechanics built right in. The guys at The Angry Chicken say that milling (making your opponent run out of cards) is not a viable core mechanic or strategy but I beg to differ. I've had opponents bleed out when they got too greedy. What's more is that Priests have the ability to mass dispel (silence), so they can theoretically play Dancing Swords without the penalty, which will likely make them more aggressive and popular.
Enough about the cards… What about RNG?
RNG, known to game developers and designers as Random Number Generator, refers to the random seed process and algorithms that work behind the scenes. Any element of random can be attributed to RNG. In a deckbuilding game, you can express this as a fraction. For example, you have a x/y chance to draw a card from a deck. X is how many copies of the card you have and Y is the deck size. Don't forget to simplify and, if you prefer percentages, divide the numerator (the top number) by the denominator (the bottom number).
Kids, be sure to tell your parents you learned something useful today. Math is OP. For realz.
The big question about Hearthstone and other deckbuilding games is whether random elements trump skill. I still say "NO" with regards to Hearthstone. There are popular streamers that consistently get to the top tier of rankings so, logically, it can't be all about random luck. Give SolForge a try if you doubt this. I love SolForge but it is much more of a grind for players trying to avoid dumping money in. SolForge refreshes your hand every turn so you may never get the right card you want, even if you run multiple copies and incorporate lots of card-draw combos.
As we will often find, the key in any TCG/CCG is mitigating the random elements rather than waiting to top-deck the card you really need or hoping your opponent makes a mistake. You need to be deliberate and aware. Here are some core concepts to note:
- Card Draw – Many decks run out of steam late-game, which is why Priests, Beasts, and Warlocks are very popular – they have tons of ways to draw more cards. The more cards you have in your hand late-game, the more options you have.
- Play Order – One of the things we often take for granted is the order in which cards are played. The wrong order can cause unnecessary damage to your own minions or accidental enraging/buffing of enemy minions, just for starters.
- Wait & Combo -Just because you can make a play on a turn does not mean it is the best play. Consider the combos and potential value of a big play later. Leaving a single minion to the slaughter is rarely a good idea, especially if they
- Two For One – The simplest rule of thumb is the most basic math of efficiency: any action that can counter an opponent's (or cause them to take) two or three actions is a solid play. This would indicate that minions with abilities are particularly useful but sometimes it's about preventing repeat use from opponent plays (like that one minion that keeps snake biting you).
- Trade Or Face? – This is the question you'll often be faced with. Do you do damage to the face or trade up with minions? It all depends on the threats on the board and what you suspect your opponent has waiting for you. The main thing to consider is how likely it will be that minions you spared this turn will be buffed somehow, which means continued value for your opponent… And potential damage to YOUR face.
- Premature Ejaculation – It's easy to blow your metaphorical load on Hearthstone. You maysee the opportunity to remove a minion and forget about the other threats your opponent may have. Board clear is very good but be wary of opponents with full hands.. They are likely trying to bait you to waste your counters.
These concepts apply to just about every card game but Hearthstone is arguably the easiest to get into. Now, we can talk about the strategy all day but it really comes down to the basics: patience and experience. If you get frustrated and forget to have fun, nothing else really matters. Find a deck build that you enjoy and focus on that a bit. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback. Streaming on Twitch certainly welcomes advice, warranted or not.
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft truly is deceptively simple (yeah, it's not just catchy marketing copy, guys). It's easy to get into but, like with any other deckbuilding game, there are many layers of depth and strategy. Experience goes a long way so, if you want to build up an early advantage, it may be best to jump into the game right now and learn the ropes before new cards and game mechanics are introduced. The meta will inevitably shift with every tweak but the game is stable and balanced now.
So what are you waiting for?
Tell us what's keeping you from playing Hearthstone TODAY.. Or maybe what you love most about it. It's all good in da hood, y0. If you're still unsure about Hearthstone, I'll sell you on it yet! If you have questions or concerns, share them with us – don't be shy!
See you in the comments section!


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Dancers Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts To Host Ballroom With A Twist
It's time to plan a trip to California if you are a fan to Anna Trebunskaya and husband, Jonathan Roberts. The two will be hosting "Ballroom With A Twist" on January 20th and 21st at the Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego. Below are some more details on all the performers….
Star Watch: It's the who's who of the dance and singing world, joining together for an evening of grace, athleticism, and passion. Dancing with the Stars hot-shot couple Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts host both nights of Ballroom with a Twist and are joined by vocals from LaKisha Jones, David Hernandez, Gina Glocksen, and Michael Sarver. The show is conceived and choreographed by Dancing with the Stars' Emmy-nominated Louis van Amstel and conducted by Matthew Garbutt.
You can read more at Sign On San Diego.
For ticket information, visit San Diego Symphony.


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Hi Folks,OK what are Lichens, what do they look like, how would I know if they were present specially if it was powdered? I mean you are not suppose to ignore it but go to a Dr and be treated. Has anyone here been exposed to it??Best, Roy
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Editor's Note: World Polio Day is this Thursday, October 24. To get ready, we've updated this blog post from July. Help us raise awareness by joining Shot@Life or tweeting:
We can make history & #endpolio forever. As we mark World Polio Day on Oct 24, here are 5 reasons to care: http://bit.ly/1fSWnpb
A recent polio outbreak in the Horn of Africa serves as a reminder that this crippling disease still exists and is actively threatening children. While there is no cure for polio, vaccines protect children from the disease for life.
In 1988, national governments, UN agencies, and civil society groups came together to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, an international effort to immunize children and end polio for good.
Here are five numbers you should know about the fight against polio and how you can help win it.
1. 99 percent reduction in polio cases: In the past 25 years, the number of polio cases has dropped by more than 99 percent, from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to just 223 last year – the lowest number ever.
2. 10 million walking: Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative launched, immunization against polio has saved more than 10 million children from paralysis according to the World Health Organization.
3. Only 3 endemic countries: Polio remains endemic in just three countries – Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. This means that transmission of the disease has never been stopped in these countries. Until this happens, other countries are at risk of importing this highly contagious disease.
4. Failure could result in up to 200,000 new cases annually: As long as polio remains anywhere, it's a threat everywhere. According to the World Health Organization, failure to eradicate polio could, within 10 years, result in as many as 200,000 new cases worldwide every year.
5. $40 billion – $50 billion in savings: Economic models estimate that ending polio would save between US$40 billion to US$50 billion over the 20 years following eradication.
We are closer than ever to ridding the world of polio, but finishing the job will require resources and commitment. You can help by joining the UN Foundation's Shot@Life campaign, which is working with the UN and other partners to make sure every child has access to the vaccines he or she needs to stay safe from polio. Help put a stop to polio today.


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[Crises In Africa: Black Star News Editorial]
With time, every big lie in the world is exposed.
So is it with the cover-up of genocide in East and Central Africa.
Only a fool could still deny that Uganda's dictator General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a genocidal killer of the first rank.
Indeed, he revealed his pathology long ago when he gloated in his thesis paper at the University of Dar Es Salaam that the path to power is to hold up the severed head of an enemy. Perhaps his supporters in Washington and London have not read Museveni's masterpiece. Yet, the thesis is available in libraries around the world; or maybe Museveni's Western supporters share his philosophy.
After all, he was even more celebrated and lauded in the West after he told The Atlantic Monthly magazine, in an article by Bill Berkeley published in September 1994, that any African who was captured into slavery must have been stupid. Not surprisingly the headline of the article was "African Success Story."
Yet, even members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), including Donald Payne, continue to sing Museveni's praises. Readers should put in a call to any African American member of Congress whom they know and ask him or her about this calumny. The Chairwoman of the CBC is Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick; the phone number is (202) 226-9776.
In any case, Washington and London subsidize Uganda's national budget at the rate of over 50% and equip and train its army, which has never defended Uganda against any foreign enemy invasion.
Instead, the national Army has killed its domestic citizens --more than one million in northern Uganda, primarily Acholis, with the assistance of its allies, the Lord's Resistance Army-- and it has invaded foreign countries.
In Rwanda, Congo, and the Sudan, Uganda's army has left a trail of blood and mountains of skulls: Uganda's 1990 invasion of Rwanda helped spark the genocide that claimed the lives of more than one million innocent Rwandese; in Congo more than five million died as a result of Uganda's invasion and occupation, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in 2005 ordered $10 billion in compensation.
The residual effect of the culture of genocide unleashed by Uganda continues in Congo, with new fighting in Eastern Congo carried out by Uganda's and Rwanda's acolyte, the terrorist Laurent Nkunda, whose chief of military staff has already been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in April 2008.
Maximum exposure must be applied to the Godfather of genocide in Africa, Yoweri Museveni, less the incoming Barack Obama Administration continues the policy of business as usual, trading five million Congolese lives for gold, diamond, timber and coltane.
Already the signs are not good: Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State will bring as shadow Secretary of State Bill Clinton. If any foreign player is as guilty as Museveni for the Rwanda and Congo genocide, then it is Bill Clinton.
As president, this American master charmer armed and equipped Uganda's army in the 1990s and his Administration trained in the United States the officers who led the invasion of Rwanda from Uganda, including Paul Kagame, who is today Rwanda's supremo.
This newspaper supported candidate Barack Obama from the very beginning. We condemned racist tactics against him by his political opponents when the so-called major media were pretending to be blind.
In fact, it was after The Washington Post referenced a Black Star News editorial defending Obama against racist attacks meant to undermine his candidacy that the so-called mainstream media joined the battle.
We shall not hesitate for a minute to call out the incoming Administration --and propaganda media such as The New York Times and BBC-- if the genocide against East and Central Africans is allowed to continue, using African traitors such as Museveni, merely so that Western corporations should continue to rape the resources of Africa. This is the time to defend Congo and the innocent in Uganda's Acholi region.
Let the enemies of Africa stand warned.
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Black Star News has been producing stellar investigative journalism since 1997, including focusing on police brutality and other abuses targeting marginalized communities. We have broken several major stories. We welcome news tips to firstname.lastname@example.com and email@example.com
We need your advertising support to produce strong journalism, especially during periods of economic instability, so please contact firstname.lastname@example.com for advertising rates and long term packages.
Black Star News has been producing stellar investigative journalism since 1997, including focusing on police brutality and other abuses targeting marginalized communities. We have broken several major stories. We welcome news tips to email@example.com and firstname.lastname@example.com
We need your advertising support to produce strong journalism, especially during periods of economic instability, so please contact firstname.lastname@example.com for advertising rates and long term packages.
All content is copyright Black Star News © 2011. All rights reserved.


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Bob Bashara's Handyman Sentenced for Killing Jane Bashara
Handyman Joe Gentz said he was paid by Bob Bashara to kill Jane Bashara.
Feb. 19, 2013 -- A Michigan handyman who pleaded guilty to killing a suburban Detroit woman in a murder-for-hire scheme was sentenced today to 17 to 28 years in jail.
Joe Gentz claimed Grosse Pointe Park businessman Bob Bashara offered him money to kill his wife Jane. Jane Bashara was found strangled in her Mercedes SUV in Detroit in January 2012.
Bob Bashara denied involvement in his wife's murder and passed a polygraph test. However, he pleaded guilty in October to solicitation of murder charges for hiring a hit man to kill Gentz. Prosecutors said Bashara wanted to prevent Gentz from testifying against him. Bashara was sentenced in December to six to 20 years in prison.
Gentz ultimately accepted a plea deal that mandated that he testify truthfully in the case. Gentz told police during his confession that Bob Bashara had offered to pay him and "forced" him to kill Jane.
At Bashara's sentencing in December, Gentz's attorney Susan Reed read a statement from her client.
"I have been telling the truth from the beginning. Bob has used me and threatened me. He told me he had friends in the Mafia and would have me killed," Gentz's statement said. "I went to the police. No one believed me."
Reed told the Detroit Free Press Monday that Gentz, who reportedly has a below-average IQ, is "extremely remorseful and sorry for what he's put Jane Bashara's family through and what he's put his family through."
Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans issued Gentz's sentence this morning.
According to the Free Press, Evans indicated in court that she would have preferred to sentence Gentz to more time in prison, but ultimately followed the sentencing agreement that had been worked out by the prosecution and Reed.
Gentz, Evans said, "knew right from wrong and good from bad."
"The request was made and you wanted to obey the request of your master," Evans said, according to the Free Press.


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One of the fun and frustrating parts of family history is how it keeps changing on you. There are always more records, there is always more documentation on your ancestors. Most of it is mundane and useless, even if it does give you a partial hint on your family. But sometimes you stumble upon a gem. As I did with this newspaper clipping.
I thought I had scoured Ogden's Standard Examiner pretty thoroughly for familial references. Nevertheless, I was searching for something entirely different and found this article. I don't know if I missed it before or if search capabilities have improved and caught now what I could not catch 5 or 8 years ago when I went through the Standard Examiner records.
Here is the entire page of the paper.
A couple of thoughts about the entire page.
100 Gladiolus bulbs for $1.69!
I love when they reference someone in the paper they give their home address.
Sears Roebuck & Co. May soon be another thing of the past, despite being an institution of the American way of life for over 150 years.
Mattresses seem to be pretty much the same as they were 67 years ago. Not that I expect lots of change, but other than these new foam mattresses, things appear to be much the same.
Call Sears at 2-5331!
Combination Offer, box springs and mattress only $42.88!
Utah's Senator, Elbert D. Thomas has a new book out, "One Nation Under God" only $2.75. I don't think I can see a Senator now out selling a religious principles book.
Washers have changed a great deal since 1950.
Alcoholics Anonymous is still going strong today.
Anyhow, on to the reason why I am writing this post. Mary E Stoker is my Great, Great Grandmother. I have written about her previously. But this little newspaper article tells us some things at least I had never known.
"An open house to honor Mary E. Stoker, old time resident of Weber county, on her 81st birthday anniversary, will bbe held Sunday, Apr 9, at the home of her son, J. E. Donaldson, 120 E street, Salt Lake City. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
"Mrs. Stoker was born April 7, 1869, in Ogden, a daughter of David D and Gwendolyn Jordan Williams, pioneer converts from Wales. She spent her early childhood in Slaterville and moved to Ogden when she was 15 years old.
"She was married to William Scott Donaldson in Ogden, October 1890. They had six children, William George Donaldson, and John Edmund Donaldson, Salt Lake City; David Delos Donaldson, Ogden; Ellis Donaldson, Pocatello, Idaho; Irvin T. Donaldson, West San Pablo, Calif.; Alvin Donaldson, Green River, Wyo. Mr. Donaldson died Sept. 12, 1913.
"In 1918 she was married to Anthon Edward Peterson in Ogden. Several years after Mr. Peterson's death she was married to Thomas Stoker of Huntsville. She has six sons, 22 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She also has three brothers, Hyrum Williams, John H. Williams, and Joseph Williams, Ogden, and one sister, Mrs. Louise Layman, Ogden.
"Mrs. Stoker remembers when there were not over 10 houses east of Washington, when mud was hub deep to wagons in stormy weather. She remembers the first street cars, the first street lights and the first volunteer fire department.
"She went to Salt Lake City with her moth to attend Brigham Young's funeral. She was personally acquainted with Lorin Farr, first mayor of Ogden, D. H. Peery, Job Pingree, Franklin D. Richards, John Scowcroft, John Guthrie, W. H. Wright, George Kerr, Bernard White, Winslow Farr, Robert McQuarrie, and their families. She knew most of the early settles of Weber county.
"Mrs. Stoker says there has been so much progress since her childhood that she takes great interest in new developments, inventions and methods of doing things. She is so sure that many more wonderful inventions are just a few years away and she wants to live to be at least 100 years old because she enjoys seeing progress.
Much of that seemed standard and information we knew. But she went to Brigham Young's funeral when she was about 8 years old. Why did her mother take her to the funeral. Brigham did not serve any of his missions in Wales, so I doubt they were converts or knew him while he was a missionary. But Gwenllian had enough regard for him that she traveled to Salt Lake City to say farewell. Enough that she even took her daughter. But that is an interesting side note to Mary.
The other information is more history of Ogden. I am curious how well she knew the people listed in the article and how she knew them. Now about half of the list does not mean anything to me. As a non-Ogdenite, only a few of the names I am familiar. Farr, Peery, and Richards. The rest of these are lost on me and I will have to research their significance to her and the paper for another time.
Just a few more interesting insights into the lady I know as Mary Elizabeth Donaldson.
Here is a much better copy of the photo from the newspaper article. She died 29 March 1951.


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U.S. men's figure skater Johnny Weir held a press conference on Wednesday in Vancouver responding to homophobic remarks made two Canadian broadcasters.
"I'm not somebody to cry over something or to be weak about something. I felt very defiant when I saw these comments," the skater said referring to homophobic comments made by two Canadian commentators, one of which suggested Weir should have to take a gender test. "It wasn't these two men criticizing my skating… it was them criticizing me as a person, and that was something that really, frankly, pissed me off.
"I hope more kids can grow up the same way I did and more kids can feel the freedom that I feel to be themselves and to express themselves and that's the most important thing," the skater, who placed sixth at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics in Men's Figure Skating, continued. "Out of ugly, I think the most important thing to do in life is make something beautiful."
As for his outlandish performance theatrics and extravagant costumes on the ice, Weir said the public doesn't get to see his true self.
"I'm always thought of [as] the sparkly flamboyant character that wore a crown of roses… Nobody knows me, nobody knows what makes me tick," he said. "I think masculinity is what you believe it to be. To me, masculinity is all my perception. I think masculinity and femininity is something that's very old fashioned."
And the skater said he believes the younger generation is evolving when it comes to gender roles.
"There's a whole new generation of people that aren't defined by their sex or their race or who they like to sleep with," he told reporters. "I think as a person you know what your values are and what you believe in and I that's the most important thing."
Following the press conference, the skater asked his Twitter followers to spread their love to others, Tweeting, "Why can't we all just get along? Seriously? Love everyone like they deserve to be loved. Goodnight lovers."
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Rep. Kratovil Keeps His Promise on Education
U.S. Representative Frank Kratovil is fulfilling his pledge to take advantage of every opportunity to listen to his constituents…especially when it comes to educating our children.
Kratovil fielded questions last week during a telephone town hall about education, sponsored by the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) and NEA. The call had more than 800 people on the line.
"The tele-town hall gave me the opportunity to reach out to parents, teachers, and civic leaders so that not only do they know where I stand on these issues, but so that I can get their input and help me inform my decisions," said Kratovil. "The best way to serve the district is to make sure I understand concerns and that people's opinions are heard."
Questions from those on the call covered a variety of topics including class size reduction, the Elementary and Secondary Authorization Act, the significance of parental involvement in relation to student achievement, and the importance of early childhood education.
Those who didn't get a chance to ask their question during the tele-town hall were able to leave the Congressman a message about their concerns after the "question and answer" session of the call ended.
"This was a great opportunity to reach out to a large group of people in a short amount of time and I thank all who participated, especially the MSEA for their assistance," said Kratovil.
NEA is teaming up with several state affiliates—including MSEA—to sponsor the first round of tele-town halls designed to let educators and the general public know what their elected leaders in Washington, DC are doing to improve public education and where they stand on the issue that impact the classroom. To learn about upcoming townhalls, click here.


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Language course Russian A1
Language: Russian
Level: A1
Course Structure: Group courses, Private lessons, Semi private lessons, Skype
Course Focus: Conversation, Grammar
Our Target Audience: Adults, Business, Students
Length of Course: 1 month, 2,5 months, 3,5 months, 4 months, 6 months
Lesson Time: Afternoon course, Evening course, Lunchtime, Morning course, Saturday course
Location: Business Clients, Zurich
Read More
Our language course Russian A1 provides a solid foundation upon which to build a working knowledge of Russian. Our experienced teachers are native speakers and will provide you with a supportive and rich learning environment. They'll also provide you with insights into their own culture. Our small class size (3-6 students) and up to date teaching methodologies will give you every opportunity to ask questions, as well as the chance to speak and practice the language as much as possible.
It is possible to complete an entire level in one course. Depending on the intensity of the course, this can take between 2.5 and 6 months.
When you have finished a course, you will have acquired the essential grammar and vocabulary you need to deal with simple everyday interactions.
These courses are designed for adult students who are complete beginners. We can offer you the flexibility of studying at our centrally located school, in the comfort of your own home, or at your workplace.
Sample quote for a complete language course Russian A1:
1. Option (This course includes more lessons and repetition units):
Course time: morning/lunch/evening
Number of lessons: 56 lessons of 60 min.
Course fees: 1960 CHF (monthly instalments possible)
2. Option:
Course time: morning/lunch/evening
Number of lessons: 48 lessons of 60 min.
Course fees: 1680 CHF (monthly instalments possible)
Please contact us for a detailed quote and to arrange a free trial lesson!
Let us know your preferences, and we will find the course and time to best suit your schedule.
Our prices are based on certain criteria depending on the course.
A complete price overview can be found here:


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Knee injuries in young athletes continues to be on the rise. One of the most common sports injuries, an ACL tear, could end a young athlete's career aspirations in sports before it even begins. Twist your knee sharply or extend it beyond its normal range during play, and you may hear the telltale "pop." Whether your child participates in football, soccer, basketball or track, their drive for the game may be setting the stage for a serious injury.
We hosted a live chat with Dr. John Xerogeanes, Chief of Sports Medicine at Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center, on Wednesday, September 28 where he answered questions regarding how to reduce the risk of knee injury, exercises for strengthening the knee, warning signs, what to do following an ACL injury, and the rehabilitation process. Below are some highlights from the live chat, and you can read the full chat transcript here.
Question: What are the signs that I have injured my ACL?
Dr. Xerogeanes: You will usually land from a jump or twist the knee. You will often feel a "pop" in the knee or even hear a pop. Most of the time one will also feel the knee bend in in an abnormal manner.
Question: Is it easier to for an athlete to injure their knee again after they've already injured it once?
Dr. Xerogeanes: Yes. if you hurt your ACL and do not have surgery, then your knee will go out again when you play. that can injure your knee further. After reconstruction of the ACL, you can alway reinjure it again. My reinjury rate in the last 1500 ACLs that I have done is around 5.5%.
Question: What is surgery for an acl tear like?
Dr. Xerogeanes: Surgery takes an hour. I like to borrow tissue from the quad tendon (above the knee). I like this because it is the strongest graft tissue with the least amount of collateral damage. It can be done through a 1-2cm scar. We have followed our patients with a pain app the we created and most patients are off pain meds within3-4 days.
Question: Are knee injuries more common in one age group than another? Or in a certain sport?
Dr. Xerogeanes: They are different between sexes. Females increase dramatically at puberty. Males increase in high school but not at drastically as females. We have no idea why, but at this age a female has a 4-5x greater risk of ACL injury than a male.
Read the full chat transcript from this live chat about knee injuries here.


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Most of us carry some debt, and whether it's the low-interest-rate environment we want to take advantage of, or a backlog of bills that keeps us worried, we want to put ourselves in a better financial position. As a lover of tech tools that automate the process and save consumers money, I've always known there was a better way. One of the best online tools is Ready for Zero.
In my opinion, a great debt-management tool should do a few things:
- Be super-user-friendly
- Automatically send payments beyond your minimum to the highest-rate credit cards first
- Alert you to opportunities to optimize and reduce debt costs
- Do the math so you can understand quickly what your debt is really costing you and how other scenarios — like paying it off sooner — will help
Ready for Zero needs to do a better job on alerts but delivers solidly on the other three criteria. It also may not be a fit if the debt collectors are after you — or if you need to restructure your student loan or other debt — but it is a useful one-stop platform that provides a nice, clean window into your debts and then helps you act.
The User Experience
Here's what I liked about Ready for Zero. The setup was as fast and easy as it gets. Like Mint.com or other "account aggregation" systems that tap into your financial accounts, you have to use your username and passwords to provide the system access. If you don't have online access for each account, you'll need to set that up first.
Once I plugged my credit-card and loan accounts into the platform, I could see a chart of my progress paying them down, measured by a line that rises with growing debt and falls with dwindling debt. Once you've set up your debts, the system shows you how long it will take until you pay them off. While that's not so novel, the platform helps you focus on the next step by pointing you to an opportunity to make early payments and letting you see the impact.
This is where the fee comes in. For $4.95 a month, you can pay all of your bills online with an unlimited number of creditors. Many banks now offer online bill pay as a way to keep their customers from leaving; it's free for most customers at Bank of America and Wells Fargo, for instance. (Wells charges $3 a month for those who don't have an eligible bank account, or $5,000 in qualifying accounts.)
But those sites lack some of the other resources and the sole focus on proactive debt management that Ready for Zero offers. For example, if you want to pay off your debts sooner, Ready for Zero will tell you how to allocate your money in a way that will save you the most. If your accounts receive large deposits, they'll recommend larger payments.
I also liked the Actions tab, which offers a checklist of actions you can take to keep yourself out of debt — from debt-consolidation options to stopping credit-card offers. It actually will take you directly to the National Do Not Call Registry, for instance.
In the Getting Organized area of the Actions tab, I was please to see a range for my credit score. However, the system only offers credit score ranges from a single bureau — TransUnion — partly because they're free.
The Downsides: Refinancing Alerts, Special Situations
Ready for Zero doesn't offer some options that could be helpful for some consumers, however. For example, I wanted to set up an alert to be notified when rates drop by another .5%, so that I might consider a refinance, but it lacks that feature. However, the system will alert you to changes in your variable-loan rates (such as on a mortgage or credit card), and it offers alerts when you've reached a certain goal in paying down your debt. ("You've reached a 25% milestone.")
Most important, many people¬ — especially out-of-work students — might be better off getting on an income-based repayment plan. While the site offers educational content around these programs, it doesn't have a way to directly help the consumer.
The growth in student loans, however, is one reason the company added a bi-weekly payments feature to its bill-pay service. Breaking up a $420 minimum monthly payment on $97,000 in debt into two payments per month at $210 can save you a whopping $10,641 in interest and reduce the time to payoff from 25 years to 21 years.
The Bottom Line? Score: 4 out of 5
While there are many online bill-paying tools on the market, Ready for Zero offers a more holistic view of a user's debt picture. Sure, there are places like Mint.com, SpringCoin (online credit counseling), and Payoff.com, but they all have a different focus or generate revenue through lead generation (the sale of third-party products or services).
Ready for Zero is a proactive, user-friendly site that does a good job of helping you to at least begin to get to zero with your debts.
Jennifer Openshaw is author of "The Millionaire Zone" (Hyperion) and president of Finect.com, a soon-to-launch networking platform for the investment community. She has appeared on Oprah, CNN and many other programs. Reach her at email@example.com or on Twitter @jopenshaw.


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What's being dubbed "The Great Fan Escape" went down in the bottom of the ninth inning as Houston Astro Carlos Lee was trying to tie the game against the Mets. Both Lee and on-field security charged with keeping the Minute Maid Park field invader-free failed to do so.
Sadly, he apparently got caught after scaling the centerfield wall.