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There's no shortage of squirrels this winter.
The unseasonably warm winter has kept them active in recent months. Like anything else in the wild, they're constantly on the prowl for food — particularly around bird feeders.
Readers shared the following tales of their dealings with the furry critters.
Squirrel lady of Tip Hill
Charlene UpDike said she set up several bird feeders when she moved to the Tip Hill area of Syracuse several years ago. The majority of visitors, though, were pigeons, starlings and sparrows.
"I used to live out in the country and I missed the wide variety of birds," she said.
UpDike decided instead to focus on feeding squirrels.
"I'm home all the time, so I needed some kind of entertainment here," she said and laughed.
She feeds about a dozen squirrels each day that stop by her front yard from all directions in her neighborhood. There's a covered kitty litter box with a front opening on her porch that's full of feed, and a ceramic bowl at the bottom of her steps that's overflowing with pumpkin seeds.
Most spectacular, though, is the tree in her front yard where she's nailed a big pinwheel with metal spikes. She puts dried corn cobs on the spikes, some slathered with peanut butter. The squirrels perform all sorts of acrobatic moves to get at and hold onto the cobs.
UpDike said at least three squirrels will take peanuts from her hand. She figures she spends about $20 weekly on a variety of food: songbird mix with berries, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, dried corn cobs and a special squirrel mix of corn and sunflower seeds.
UpDike has given several of the regulars names. She looked out her front-door window and pointed out a couple. "That big black one, that's Hercules," she said. "That scrawny, almost hair-less one, we call him crackhead."
The squirrels frequently catch the attention of passersby.
"I've had cars stop. People take pictures with their cell phones ... even videos," she said.
The Vaseline solution
Gloria Cook, of Camillus, said she has had bird feeders for years.
She uses a "shepherd's hook" sort of pole, on which she's attached her feeder. It features various seeds and suet. The local squirrels, though, have been filling up lately at her expense.
"I love my birds," she said. "I get cardinals. I even have a hummingbird feeder. Those squirrels have even tried to get into that syrup."
At first, she said, she put axle grease and oil on the pole.
"That wasn't thick enough," she said. "I decided to try Vaseline."
She bought a big plastic jar and puts on thin plastic gloves when she periodically applies it to the pole.
"It's kind of messy, but who cares?" she said. "They're not getting up there and keeping my birds away."
She said squirrels can get nasty if they key in on your house.
"They can chew right through wood and get into your attic or eaves," she said.
A different kind of snack
Tom Adessa, of Auburn, has two bird feeders in his yard, and there always seems to be a bunch of squirrels about.
"A couple of them sit in our dining room window, looking inside as if to say, 'I'm hungry,'" he said, adding that he and his wife, Martha, occasionally put out peanuts.
"One of them developed a taste for peanut butter on a dog biscuit. My wife discovered this after running out of peanuts one day and putting that out for the squirrel instead," he said.
It's not all fun and games.
"We had a wooden suet feeder with wooden sides and a wire insert in the middle. They couldn't get to the suet, so they chewed through the wooden sides," he said. "My wife was hot. It cost $35. She bought it at a craft show."
A shocking approach
Jim Mortensen, of Oxford, in Chenango County, wrote that he's always had a bird feeder just off his deck .
"Once the squirrels found the feeder, feeding them plus the birds was expensive in terms of food and destroyed feeders," he said. Three Christmases ago, he received a "Wild Bill's Squirrel-Proof Feeder" from his youngest daughter's family.
"This feeder operates using a 9-volt battery that powers two sides of a circuit — one is the center hanger and tray; the other a disc on top, plus the four metal perches along the bottom," he said. "When a squirrel or raccoon climbs down the hanger or jumps to the tray and comes in contact with either the disc or perches, it gets a mild electrical shock."
It worked.
"They would sit on nearby branches — huddled up, tails over their backs — and eye the feeder, but not attempt to get on it," he said.
But Mortensen, who said he hunted squirrels as a teen and remembers the fine stew his mom used to make with the meat, felt sorry for the shocked squirrels. He bought a metal squirrel feeder that he keeps filled with corn and sunflower seeds.
The electrified bird feeder, though, occasionally malfunctions.
"The batteries will die and/or if it is wet or snow-covered it will not work. A couple of the squirrels have figured this out and will rob it when the power is out," he said. "When I replace the battery or dry the contacts, however, we do get a short term of revenge."
A 'black-hearted' rodent
Kristin DeCare, of Volney, said she enjoys feeding birds throughout the winter, but at any given time there's at least eight gray squirrels on her 6-by-7-foot deck.
"Usually, I spread some sunflower seeds on the deck to keep them off my sunflower seed feeder," she said.
One day a little red squirrel with a "really bad" attitude showed.
"He's jumping at and chasing the grays. I saw it chasing the birds, too," she said. "Once it even tried to tackle a mourning dove."
One day she noticed it on the deck railing, eating a bird.
"It managed to get itself a goldfinch," she said. "It made me so mad that I told my husband it had to go.
"So after a couple of attempts, he did shoot it and that was the end of that miserable, bird-eating, black-hearted, little rodent."


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Cortland, NY -- The Cortland County district attorney began the Wendy Thibeault murder trial this morning by describing Wendy's estranged husband, Charles Randy Thibeault, as an enraged man bent on exacting revenge on Wendy because she had filed for divorce.
Given their chance, Thibeault's lawyers told jurors that prosecutors will try to reconstruct Wendy's murder with no eyewitness accounts, and based only on circumstantial and physical evidence.
Thibeault, 60, of 2011 Tower Road, Cortlandville, is standing trial on felony charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, burglary and contempt. He could be imprisoned for up to 25 years to life if he is convicted of the murder charge.
He's accused of beating and fatally choking Wendy at their secluded home, about five miles south of Cortland, on May 26. Wendy Thibeault was 47.
The couple, who had a teenage son who will testify for the prosecution, separated last April following an argument that turned violent. Charles Thibeault was arrested following the April incident.
Speaking to jurors on Wednesday, District Attorney Mark Suben said following the April attack, Thibeault became more enraged when Wendy took $13,000 from a checking account they shared.
Suben said he will show the jury surveillance video from a local Price-Chopper supermarket which shows Thibeault stalking Wendy, and said he has evidence which shows on the day Wendy was killed, Thibeault drove his newly purchased 2008 GMC Sierra pickup truck to their home, hid until Wendy returned, then brutally attacked her, ripped her clothes, threw her down the stairs and finally choked her to death.
"You're going to hear that he had the means and the opportunity to kill her," Suben said in the 50 minute speech.
Defense lawyer Emil Rossi, one of Thibeault's three lawyers, questioned the quality of Suben's evidence, particularly given the lack of an eyewitness.
"Not only is (Suben) not an eyewitness, he doesn't have a single witness," Rossi said.
"We're not here for dramatics," he said, pounding the podium. "We're not here for justice for Wendy. We're here for justice for Randy."
Rossi told the jury they have two main responsibilities: To determine whether the evidence is credible, and to decide whether the prosecutors prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Thibeault committed the murder.
He offered a series of questions he wanted jurors to consider: Why was none of Randy's Thibeault's DNA on Wendy's clothing? Why was none of Wendy's DNA found under Randy Thibeault's fingernails, or vice versa?
"It's time to put the evidence to the test," he said. "Nobody was there, nobody knows what happened."
The jury will hear testimony from witnesses for the prosecution this afternoon. The trial could take about two weeks.


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"I like to go for cinches. I like to shoot fish in a barrel. But I like to do it after the water has run out."
-- Warren Buffett
History seems to show that good investing doesn't necessarily mean picking out complex situations and basing your investment thesis on Nobel-level math. In fact, as the recent financial crisis has shown us, too much complexity can often end in calamity.
In an effort to track down some of the companies that may fall into that "fish in a barrel" category, I've turned to The Motley Fool's CAPS community. To put together a candidate list, I looked for companies with a conservative balance sheet, a dividend, annualized earnings growth of 5% or better over the past three years, a price-to-earnings ratio below 15, and a high rating from the CAPS community.
CAPS rating
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
Dividend Yield
3-Year Annualized Earnings Growth
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
General Dynamics (NYSE: GD )
L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL )
Source: CAPS and Capital IQ, a Standard & Poor's company.
While the three companies above aren't meant to be formal recommendations, they are a good starting point for further research. And on that note, let's take a closer look at why these potential investments might make a whole lot of sense.
It's impossible to talk about AT&T without bringing up Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) . The exclusive agreement that AT&T has with Apple means that folks like me, who just have to have the iPhone, have no choice but to switch to AT&T. And switch they have.
The winds of change may be blowing, though. Rumors have been swirling for a while that an iPhone that would work on Verizon's (NYSE: VZ ) network is in the works. A feel-good presentation by AT&T in early January showcasing a variety of non-Apple smartphones, along with AT&T's membership in the Wholesale Applications Community, may suggest that Ma Bell is preparing to lose iPhone exclusivity.
I hardly think it would be the end of the world if AT&T were no longer the only wireless provider slinging iPhones. As the company's recent quarter showed, AT&T's management team still has a few tricks up its sleeve. And though Verizon's stinging ads claim that its network is far superior to AT&T's, reality might not support the attacks.
Though I wouldn't count on huge growth from a giant telecom like AT&T, its low valuation, fat dividend yield, and solid business seem like a pretty nice combination to me.
General Dynamics
As I've noted in the past, when Uncle Sam is your biggest customer and defense expenditures aren't even a subject of discussion when it comes to tightening budgetary screws, you're in pretty good shape. And that holds true whether you're Raytheon (NYSE: RTN ) , Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT ) , or General Dynamics.
Now, if only General D's entire business was defense, then we'd have nothing to worry about. As my fellow Fool Rich Smith pointed out last fall, the company's aerospace division -- which is behind the Gulfstream business jets -- has taken it on the chin thanks to the recession.
Fourth-quarter results from the aerospace group weren't any more encouraging: Revenue fell 23% and operating earnings slid 37%. Luckily, that wasn't the case elsewhere. Year-over-year revenue, operating earnings, and operating margins all rose for General Dynamic's three other divisions.
I don't expect that the company's aerospace division will continue to be a drag, but I also don't see that as the biggest threat to the stock. With massive exposure to government defense spending, the company will continue to live or die on the defense budget. So unless Uncle Sam's love of a superior military force changes drastically, I think the General should be a dependable, if not flashy, pick.
L-3 Communications
Sticking with the defense sector, we'll wrap up with L-3 Communications, which offers a wide variety of defense products and services, from signal processing equipment to aircraft maintenance services. Like General Dynamics, L-3 has a very concentrated customer base -- more than 80% of its sales go to the U.S. government.
The CAPS community seems to think that L-3 is an even better bet than General Dynamics -- 733 outperform ratings and just 25 underperforms have given the stock a perfect five-star rating.
CAPS All-Star perrnat007 has been bullish on L-3 since mid-2007, and had this to say:
Strong demand in virtually every segment they service (base support, surveillance, recon systems, etc...) should continue to add to [L-3's] bottom line. Their recent acquisitions have been immediately accretive to and should continue to add to earnings. With a record backlog of funded orders, and continued defense spending, [L-3] should easily have 40-50% upside from current levels.
It should be noted that the stock is currently trading below where it was when perrnat007 picked it, although it has handily outperformed the rest of the market. Could those big gains still be ahead?
Getting down to business
Now the CAPS community wants you. Do you think these stocks make sense? Or is the community off base in its faith? Head over to CAPS and join the 150,000 members already sharing their thoughts on thousands of stocks.
We've been talking about stocks worth buying, but what about stocks that you should sell? Here's how you figure out whether it's time to sell.


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3. Sleep With a Celebrity Chef
You're in from out of town. You're hungry for a world-class meal. You're not up for navigating the city's vast automotive grid. You're in luck if you've checked into one of these hotels with some of the country's most recognizable chefs running the restaurants downstairs.
Montage Beverly Hills
New York's modern Italian master Scott Conant's brand-new Scarpetta is giving stiff competition to Thomas Keller's Bouchon right across the courtyard
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Run the gauntlet of stilettos and the joes who follow them at the bar at The Bazaar by José Andrés. Settle into a Philippe Starck banquette, order a Philly cheesesteak with a side of acorn-fed Belotta ham, and wash it all down with a Martini with sphericized olives.
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
On the 24th floor of the gleaming new glass tower is Wolfgang Puck's WP24, the refined 21st-century expression of modern Chinese cuisine that he started toying with nearly 30 years ago at Chinois on Main.
The London West Hollywood
Rather than F-bomb-larded tirades, Gordon Ramsay West Hollywood turns out an eloquent take on modern European cuisine in dishes like smoked foie gras with crispy duck tongue.


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Shirley Nixon
Shirley Nixon, 79, Duncansville, died Sunday at home.
She was born in Tyrone, daughter of the late Leo and Mina (Ellenberger) Herlt.
Surviving are five children: Jeannie Swan (Jon) and William D. (Robin Lenning), both of Ashville, Peggy Downey (Bill) of St. Amant, La., Frank (Cathy Snowberger) of Duncansville and Robert (Laura Shoeman) of Altoona; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters: Joanna Fish of Mantua, N.J., and Janet Grannas (Jim) of Bellwood; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William J., on Aug. 22, 1998; a son, Albert J.; five brothers; and a sister.
Shirley enjoyed sewing, camping, water skiing and the outdoors.
Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2014, at Gibbons Funeral Home, Ashville. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014, at St. Thomas Cemetery, Ashville.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Grane Hospice, 106 Zee Plaza, North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, in Shirley's memory.


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Advisory Opinion
Mr. Richard J. Tuggle, Jr.
Tuggle Duggins & Meschan, P.A.
P.O. Box 2888
228 West Market Street
Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
Dear Mr. Tuggle:
This responds to your correspondence on behalf of the Beaufort County Hospital Association, Inc. (hereinafter, BCHA) in Washington, North Carolina. You request an advisory opinion concerning the applicability of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to the BCHA Employees' Pension Plan (hereinafter, the Plan). Specifically, you request that we conclude that the Plan is a governmental plan within the meaning of ERISA § 3(32), and therefore excepted from ERISA Title I by § 4(b)(1), because BCHA, which established and maintains the Plan for its employees, is an "agency or instrumentality" of Beaufort County, North Carolina (the County).
Your submission includes facts and representations concerning the County's governing body, the County's establishment of a hospital facility, and the County's arrangements for BCHA's operation of the hospital on its behalf. You also describe BCHA's establishment and maintenance of the Plan for its employees.
The County is governed by a five-member commission (hereinafter, the County Board) elected by County residents. See N.C.Gen.Stat.§ 153A-34; Moore v. Beaufort County, 936 F.2d 159 (4th Cir. 1991). In 1955, the County Board gained voter approval of, and issued, revenue bonds to finance a public hospital.1 See Lewis v. Beaufort County, 249 N.C. 628, 107 S.E.2d 77 (N.C.Supr.Ct. 1959).
The County owns both the hospital facility that was constructed through issuance of its revenue bonds and the property on which it is located. In the County's financial statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, the County lists the hospital among its component units.2 Moreover, the County Board monitors hospital profitability and must approve any major disbursements.
BCHA was organized by the County in 1958 as a non-profit, membership corporation under North Carolina's nonprofit corporation law. See N.C.Gen.Stat. §§ 153A-249 and 131E. It operates pursuant to articles of incorporation and bylaws. Its articles of incorporation state that it was instituted, among other related purposes, to "lease, establish, maintain, and operate" hospital and related facilities. Its bylaws provide for its day-to-day operation by a nine-member board of trustees (the BCHA Board) and for those trustees to also serve as BCHA's voting membership. BCHA bylaws provide for the County Board to appoint eight of the nine trustees on the BCHA Board. Each trustee so appointed serves a three-year term but may serve consecutive terms if reappointed. Those eight trustees appoint, based on recommendations from the BCHA medical staff, a ninth trustee from among medical staff members who also serves as BCHA's chief of staff. His or her term as trustee continues as long as he or she is chief of staff. The County's continuing control over the BCHA Board is assured insofar as the County Board must approve any amendment to the bylaws that concerns trustees' selection or tenure.
You describe BCHA as a "public hospital" within the meaning of North Carolina statutes.3 N.C.Gen.Stat. § 159-39(a), in pertinent part, defines a "public hospital" as "any hospital . . . [o]n whose behalf a county . . . has outstanding general obligation or revenue bonds" or one that is "owned by a county . . . and operated by a nonprofit corporation or association, a majority of whose board of directors or trustees are appointed by the governing body of a county." According to statute a "public hospital" like BCHA is subject to certain financial requirements administered by the County. For example, rules and regulations of the County Board govern BCHA's financial transactions and other assets; the County Board may inquire into, and may investigate, BCHA's internal control procedures; and the County Board must approve the contract under which BCHA undergoes a yearly audit. See N.C.Gen.Stat. § 159-39(e) and (f). Finally, each audit of BCHA must be filed with the County, along with BCHA's semiannual reports on investments and deposits, and BCHA must handle deposits and investments according to North Carolina statutes that apply to most governmental entities insofar as § 159-39 incorporates those statutes by reference. See N.C.Gen.Stat. § 159-39 (f) through (j) and §§ 159-30 through 32.
As authorized by North Carolina statute,4the County leased to BCHA the County's real property and hospital facility. The current lease began May 1, 1994, and has a term of five years.5 The County receives no consideration in return for the lease, excepting that, pursuant to the lease, BCHA agrees to operate as "Beaufort County Hospital" and to furnish the County with an annual operational statement. The lease further provides that, if BCHA is dissolved or fails to operate hospital facilities in accordance with its lease, it must convey its surplus assets to the County, except for certain assets identified in the lease as third parties' donations to BCHA.6 Finally, if BCHA fails to comply with the lease, the County Board may reenter, repossess, and re-let the hospital property.
To assist in hospital operations, BCHA employs individuals and provides for their compensation and benefits. For their pension benefits, BCHA established the Plan as a defined benefit plan in 1965. The Plan covers only BCHA employees.7 BCHA acts as Plan administrator, and an independent financial institution acts as trustee; however, the Plan is listed in notes to the County's financial statements among the liabilities of the County.
You ask for an advisory opinion in order to clarify the Plan's ERISA responsibilities. You propose, if we find that the Plan is a "governmental plan," to inform participants and beneficiaries about the Plan's exclusion from ERISA Title I coverage, disclaiming contrary statements in the Plan document. Second, it appears, based on notes in the County's financial statements, that the Plan soon may be terminated and replaced by a defined contribution plan for BCHA employees.8 Our opinion concerning exclusion from ERISA Title I coverage applies only to the Plan itself and not to any successor plan for BCHA employees.
Your request raises Title I issues only with respect to ERISA § 4(b)(1), which excludes from Title I coverage any "governmental plan" defined in ERISA § 3(32). Section 3(32), in pertinent part, defines the term "governmental plan" to include any "plan established or maintained for its employees by . . . any agency or instrumentality" of State government, including an "agency or instrumentality" of a "political subdivision" of "the government of any State.9
The phrase "agency or instrumentality" is not defined in ERISA, and no regulations issued pursuant to ERISA interpret that phrase. Accordingly, whether an entity is an "agency or instrumentality" of government, depends on the facts and circumstances of the relationship between government and the entity whose benefit arrangement's status as a "governmental plan" is in issue.
Your submission evidences that, under North Carolina statutes, BCHA is a "public hospital." As such, BCHA was organized by the County's elected government officials, and it is used by the County as an integral part of its system of medical services for residents. The County appoints all but one member of the BCHA Board, which controls BCHA operations on a day-to-day basis, and controls the BCHA Board through rules for the trustees' appointment and tenure. The County provides ongoing financial support of hospital operations through tax revenue bonds, budget appropriations, and acceptance of financial liabilities in connection with the Plan. The County reported the hospital's finances as a component unit of its 1996 financial statement, and the County has the right, if BCHA dissolves or violates its lease on hospital property, to BCHA's surplus assets, excepting funds that BCHA receives through donations. Accordingly, we conclude that BCHA is an "agency or instrumentality" of the County.
Based on your representations and on information submitted on behalf of BCHA with respect to its relationship with the County and its status under North Carolina statutes, we conclude that BCHA is a government "agency or instrumentality" within the meaning of ERISA § 3(32). Accordingly, the Plan, which was established and is maintained by BCHA for its employees, is a "governmental plan" described in ERISA § 3(32) and is excluded by ERISA § 4(b)(1) from Title I coverage.
This letter expresses no conclusion as to any particular tax treatment of the Plan under the Internal Revenue Code, as administered by the Internal Revenue Service, or any particular treatment under Title IV of ERISA, as administered by the PBGC.
This letter constitutes an advisory opinion under ERISA Procedure 76-1 and, accordingly, it is issued subject to the provisions of that procedure, including section 10 thereof relating to the effect of advisory opinions.
John J. Canary
Chief, Division of Coverage,
Reporting and Disclosure
Office of Regulations and Interpretations
- In 1988, the County Board again issued revenue bonds to finance that hospital.
- Other entities treated as component units of the County are the Alcoholic Beverage Commission Board and the airport commission.
- Beginning June 21, 1996, N.C.Gen.Stat. § 131E-7.1 allows a "public hospital" to acquire ownership in all or part of a nonprofit or for-profit managed care company, including a preferred provider organization or HMO. The "governmental plan" status of BCHA's Plan, as discussed below, does not extend to any benefit arrangements that may be established to provide benefits to individuals employed by entities in which BCHA has any ownership rights acquired pursuant to N.C.Gen.Stat. § 131E-7.1.
- See, e.g., N.C.Gen.Stat. § 131E-7(d).
- Either party may terminate the lease with one year's written notice.
- Property excepted from the conveyance requirement includes purchases made with funds that BCHA obtained from charitable foundations or charitable corporations. The lease further provides that property BCHA purchases with funds donated by charitable foundations or corporations, even if acquired by the County, must be delivered to another nonprofit corporation, under conditions specified in the lease.
- The Plan indicates at § 1.17 that employees of employers that "affiliate" with BCHA may participate in the Plan; however, you represent that BCHA has no "affiliated" employers. The view expressed in this opinion concerning the Plan's "governmental plan" status does not apply if employees of "affiliated" employers begin to participate in the Plan.
- Pursuant to Title IV of ERISA, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) supervises termination of most ERISA-covered defined benefit plans. In that regard, an opinion of the Department as to the "governmental plan" status of a plan does not constitute a ruling as to that plan's status under any other Title , including Title IV. See also Hightower v. Texas Hospital Association, 65 F.3d 443 (5th Cir. 1995).
- We assume that the County is a "political subdivision" of North Carolina within the meaning of ERISA § 3(32).


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Dashcam video shows gunfire exchange involving police officer (WARNING: VIOLENT CONTENT)UPDATED 7:29 PM EDT Jun 10, 2014
(WARNING: INCLUDES VIOLENT CONTENT) Dramatic police car video shows an exchange of gunfire between a fleeing man and Pittsburgh police in March 2013. The video was shown prior to 20-year-old Dante Bonner of Larimer entering a guilty plea in the case. Both Bonner and the officer involved survived the shooting.
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The Detroit Pistons get a couple of winnable games this weekend against the Washington Wizards and the fans are getting restless. At 7-21, with six consecutive losses, there is growing sentiment that the team hasn't progressed as far as people hoped.
Some of those expectations were unrealistic. The Pistons gave up perimeter shooting in the Ben Gordon trade and added rim protection by drafting Andre Drummond. Their gains countered their losses, and vice versa. It takes roster rebuilding to fix their ills and that hasn't happened yet.
They're where they are because it's where they deserve to be, and until the possibility of free-agency overhaul in the offseason, this is pretty much where they'll stay. You simply can't turn a plough horse into a stakes winner.
It's Friday, so time for another round of your "Ask David" questions about anything Pistons-related.
For inclusion in next week's version, email your questions to email@example.com and remember to put "Ask David" in the subject line.
Q: Does anyone (besides me) feel that both Monroe and Knight attempt to "thread the needle" way too much with their passes? The Pistons have a problem with too many turnovers and I (for one) think it may be linked directly to the degree-of-difficulty factor. As I watch the turnovers mount during a game, too many passes seem extremely improbable while others are downright impossible. Both Knight and Monroe seem to want to be spectacular passers rather than merely efficient ones. Too many passes are forced into impossibly tight places. And I could even argue that Knight does the same thing with his dribble penetration. Given the option of dribbling around two defenders or splitting the two, nine times out of 10 Knight will opt for the more difficult path. And that's where the majority of his turnovers occur. To me, he constantly dribbles himself into trouble. It's almost like he prides himself on taking the most dangerous route to the basket. -- Dan Stewart, Augusta, Mich.
A: In short, yes, particularly as it pertains to Knight. Monroe is prone to passing errors, and his turnovers are up a bit, but he also is used as an offensive hub more than ever before and he operates in a more confined space. He makes a lot of passes that lead directly to layups and dunks, which are the assists that count most in this game. The kick-out pass to a perimeter shooter helps, and is an integral part of the offense, but it doesn't necessarily translate into what one would consider easy baskets, and easy baskets is how teams win in this man's league. Ask yourself this: Who's the better facilitator, the Pistons' center or their point guard? If you answered center (as I would), that's troubling.
Generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of "combination" players. There are exceptions, of course, but in the case of the Pistons' most prominent combo players, Knight and Rodney Stuckey, they are considered combination guards more because they don't fit cleanly into either guard slot than because they can excel at both.
You're spot-on about Knight's habit of trying to split defenders on the dribble, Dan. There are times when the situation calls for it but he tries it far too often in the open court, when there's little reason for it. And the rarity with which he makes passes that lead to scores in the paint is alarming. Yes, point guard is the most difficult position to learn in basketball. Yes, Knight has had barely more than a year of real game experience. But if I'm building a team, I want a point guard who makes plays for others, not one who's reliant upon his own shot to determine whether or not he plays well. Case in point was Wednesday in Toronto, when Knight scored two points and was credited with six assists, two of which should have gone to Monroe, except the statistical crew got them wrong. On the other hand, the Raptors' Jose Calderon didn't really want to shoot and went 2 for 8 from the floor, but had 17 assists and was the dominant player on the floor.
The Pistons' two biggest needs are a true perimeter wing shooter and a veteran point guard to take some of the load off of Knight. One definitely affects the other, but until the Pistons find the latter, get used to seeing whippet-like passes sailing out of bounds, over and over again.
Q: Here are a couple questions for you. When do you think coach Lawrence Frank will put Rodney Stuckey back in the starting lineup? I would make the change now. Nothing against Kyle "The Bucket Man" Singler but Rodney is playing much better right now. Next question: Maybe, my favorite player in the NBA is Ricky "La Pistola" Rubio (great for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the NBA that he is back playing), please tell how good Ricky can be and does he remind you at all of "Pistol" Pete Maravich? I think the sky is the limit for Rubio, and just like Maravich it looks like the ball is on a string when Rubio has the ball. A pure joy to watch him play. Thanks. -- Jeff
A: Pertaining Stuckey, this goes directly to the question of whether teams should start their best players. In general, the answer is yes. In practice, sometimes that isn't the best way, and some of the great coaches in NBA history have opted to bring superior players off the bench. Stuckey can't be effective unless he has the ball in his hands. In that way, he can be both spectacular and painfully limited. Agreed, 100 percent, that Stuckey is outplaying Singler right now. It's also true that teams have caught on to the early success Singler had in cutting to the basket and taking advantage of Monroe's passing acumen. Singler also isn't making shots like he was when he first moved into the starting lineup for Stuckey. Some of that is cyclical and will come back Singler's way. Some of it is a rookie trying to find his way. Does that mean Stuckey should start again? Not necessarily.
I'd keep Stuckey on the second unit for a couple of reasons. One, he can operate on the ball that way, and with Corey Maggette relegated to a non-rotation role, that leaves Stuckey as the only slasher on the second unit, which fits him. He also has developed a keen chemistry with Charlie Villanueva, and for whatever reason such things occur, both players are better with the other on the floor. Two, Stuckey isn't always the most reliable guy when it comes to availability. He had back spasms this week and missed a game, which just happened to be against the Los Angeles Clippers and their potent Chris Paul-led backcourt. The next day, he practiced, then he played against a much lesser team in Toronto. Look at some of the spots Stuckey didn't play last year, too. He was hurt against Philadelphia, New York and Chicago, but returned before a four-game stretch against Dallas, Milwaukee, Charlotte and Golden State. He missed a three-game stretch against Denver, Miami and New York, but was back for the next two against Washington and Cleveland. He missed a three-game stretch against Chicago, Charlotte and Orlando, then returned for Washington. He missed a single game against Memphis, then returned for Portland. Of those games missed, only the one against Charlotte came against a truly substandard NBA team (in fact, one of the worst ever). The rest came against teams ranging from average to excellent, with his returns coming against subpar teams. If I'm going to build my starting lineup to include a specific player, he'd better have a history of availability in the most difficult games.
Rubio is a treat, isn't he, Jeff? You're right, it's like he's playing with a yo-yo. His court vision is amazing. His no-look passes can be astounding. He obviously isn't the scorer Maravich was. But his ballhandling has had few peers in NBA history.
Q: With Kim English and Khris Middleton back from the D-League, is there any chance Slava Kravtsov could go there for some playing time soon? -- Ron in Houston
A: It's a possibility, Ron. The Pistons have considered it but not committed to it. Kravtsov looks headed for the NBA's equivalent of a redshirt season, since he hasn't played in a game yet, but there are several variables at play pertaining the D-League.
One, Pistons brass, like most executive groups in the NBA, agree that it's preferable, generally speaking, to have a player practicing with the NBA team rather than getting regular playing time in the D-League.
Two, there is some coordination necessary in contemplating when to send a player to the D-League because the Pistons and Indiana Pacers both have contractual working agreements with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. The Pistons theoretically could have sent Kravtsov to Fort Wayne at the same time as English and Middleton, if they were willing to go with a 12-man roster for the long weekend, but the Pacers already had rookie center Miles Plumlee there, so there would have been competition for playing time with another young NBA player, as well as those already in Fort Wayne. If the D-League is for growing confidence and experience, sending a player there to sit the bench could prove highly counterproductive.
Three, English and Middleton probably wouldn't have gone to Fort Wayne if there had been ample practice opportunities in Detroit. But at the same time they went down, the Pistons were playing three games in four days, which meant no practices. Fort Wayne, meantime, had three home games during that stretch. That meant the choice was between keeping English and Middleton around for two shootarounds for games in which they weren't likely to play anyway, or sending them down for three games in Fort Wayne with no travel involved. It was a schedule-induced decision.
When might Kravtsov go down, if at all? Well, some of that is driven by the Pistons' practice philosophies. They always take off the day after playing back-to-backs, Frank prefers to rest them at the earliest opportunity after five consecutive working days (any combination of game days and full practice days), and they also do not conduct game-day shootarounds before the second game of a back-to-back. So some of this can be deciphered by comparing the Pistons' schedule to the Mad Ants' schedule.
The Mad Ants are home Jan. 3 and 5 but the Pistons will practice those days. So there's a good possibility he doesn't go down then. After that comes a long string of road games for the Mad Ants until home games on Feb. 4, 6 and 8, which is more conducive to sending down Kravtsov (or anyone else), because the Pistons play the second game of a back-to-back on Feb. 4, won't practice Feb. 5, have a home game Feb. 6, will practice Feb. 7, and have a home game Feb. 8. Kravtsov could play those three games in Fort Wayne and miss just one full practice, plus two shootarounds. After that, there isn't a favorable scheduling situation to send him down until March.
Everyone would like a look at Kravtsov but it appears that as long as Monroe is the starting center and Drummond gobbles up all the backup minutes, he is the odd man out.
-- Have a Pistons-related question for MLive Media Group beat writer David Mayo? Email it to firstname.lastname@example.com with "Ask David" in the subject line.
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Sroufe's passion for cooking began at eight-years-old and never faded. In 1989 he went to work for one of Columbus' premier vegetarian restaurants and eventually opened his own vegan bakery. Through this journey, he discovered that veganism itself doesn't mean health.
After converting to a vegan diet with minimal processed foods, sugars, and added oils, he lost more than 240 pounds without giving up great food.
In Better than Vegan, Sroufe shares some of those healthy recipes. The chef will be at the Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE, March 13. His program is set to start at 7 p.m.


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Five Jets players are in the Top 10 at their respective positions in the latest Pro Bowl voting figures released by the NFL.
Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (193,351 votes) is the team's top vote-getter, though he ranks sixth among defensive ends. The Texans' J.J. Watt has 329,766 votes to lead all NFL defensive ends.
Nick Mangold is third in the NFL among centers with 145,809 votes, trailing only Manny Ramirez of the Broncos (185,381) and the Seahawks' Max Unger (200,543). Mangold has been to the Pro Bowl four times in his previous seven seasons.
Rookie Sheldon Richardson has 142,618 votes among defensive tackles, putting him at seventh in a category led by the Cowboys' Jason Hatcher (262,099).
Also cracking the Top 10 for the Jets are kicker Nick Folk (97,825, fourth place) and fullback Tommy Bohanon (54,038, 10th).
The Top 10 overall are all skill-position players, with Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (1,093,691) leading the way. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (430,284) tops out among defensive players.
Fans can vote for Pro Bowl players until Dec. 26 at NFL.com. This year, instead of the traditional AFC-NFC format, the top offensive and defensive vote-getters will each draft players from among those selected to comprise their respective teams.


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(NNCNOW.com) Motorists will start seeing new, statistic-based traffic messages on some of the 150 digital message signs above freeways throughout the state, officials from the Minnesota Departments of Transportation and Public Safety announced Monday.
According to a news release:
The effort aims to highlight the prime dangers on Minnesota roads and reinforce safe driving habits by encouraging seat belt use, driving sober and at safe speeds, and being attentive behind the wheel.
The new messages will launch July 15, with a focus on speeding — timed with a current statewide speed enforcement campaign.
Summertime is the state's deadliest period on the road, and motorists traveling at unsafe speeds are a major factor for the spike in deaths during the warm-weather months.
"Using these high-profile signs to highlight key facts about traffic safety issues can help motorists put into perspective that the poor choices they make behind the wheel lead to serious consequences," said Sue Groth, MnDOT State Traffic Engineer.
The messages will be displayed in conjunction with enforcement efforts coordinated by DPS.
The signs are a component of the state's Toward Zero Death initiative. TZD is the state's cornerstone traffic safety program that is a partnership between DPS, MnDOT, Department of Health, Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Board and other traffic safety partners.
"These signs give us a great opportunity to deliver important messages where and when it counts: directly to people behind the wheel," said Donna Berger, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director. "Minnesota traffic deaths have been increasing and we need to reinforce safe driving behaviors to reverse this trend."
In 2012, 395 people were killed on Minnesota roads, a 7 percent increase from the previous year. To-date in 2013, there have been 166 traffic deaths, up from 149 at this time last year.
MnDOT's digital message signs are primarily reserved for real-time traveler information such as traffic incident alerts relating to crashes, detours, lane closures, critical road construction or maintenance operations; for travel times and for AMBER Alerts. The real-time messages take precedence over the traffic fatality information.


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A year later, there's been little progress replacing the controversial "Travel Management Plan" for Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, which took six years to prepare. Jodi Kramer, a spokeswoman, said federal foresters want to head back to the drawing board but have set no timeline.
Hunters, wildlife spotters, mushroom gatherers, ATV enthusiasts and residents who collect firewood in the forest helped stop the road closures. Their forceful pushback was unmatched in the Northwest and raised eyebrows among foresters working to close roads in America's other 154 national forests.
"I would say the Wallowa-Whitman is one of a kind," said Josh Hicks, a Wilderness Society spokesman in Denver who monitors the development of road closure plans nationally.
John Laurence, the new supervisor for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, is taking his time resuming discussions. Laurence, the fourth person to hold the job since planning on the road closures began, currently "is getting to know the people and not worrying about Travel Management at all," said Al Matecko, a Forest Service spokesman in Portland.
"I have no agenda," Laurence told about 30 people at a Lions Club meeting hall in Halfway March 11.
But Marion Crow, a 79-year-old city councilor for the tiny Baker County community, gave Laurence an earful just the same. Crow said nature lovers who want quiet recreation can go to northeastern Oregon's roadless, 560-square-mile Eagle Cap Wilderness.
"Those people who like to walk, let 'em go in there," Crow said. "But leave the damn roads alone!"
Logging operations over the decades have left behind 9,111 miles of roads in the 2.4-million-acre Wallowa-Whitman forest, some paved and some not.
The Forest Service enacted rules during the Bush adminstration to start closing such roads. The goal was to protect wildlife and fish, ensure "quiet recreation" and reduce damage and noise on the federal forests by offroad vehicles. A 2008 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment commissioned by the Forest Service estimated the number of all-terrain vehicles and offroad motorcycles nationally at 9.8 million.
The blueprint for closing roads in the Wallowa-Whitman was a 755-page document unveiled in March 2012 and scheduled to take effect that June. It would have locked off a huge segment of the forest to all-terrain vehicles, cars and dirt bikes. The only permitted uses on the closed segments would have been hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. [Read Forest Service Record of Decision and Environmental Impact Statement on plan, February 2012]
A 2004 survey of visitors to the Wallowa-Whitman found less than 11 percent use off-road vehicles and less than 1 percent make offroading their main activity.
Firewood cutting, critical to homes and businesses in the counties, would become impossible, they said. They argued the Wallowa-Whitman is remote and gets comparatively little use.
"It is unusual, extremely rare, to run into anybody out there," said Larry Cribbs, a 71-year-old La Grande outdoorsman and ATV rider.
County commissioners and members of Oregon's congressional delegation and residents weighed in as well. On April 17, a month after publishing the plan for road closures, the Forest Service officially placed it on hold. [Read Forest Service explanation from April 25, 2012]
"Basically, from the day they pulled the decision until today, there has been zero communication" from the federal agency, "and no information whatsoever about where we are going in the future," said Cribbs. "We are fighting smoke, an invisible enemy."
Environmental activists support resuming the process.
Veronica Warnock, conservation director for the Hells Canyon Preservation Council, said the forest service needs to strike a balance.
"We are not advocating for all the roads to be closed," Warnock said, whose group is based in La Grande. "We want people to be able to access the forest."
But 17 areas in the Wallowa-Whitman are listed as critical habitat for Rocky Mountain elk and should be off-limits to vehicles, Warnock said. The council is also worries about impacts from road sediment on streams that support salmon, steelhead and bull trout.
Laurence, the new Wallowa-Whitman supervisor, has offered assurances to opponents of road closures.
"All this information will be used as a starting point when we begin talking about travel management in the future," said Laurence, a plant pathologist who took over in December.
He does have orders to draft a new plan for closures, he said, and the Forest Service has dwindling resources with which to maintain the roads. The odds of everybody being happy with the final decision, Laurence said, "are pretty low." But he was upbeat about the process.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," said Laurence. "To try to do what is right for this landscape, and work with the communities. It's a great challenge."


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Results tagged ' rookies '
Several MLB Rookies Off to Good Starts
After a month of the 2015 regular season, there are already several newcomers that are standing out from the crowd. The numerous rookies around Major League Baseball are all doing their best to make an immediate impact on their club, and some are making good starts to their campaigns for the Rookie of the Year award. With that in mind, I thought I'd take a look at who I feel are currently the top five rookies in the American League and the National League:
American League Rookies
2. Mark Canha
3. Roberto Osuna
4. Steven Souza Jr.
5. Carlos Rodon
The American League rookie players possess many future star names, however, only a few of them are playing above average at the moment. Of those, kicking things off on the list is Devon Travis, who is batting .309 with 7 home runs and 23 RBI's for the Blue Jays. Currently the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year award if he can keep things going, Travis looks to be a star for years to come.
Following Travis on my list are Mark Canha, who is hitting a solid .271 with 4 homers and 14 runs batted in, and Roberto Osuna, who has a great 1.38 ERA through ten appearances for the Blue Jays. Those first three are off to great starts, however, Steven Souza Jr. and Carlos Rodon are merely mediocre at the moment. Souza has a .232 batting average, despite having hit 4 homers, and Rodon has yet to live up to his stardome, despite holding a 2.84 ERA. They made my list simply because the rookie talent level in the American League is currently thin.
National League Rookies
2. Alex Guerrero
3. Yimi Garcia
4. Kris Bryant
5. Archie Bradley
While the American League rookie standouts are hard to come by at the moment, the National League side is just the opposite. Joc Pederson of the Dodgers leads the way, currently living up to all of the hype surrounding him coming into the season, having hit 7 home runs already to go along with 16 RBI's and a .260 batting average. His teammate, Alex Guerrero comes in second on my list, with a .333 average and 5 blasts to this point, as does fellow Dodger, Yimi Garcia, who has a superb 0.66 ERA over the course of 13 appearances.
Kris Bryant is the first non-Dodger on my list. Although Bryant was expected to be a big power bat in the big leagues, as he was last year in the minors with his 43 home runs, Bryant is yet to get his first major league home run. Still, Bryant has been a presence in the Cubs' lineup, holding a .442 on base percentage with 12 runs batted in. Archie Bradley comes in at number five on my list, as despite currently being out due to an injury as a result of a ball hitting him in the face, Bradley started his season well, with a 1.80 ERA over four starts. Bradley, along with every other player previously mentioned in this post, is a star in the making.
MLB Rookies With All-Star Worthy Numbers
With the 2014 Major League Baseball rosters for the All-Star game set to be announced on Sunday night, it leaves just enough time for fans such as myself to give their takes on who is deserving of the mid-summer classic. While the voting has officially ended, and although I've already given my take on who I feel would be the most worthy candidates in a post I did back in April, I wanted to take the time to discuss the rookies who are posting the stats of an All-Star caliber player.
The two rookies who are near locks for the game are Jose Abreu and Masahiro Tanaka.
Jose Abreu came to the White Sox this past offseason as the prized international slugger from Cuba. Though he displayed some of his amazing power back in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and although there were numerous stories of his incredible hitting performances, no one truly knew what the Sox were getting when they signed Abreu to a 6-year, 68 million dollar contract. But he's done nothing but deliver on the gamble.
Currently riding an 18-game hitting streak, and with his .280 batting average on the year to go along with his 27 home runs and 69 RBI's (all despite an injury which would've led to even larger stats), Abreu is a favorite to make the All-Star roster for the American League.
As with Abreu, Masahiro Tanaka was an extremely hyped international player who was a major sign this past offseason. Finding a home with the Yankees, on a 7-year, 155 million dollar deal, Tanaka has kept an otherwise dismal Yankees team in the race for the American League eastern title.
Without him and his overpowering splitter, there's no telling where the Bronx Bombers would be at. Over the course of 17 starts, Tanaka has posted a 12-3 record to go along with a 2.27 ERA, and that should be enough for the All-Star game, with the possibility of Tanaka receiving a number of different awards come the end of the season.
But while Abreu and Tanaka are likely to find themselves up in Minnesota in just over a week, there are a few other rookies who have a decent case to join them but may fall just short of making the cut.
Dellin Betances is probably the biggest example of that, as he arguably has the stats to join the other great players, but perhaps isn't quite over the line. Through 37 games of relief for the Yankees, Betances, with his 1.61 ERA, has blown away the opposition, striking out a total of 78 batters.
That's the one thing that separates Betances from the rest of the talented rookie pitchers, as though a couple of other rookie pitchers have great ERA's — Jake Petricka with 1.94 and Jeurys Familia with 2.22 — no other reliever has a strikeout ratio close to that of Betances. Even so, while his stats are impressive, they may not be impressive enough for him to pitch up at Target Field next week.
On the offensive side of things, not likely making the cut is newcomer George Springer, who has been one of the main reasons behind what has turned out to be a better-than-expected season for the Astros so far this year. Though not making the team out of Spring Training (an extremely talked about story line), Springer's 17 homers and 46 RBI's are note worthy, nonetheless.
The biggest problem with Springer's All-Star case is a mere .242 batting average. That's the one thing that will keep him from making the All-Star team this year, and the one thing Springer will have to improve upon if he wants to make the cut in 2015.
While the rookies listed above may or may not make the 2014 MLB All-Star team rosters (you can find out on Sunday at 7:00 on ESPN), there's no doubt that they will all be making huge impacts on their given teams for years to come. And therefore, it would come as little surprise if they each make their fair share of All-Star rosters.
They're all truly big impact players.
Top 10 Story Lines I'm Planning to Watch In 2013
We're just over 48 hours away from the start of the 2013 MLB regular season, and I couldn't be more excited. Baseball fans everywhere are making final predictions as to how they feel things will play out, as players are making their final preparations for the long 162 game season. As my last blog post until the season begins, I wanted to do a brief overview of the top story lines I'm planning to keep an eye on in 2013. They may differ slightly from yours, but I feel I covered nearly all of the major topics:
1. How the Astros will fare in the American League:
Having lost 107 games in the National League in 2012, I'm watching the Astros, not for how good they'll do, but for how bad they'll do. Sorry to any Astros fans reading this post, but there's no denying that the odds are against the Astros going into the 2013 season. Playing in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, with the newly revamped Angels, they're likely to have just as bad of a season as last year, if not slightly worse. I'd say it would be considered a good year for the Astros if they finish with less than 100 losses.
2. If Bryce Harper and Mike Trout can keep up their 2012 R.O.Y. seasons:
Posting some incredible stats, leading to one of the best rookie seasons in MLB history, I'm going to keep a closer eye on Mike Trout than I am Bryce Harper, but I'm planning to watch Harper nonetheless. Both won the Rookie of the Year award in 2012, for their respective leagues, and it should be interesting to see if their amazing rookie years will transfer into the 2013 season. I'm predicting Trout will once again have a 30/30 season, with Harper possibly recording the first 30 home run season of his career.
3. Who will hit the most home runs in 2013:
The 2012 home run leaders consisted of Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson and Josh Hamilton, as the 1-2-3 guys, and if it wasn't for an injured Granderson, I could see all three being near the top of the rankings again in 2013. However, with Granderson out with an injury for the first portion of the year–while I see Cabrera once again leading all players in homers, with Hamilton coming in a close second–it will likely be a new face who will round out the top three. Maybe it'll be a guy like Adam Dunn, who's a free-swinger? Or maybe a guy no one saw coming, who will have a breakout season? It will certainly be fun to keep track of.
4. If A-Rod comes back healthy, if at all:
While it's 100 percent certain that Alex Rodriguez won't return to the Yankees' lineup until late July, there is the slight chance that he could miss the entire season. However, if A-Rod is able to work his way back this season, after having hip surgery in January, it should be very interesting to see if he can become a decent player once again. While Rodriguez will never be the great player he once was, if healthy, he has the ability to make an impact for the Yankees. Although I'm not the biggest fan of A-Rod, I still hope he comes back healthy. But I find it very unlikely that he will ever again play at a competitive level.
5. How the rookies, such as Wil Myers, will impact their teams in 2013:
I discussed this a couple months ago, in my blog post on the Top 100 prospects going into the 2013 season, but this time around I'm only focusing my attention on a handful of rookies who I feel will have the biggest impact for their team this season. Wil Myers is the number one guy on my radar, with Shelby Miller, Jurickson Profar and Billy Hamilton being the other three main rookies I plan on keeping track of. Myers was the minor league player of the year, in 2012, and I fully see him posting more of the same stats, as he begins the the year with AAA Durham. Of the four, Miller is the only player that is starting in the majors to begin the year, but they should all make it to the big leagues at some point this season, and are sure to each play a key role in their teams' success.
6. How the Upton bro's do for the Atlanta Braves:
You could argue that, with the addition of both Justin Upton and B.J. Upton to roam the outfield with Jason Heyward, the Braves have the best all-around outfield in all of baseball. All three players have great range, giving them the ability to make plays on balls that other outfielders couldn't get to, but furthermore, they all have the talent to impact their team offensively as well. Both Upton's, as well as Heyward, have the ability to blast 25+ home runs and 85+ RBI's, as well as steal a good amount of bases. If they can perform to their potential this season, combined with the great lineup and pitching rotation they already had, the Braves could be an outstanding team.
7. What kind of a year players who ended 2012 injured will have in 2013:
The reason A-Rod had his own category, and wasn't included in this one, is merely because his return is uncertain. All of the players in this category didn't play at all after their injury in 2012, and will make a guaranteed comeback, within at least the first few weeks of the season. With that said, the most impactful players to end last season with an injury, that I'll be watching in 2013, include Derek Jeter, Troy Tulowitzki and Mariano Rivera.
Mariano Rivera tore his ACL in May, while Derek Jeter fractured his ankle in October, with neither playing any more games for the remainder of the year. Rivera is expected to be ready to go Opening Day, though a slight setback for Jeter will force him onto the disable list to begin the year. In my opinion, the 2013 performances of both Jeter and Rivera will be the deciding factor for what kind of season the Yankees have. If Jeter can return quickly, and Rivera can post his usual stellar numbers, I see the Yankees being just fine.
Troy Tulowitzki injured his groin in May of last season, and although it appeared he would return towards the end of the year, he remained sidelined for the remainder of the season. A healthy Tulowitzki can impact the Rockies more than nearly any other player in all of baseball, though he hasn't been able to stay healthy for the majority of his career. While I can't see the Rockies finishing any better than last in their division, I'm planning to watch "Tulo" nonetheless, to see if he can finally have a successful, fully healthy season.
8. How the Blue Jays, Dodgers and Angels perform with their new additions:
The Blue Jays, Dodgers and Angels made the biggest splashes of nearly every other team in all of baseball this past offseason; at least of the teams that stand a chance of competing. Many have the Blue Jays going the distance, and winning it all, with the key additions of Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera and 2012 Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, to name a few, though I don't see it happening. I find myself siding more with the opinions of those who are betting on the Dodgers and Angels to have a great season.
The Angels' major addition of the offseason was undoubtedly Josh Hamilton, who, with the help of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, has the ability to transform the Angels into an extremely competitive team. Hamilton might end up being the piece the Angels were missing last season, that will help them make the playoffs in 2013.
The number one addition of the offseason for the Dodgers was Zack Greinke, though they also acquired Hyun-Jin Ryu, the highly praised LHP from Korea. Adding them both, to go along with their already deep pitching rotation, could end up making the Dodgers a team to be reckoned with in 2013.
9. Whether or not the Nationals make it to the World Series:
Last season, Nationals' manager, Davey Johnson, made the bold statement that he should be fired if the Nat's didn't make the playoffs in 2012. Luckily for Johnson, they did, for the first time since 1933. This season, however, it's "World Series or bust" for the Nationals, and although I was a bit skeptical last year, I'm not putting it past them to make it all the way to the World Series this season, for what would be the first time in Nationals' franchise history. With a fantastic lineup, as well as one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball, they should go far in the coming season, though they'll have to make it past the favorited Braves, who many (myself included) have winning the division.
10. Which team(s) will have an unexpected breakout season:
Every season, it seems, there is a team or two that unexpectedly takes the baseball world by storm. On paper, they shouldn't be winning, but yet they come together as a team and are able to do amazing things. The 2012 example would be the Oakland Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles, as the majority of baseball fans, going into the 2012 season, didn't see the O's and A's exploding the way they did. Truly showing that baseball is extremely unpredictable. Any team has the chance to defy the odds, which is part of what makes baseball so great. Anything can happen.
Which story line from above are you most looking forward to? Leave a comment below.


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Setting the Scene: Bands You've Probably Already H
American Analog Set - amanset.com
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - trailofdead.com
The Black Angels - theblackangels.com
Daniel Johnston - hihowareyou.com
Davíd Garza - davidgarza.com
Explosions in the Sky - explosionsinthesky.com
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - chosendarkness.com
The Octopus Project - theoctopusproject.com
Okkervil River - okkervilriver.com
Shearwater - shearwatermusic.com
SOUND team - soundteam.net
Spoon - spoontheband.com
Voxtrot - voxtrot.net
What Made Milwaukee Famous - whatmademilwaukeefamous.com
Lay of the Land: bands you should also hear
Alpha Rev - alpharev.com
For many years, Casey McPherson bashed around Austin with a four-piece rock act that was equal parts Radiohead and Nirvana. That was all fine and good, but everyone who knew McPherson knew that something was missing. He wasn't in his element. Fast forward to a couple of years ago and the dissolve of his previous band: McPherson holed himself up for a little while, played some solo shows around town, and then, when the time was right, introduced the world to Alpha Rev. With sweeping, grandiose melodies backed by a violin, a cello, and lusty background vocals, McPherson's achingly sweet voice has finally found a musical context that does him justice, and the result is both exhilarating and sobering. Simply, undeniably, and overwhelmingly beautiful.
The Arm - thearmtheband.com
You know, all this talk of post-punk being overdone is ridiculous. I'm sorry, but what would people prefer? A grunge revival? Hell no! If you're going to go retro, go for the good stuff. And when you do, you'll find that there are bands that are actually making fresh, vital music using old techniques, like The Arm, for instance. Each song is an explosion of smart lyrics, jagged vocals, and searing melodies, all wrapped up in tidy, little four-minute packages. When lead singer Sean O'Neal defiantly shouts, This song is structured like a poem/But it comes out like a bomb in Bright Young Men, he is basically describing his band in a nutshell. This is smart art-punk with an infectious, uncontainable energy and one raging attitude. They are aiming for world domination and you will be assimilated.
The Channel - thechannelsounds.net
Speaking of going retro, The Channel have mastered the concept of taking old sounds, mixing them together, and creating something new. They're the auditory version of found art, and they are masters at their craft. Behind the Hammond, lap steel, and jangling guitars, there is something innately artistic about their folk aesthetic, but not at the expense of coziness or accessibility. The fact that everyone in the band sings sometimes in unison, sometimes breaking out into multi-part harmonies re-enforces the intimate, communal vibe. Virginia might be for lovers, but The Channel is for friends.
Experimental Aircraft - experimentalaircraft.com
Experimental Aircraft is any shoegaze fanatic's dream. Imagine the Cowboy Junkies' Margo Timmins performing vocal duties for My Bloody Valentine, and you're close to Experimental Aircraft. Playing music since 1997, probably the only reason they haven't already become an international buzz band is because of their lack of productivity; they're in the process of completing only their third album. Fortunately, this new album, being released on Chicago's Graveface Records, will give them a shot at the recognition they deserve.
Ghost of the Russian Empire - ghostoftherussianempire.com
If there is such a genre as historical fiction shoegaze pop, Ghost of the Russian Empire has cornered the market. These are pop hooks played as dense, swirling melodies with thoughtful, muted vocals and the occasional clarity of a trumpet piercing the fog. And believe it or not, they're only just getting started. Less than two years old, they recently released their first EP, With Fiercest Demolition, and with it have taken the local scene by storm. Sharing the stage with local and international greats, their music is turning heads wherever they go. It's only a matter of time before they form an empire of their own.
The Glass Family - theglassfamily.org
I knew I was going to like The Glass Family before I even heard them, because some of the members are formerly of The Gloria Record. As it happens, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they exceeded my expectations, which were obviously pretty high. Their simple but lush arrangements feel like springtime: abounding with life, warmth, busyness, and a fresh outlook on a familiar pattern. Their debut album, Sleep Inside This Wheel, is a glorious testament to their talent. I can only imagine what they'll do next.
Peter and the Wolf - whiskeyandapples.com
Peter and the Wolf consists of Red Hunter and his helter-skelter band of junk musicians. Don't ask me what that means, exactly; Hunter is the one who came up with the term, and he's very much the type of person who marches to the beat of his own drum. Actually, he doesn't even march, really. He invented his very own method of mobility and does that instead. When asked in a recent interview with the Austinite to describe Peter and the Wolf's music, he replied, Ethiopian-style Halloween disco songs by R. Hunter and whoever's hanging around, with lots of 'aaawwwoooooo's at the end. And, really, you're not going to get a much better description than that. Hunter employs whatever people, instruments, and non-instruments are available to make music that's all over the map. Then, he takes his circus act out to perform in graveyards, abandoned buses, and on secret islands. His next tour is going to be on a sailboat. After that, who knows?
Quien es, BOOM! - quienesboom.com
Quien es, BOOM! has many strengths. Dabney Dwelle and Jason Butler make a powerful songwriting duo, writing and playing airy, intricate melodies and singing in whispery, unmistakable vocals. Kevin Fender's drumming is crisp, clean, and complex. Scott Shellhammer adds electronic touches that give that extra quirkiness and lightness needed to set them apart from the masses. Alec Padron plays the bass with a deft mastery that fills and rounds out the sound, without overpowering or weighing it down. And Nik Snell's work on synth and keys provides an added layer of loveliness and complexity that gives the music a sense of polish and completion. I can point to each member and describe how they are important, what they add to the overall sound. Yet, I cannot articulate what makes Quien es, BOOM! so damn special. This is one of those bands where, clearly, the sum is greater than its parts, and the results are mesmerizing.
The Shells - myspace.com/theshells
Heavily influenced by 1960s pop, the Shells are master craftsmen (and women) of bright, loping melodies that feel a little like finding out that there is an afterlife after all, and you've scored a guestlist spot to the never-ending party.
Single Frame - singleframe.net
Single Frame is a chaotic miasma of tweaked-out synths, fuzzed-out guitars, freaked-out shouts, bold drum work, and found object sound. And that's a very, very good thing. Just because it's chaotic doesn't mean this three-piece doesn't have a master plan; they do. Their music actually comes from a very intellectual place, as explained in the manifesto on their website a place where art, creation, and invention are all highly valued and eagerly pursued. It's no wonder, then, that the music resonates with people on many different levels. From the people who analyze every piece of music based on its artistic merit to the kids who just want to dance their asses off, Single Frame fits the bill.
South San Gabriel - south-san-gabriel.com
I'm actually not sure whether South San Gabriel can technically be considered an Austin band, since Centro-matic is technically considered a Denton band. However, since Will Johnson sometimes lives in Austin, the South San Gabriel River actually runs just north of Austin, and I really, really like this band, I decided at the last minute to include it here. Apologies to those in the Denton scene who feel they are being robbed. At any rate, as you might have brilliantly observed, South San Gabriel is indeed a side-project of Centro-matic mastermind, Will Johnson. This less-alt-country manifestation of Johnson's genius boasts a rotating cast of members from the Undertow Records collective (which, in addition to Johnson's projects, includes: David Bazan of Pedro the Lion and Headphones, Mark Eitzel of American Music Club, the amazing Pilots, The Soft Drugs, Magnolia Summer, and about a million others). Their latest effort, The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation's Through, is written from the viewpoint of a cat. If that doesn't grab your attention, I don't know what will.
Sparrow House - sparrowhouse.org
Like Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, and Elliot Smith before him, Jared Van Fleet (Voxtrot, the Tonewheel collective) writes songs of breathtaking beauty that soothe the soul and quiet the nerves. Why he hasn't put out more solo stuff by now remains a mystery; but the good news is that Van Fleet is finally releasing his debut EP, Falls, sometime in the next month or so. One can only hope he'll take the next logical step and tour with it.
Zookeeper - www.zookeepersworld.com & myspace.com/zookeepersworld
Chris Simpson, formerly of Mineral and The Gloria Record, is back, and this time he's exploring his soulful, southern roots something particularly suited to his plaintive, passionate vocals. One of those lucky bastards who never really loses his edge, but just changes the angle every now and again, Simpson's songs go from tender, wistful ballads to swaggering, exuberant anthems and back again with such ease and sincerity that the transition is barely noticeable. He hasn't released any albums under the new moniker yet, but tracks are available for download at his MySpace site.
Zykos - zykosmusic.com
Zykos' music ranges from the darkly brooding to the brightly buoyant, but there is one consistency throughout, and whatever it is, it's addicting. Between frontman Mike Booher's tremulant, gritty vocals and Catherine Davis' dizzying piano melodies, the music sticks in your head and refuses to leave and you don't really want it to either.
There are countless other local bands in Austin who are worth mentioning, and I regret not having the time, space, or attention span to feature them all. However, the following resources will help you to go forth and discover more of what Austin has to offer. I encourage you to do so.
Australian Cattle God - australiancattlegod.com
C-Side Records - c-siderecords.com
Chicken Ranch Records - chickenranchrecords.com
I Eat Records - ieatrecords.com
Indierect - indierect.com
Instincto - instinctorecords.com
Misra - misrarecords.com
Peekaboo - peekaboorecords.com
Post Parlo - postparlo.com
SixGunLover - sixgunlover.com
Thirty Ghosts - thirtyghostsrecords.com
Tight Spot - tightspotrecords.com
Whiskey And Apples - whiskeyandapples.com
- Record stores
Antone's Records - antonesrecordshop.homestead.com
Backspin Records - backspinrecords.net
Cheapo Discs - cheapotexas.com
Encore Music - encore.austintx.com
End of An Ear - endofanear.com
Snake Eyes Vinyl - snakeeyesvinyl.com
Waterloo Records - waterloorecords.com
- Organizations/Community/Resources
Showlist Austin - showlistaustin.com
Austin Music Guide - michaelbluejay.com/music
Austin Music Links - austinlinks.com/Music
Austin Music Commission - austinmusiccommission.org
Austin Music Foundation - austinmusicfoundation.org
Austin Indie Alliance - austinindiealliance.com
Tonewheel - tonewheel.org
Austin Music Co-op - austinmusiccoop.org
New Music Co-op - newmusiccoop.org
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians - austinmusicianshealth.org
SIMS - simsfoundation.org
- Events
SXSW - sxsw.com
Austin City Limits Festival - aclfestival.com
Eeyore's Birthday Party - eeyores.sexton.com
Kerrville Folk Festival - kerrville-music.com
Old Settler's Music Festival - oldsettlersmusicfest.org
For a more in-depth look at the scene, check out the Hometown Heroes music blog at myspace.com/hometownheroesblog.


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City native joins EDC
WINCHESTER — The new existing business coordinator for the Winchester-Frederick County Economic Development Commission says she's "inherited" a thriving business environment.
Wincheseter native Sally…
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GWINN - The Gwinn Area Community Schools board of education will vote on a new building configuration at its meeting tonight, possibly laying the groundwork for a new, $23 million all-inclusive teaching complex.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Gwinn High School library.
"This is an opportunity to give our kids the absolute best that they deserve - a complex that's state of the art, rivals any other and is something for our community and our kids to be proud of," said GACS Superintendent Kim Tufnell as she addressed the large crowd gathered in the Gwinn High School cafeteria Friday evening during a board of education budget work session.
Article Photos
K.I. Sawyer Elementary School at Sawyer is pictured. (Journal photo by Jackie Stark)
The district is attempting to dig its way out of a roughly $1 million budget deficit going into next school year.
The board's finance committee is recommending going to the voters for a bond proposal, which would fund a $23 million addition onto the middle/high school building - just for elementary students.
The addition would allow the district to close both K.I. Sawyer Elementary School and Gilbert Elementary School, saving the district the cost of maintenance, utilities and upkeep required by both buildings.
The new complex would coincide with staff and administrative layoffs along with other cost-saving measures.
Tufnell said the new complex would be attractive to parents outside the district, and said she expects it to bring in more school-of-choice students.
The new configuration the board will vote on tonight keeps only kindergarten and first grade, early childhood developmentally delayed classes and the Marquette County YMCA's early childhood education program at Sawyer. This would allow the district to shut down roughly three quarters of the building, saving on utility costs.
The configuration would remain this way through construction of the proposed complex.
Tufnell said the finance committee also looked at other options before deciding to recommend the $23 million project.
She said Gilbert Elementary is the "worst" building in the district, and that an addition onto the building to make it big enough for all the district's elementary students - along with required maintenance projects - would cost roughly $15 million.
A similar addition and needed upkeep projects at Sawyer would cost roughly $10 million, Tufnell said.
"And to do this one, big, huge complex, state of the art, with everything right here, roughly $23 million," Tufnell said. "But we're done. And we don't have to do it again."
Once the complex was finished, the district would close both the Sawyer and Gilbert schools.
Jackie Stark can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242.


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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Steve Hawkins deemed his 11th season at the helm of the Western Michigan men's basketball program a success, but not just because of the wins the Broncos racked up.
The Broncos finished a 23-10 season with a 77-53 loss to Syracuse in the NCAA tournament, but it came after they rolled through the Mid-American Conference regular season with a 14-4 record en route to winning the regular season championship and tournament championship.
For Hawkins, the special part was how his team won, not how many games it won.
"You know, it's a successful season whenever your team plays as hard as they can and reaches its level of competency," he said. "When you reach your level of competency, when you reach your ceiling, it's a success. We reached our ceiling this year. I really believe that. There weren't too many games that we lost that we couldn't have.
"We played really hard. Our practices were great. They gave us everything we could have. As a coach, what more could you possibly ask for?"
Saturday's game didn't play out the way the Broncos hoped, but this season was one for the record books for Western Michigan.
The 23 wins was the third-highest total in program history. The Broncos were 26-5 in 2003-04, the last season they made the NCAA tournament. The second-highest total was a 25-3 mark in 1975-76.
WMU won at Kent State, 75-59 on Jan. 23, for the first time since 1996.
The Broncos beat Akron in the regular season, 57-54 on Feb. 12, for the first time since Feb. 6, 2008. WMU then snapped a four-game losing streak to the Zips in the MAC Tournament with a 64-60 win on March. 14.
Western Michigan had made the NCAA tournament four times now. Hawkins has led the program to two appearances, with the other in 2004.
Hawkins said another appearance in the national tournament creates new memories for him and ones that his players won't ever forget.
"You know, it's not every day at our level these kids get to sit up on a stage," Hawkins said. "We walked into the locker room yesterday and there's four or five cameras shoved in front of their faces. We don't get that. So it's a lifetime experience for them.
"I've said this before going into it, as a coach, you get many opportunities to hopefully do this throughout the course of your career, but as a kid and student-athlete, you only get one, two, three, four opportunities at the most. So, when you can, capitalize on it and you can get that, it's really special, truly special, and something these kids will never forget."
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PARMA, MI – A man injured when a dump truck hit him Wednesday, Sept. 11, is in good condition, a University of Michigan Health System spokeswoman said Thursday, Sept. 12.
Travis A. Burke, 30, of Jackson went by helicopter Wednesday afternoon to the university medical center in Ann Arbor.
An employee of Jackson-based Professional Tree Care, a company contracted by the Jackson County Department of Transportation, Burke was hurt while dumping wood chips at the department's garage at 2491 N. Parma Road.
He was on top of the truck, lowering a platform, when the driver pulled away from the pile, according to an earlier report. Burke fell in front of the truck and the truck hit him, Jackson County Undersheriff Chris Kuhl reported Wednesday.
JCDOT hired the company to trim trees.
Kuhl said the incident is considered an accident. There was no enforcement action taken because it did not take place on a road, he wrote in an email.


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Hand planing
The latest sport creating a buzz at Watergate Bay is hand planing – a turbo-charged version of bodysurfing.
Popular with surfers and swimmers, the ancient art of riding waves without a surfboard has been updated for the 21st century with the addition of a hand-held mini surfboard measuring around 30cm long (hand plane).
Lesson prices include the latest Gul wetsuits and all the equipment you need to get you started. We also have heated changing facilities with hot showers and lockers.
Introduction to hand planing – Two hours £25
Hand planing is quick to learn; even those with no surfing experience you could be catching and bodysurfing waves within the first 15 minutes.
Hire is also available:
£6 for two hours and £12 for a full day.
Hand planning is not recommended for under those under 12 years old and you will need to be a competent swimmer.
Book your lesson today


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text: With a stay at Hôtel d'Angleterre in Montpellier (Historic Centre), you'll be minutes from Opera House and Comedy Square. This hotel is within close proximity of Hotel Saint Come and Languedoc Museum. Stay in one of 34 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include phones and desks, and you can also request cribs/infant beds. Take in the views from a terrace and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Breakfast is available for a fee. Featured amenities include multilingual staff, a safe deposit box at the front desk, and an elevator (lift).