text:
Niese makes adjustments, hopes for results
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- The worst two-start stretch of Jon Niese's career forced the Mets' left-hander to look in the mirror. Literally.
Niese spent this week refining his mechanics in front of a weight room mirror, trying to keep his body tall and on a straight line. Those were the issues that he considered crucial to his recent struggles, resulting in 15 runs over his last two starts.
"Whenever I had free time, I just stepped in front of a mirror and went through my mechanics, and made sure everything's on line," Niese said. "I can feel when it's right."
Though Niese will not know for certain whether the problem is fixed until he takes the mound Thursday at Busch Stadium, he considered his between-starts bullpen session his best of the year. In an attempt to change his recent fortunes, Niese threw more max-effort pitches in the session than usual.
He insisted that he felt completely healthy doing it, no longer experiencing the back soreness that plagued him earlier this month.
"It was just good to get a good workout in, being able to cut loose in the bullpen," he said. "I've been cutting pitches off, short-arming it. It felt good just to kind of let the arm go."
Wheeler to miss just one start; Mets relieved
ST. LOUIS -- As the Mets hoped and expected, top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler has no structural damage in his right arm, and will miss only one start for Triple-A Las Vegas.
"Feeling good and ready to get going again," Wheeler tweeted. "Thanks for all the kind words and concerns."
An MRI Wednesday in New York revealed only mild inflammation of the AC joint in Wheeler's shoulder. The right-hander received a cortisone shot and will skip his next start, but nothing beyond that.
"I'm very happy and relieved -- very relieved," manager Terry Collins said. "I was certainly very worried. Any time you have a kid with that time of talent and you talk about arm stuff -- especially when you talk about the shoulder area -- it scares you to death. So it's great news."
Assistant general manager John Ricco said that Wheeler's timetable to reach the big leagues "hasn't changed," meaning he should debut sometime after next month's estimated Super 2 arbitration cutoff. Because the Mets play five games in four days in Atlanta from June 17-20, that is the most logical week for Wheeler's first start.
But the timetable depends upon Wheeler's own progress. The right-hander has gone 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA, 19 strikeouts and three walks over his last three starts, after opening the year 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 19 walks in five outings.
"He's progressing," Ricco said. "I think the results have shown that. I don't think there's any one magic thing that we're looking for, but we talk on a start-by-start basis. We'll make a decision based on when we think the time is right."
Streaky Murphy going up after busting slump
ST. LOUIS -- In the sixth inning of last Sunday's game against the Pirates, Daniel Murphy swung at a Vin Mazzaro breaking ball and missed by nearly a foot. He struck out, leaving home plate hitless for a 17th straight at-bat while looking utterly lost at the plate.
But Murphy doubled in his next plate appearance, snapping his 0-for-17 funk and keying a 7-for-9 renaissance, which has included two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.
In that fashion, Murphy furthered his reputation as one of the streakiest hitters in baseball. Consider his month-by-month slash lines (batting average, on-base percentage and slugging) from last May through September:
• May: .303/.361/.384
• June: .240/.253/.427
• July: .360/.380/.528
• August: .225/.286/.270
• September: .337/.381/.483
Wildly streaky from month to month, Murphy nonetheless made good on manager Terry Collins' assertion that his typical statistics -- most notably a batting average around .300 -- would be there at the end of the season. Collins has recycled that line of thinking this year, with Murphy riding multiple early-season peaks and valleys.
"It's tough to explain," Murphy said. "Once you start feeling good and then you have some success for it, it just lends to more peace and less anxiety."
The opposite, Murphy said, is also true. But by ignoring the short-term fluctuations of his season, he believes he can achieve his long-term objectives.
"Obviously you want to be as productive as possible every day, but you're going to go through stretches," he said. "I think the biggest thing is trying not to look at the whole picture. You try to narrow it down not even to at-bats, but to individual pitches. Then the goals become a little more attainable."
Collins affirms his respect for Mets fans
ST. LOUIS -- Mets manager Terry Collins said he regretted his Tuesday comments regarding Jordany Valdespin, particularly his admonition that he does not "answer to fans."
"Of course I regret the choice of words," Collins said Wednesday. "I certainly respect the New York fans. They're the most knowledgeable fans I've ever been around. They know the game. They know the people.
"You know, I'm a human being. I used a bad choice of words. But I'm also frustrated. Here we are -- we're scuffling, scuffling. There's one topic to talk about. And I understand that we're not playing good, so that's the story. I'm aware of that. And I'm tired of talking about it. I want to talk about getting better. So that was my fault -- nobody else's fault. I wasn't baited into anything. Once again, I want our fans to understand that I'm working my butt off to get better. Period."
To do that, Collins vowed to remain upbeat, which he admittedly did not do during previous managerial stops in Houston and Anaheim.
"Years ago I let it get to me, because I thought it was a direct reflection of the job I was doing," Collins said. "Right now, I know they've got to play and they've got to be ready. My job is to make sure they stay ready. And the one way to do that is to keep them positive."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
OCEAN CITY – While it's notoriously difficult to predict Washington's next move, you should probably start preparing yourself for higher taxes. A sweeping series of tax cuts introduced by George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 are set to expire at the end of this year. It's unclear yet whether Congress plans to renew some of these tax breaks. Yet even if only a few expire, the impact on your portfolio could be significant. To help offset any impending changes in the code, we believe you should consider implementing several proactive and tax-efficient investment strategies this year.
One very straightforward approach is to consider increasing your municipal bond holdings. With the income tax rate for top earners possibly set to rise to 39.6% from 35%, shielding your investments from federal taxes could become all the more crucial, and municipal bonds are one of the few investment vehicles whose yields are free from federal (and most state) taxes. Yields on 10-year AAA-rated municipal bonds were about 3% in late January. At the current top tax rate, that's roughly the equivalent of a taxable bond yielding 4.5% for someone in the 28% bracket. At higher tax rates, the comparable yield would rise even higher.
There is one exception to the rule. If you're subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT), you will owe taxes on income from a common type of municipal bond known as a private activity bond, issued by local governments to fund the construction of projects involving private contractors.
Congress has discussed eliminating the AMT or limiting its scope, but it's a major revenue producer, and repeal seems doubtful. Millions more Americans will face the tax this year. Your tax consultant can work with you and your financial advisor to help you determine whether you're likely to be one of them, and how to adjust your muni strategy accordingly.
Another set of tax strategies involve dividends and capital gains. Since 2003, most dividends and capital gains have been taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. Unless Congress moves to push back the sunset provision governing this portion of the Bush tax cuts, starting next year dividends will again be taxed as ordinary income (and, potentially, at the higher 39.6% rate), and the tax on capital gains will rise to 20%. Your financial advisor can help you decide whether to recalibrate the balance of your portfolio dedicated to dividend-producing stocks. He or she may also want you to take a look at your portfolio's underperforming assets and consider harvesting some capital losses in 2010 that can be used to offset the effect of the possible increase in the tax on capital gains.
Accounting rules have always allowed taxpayers to use capital losses in one investment to offset capital gains in another. If in a given year you have more losses than gains, you can use up to $3,000 in losses to offset ordinary income. And the losses can be carried forward indefinitely, so any losses booked this year could likely be used to offset taxable capital gains next year (and the year after and the one after that), when it looks as though the tax rate will rise to 20%.
In our estimation, signs point to this being one of the last Aprils with several tax rates and exemptions you've no doubt grown used to. Your financial advisor can work with you and your tax planner on these tax-consideration strategies and others to help transition to the Aprils ahead with as little drain on your assets and investment performance as possible.
(A Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor. She can be reached at 410-213-852

subset: commoncrawl


text:
SNOW HILL- Stephen Decatur's men's varsity basketball team lost a tough one this week, falling to county rival Snow Hill, 56-52, on Tuesday on the road to relinquish its share of the lead in the Bayside South.
The two conference heavyweights squared off on Tuesday in Snow Hill with the Eagles hanging on late to defeat the Seahawks after maintaining a double-digit lead for much of the contest. The two teams entered the game tied atop the Bayside South standings with identical 12-2 overall records and 9-1 conference marks, making what is always a spirited rivalry even more important in terms of bragging rights in the conference.
Snow Hill was sharp early and quickly built a 6-1 lead before the Seahawks got on track. The Eagles extended the lead to 12-4 and later 18-6 as the first quarter closed in front of a raucous home crowd in Snow Hill. The Eagles capitalized on several early turnovers by the Seahawks to set up easy scoring opportunities down their end of the floor.
The pattern continued in the second quarter as the Snow Hill lead swelled to as many as 16 at one point before the Seahawks settled down and began to find a rhythm. In the third quarter, Decatur started taking care of the basketball a little better and opened up its offense and began chipping away at the Snow Hill lead. By the end of the third quarter, Decatur had cut the lead to just seven points and the outcome was far from decided.
The two teams went back and forth in the frantic fourth quarter, but Decatur could not get over the hump as Snow Hill made just enough baskets to keep the Seahawks at bay. Decatur did cut the lead to just three points at 53-50 with under a minute to play, but could not make the big shot to even the score. The Seahawks fouled Snow Hill in the waning seconds in an attempt to get one last look at a game-tying or winning shot, but the Eagles knocked down their free throws when they had to and held on for the 56-52 win.
Snow Hill's four-point win on its home court avenged an earlier loss to Decatur. The Seahawks beat the Eagles, 58-50, at home back on December 15. The win put Snow Hill atop the Bayside South standings by one game over the Seahawks with the other Worcester County school, Pocomoke, lurking close behind in third.
Despite falling behind the Eagles, there is still plenty of time left for Decatur to get back on top. The Seahawks hosted Washington last night in a game played too late to be included in this edition. It was the first of four straight games at home for Decatur with a stretch that also includes Crisfield, Pocomoke and Mardela.


text: This is a line of clothing I've been waiting to be release by Nike for years now. It's easily the best season line-up of attire I've seen from them in 2 years. The 12'' cargo shorts look great, and the abundance of colorful, versatile crews and polos is simply awesome. I know there's more to come for the US Open apparel and shoes (I'm particularly excited for Fed's black and red Vapors and polo), but this is a fantastic way to kick off the fall series of clothing. Highly impressed and will surely have a sad wallet soon!


text:
(Brian Killian/Getty Images)
Michael Bublé fans who weren't able to purchase tickets to his To Be Loved Tour are in luck: the singer has just announced additional U.S. dates to his sold-out tour.
Bublé will end his tour with 13 shows Stateside, including two shows at New York's Madison Square Garden on July 7 and 8.
The tour kicked off with 10 sold-out shows at London's 02 and included 40 U.S. dates in late 2013.
"This tour continues to be a phenomenal ride with fantastic audiences everywhere," Bublé said in a press release. "I'm thrilled to be back in the States to wrap up these last few shows."


text:
I wanted to make a friend a little gift for being such a wonderful hostess. She sent me home with 2 of her Tupperware containers back in July. I planned to see her this past week end and I wanted to return her containers with a little something.
This is a made up pattern so the size can be whatever you want.
#1. Cut a rectangle of felt or batting, I like felt best because it gives more body. I used batting on this, cause I was too lazy to go hunt the felt.
#2. Layout the design you want starting at the center of your rectangle. I have positioned the fabric on a diagonal and it is quite stunning. Since I was using scraps and wanted to whip this up fast I just marked the center, placed my scrap on the batting and started sewing from the center out.
#3. I didn't want to do the strap "thing" so I cut rectangles out of the batting as a guide.
#4. When you are through piecing, Quilt your design onto your bag. I just played with some of the decorative stitches on my machine.
#5. Cut a rectangle for your lining before you fold your bag to sew together.
#6 Sew a pocket onto your lining, I folded a piece of fabric the width of the bag in half and made a tube the turned it, pressed it and pinned it to the lining. I stitched the divided lines for the pocket and didn't sew the outside edges until I folded the lining with right sides together to sew.
#7 Don't cut the holes for the lining until you have put the bag together and turned it, or you will have to use what I had to to cover up the mismatched holes for the handles.
My almost finished bag, had to hand sew around self made double fold fabric at handles.
make any size rectangle you desire!
cut your lining the same size, don't cut out the hand opening on the lining until bag is together.
start in the center placing fabric strips and work your way out.. Quilt as desired.
Just so you can see my random stitches.
cut handle opening after quilting as shown.
place lining on outside of bag to position pocket placement.
stitch dividers for your pocket, showing on wrong side so you can see my stitches.
I highly recommend not cutting the opening for the handles until after the bag is put together. Since this is the first one I have made like this I can tell you it makes for lots of work to try to match up the opening. CUT OPENING FOR THE LINING AFTER THE BAG IS PUT TOGETHER!!!I placed interfacing onto the lining to stablize the openings for the handles
This is the bottom of the bag, with a note of thanks, I used temtex , It's like a really big postcard, hey thats an idea..........
OK, here is where it falls apart, I didn't take photos of squaring off the bottom of the bag, or placing the lining over the outter bag and pulling it through the side of the lining. I hope you know how to do that. I will make another one with the intention of submitting a better tut. Until then This is to give you an idea on what you can do with them scraps!


text:
New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Left-arm spinners Sumit Mathur (Ganga International School) and Prashant Singh (St. Sophia Senior Secondary School) became the first bowlers to claim five-wicket hauls in the second Daredevils School Cup at the Air Force Cricket Ground in Palam here Saturday.
Mathur, who played for Delhi under-16 team in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, was the toast of Ganga International's second successive victory in Group B, an eight-wicket conquest of MRV School, Dwarka. His haul of five for nine in four overs reduced MRV School from 45 for two to 79 all out.
Prashant was the architect of St Sophia's massive 169-run victory over St Mary's Public School, Dwarka. His haul of five for three in 2.2 overs ensured that his team bowled out its rival for just 24 runs. Earlier, riding on a 136-run second-wicket stand between Akshay Solanki (57, 38 balls, eight fours, one six) and skipper Ankit Gera (63, 56 balls, five fours, one six), St. Sophia posted a huge score of 193 for four in 20 overs.
The scores:
Group B: MRV School, Dwarka, 79 in 20 overs (Sumit Mathur five for nine) lost to Ganga International School 80 for two in 15 overs (Yash Vora 34 not out, Arun Dalal 31).
Group B: St Michael's Senior Secondary School 106 for eight in 20 overs (Japneet Singh 29, Naman Sagar 32 not out, Vansh Tilak two for 21, Mayank Rathi three for 23) lost to Cambridge Foundation 107 for seven in 19.5 overs (Vansh Tilak 25, Ashish Bandaliya 33, Rishabh Wasson two for 28, Sehaj Preet Singh two for 20, Mayank Bhardwaj two for 13).
Group D: Don Bosco Public School 53 in 16.5 overs (Hemanshu Choudhary two for 18, Anuj Siwash three for 12) lost to St Mary's Public School, Neb Sarai, 64 for two in 12.2 overs (Anuj Siwash 30 not out).
Group K: St Sophia Senior Secondary School 193 for four in 20 overs (Akshay Solanki 57, Ankit Gera 63, Bharat Kumar 26) beat St Mary's Public School, Dwarka, 24 in 13.2 overs (Sachin Sahni two for 4, Prashant Singh five for three).


text:
ArtsWatch: Trillions Of Dollars In Fair Use?
The Recording Academy actively represents the music community on such issues as intellectual property rights, music piracy, archiving and preservation, and censorship concerns. In pursuing its commitment to addressing these and other issues, The Recording Academy undertakes a variety of national initiatives. ArtsWatch is a key part of an agenda aimed at raising public awareness of and support for the rights of artists. To become more involved, visit Advocacy Action @ GRAMMY.com and sign up for Advocacy Action E-lerts.
On April 27 the Computer & Communications Industry Association released a study seeking to quantify the economic contributions made by U.S. industries that rely on fair use or other copyright limitations and exceptions, such as safe harbor protection for Internet service providers. The report summarized fair use industries as accounting for $4.7 trillion in revenue and 17.5 million jobs in 2007. The Copyright Alliance objected that CCIA's methodology takes an overly inclusive approach to defining fair use industries, skirts over the fundamental role played by copyright-protected material, and lumps licensed uses within its overall estimates. When CCIA released its original 2007 fair use study, it provided a comparison to entertainment industry efforts — making the point that copyright has value but fair use also has considerable value. Several recent ArtsWatch columns touched on new demands for rigorous quantitative estimates of piracy. The CCIA report suggests other types of intellectual property data that could be added to policymakers' wish lists.
World Intellectual Property Day was celebrated on April 26. In recognizing the event, the Department of Justice announced that 15 U.S. attorneys will be added to its Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property program and 20 FBI special agents will form four regional intellectual property squads. This year's World IP Day was also the 40th anniversary of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which used the occasion to unveil its new logo.
The Federal Communications Commission had an impressively busy April, moving ahead on its National Broadband Plan as summarized by Chairman Julius Genachowksi on April 21. Genachowski also testified before a Senate Small Business Committee hearing held April 27 on "Connecting Main Street to the World: Federal Efforts to Expand Small Business Internet Access." On April 29 the House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet heard testimony on "The National Broadband Plan: Competitive Availability of Navigation Devices." This effort to separate cable set-top boxes from cable subscription services is a favorite of many consumer and technology advocates, who would like to see a competitive marketplace develop between service-neutral devices that could add innovative features, including broadband Internet.
On April 21 Facebook announced plans for improvements to its social media environment at a developers' conference, including alterations to its default privacy settings. On April 27 the company heard from four senators, led by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who expressed concern about the changes and anticipation regarding the Federal Trade Commission's examination of social media privacy issues. On April 29 both Facebook and the FTC testified before the Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing regarding children's privacy. Facebook Director of Public Policy Tim Sparapani described the firm's approach to protecting minors and privacy as well as its extensive efforts to help users understand how to interact with the Web site's privacy settings. Sparapani expressed the hope that lawmakers will take a legislative approach providing incentives for innovations they would like to see, and added that the way Facebook handles privacy on a technological level is so carefully tailored to statutes presently in place, changes to the regulations could require the company to redesign the underpinnings of its technological approach.
Digital media identification leader Audible Magic and licensing firm Music Reports officially announced a strategic partnership on April 22 to match song information in their respective databases. Music Reports Senior VP of Business Affairs and Business Development Les Watkins said, "For too long, digital music users have had no way of knowing which songs are controlled by which music publishers and by which collecting societies.... Through this partnership with Audible Magic, we will open up lucrative direct licensing opportunities for music publishers, while reducing transaction costs and overall royalty payments for social media Web sites and other music users."
On April 26 the Internet Streaming Media Alliance and the MPEG Industry Forum announced that ISMA will cease its independent operations, the two organizations will merge memberships, and MPEGIF will go forward within ISMA's California non-profit corporation status and no longer exist as a Switzerland-based organization. This consolidating merger reflects the perception that ISMA's role helping develop MPEG streaming video standards — now commonplace on the Web — is "mission accomplished" and that the industry forum promoting the use of MPEG standards will be stronger and more efficient by taking over ISMA's residual assets.


text:
Already been done
Carmageddon anyone ;)
The Driving Standards Agency is considering the use of three-dimensional animation in the driving theory test's hazard perception section. Since 2002, theory tests – a precursor to a practical driving test – have included 14 videos, during which candidates have to click on a mouse when they see a developing hazard. Higher …
Carmageddon anyone ;)
Instead of fancy animated graphics to improve new drivers' hazard perception, they should be made to take the motorcycle CBT as part of the driving test. Nothing improves a drivers focus on road safety better than havng the metal box taken away from around them and being introduced to the dangers of the road directly.
If doing the CBT improves your hazard perception, how do you explain the appalling driving by twattish 16 year olds on scooters...?
The appalling driving by twattish 16 year-olds on scooters can be explained in exactly the same way as twattish driving by 17 year-olds in cars.
I leave it up to you to figure it out...
they are 16 nuff said
I can't agree more. I don't see how a 1 day "don't fall off the bike and you've passed" course makes you a better driver. What we need is a crash simuator to show how much it hurts when you crash after driving like a fucktard in your shitty little nova-clone with a wanker's "sport" exhaust.
Paris, because I bet shes a better ride than a Vauxhall Corsa.
I can understand your comments regarding 32Tonne lorry drivers who seem to think that their safety distance is measured in millimeters (so when they do completely crush a family saloon, how much damage does _their_ lorry have?)
However most of the motorbike riders I have experienced on the road seem convinced of their own immortality. They think nothing of overtaking with your 'metal boxes' rushing past on either side of them, overtaking speed of 30+ MPH on their left and closing speed over 100+ mph on their right. Thats when they are not sitting in a cars blind spot (thats the space that you bike riders seem to think is ideal for waiting until you can overtake the peon in the car who's _only_ doing 70mph.)
Personnally, most of the bike riders I knew in my yoof have had serious accidents. Most lossing internal body parts and one the use of everything from the neck down.
I hope the 3D animated version offers better quality video than the test units I had to undergo. It looked like it was being decoded by QuickTime circa 1996 on a sub-200 Mhz box, with plenty of frame lag.
If this is a goer, then we have a technology which may allow us to bring in re-tests. Something I think is vital to improving standards. If you knew that every (say) 5 years you had to prove that you were fit to drive, then more people would pay attention to red lights, signals etc. Add to that bin-annual mandatory eye and health checks and I think we could be on to something (yes, lots of people will lose their license; that's the bloody point!)
The motorcycle CBT is a good idea, but a political non-starter as bikes are up to 20 times more dangerous than cars. Add that to the EU anti-bike policies (Vision Zero) and it will just not happen.
But the answer with the BIGGEST impact is also the most simple and least sexy. Tear down the cameras, stop with the rhetoric and simply bring back the traffic police. Labour have deliberately decimated traffic policing (saving lives/preventing accidents does not raise revenue, issuing fines does).
I always thought you never needed any tests to pick up a scooter and ride it, you simply need a valid prelim license, which any "twattish 16 year-old" can write off, having paid the princely sum of £34 first! No common-sense plus no license and most have no insurance, you do the math on the road death stats!
I remember taking my CBT in 2003, I practiced on about 50 little Quicktimes from Focus ( one of the last few UK software companies, support them! ), passed my CBT 100%. The funny thing was, all the real films in the test were all shot in my old home town, so I knew most of the dangerous roads and more less what was likely to happen!
But until we start RE-testing current drivers we'll still have dicks who whinge about being caught by a speed camera because they couldn't read the road signs or see a great yellow camera at the side of the road, or morons who tootle along at 60mph in lane 2 or 3 or a four lane motorway and then look at you when you flash them.
Is the motorcycle CBT where they teach how to pass on the left, dodge to the front at traffic lights, overtake traffic turning right and use chevrons as if they were a personal lane?
What exactly is all this unnecessary complication for? Drivers who have already passed their test aren't going to be affected. All it seems to be doing is making it harder for learners at the public's expense.
When I first failed my driving test, the "theory section" consisted of the examiner showing me some flash cards of traffic signs and asking me what they were. Later I did a theory test using pencil and paper.
Eventually I gave up and decided to stick to Shanks's Pony, which appears to have been the best tactic in the light of rising fuel prices and increasing congestion on the roads. One time I accepted a lift home from a colleague, the queue to get onto a particularly busy roundabout was so bad I actually found myself asking if I could get out and walk.
Maybe they could do this in the style of SecondLife? I can't wait to see the questions....
1 The first video is of you driving along and you pass a female with disproportionate breasts walking a dog. Do you:
Continue to drive and be aware of possible hazards ahead
Stop and shag her?
Shag her dog?
Ignore her, you shagged her 5 minutes ago
2 The next video clip shows you approaching a major junction with traffic lights. Do you:
Approach with caution
Keep going, the place hasn't rezzed yet so you'll be fine
Stop and shag her
3 The third video clip show you proceeding along a single lane carriageway with parked cars on the opposide side. A fire engine approaches with it's emergecy lights lit. Do you:
Stop and shag her
IM: Brian Cockface: can someone tp me? Im stuck in a gay bar.
I somewhat disagree... I've never met a motorcyclist who isnt a complete idiot on the road especially on country roads. Just the other week I was overtaken by a group of 7 motorcyclists who were racing each other, including overtaking in a traffic calmed 30mph zone, riding without any hands on the handlebars, overtaking on blind bends... etc
Even the TV adverts affirm this, the ad where the motorist is turning at a T junction and motorcycle decides to overtake and gets hit.... THINK look out for motorcyclists, more like how about the motorcyclist doesnt overtake in the first place...
So what is it about the motorcyclist exam that makes them think they should be constantly overtaking everything in sight???
If you speak to any Driving Instructor (at least those not in the DSA pocket) they will tell you that the regular additions to the driving test (increasing the cost to new drivers) have not reduced accidents or casualties in the 'young' and 'new' driver groups.
The most responsible approach would be to limit the size and speed of vehicles available to new drivers to a 1.1 litre vehicle of a maximum unladen weight.
I've seen enough young drivers in 2+ litre cars which are barely under control as they race away from lights or along country lanes.
Unfortunately such a limitation would not net the DSA/government any extra cash and so would not be considered.
Growing up in the pennines with many small villages and country roads and travelling over 30000 miles per year on the motorway networks I've seen many accidents, alot of these have resulted in serious injury or death and the common factors in the worst are generally the age of the driver and the size of engine...
So the new test will consist of car-jacking a young mother and shooting her in the head when she complains, driving at breakneck speeds while being chased by the cops and the passing mark can be obtained by handbrake turning into a spray shop so that they can knock out the dents and therefore make you unrecognisable to any passing police?
EU anti bike policies?
Can you provide a reference for that, or are you just making things up as you go along.
And yes, I did a search for Vision Zero, and there is nothing there which I saw which relates to active policies against motorbikes.
So instead of the real world, we'll have a cartoon reality? If I hit a little girl in this simulator at 30mph, will she die 20% of the time, and if I hit her at 40mph will she die 80% of the time like they claim in the adverts? Because that is not reality, it was an attempt to mislead using statistics.
See Speed Limit vs Road deaths comment here:
> They think nothing of overtaking with your 'metal boxes' rushing past on either side of them,
> overtaking speed of 30+ MPH on their left and closing speed over 100+ mph on their right.
The "threat zone" on a motorcycle is when you're alongside traffic. Getting through the threat zone *quickly* makes the manoeuvre significantly safer.
As for closing speed to oncoming traffic - it's irrelevant. Hit that car, and you're dead, regardless of the speed.
> Even the TV adverts affirm this, the ad where the motorist is turning at a T junction and motorcycle
> decides to overtake and gets hit.... THINK look out for motorcyclists, more like how about the
> motorcyclist doesnt overtake in the first place...
Errr - you know that in that ad, the motorcyclist isn't overtaking, right? He's travelling along the main road when the car pulls out in front of him (the eponymous "SMIDSY").
It is all just a ridiculous little video game anyway, now isn't it. As somebody who moved to the UK and was able to drive for a whole year on my US driving licence, and then was summarily told i was trying to cheat on the HPT and therefore didn't know how to drive, I think the whole thing is a bit ridiculous. I missed it by one single point. I have only been driving for 16 years. And at least i only missed 2 of 50 on the theory portion. Whoopdydoo! Anyways, you give people the right to drive here without ever having them take a test to prove they even know the rules. The idea that giving the cyclist test is an obvious no-no. Those people don't know how to follow the rules at all. As far as i'm concerned you should disallow them for being completely retarded, or at least having a lack of any scruples.
Paris, because its sad that she can't find a best friend because of all of this!
Can I first just point out that 150- 250 kg of motorbike and rider, even when acting irresponsibly, is usually only a danger to themselves, whereas 1,500 kg or so of car and driver just acting *carelessly* by failing to indicate, undertake proper observation or using their mobile phone is a danger to *everyone*, especially those not in a metal box.
As for the videos in the Theory Test, over 25 years of cycling experience meant that when I took the test, I had to *slow down* my click responses because I was identifying a hazard before it was a "developing hazard", I'd already identified a situation as "something to be watched" but the system wouldn't recognise that as a valid response until it was actually *becoming* a danger.
Oh, and the new motorcycle test which was supposed to be introduced last year has been delayed until at least the end of March because there are simply insufficient testing areas available.
Oddly enough, there is, at present, no similar car test, even though over two-thirds of the accidents involving vehicles and motorcycles are the fault of the driver (Booth report 1989) ie the classic SMIDSY - Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You...
You, as a driver, are responsible for undertaking proper observation before making a manoeuvre to ensure that it will not jeopardise another road user (Davis vs Schrogin 2006 http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2006/974.html )
What's the point in strictly testing people before allowing them to drive, and then allowing people to drive on an overseas licence anyway with no controls.
One of the offshore guys i work with got his licence in India and had to drive forward ten feet, then reverse ten feet, woo a pass. Thinking it was odd, i asked someone else, and they said yes, but when they did it they couldn't manage to reverse, but got it anyway!
The guy i was speaking to said he didn't like driving in the UK much though, as there were all these rules to follow but he had no idea what they were!
There are various actions moving through the EU to restrict/get rid of motorcycles. I suggest you look a bit harder. To quote Claes Tingvall "There is no room for motorcycles in Vision Zero." (and you know who he is and where he said that because you researched it).
As for bikers riding like twats; yes there are some. There is NO EXCUSE for racing on the road or other antics, and I condemn those who do (regardless of vehicle); we have tracks for that kind of thing. But is the twats who you remember (a bit like lycra louts and BMW drivers really) not the courteous/safe rider who just wafts pass and doesn't upset/scare you. Which is, pretty much, how we should all try to drive.
Passing on the left? That can be quite legal (check your Highway Code and one does wonder what you are doing in the wrong lane; GET LEFT!). Filtering? If done safely, that is quite legal. Even over taking on unbroken lines can be legal (check your Highway Code). Strange overtakes on country roads? A biker's head is higher than a car driver's, they can often see further ahead and may do what appears to the driver to be dangerous but isn't (this is why also why riders may swing from the middle of the lane to one edge when approaching a bend - to increase their view and thus increase safety).
As for sitting in the blind spot for any length of time, well that is just stupid (car design doesn't really help either). However, approaching a car and then moving briefly into what might be the blind spot could be preparatory work to an overtake (go forward, have a look-see, prepare to move out for a better look). Of course the rider should back off if they need to abandon the manoeuvre. Although kudos for actually knowing a bike was there. This means you must use your mirrors and perform shoulder checks, making you a very rare breed on Britain's roads!
But this is descending into my defending bikers from a bit of bike-bashing (either through prejudice, ignorance or trolling). There are mad/bad bikers just as there are mad/bad car drivers and I put it to you that the mad/bad biker is a much greater risk to THEMSELVES than the mad/bad driver, who is a greater risk to others. Of course, that in no way excuses dangerous driving.
We could all benefit from more training (bikers, drivers, cyclists etc.) and if you are sat there thinking "Well, I don't need more training.", then you almost certainly do! Which neatly brings us back to re-testing. This system could make mandatory re-testing for all drivers a possibility, and that is something I whole-heartedly endorse.
Could I pass my test (or a re-test) today? Hmm...maybe, not sure if I am honest. I guess I would be better at some things but I am also certain bad habits have crept in (e.g. driving too close in my case).
Could I pass such a re-test after a bit more training? Yes.
Would I be safer after more training? Yes.
Ergo, re-testing compels more training and thus increases safety.
We also need a much tougher test. The Highway Code test is an utter joke. The road test in the car was chronic but the bike test slightly harder (but not by much). Having done both it is no surprise to me that we get such utter numpties in cages or on two wheels.
So, there you have it. A biker (and car driver) requesting tougher testing, re-testing and more training. Wow. What a dangerous hooligan I must be! And I have some startling news for you - I am not alone.


text:
Moyer Injured; Losing Streak Continues
Before tonight's 7-1 loss to the Cardinals, Kyle Kendrick was sent back to the minors. Yesterday, he allowed 7 runs to the Cards in 5 innings and has been inconsistent all year.
Andrew Carpenter was called up to play the long-man role in the bullpen until a new starter is announced to take Kendrick's place. It will likely be JA Happ, but an outside trade is not out of the question either.
In fact, the Phillies have now been forced to look even harder for starting pitching help as Jamie Moyer lasted only 1 inning tonight and left with a left elbow strain. Carpenter got into a game a lot quicker than he probably anticipated. He took over for Moyer in the second and pitched 3 innings, allowing 3 runs on a 2-run homer and a wild pitch that scored a runner from third.
Given the circumstance, Carpenter did a decent job. But now the Phils are in a very, very bad spot. They need pitching help and they need it now. It is unknown right now how serious Moyer's injury may be, but the fact that it is his elbow does not bode well.
The need for pitching help was magnified in the 5th inning by another very bad outing from reliever, Danys Baez. Without recording an out, Baez walked two batters and then gave up a 3-run homer to dig a deeper hole for his team. Many people, including manager Charlie Manuel, have defended Baez throughout the year. But there is just no excuse anymore; he is clearly not the pitcher he once was and shows no signs of improving. By the way, Ruben Amaro Jr. signed this dud to a 2-year contract. Ugh.
As for the offense, it was non-existent again. Shane Victorino hit a double for the lone RBI of the game. Jayson Werth and Placido Polanco had 2 hits each, but that was basically all that happened that was positive. The Phillies did have runners on first and third with one out on the 3rd inning, thanks to great base running from Wilson Valdez. But Jimmy Rollins blew it and hit into a double play. When the guy that makes your team "go" is now making them "stop," things are very bad.
Before tonight's game, Rollins expressed his displeasure with the recent media coverage of the Phillies to Todd Zolecki of the Zo Zone. He said, "It's not over. You can write it like it's over. But the guys with the bats and the balls they control what the pen says." Really? Well then Jimmy, show us a different result and we will show you some more positive media coverage.
Because right now, this team looks like a sunken ship. I would not even mind the losses so much if the Phils acted like they were putting up a fight.
Instead, they look like zombies out there; the spark is gone. It is like watching the colorful fall leaves turn brown, wither and die. It is a slow, painful and depressing process. Watching the life being slowly sucked out of this once great team is about as much fun as a root canal.
The Phillies still have time, but as each day passes and they fall further behind in the standings, the less likely it becomes that they will snap out of this funk before it is too late. In short, the Phillies may wind up skipping right past Fall and move straight into Winter.
Carpenter photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
*Read more about the Phillies at my other home page, Phightin' Phils Phorum in the My Team Rivals network*


text:
|Forum Rules
|Firearms Safety
|Firearms Photos
|Lost Password
|Email Changes
|Today's Posts
|Mark Forums Read
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread
|January 2, 2008, 11:47 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: May 25, 1999
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,050
Jan 08, Pat Rogers on Red dots.
I loved the article on Red Dots. I always flip through the new issue of Swat to see what Pat Roger's has to say. I always hope that it is an article like this or his checklists. One day you need to put together a binder of your training articles. You may at your classes. I wouldn't know since every time I sign up for one or think of signing up a court calendar will come out and keep me from going.
Anyway, I am glad to see other folks writing all over their guns. I have been doing this for years to the consternation of my friends. I figure, its my damn gun, I'll write on it if I want. What type of marker are you using on that 416?
Finally, I noticed some grouchiness regarding people who disfavor fixed stocks. I can understand, coming as you do from a military and police background, the use of body armor is a serious concern. But wouldn't a short fixed stock be optimal for a civvy (one who doesn't wear armor, I mean)?
O.K., really finally, What type of loctite do you use on your Larue Aimpoint mounts? Mine came with a little tiny bit in a plastic cap.
Again, hooray for SWAT. This looks to be a really good issue. I will be taking more smoke breaks at work this week--and I don't smoke.
Correct anwers to gun questions to save time...
Carry: j-frame
Home/combat: Hk P30 or Beretta 92G
Doomsday: Colt 6920 with Aimpoint t-2
|January 3, 2008, 06:31 AM
Member in memoriam
Join Date: July 31, 2001
Posts: 303
Good Morning!
Thanks for the kind words! I take this very seriously, and after watching the babble that goes on in the dramanet forums have always felt that solid info is worth more then social meanderings.
We have been marking guns for over 15 years now. It is the only way you can be sure that what you have is where it needs to be, every time.
I use a Sharpie (aqua generally, and that is what is on the 416). It won't last forever, but during maintenance cycles i'll re touch it.
My issue with fixed stocks is - specifically- the A2 stock. Too long by a bunch, puts people in a bad fighting position. The collapsible stock gives you options not available with an A2 stock.
The Sully stock is a perfect fixed stock- the right length, strong and well designed.
I usually run my stock closed while wearing armor (open to the first notch while slick), but in prone, like it out a little farther.
I get tired of the "you can't buttstroke with a collapsible stock" gang. There are ways to strike someone with your gun, and buttstrokes are not among the better TTP's, for obvious reasons.
It is a poor excuse for a non ergonomic stock.
I use the Loctite provided by Larue. You don't need much, but what he gives you is sufficient for the purpose.
The Larue mounts are the absolute best there are, and for good reason...
In the Feb08 issue i have an article on Offset, which dovetails in to the RDS article.
Another one down the line will be about RDS failure, and while rare, you need to train for it.
Again, i appreciate the feedback!
Pat sends
Last edited by Pat Rogers; January 3, 2008 at 07:36 AM.
|January 3, 2008, 03:33 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: May 25, 1999
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,050
I look forward to those upcoming articles.
Although you made both arguments, you have convinced me that having a fold down BUIS is a better idea. I have a Larue fixed and a Troy folder. Although, I love my Larue stuff, the Troy folder just gives you a lot more options.
Along these lines, I assume your article on RDS failure will address any special techniques involved in using the Aimpoint as a ghost ring? I have tried this at 21 feet and it seems to work fine. I have also used the hood surrounding the Ak's front sight as a crude emergency aiming tool and it seems to work fairly well at CQB ranges.
Correct anwers to gun questions to save time...
Carry: j-frame
Home/combat: Hk P30 or Beretta 92G
Doomsday: Colt 6920 with Aimpoint t-2
|January 3, 2008, 03:59 PM
Join Date: December 5, 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 27
Both articles were great (Jan/Feb). I look forward to your next article as I recently had a self taught class on leaking N Cell batteries!
I look forward to finding a time when my schedule matches up with your open slots.
Thanks for your contributions.
|January 3, 2008, 04:28 PM
Member in memoriam
Join Date: July 31, 2001
Posts: 303
Greg, affirmative on the RDS as a ghost ring!
Make sure you Loctite the Troy- they come lose fast....
The MWI folding BUIS looks pretty good as well.
Thanks for the kind words Sidewinder 6! Bummer to hear about the N leakers, but fairly common.
FYI- we may be in Homestead at the end of March for a 3 Day Carbine Operators Course.
Pat sends
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread


text:
Ofsted criticises academy chain
Another academy chain has been heavily criticised by Ofsted after inspectors found that a number of its schools are failing to give pupils a decent education.
The watchdog has written to bosses at School Partnership Trust Academies (SPTA) warning that it has too many under-performing schools which have been in this position for too long.
SPTA is the third chain to be hauled over the coals by Ofsted, with critical letters recently sent to both the Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) and the E-ACT Trust - one of England's biggest academy organisations.
Inspectors visited six SPTA academy schools last month and found that four were judged to require improvement. Two had improved from inadequate and the other two had seen no change in their rating.
Of the other two academies inspected, one was still rated as inadequate and the second was judged to be good, up from a previous "satisfactory" judgement under the old ratings system.
Inspectors said they found "key weaknesses" across several of the schools inspected.
These included: teaching that was not consistently good, weaknesses in teaching the brightest pupils and those with special educational needs (SEN), pupil attitudes to learning that were not "consistently positive" and school governance that did not have the expertise to challenge senior staff about shortcomings in teaching and learning.
"Five out of the six academies are not providing a good quality of education," the letter, which was signed by Nick Hudson, Ofsted's regional director for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, said.
It added: "In one academy, SPTA has failed to tackle significant weaknesses in leadership and management which have declined to inadequate.
"The inspections of SPTA academies since January 2014 show that the percentage of good and better schools is significantly below that seen nationally.
"More positively, it is encouraging that two previously inadequate schools have improved. Also, the percentage of schools showing improvement since the last inspection is higher than found nationally and this gives some cause for optimism."
The letter did say that the overwhelming view of the school principals questioned was that the academies are well supported by SPTA officers, and that the academies value the work of the regional adviser and senior SPTA staff in challenging their performance data and monitoring the quality of teaching.
It concludes that there is some evidence of school improvement, but that the quality and impact of school governing was "variable".
There were further concerns about the "depth and accuracy" of SPTA's analysis of data showing how well pupils were progressing and the contribution this has to improving schools quickly.
"Above all, there are too many underperforming academies which have remained in this position for too long," the letter warned.
SPTA oversees 42 academies in total.
Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has been calling for the schools watchdog to be given explicit powers to inspect academy chains, in the same way that they can inspect local council children's services.
In recent months, Ofsted has attempted to overcome the issue by publishing findings of inspections at a number of academies run by academy chains, where there had been concerns about performance.
Earlier this month, the inspectorate warned that an "overwhelming" proportion of pupils attending some of the Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) schools are not getting a decent education.
In a highly critical letter to the trust, the watchdog said that while the trust was getting better at supporting its schools, in many cases this had come too late.
TKAT said it was "committed to educational excellence" and is working with its schools to make changes.
Inspectors visited six TKAT primary academies over a two-week period amid wider concerns that standards in the Trust's schools were not up to scratch.
And earlier this year, Ofsted sent a similar letter to the E-ACT Trust , warning that it had failed to take effective action to improve standards in many of its schools.
E-ACT said it has been making changes for over a year and introducing reforms under new leadership.
In a statement, SPTA said: "The SPTA recognises the important role that Ofsted plays in monitoring standards in the school system. The trust also recognises that Ofsted comments around areas for improvement are suggested on the basis of constructive dialogue to ensure all children receive a first class education, regardless of the school setting.
"Equally however, the trust also recognises that the evidence to support these comments was largely drawn from a small sample of six schools, in a multi-academy trust that supports in excess of 42 schools and which contains two teaching schools, accredited through the National College of School Leadership.
"Whilst the trust looks forward to discussions with Ofsted about how to improve our performance, it is important to consider the facts in relation to the whole group, not just the six schools that were inspected."
The trust said that overall, 13 of its primary academies (48%) are rated as good or better, along with five (33%) of its secondary academies.
It added that during the 2013/14 academic year, Ofsted inspected nine SPTA primary academies and four of its secondaries. Ten of the schools have been sponsored for under two years.
Of the schools inspected, four primaries moved from "requires improvement" to "good", two went from special measures to "requires improvement", three primaries and three secondaries maintained their previous rating and one secondary was graded as outstanding in all areas.
"Whilst the trust acknowledges the need to improve our schools further for young people, given the inherited Ofsted profile on conversion, it is not surprising that any analysis of the current number of good or better schools in the group would be concerning for Ofsted," SPTA said.
"However, there is ample evidence, as outlined above, which when compared to national trends and statistics, confirms the board's belief that SPTA is a highly effective sponsor and that through Teaching School status, there is national recognition that SPTA is making a valued contribution to the overall school system."


text:
Cubs find right fit at first, ink power-laden Pena
Lefty-swinging slugger joins Chicago on one-year contract
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Pena, 32, is coming off a .196 season with the Rays. Not many hitters who hit below the Mendoza Line can get a new eight-figure deal or be courted by six teams offering multiyear contracts. Pena was.
"Even with the batting average where it was, you're looking at 28 home runs [in 2010], and look at the people who are signing long-term, multiyear contracts are hitting less [home runs] than that," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Wednesday. "The game's about run production and runs scored, and obviously I don't think that [.196] number will happen again. If he hit .240 last year and 35 home runs, you wouldn't be looking at a one-year contract here.
"It's not a gamble, it's a real good fit," Hendry said. "We haven't had a lot of left-handed power. That's why I say the [Ryan Howards], the [Mark] Teixeiras, the Adrian Gonzalezs -- those people who put up power at that position either stay where they're at or sign huge lucrative long-term deals. Thirty six home runs a year for four years is huge."
The Cubs and Pena's agent, Scott Boras, have met at least once a day since the Winter Meetings began, and they made the deal official at a news conference at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel. Pena was pursued by the Rays, Nationals, Orioles, Mariners, Blue Jays and Braves.
"I was extremely flattered to see how much interest there was," said Pena, who lives in the Tampa area and attended the news conference. "I think the Cubs were the best fit for me."
He'll be paid $5 million this year, and $5 million after January 2012, so the salary will be spread over 13 months. Boras called it a "pillow contract," because it included a lot of comfort items, such as Pena being reunited with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. The two were together in Texas, which drafted Pena in the first round in 1998.
"I think [the deal is] good for both sides," Hendry said. "I look at his situation a lot like [Adrian] Beltre's a year ago, when he went to Boston. Carlos had a few nagging injuries and didn't hit for even the average he used to, so he found a club that was really a good fit for him.
"We like the shortness of [the deal], and at the same time it was a position we really needed, and he fits the requirements that were important," Hendry said.
Pena said he watched Cubs games on television as a kid and followed Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, Shawon Dunston and fellow Dominican George Bell. The Cubs new first baseman, however, has never played at Wrigley Field and apparently isn't a morning person.
"I'll make it work," he said, laughing, about the day games.
Wrigley Field appeals to him, too.
"It's a cathedral," Pena said. "Growing up in Boston and knowing how passionate the fans are, they've told me the Cubs fans are even more into it. I'm looking forward to that -- that's really, really cool."
Pena, 32, has averaged 36 homers the past four seasons, including a high of 46 in 2007 with the Rays and an American League-leading 39 in '09. He's also averaged 93 walks, 24 doubles and nearly 102 RBIs in that same time frame, compiling an .884 OPS.
He ranks fourth in home runs and sixth in RBIs over the past four years among all first basemen. Pena's average of one home run per 13.20 at-bats over that span leads all Major League first basemen, while his one RBI per 4.71 at-bats (trailing only Howard) and his one walk per 6.39 plate appearances each rank second among all Major League first basemen since the start of the 2007 campaign.
In 2010, Pena was limited to 144 games after battling plantar fascia in his right foot, including a stint on the 15-day disabled list in August. Despite his injury, he reached 28 home runs, 84 RBIs and 87 walks, one of only seven players in all of baseball to reach those totals and the only player to do so in fewer than 150 games played. The list includes Jose Bautista, Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Teixeira, Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto.
"It hurt," Pena said of his foot, which is now healed. "I'm past that now. I don't like making excuses for what happened. At the very least, I embrace those kind of obstacles and difficulties and actually give thanks for that. It makes you stronger.
"I've put that [year] behind me, accepted it, made peace with it and will make sure I grow and use it to my advantage. If anything, I've taken my punches. And in boxing terms, I have a tough chin, so I can take some punches. I'm still standing. I'm going to keep on going."
Pena did not undergo a procedure to correct the foot problem. Once the season ended, he felt better immediately. Maybe it was the turf at Tropicana Field?
"It's a non-issue," he said. "I look forward to putting that behind me."
Pena is exactly what the Cubs are looking for -- as long as you don't factor in that batting average -- and even though he loves the Tampa Bay area, he was encouraged by the new opportunity.
"I'm very grateful," Pena said of his deal. "That shows me how much the Cubs believe in me. It's awesome to see. That will give me more energy to honor that type of belief in me. I'm extremely excited. It is kind of cool how they can overlook some things because they were looking at the strengths, not at the weaknesses, and they believe in those strengths and my ability to get better."
An All-Star in 2009, Pena won a Gold Glove in '08 and a Silver Slugger Award in '07. He began his career with the Rangers but was traded to the Athletics in January 2002, and traded again that year to the Tigers, where he played from 2002-05. He has also played for the Red Sox (2006) and Rays (2007-10). He received $10.125 million last year from Tampa Bay.
He's also been released twice -- once in March 2006 by the Tigers and again in August of that year by the Yankees. He had a clause in his contract in '06 that allowed him to become a free agent if the Yankees didn't put him on the 25-man roster by Aug. 15. Pena actually lost out in his bid to make the Rays' roster in March 2007 to Greg Norton.
At the time, Pena told Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon that he'd be back and promised he was going to "make an impact." Hours later, Norton injured his knee and Pena was on the Opening Day roster. He did make an impact, hitting 46 homers and driving in 121 runs.
Pena also has a reputation as a great clubhouse guy. Hendry said he has already received several text messages from Cubs players commending the addition.
"When you struggle, the people with the highest character get themselves out of it, and that's what we've got here," Hendry said. "We've got a high-character young man who I believe will be on a mission to rectify some of the things that went south last year."
The Cubs are not only getting a middle-of-the-lineup hitter but also an elite fielding first baseman. They've been spoiled by having Gold Glove-winner Derrek Lee at first base for the past seven seasons. Lee was traded to the Braves in August.
Pena helped lead the Rays to a World Series appearance in 2008 after batting .247 with 24 doubles, 31 home runs, 102 RBIs, 96 walks and a .377 on-base percentage in 139 games. He made it three seasons in a row with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and 24 doubles in '09, when he tied for the league lead in home runs with Teixeira despite playing in just 135 games, his fewest played in a season as a Ray.
He doesn't know too many of the Cubs players personally, although Pena and third baseman Aramis Ramirez played against each other in winter ball in the Dominican Republic.
"I've known [Ramirez] from when he was literally a little Cub," Pena said. "Now he's a big Cub. It's just cool to be part of this. I really look forward to it all."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
November 27, 2012 - submitted by Ryan, United Kingdom
Q. This is my first question to the famous Oracle because I was wondering, is there any chance of a Christmas single this year? I just saw the photos of the band in the studio around this time of the year and put two and two together really, would be great to get a reply! Thanks, Ryan.
The Oracle replies:
Two and two sometimes makes five, Ryan. I can tell you the band are DEFINITELY NOT recording a Christmas single. Obviously I can't really talk about what they were doing in the studio but remember, this is all very usual so it's better to wait and see rather than speculate. Sorry to be less than helpful!


text:
Good Samaritan takes down suspect during attack on Nev. cop
Mike Elgas was at Jack in the Box for a quick breakfast when he helped save an officer's life in a March 21 incident
By Tom Gorman
Las Vegas Sun
LAS VEGAS — Mike Elgas was at Jack in the Box for a quick breakfast the day he helped save a police officer's life.
Elgas, 48, watched with concern as a belligerent customer refused to quiet down, prompting the restaurant manager to call 911. An officer arrived and, according to all accounts, politely asked the customer to go outside. The customer, who appeared intoxicated, walked outside. The officer said he was free to go. But the customer instead got in the officer's face, "giving him a lot of lip," Elgas said, and spouting vulgarities at him.
A Metro Police report described the March 21 incident as follows: Elgas went outside just as the customer punched the officer in the face, triggering a scuffle. The officer, who is 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, was knocked to the ground, overpowered by the 6-4, 240-pound assailant.
Elgas saw the man, later identified by Metro Police as Curtis Leigh Traupman, lying on top of the officer and getting his hands on the officer's holstered weapon. That's when Elgas sprung into action. "He wasn't playing," Elgas said of the attacker. "He was serious. He said he was going to kill (the officer), and his mind seemed set on it, the way he was trying to get the gun."
Elgas, who's 5-foot-10 and 240 pounds, positioned himself behind Traupman, put his arm around Traupman's neck and pulled back with all his weight and strength, hoping the choke hold would have some effect. Finally Traupman, 39, fell backwards, Elgas still holding on to him.
Once free, the officer was able to access his taser and disable Traupman, who was then taken away to be charged with attempted murder with a deadly weapon, resisting a public officer with a firearm and battery on a protected person.
Why did Elgas put himself in harm's way, trying to take on a man bigger and younger than he who could end up with a gun at any moment?
"I understand that some police officers are sometimes seen as being on the offensive all the time. But now I also understand what they go through," Elgas says. As to being a good Samaritan: "I don't feel like a hero, but I feel good inside that I did something good."
Elgas said he got a sizable gift card from the owner of the Jack in the Box and kudos from his employer, FedEx. He and the officer he helped are now buddies. There hasn't been any official letter of thanks from Metro, nor comment from the department about Elgas' role.
But street cops have their own way of showing gratitude. The other day when Elgas and his girlfriend were dining at the Cannery, two officers overheard the couple's conversation about the struggle. When Elgas went to pay for dinner, he was told that a couple of cops had picked up the tab.
Copyright 2014 the Las Vegas Sun


text:
Arlington teacher wins national award
The ETA Chapter of the organization gives the award to honor "women educators in the first three years of their teaching career who inspire others through their creative projects and lessons, student-management skills, and the use of technology," according to a release from the school.
Tessier was nominated by principal Deanne Lacoste, who had observed Tessier in her classroom multiple times. "Michelle is a credit to her profession," said Lacoste, "She is a talented educator who successfully integrates modern technology with best-practice pedagogy to engage learners in a well-managed and creative environment where students of varied abilities thrive under her direction."
Tessier received her undergraduate degree in education from the State University of New York (SUNY) Oneonta, and holds a master's degree in special education from SUNY Albany.
Delta Kappa Gamma, which describes itself as an international society for key women educators, is established in 18 countries, across three continents. It was founded in 1929 at the Faculty Women's Club at the University of Texas in Austin by Dr. Annie W. Blanton, a faculty member and former state superintedent of public instruction. Blanton conceived of the idea and selected 11 other educators from Texas to help her create the society.
Derek Carson can be reached for comment at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @DerekCarsonBB
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


text:
NDRL Summer Jam sweetens the Blue Suede Cruise.
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 17 July 2013 23:31
Four classes offered in the Briggs & Stratton racing at the event.
NORWALK, Ohio – The Nostalgia Drag Racing League takes to the track to preserve some sensations – like the rumble of a finely tuned racing engine or a billowing smokey burnout – in the hearts and memories of generations.
Similar to a pantry shelf of Grandma's best strawberry jam, which begs to be shared, the NDRL hot rods must be experienced.
"We built the group when the Good Guys quit drag racing in the Midwest," said Troy Wilson, president of the Nostalgia Drag Racing League, Brownsburg, Ind. "This is our third season. We wanted to guarantee we would have a place to race at quality quarter-mile facilities."
The Briggs & Stratton Summer Jam names the portion of the Wanda AkzoNobel Blue Suede Cruise organized by the Nostalgia Drag Racing League. Find NDRL on the Web at nostalgiadragleague.com.
"We give every race a name," Troy Wilson said. "Our trophies will all say, 'The Briggs & Stratton Summer Jam.'"
Of NDRL members signed up to run in five 2013 points races, vehicles include models from 1979 and earlier.
"Everything fits the nostalgia theme," Troy Wilson said. "There are front engine dragsters, altereds; some Funny Car bodies, Gassers. That's a wide array of cars."
Most NDRL events attract about 50 sweet rides.
"I have a sneaking feeling the Blue Suede Cruise will be the biggest event we put on all year," Troy Wilson said. "I expect 75 to 80 cars. Our group will bring in four classes: Pro 7.0; Pro 7.50; Pro Comp; and Pro Gas."
The NDRL variety allows car lovers to see rare vehicles in action.
"The older fans can come out and see the cars that they saw when they were kids, back when cars had a personality and cars had class," Troy Wilson said. "It lets the older fans relive their childhood, and remember guys like Don Prudhomme and Don Garlits."
The younger fans find out what they're missing.
"It's not every day they can pull up to their local track and see 200 mph front engine dragsters side by side," Troy Wilson said.
But take a closer look, and find Nostalgia Drag Racing draws people into relationships.
"We are racers," Troy Wilson said. "But at the end of the day we're one big racing family. It's not uncommon to see the racers working on each others' cars. We've had cookouts together with 100 people."
The meal invitation starts with a message. People chip in for hamburger and buns, and share their best dish for a potluck.
"At the end of it, everybody is wishing they had their looser pants on," Troy Wilson said. "We all race together; we travel together; we Facebook together. It's always a good time."
One race, Troy Wilson helped a competitor in the Pro Comp class with a broken transmission on a front engine dragster. The race went on.
"Before final qualifying, I had a front tire go flat," Troy Wilson said. "When I got back he was there at the pit. He old me, 'We're going to settle this on the race track, not with you being broke down.'
"He won," Troy Wilson said, and laughed. "It was good. As many of the people I've befriended in this deal, Don and his mechanic, Rich, are my close friends.
"It is a really good group of people," Troy Wilson said. "It really is. Most of these guys are older. I'm 40, and I'm one of the young guys in the group.
"These old cars are more appealing to me for the simplicity of it, I guess."
Troy Wilson recommends checking out awesome photos and perspective in Nostalgia Drag World Magazine, launched with an April issue, at nostalgiadragworld.com.
Two Nostalgia Drag World Magazine photographers hope to capture the fun, frivolity and art of the Wanda AkzoNobel Blue Suede Cruise.


text:
Stone Valley Byway featured in film
"The partnership is a great example of how GNAT-TV helps volunteer producers create video projects that interest them personally and are of value to the community,", said GNAT's Executive Director, Tammie Reilly, "'The Stone Valley Byway' project highlights our regional assets, while informing and educating the public. We are thrilled to have been able to assist Cathy in the production process."
Stewart said the idea for the video originated when she was looking for material for her regular show on GNAT-TV - Greater Northshire News.
Stewart is a 1981 graduate of Emerson College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications, specializing in Television Production. Production of the next episode in the series will begin this winter and will continue through to next autumn.
"The Stone Valley Byway" airs on GNAT-TV Channel 15 at 10 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays; and on Channel 8 in Weston/Londonderry on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10 p.m. In addition to the Comcast cable television broadcasts, GNAT-TV programs are available on the internet at www.gnat-tv.org. For more information about GNAT-TV or the project, call 362-7070.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


text:
© 2012 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Numbers game tells the story of first month
Good, bad or ugly, they don't lie, but they could change quickly
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
April statistics are fleeting and fluky, and therefore quite fun. We know well enough not to pay too much attention to them, and yet we still can't help ourselves. And so, with April in the books and the season just starting to find its footing, here are some of the more absurd, instructive or just plain interesting numbers from the first month: .389: Derek Jeter's batting average, including four home runs (after hitting six all of last year) and 12 multihit games. He's partying like it's 1999. 247: Number of players (and counting) who have hit a home run before Albert Pujols. .181, .313: Batting average and slugging percentage for Jose Bautista. So Pujols has some company in the Slow Starting Superstar Society. 8: Number of home runs by Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion. Bautista has three. Raise your hand if you saw that coming. 9: Number of games by which the Angels trail the Rangers in the AL West. No team in the division-play era has overcome such an end-of-April deficit to finish first. 8: Number of scoreless starts by Nationals starters. Washington became the first team in the modern era to get eight such starts in the first 21 games of a season. 4: Home runs allowed by Nats starters. 10: Home runs allowed by the Angels' Ervin Santana. 12: Home runs hit by Matt Kemp. 9: Home runs hit by the Chicago Cubs. 29: Runs created by Josh Hamilton, the best player in baseball not named Matt Kemp. 5.39: Runs per game for the Rangers. 5.68: Combined runs per game for the A's (3.04) and Pirates (2.64). 2: Days that elapsed between Cliff Lee's 10 shutout innings against the Giants and the announcement that he was going on the disabled list. 47: Extra-base hits by Phillies batters, the fewest in the Majors. 3: Number of players among the Majors' top 10 in OPS who are 35 or older -- Jeter (1.012), David Ortiz (1.184) and Paul Konerko (1.123). .231/.368/.513: The very Adam Dunn-ian numbers posted by Adam Dunn. Looks like he's back to his old self. 5.2, 25.0: Home run and strikeout percentages for Yoenis Cespedes, who appears to have a little Adam Dunn in him. 1.89: Combined ERA by the White Sox's Jake Peavy and the Mets' Johan Santana. Shoulder concerns? What shoulder concerns? 10.9: Strikeouts per nine innings for Santana, who struck out 7.4 per nine in the first three years of his Mets career. 5.7: Number of infield shifts per game by the Tampa Bay Rays, who led the Majors with 1.3 shifts per game last season. 0: Number of AL Central clubs with a winning record at home. 5: Games won by the Orioles when trailing after seven innings. It took them all of 2011 to record that same total. 1.97: Walks per nine innings allowed by Cardinals pitchers, the best such rate in baseball. 4-0, 1.33: Record and ERA by Lance Lynn, who is only in the Cards rotation because of the Chris Carpenter injury. 12: Consecutive games lost by the Royals within their first 17 games of the season. 1: Number of shutouts, in 149 career Major and Minor League starts, tossed by Phil Humber before he threw a perfect game against the Mariners on April 21. .951: OPS by 5-foot-5 second baseman Jose Altuve, a little man who is coming up big for the Astros. 2.70: Walks and hits allowed per inning by Marlins closer Heath Bell. 5.87: ERA by Red Sox relievers. And that's accounting for the 1.06 ERA they posted last week. 0.53: Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner's strikeout-to-walk ratio, the best in baseball. His career mark, entering this season? 1.59. 2.6: Strikeouts per nine by Indians veteran Derek Lowe. And yet he's 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA. 0: Number of players who had hit three home runs in a game at Petco Park, before Brewers slugger Ryan Braun did it Monday night. 0.90: ERA by the D-backs' Joe Saunders, best among all qualifying starters. It helps that only 21.4 percent of the balls put in play against him have gone for hits. 8.69: ERA by the Boston's Clay Buchholz, worst among qualifying starters. It doesn't help that 13.7 percent of the fly balls he's allowed have cleared the wall. 11: Doubles by the Red Sox's Ryan Sweeney, matching his 2011 output for the A's. 7.13: Combined ERA by Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, a big reason the Tigers are off to a pedestrian start. 1.05: ERA of Brandon Beachy, a big reason the Braves are off to a strong start. 17: Strikeouts logged by Braves lefty Jonny Venters in just 8 2/3 innings. 18: Strikeouts logged by Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman before he issued his first walk. 20.4: Percentage of Joey Votto plate appearances that have resulted in a walk. Plus-56: Run differential for the Rangers, best in baseball. Minus-37: Run differential for the Twins, worst in baseball. Minus-20: Run differential for the Mets. And yet they're 13-10. 49 years, 151 days: Exact age of Jamie Moyer when he became the oldest pitcher ever to record a victory in the big leagues on April 17. 19 years, 195 days: Exact age of Bryce Harper when he made his Major League debut against the Dodgers on April 28. .293: On-base percentage by Jose Reyes, who entered the year with a career .341 OBP. .444: Slugging percentage by Prince Fielder, who entered the year with a career .540 SLG. .274: OBP by Chone Figgins, who replaced Ichiro in the Mariners' leadoff spot. .494: OBP by David Wright. Not a bad start to a contract year. 1.016: OPS by Buster Posey. Not a bad return to form. 28: Errors committed by the Padres ... in just 24 games. 86: Percentage of the season still left to be played, offering opportunity to render much of the above moot.
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and his blog, CastroTurf, and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
"Not because you know someone's name means you know their story. And not because someone's always happy means they've never been through hard times."
Related quotes
"The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them."
"If you haven't found someone that you are willing to give everything to that person unconditionally; without having any expectations to get back something in return,then you has not completely fallen in love yet."
"Missing someone is like eating warheads candy...at first it's painfully bitter, but after a while it fades into the sweet realization of how much you really love them."


text:
Photographer's Note
One of the wonderful tenors and pianists of Duo Fina performing the aria Nessun Dorma from the opera Turandot during a concert given at Syntagma Square. In the photo he's singing the "ce" from the triumphant last word "vincero'!" (I shall win!)
I used my sister's shoulder as a tripod:)
From Wikipedia:
Turandot is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, completed by Franco Alfano, set to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni.
Though Puccini's first interest in the subject was based on his reading of Friedrich Schiller's adaptation of the play, his work is most nearly based on the earlier text Turandot by Carlo Gozzi. The original story is based on the epic Turan-Dokht from the book Haft-Peykar, work of 12th-century Persian poet Nizami. The opera's story is set in China and involves Prince Calàf, who falls in love with the cold Princess Turandot. To obtain permission to marry her, a suitor has to solve three riddles; any wrong answer results in death. Calàf passes the test, but Turandot still refuses to marry him. He offers her a way out: if she is able to learn his name before dawn the next day, then at daybreak he will die.
[In this aria] the Prince waits for dawn and anticipates his victory.
In the workshop, a little scene from the square.
Thank you for visiting
Critiques | Translate
rigoletto (34279) 2014-01-02 5:24
hahaha! vin-ceeeeeeeeeee-rooo! the longer the "ce", the mightier the applause :) superb original grab from the concert, and perfectly captured shot of one of the most difficult moments of tenor repertoire. making a wide open "ce", he looks quite cool, though. and i had a laugh for your choice of tripod :) happy 2014, ourania!
snunney (115385) 2014-01-02 6:41
Hello Ourania,
Your sister's shoulder makes a great tripod:-) Splendid capture of this tenor in action, singing one of my favourite operatic pieces. All the best for 2014.
holmertz (66222) 2014-01-02 7:11
Hello Ourania,
This singer must have left your sister completely breathless, considering the fine sharpness. Unfortunately I am not familiar with this aria, but the singer's very expressive posture gives me some idea. You certainly snapped this at a suitable moment.
Kind regards,
carlo62 (63125) 2014-01-02 7:26
Ciao Ourania
bel titolo, bella foto e bellissimo riferimento a questa opera.
Hai scattato nel momento giusto, il cantante sta eseguendo il pezzo molto concentrato e immerso nella parte, sembra quasi di sentirne la voce.
Ottima condivisione.
ikeharel (86540) 2014-01-02 7:56
Kalispera Ourania,
Your sister played her role beautifully - the pic. is clear and shrp, not an easy task on a dark concert-hall.
Can only imagind the strong Tenor voice, and the impression he gave to the audience.
I see you like the Opera, a well known story.
Best regards,
Nicou (162446) 2014-01-02 8:40
je crois que plus que cela il ne peut ouvrier la bouche quelle vue fantastique captage et compo de ce chanteur quelle attitude et vue merveilleux.
Bravo et amitié
No_One (4) 2014-01-02 9:07
Hi Ourania,
You really took this at the perfect moment, I can almost hear the vibrations from this no doubt powerful voice! Great idea for the impromptu tripod too, as its given a result with astounding quality in what looks like difficult light conditions. And of course, a perfect composition with the singer on thirds. Nicely done!
All the best
Didi (61221) 2014-01-02 9:14
Bonjour Ourania
L'épaule de ta sur est solide et la photo est nette, mais la vitesse de 1/125 s était suffisante pour figer l'image
Très bonne gestion des lumières
Meilleurs vux pour 2014
jemaflor (110096) 2014-01-02 11:27
Hi Ourania,
Well taken this singer, just miss the sing ..., good light and sharpness, nice big format, tfs and Bonne Année 2014 !
dkmurphys (71122) 2014-01-02 13:19
Hi Ourania,
Very fine artistic moment in your capture. Listening to a play like Nessun dorma is a real delight. Well taken.
Silvio1953 (164785) 2014-01-02 14:06
Ciao Ourania, sembra di sentirlo cantare, un grazie da parte mia a tua sorella che ha funzionato egregiamente da tripod, permettendoti una foto eccezionalmente nitida, bravissima, ciao Silvio
worldcitizen (10310) 2014-01-02 17:24
Hello Ourania,
You captured this singer at just the right moment. I love Nessun Dorma, and I always remember hearing it sung by Luciano Pavarotti. Wonderful sharpness in capturing the highlight of this aria. There is a lot of expression on this man's face.
mcmtanyel (37113) 2014-01-02 21:50
Hello Ourania,
You have found a good corridor to zoom in on your subject. I like the sharpness of this night shot, congratulations on your steady hands. Kudos to your camera's sensor, which did not introduce even a hint of noise at ISO 800.
emka (117115) 2014-01-03 0:03
hello Ourania,
Nice photo from the concert, we rarely see them here on TE, sometimes it is not allowed to make photos. I almost hear this vinCEro! excellent shot, perfect timing
I wish you happy New Year!
krzychu30 (15512) 2014-01-03 2:31
Hello Ourania,
one point goes to your sister:)better than many tripod photos.
For the interior shot(even with longer exposure time)the quality is excellent!Not an easy task with a common lenses.
You were able to convey well here the sublimity of the moment!
Have a nice day
subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2014-01-03 3:25
hello, interesting composition from the concert. Like the light management. Great colour tone. Nice depth and clarity. A nice one indeed. Tfs.
Happy new year.
jhm (169842) 2014-01-03 8:04
Hello Ourania,
This is a wonderful shot, gives your sister the half of the points, for use of she shoulder.
A wonderful interior picture with these singer with open mouth.
Sharpness and clarity are perfect.
A nice presentation, pleasant to look at.
Very well done, TFS.
Best regards,
fabbs99 (17179) 2014-01-03 11:21
Hello Ourania,
Superb presentation of the tenor busy in his act.Tight framing and excellent contrast.Great shot for all the fans of western classical music. TFS.
mesutilgim (99436) 2014-01-03 12:25
Hello dear Ourania,
Absolutely "Vincero" !!
Very nice capture with good pov and perfect timing.
The music come up to İstanbul !
TFS and have a nice weekend
bona (13739) 2014-01-04 6:27
Hi Ourania,
I like the man expression during his presentation. I can feel the loud voice coming from his mouth. Nice capture.
tyro (26496) 2014-01-04 16:25
Hello Ourania,
So are you a classical music fan too? I love this stuff!
You have captured this fellow perfectly as he sings the final few words of Nessun Dorma and I can almost feel and hear the power of his voice. Despite poor light you have managed this one perfectly with spot-on exposure and excellent sharpness - your sister's shoulder obviously provided a very stable support for your camera!
A lovely workshop picture too - it gives a good wider view of the location.
Kind Regards,
abmdsudi (65441) 2014-01-04 20:11
Hi Ourania
How wonderful to be serenaded while taking the shot, I like this a lot... a smart-looking tenor enjoying himself blasting his lungs out, bless him and so nice for him to let you take his picture. Brilliant light, tones, and crop without any distraction emphasising wonderful details on him. The whole image looks sharper on my screen also great that, the contrast is stronger. It's timely captured and processed seamlessly. Great photo work, Congrats and tfs
Hv a great Sunday
Warm regards
Cricri (135522) 2014-01-05 4:52
Hi Ourania
Vous avez capturer je dirait le son de sa voix au moment le plus fort, c'est un style de que vous devez aimer, bien cadrer, la lumière tout comme les couleurs sont excellente, belle présentation
Beau dimanche
mirosu (16313) 2014-01-05 5:34
Hi Ourania,
Perfect snapshot, superb low angle viewpoint. Smart choice of vertical frame to accentuate the singer with splendid sharpness. Very nice photo with great color contrast, perfect light. Excellent result. Well done.
delpeoples (60240) 2014-01-05 22:33
Dearest Ourania
Happy New Year, I wish you love, fun, good health and good travels. And of course lots of beautiful photos. And thanks to your sister's still shoulder and your still hand for a remarkably sharp photo of this tenor. He looks very passionate singing this most famous of songs. When I think of this song, I can imagine only one man singing it (God rest him) but I am sure this young (much thinner) man did Luciano P proud :)
Warmest wishes and hugs
Photo Information
- Copyright: Ourania Karali (ourania) (51103)
- Genre: People
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2013-12-28
- Categories: Daily Life, Event, Decisive Moment
- Exposure: f/4, 1/125 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2014-01-02 5:05


text:
|International Space Station Imagery
high res (2.0 M) low res (129 K)
|JSC2013-E-028030 (30 April 2013) --- At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 36/37 Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA (left), Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin (center) and Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency, listen to reporters' questions April 30 as they began final qualification training for their launch to the International Space Station. The three crew members will launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 5 ½ month mission on the international outpost. Photo credit: NASA
Curator: JSC PAO Web Team | Responsible NASA Official: Amiko Kauderer | Updated: 04/30/2013


text:
Washington (CBS/AP) - North Korea boasted Monday that it successfully tested a nuclear weapon, sparking a barrage of global condemnation over an underground blast that appeared to thrust the volatile communist state into the elite club of nuclear-armed nations.
President Bush said Monday that the reported North Korean nuclear test poses a threat to global peace and security and denounced it as "unacceptable."
Speaking at the White House Monday morning, Mr. Bush said the U.S. "condemns this provocative act," but said he was not yet able to confirm whether the test had in fact been nuclear.
Mr. Bush said North Korea was a "leading proliferator of missile technology," and accused Pyongyang of transferring such technology to Iran and Syria.
The president said that North Korea exporting nuclear materials or technology to either of these nations, "would be considered a grave threat to the United States," and that the regime would be held "fully accountable for the consequences of such actions."
Mr. Bush said the U.S. remained "committed to diplomacy," and urged the United Nations Security Council to act quickly against the North.
The explosion prompted worldwide concerns that it could seriously destabilize the region, and even Pyongyang's ally China said it strongly opposed the move.
Officials in South Korea and France said the blast was relatively small, while Russia said it had been perhaps as powerful as the nuclear bombs the U.S. dropped on Japan during World War II.
Nuclear Arms Expert Peter Zimmerman told CBS News' The Early Show that, judging from the seismic disruptions measured at the time of the alleged test, the blast was fairly small, equivalent of "up to a kiloton and a half" of TNT, no where near the size of blast which leveled Hiroshima.
The atomic bomb that struck Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, had the destructive power of about 15 kilotons of TNT.
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that the force of the blast was between five and 15 kilotons and that there was "no doubt" there had been a nuclear blast, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported.
South Korea's seismic monitoring center said a magnitude 3.6 tremor felt at the time of the alleged nuclear test wasn't a natural occurrence.
The U.S. Geological Survey said it recorded a seismic event with a preliminary magnitude of 4.2 in northeastern North Korea coinciding with the test claim, but survey official Bruce Presgrave said the agency was unable to tell if it was an atomic explosion or a natural earthquake.
The North's official Korean Central News Agency said the underground test was performed successfully "with indigenous wisdom and technology 100 percent," and that no radiation leaked from the test site.
"It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the (Korean People's Army) and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defense capability," KCNA said, adding that it was "a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation."
If details of the test are confirmed, North Korea would be the ninth country known to have nuclear weapons, along with the United States, Russia, France, China, Britain, India, Pakistan and Israel.
The United Nations Security Council was to discuss the test at a meeting Monday morning at the organization's headquarters in New York, according to a U.S. official.
The meeting was previously scheduled to hold a vote for Secretary General Kofi Annan's successor, likely to be South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon. Ban has said his first act as Secretary General would be to travel to Pyongyang to discuss the nuclear standoff.
British Ambassador to the U.N., Emyr Jones-Parry, said on his way into the meeting that he did not have any further information regarding the nature of the test, and that the Council's decision on how to react would depend on that information becoming available.
A Security Council resolution adopted in July after a series of North Korean missile launches imposed limited sanctions on North Korea and demanded the country rejoin international nuclear talks. The North immediately rejected the plea.
A nuclear North Korea would dramatically alter the strategic balance of power in the Pacific region and seriously undermine global anti-proliferation efforts. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the test would mark the beginning of a "dangerous nuclear age" in north Asia.
CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen said Japan would likely join the U.S. in seeking additional sanctions against Pyonyang, and would probably also look to implement a space-based missile detection and destruction system in partnership with Washington.
Zimmerman said Abe would be looking for the U.S. to reaffirm its guarantee to protect Japan in the face of aggression, a commitment the White House renewed on Monday.
CBS News national security correspondent David Martin said the U.S. government's response may include a naval blockade of North Korea. Martin said the North doesn't have the capability to launch a nuclear-tipped missile yet, making the primary concern the possibility that Pyongyang might export nuclear material or technology to nations such as Iran or Syria, or to a terrorist group.
Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said the test was a "completely irresponsible act," and its Foreign Ministry warned of international repercussions.
Japan's Abe, in Seoul for a summit meeting, said the "the development and possession of nuclear weapons by North Korea will in a major way transform the security environment in North Asia and we will be entering a new, dangerous nuclear age."
He said Japan would consider "harsh measures."
"North Korea will be held responsible for the situation it has created," Abe said.
On Sunday in Beijing, Abe and Chinese President Hu Jintao had pledged to work together to avert a North Korean test.
China, the North's closest ally, said on Monday that Beijing "resolutely opposes" the North Korean nuclear test and hopes Pyongyang will return to disarmament talks.
CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante said there was no military planning underway in Washington for any type of offensive against North Korea, and that President Bush's government was still relying on a the framework of the stalled six-party talks to resolve the nuclear issue.
In Tokyo, Petersen said the "use of force is not an option here" due to fears of the North retaliating — it has at its command a standing army of more than 1 million and a host of conventional weaponry — against its neighbors.
Plante said U.S. officials may be hoping the North's actions will serve to "wake up" South Korea to the threat posed by its northern neighbor. Plante said many in the U.S. think South Korea has been too soft on Kim Jong Il's regime.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said the test would make it difficult for Seoul to maintain its engagement policy with its communist neighbor.
"This is a warning as well as my prediction," Roh told journalists after his summit with Abe. "Under this situation, it's difficult for South Korea to maintain engagement policy."
"South Korea won't be patient for everything, make concessions on everything and accept all demands from North Korea as it did in the past," Roh said.
The North is believed to have enough radioactive material for about a half-dozen bombs. It insists its nuclear program is necessary to deter a U.S. invasion.
©MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
WWE Smackdown Results
Booker T says he has some business to deal with right now, and he says they know he's a guy who will deal with it in the ring or on the street. He knows what it's like to be in a heated feud, but he has to be responsible now and give them a good show. Booker says things are personal between Sheamus and Big Show, and he needs to take drastic action and make them sign a no contact clause so they make it to TLC. Booker says he would normally speak with them backstage, but he is doing the signing in the ring tonight and he welcomes Big Show and Sheamus to the ring. The two men stare each other down before Booker tells Sheamus if he wants to disobey him he'll lose his title shot, but Big Show shouldn't smile.
Booker says he knows Show loves his title dearly, so if he also wants to ignore his wishes then he will be stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship. They sit down and Sheamus says it's the holiday season, and waiting to kick his ass is like waiting for Christmas, but he learned that waiting can be worth it. He says he is going to beat the hell out of him with a chair, and he will get the ultimate present, which is his championship. Sheamus signs the contract and hands it off to Show, but he stops and asks if Booker if this is serious before taunting Sheamus. He says this is a present for Sheamus, but he should be careful what he wishes for, because he's still standing. Show says Sheamus hit him over thirty times with a chair but he got back up, and all he has to do is hit him once for it to be over.
Show says he is stupid for getting into this match with him, and he should ask Booker to get out of it because he is going to hurt him. He tells Sheamus he thinks things through but Sheamus acts on his temper alone, then Sheamus says he came to WWE to fight. Sheamus says their past two fights have been great, but he is going to make sure he gives him the fight of his life at TLC. Show flips the table in his face and signs the contract, then Booker gets in Sheamus' way while Show holds up the contract and mocks him. Booker says Sheamus might be angry but he can take it out on his opponent, Alberto Del Rio, later tonight. Booker tells Show to stop laughing because he has a match as well, and he will face Daniel Bryan next.
Have a news tip? Attended an event and want to send a live report?


text:
I attended the Sedalia rally (yeah, it was hot!) and wanted to find some new riding gear but came up empty ... until I found the Richa Spirit jacket and pants at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon. You can see them here:
As it was just too little time to spend that much money, I didn't purchase them as I wanted to do some research before shelling out my hard earned money. Has anyone out there have any of these two items, or any other Richa gear? It looks really good, great technology, seems well made, fit me like it was tailored for me (that's really rare for me) and they claim to be the world's second largest glove manufacturer. They let me wear it outside and stand in the sun for a while. I was hot wearing it, but no hotter than I would have been in Tshirt and shorts.
Any info would be most appreciated.