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FORT MYERS – It took two wins over SF Elite Squad Freshman for Chain Stealth to survive pool play and hoist the first ever Perfect Game WWBA Freshman World Championship trophy.
The road to the title was not easy for Chain Stealth, who played seven games over a four-day span, sharing a pool with runner-up SF Elite Squad Freshman and having to defeat the St. Louis Gamers, the tournament's overall top seed, in the semifinals.
Chain Stealth right-handed pitcher Chase Patrick came away with MVPitcher honors for the tournament after collecting a pair of wins, including a one-hit shutout against the St. Louis Gamers in the semifinals. Overall, Patrick pitched 10 innings without giving up a run, surrendering just four hits and collecting nine strikeouts.
Patrick summed up his emotions in one strong word: ecstatic.
Patrick said all he was trying to do was hit his spots and command the strike zone. He told himself not to throw as hard as he can, just get it over the plate.
"My curveball was working pretty good," said Patrick. "My fastball was on and I was hitting the spots perfectly."
Patrick credited a lot of his success to the guys playing in the field. "They're unbelievable; the best team in the world."
Patrick's performance against the top-seeded St. Louis Gamers in the semifinals is one he won't soon forget. The right-hander was a workhorse on the mound for Chain Stealth, blanking a team that had scored 26 runs in three games up to that point. Patrick went the distance to earn the big 1-0 win and advance to the title game played in jetBlue Stadium.
"Chase's performance was amazing. As a pitcher, as a person, as a player he competes, competes, competes. He never gets rattled, never gives up," said Chain Stealth head coach Derrick Simon. "In the biggest moment that's who I want on the mound."
Chain Stealth met SF Elite Squad Freshman in the championship game in the stadium that serves as home to the Boston Red Sox during Spring Training. It was the second time in the tournament the two have met, the first being a pool play in which Chain Stealth won, 7-4.
SF Elite Squad Freshman jumped out to an early 2-0 thanks to a double that rolled to the right field corner by MVP Alejandro Toral. Chain quickly erased the deficit, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning and adding two more the next inning to take a 4-2 lead.
SF Elite Squad Freshman quickly got one back, but that's as close as they would get as Chain Stealth held them scoreless the last three innings to win, 5-3.
Chain Stealth finished their tournament run a perfect 7-0 record and outscored their opponents, 49-11.
"We knew what it took to win it. It's unreal. I need to pinch myself," said Simon. "The key thing is this is just a resilient group of guys."
Simon credits his team's successful tournament run to outstanding pitching, great defense, and the ability to play small ball late in the tournament in crucial situations. Many of the team's games down the stretch were close contests.
Chain Stealth was faced with the tough test of playing against the tournament MVP, Alejandro Toral, not once, but twice.
Toral absolutely ripped the cover off the ball throughout the tournament, going 13-for-19 (.684 AVG) with five doubles, two triples, and 10 RBI. The left-handed batter with an already mature frame collected at least one base hit in all seven games, including a span of five straight multi-hit games. He was 3-for-5 in the two games against Chain Stealth.
"My dad works hard with me before every tournament," said Toral when asked what he credits his successful tournament to. "(He) takes me places to get lessons and stuff and it pays off."
New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra was once famously quoted saying, "Baseball is ninety-percent mental and the other half is physical." Toral is lacking in neither department.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound lefty said that every time he steps into the batter's box he tells himself "I'm better than him (the pitcher) and there's no one that can get me out."
Toral's game plan is as simple as it gets: think opposite field and hit the ball hard. It goes without saying he was successful doing so.
Despite coming up three runs short of being named WWBA Freshman World Championship, Toral tabs the weekend a successful one for both himself and his team.
"It was a good experience, but when your team gets to the championship it's a good experience for anyone," Toral said.
Both teams enjoyed the tournament, highlighted by the opportunity to play on the same field Boston hero's David Ortiz and Shane Victorino wander.
"It was awesome," said Patrick. "I loved the fields and the stadium especially."
"It's a nice experience," Toral said. "Hopefully other people will get this experience. It' a very nice ballpark."
Simon called it "the best experience you could ever ask for."
Chain Stealth will forever be the first ever WWBA Freshman World Championship winners, but they won't stop there. After a successful summer and fall with this group, look for them to make headlines in future events.
2013 WWBA Freshman World Championship runner-up: SF Elite Squad Freshman
2013 WWBA Freshman World Championship MVP: Alejandro Toral, SF Elite Squad Freshman
2013 WWBA Freshman World Championship MV-Pitcher: Chase Patrick, Chain Stealth


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Add oomph to your writing;
Make science exciting—
Cos everyone loves a nice scan!
Make "neurotheology"
Look like biology—
Look! It's the brain of a man!
Both god-contemplation
And deep meditation
Show frontal-lobe action, it seems;
But scanning a brain
Doesn't really explain
All that neurotheology dreams.
Whether fishers of men
Or seekers of zen,
In the scan, we can see what we wish;
But now, let's examine
The brain of a salmon—
Is there god in the head of a fish?
From NPR again, a story that combines some of the things I really really hate about the new, sexy machines that neuroscientists can use. A mediocre study that might not get a second glance gets gussied up with a brain scan or two, and suddenly it's cutting edge science. Humbug. What's more, a brain image, even an image of a brain at work, is a snapshot. Brains are not snapshots. Looking at a scan of the function of a number of adult brains really tells us very little about what those brains are doing, and tells us nothing at all about what sort of history led to the activity seen today.
The researchers found an increase in frontal lobe activity during meditation.
"They had improvements of about 10 or 15 percent," [Dr. Andrew] Newberg [director of research at the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital in Philadelphia] says. "This is only after eight weeks at 12 minutes a day, so you can imagine what happens in people who are deeply religious and spiritual and are doing these practices for hours a day for years and years."
Yes, imagine. You'll have to, because the study did nothing of the sort. In fact, brain scans of experts (say, for instance, in chess) show less activity than novices, arguably because they are so good that there is less actual effort expended. So, can we assume that 8 weeks of practice can be extrapolated to a lifetime? I don't know. Frankly, I don't much care; others can be interested in what's going on in the brain–I'm more interested in what's going on in the interaction between the individual and their environment over the years that shape them. The brain is not the "why"–the brain is part of the "how".

subset: commoncrawl


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Heyward eyes Wednesday return from sore back
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
LOS ANGELES -- When Jason Heyward exited Monday afternoon's game with lower back discomfort, he knew the cross-country flight he would take a few hours later would prove to be anything but therapeutic.
While the flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles certainly did not help matters, Heyward was hopeful that he would be ready to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Dodgers. He missed Tuesday night's series opener as he continued to undergo treatment at Dodger Stadium.
"I'm getting treatment, doing a lot of stretching and trying to get this thing loosened up a little bit better and make it a little easier to move around," Heyward said. "These past couple days, it's been pretty tight."
Heyward's back began bothering him after he ranged into foul territory attempting to catch a ball during Thursday night's game against the Marlins. The 24-year-old right fielder played through discomfort the next two days, but sat on Sunday and played just three innings during Monday's series finale against the Padres.
"[The flight] wasn't the most comfortable thing to sit through," Heyward said. "I did get up and walk around. It didn't kill me on the fight, but it didn't help me either."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Islandside Property Owners Coalition President Bob White offered a compromise at the Islandside renovation-and-expansion hearing Wednesday he believes he and his coalition can support.
Testifying in front of the Town Commission at Temple Beth Israel, White presented a proposal that calls for:
• The reduction of the proposed hotel to 10 stories including parking, which would reduce the number of hotel and condominium units;
• Eliminating the golf course condominium towers altogether;
• Moving Longboat Club Road north near the golf course and co-locating the meeting center and garage adjacent to the hotel;
• Reducing the size of the meeting center ballroom to 8,000 square feet and pre-function space to 6,00 square feet and adjusting the adjacent parking garage accordingly;
• Installing a driving range west of the golf clubhouse;
• Keeping the Villas on the Pass, the spa and wellness center, the renovation of the golf clubhouse and the four tennis courts as proposed;
• Attempting to obtain permission to remove the sandbar at the entrance of the lagoon near New Pass.
White also presented a list of conditions that include restricting the number of large events at the meeting center during peak season.
"In the spirit of trying to offer something that would be acceptable to the Islandside coalition and something that could save the town, the club and the coalition years of legal wrangling, I would like to offer this proposed compromise," said White, who noted this is something he could support as an Islandside resident and would take to the coalition for approval.
IPOC attorney Michael Furen told the commission if there was a plan "of reasonable scale," IPOC would work with the applicant to make sure a plan is approved.
Said Furen: "If there is an acceptable negotiated development plan, IPOC would not reserve its right to challenge a plan they have accepted."
Mayor George Spoll said he was "delighted there was movement and consideration of some sort of solution."
"It can't be worse than a big fight," he said.
Although Commissioner David Brenner was glad White presented a compromise, he expressed disappointment with how long it took for the proposal to come before the commission.
"If something like this would have been proposed more than a year ago, we might not be here today," Brenner said.
White, however, maintained that IPOC has submitted three different proposals that have been rejected by the club.
The commission most likely will begin deliberations on the project late this afternoon, at which time suggestions proposed by the club, town staff and IPOC can be discussed and considered as potential conditions of approval for the $400 million project.
Check www.YourObserver.com for live updates regarding the hearing.
Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].
Islandside Property Owners Coalition President Bob White offered a compromise at the Islandside renovation-and-expansion hearing Wednesday he believes he and his coalition can support.


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Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder where uncontrollable and sometimes painful muscle spasms are caused by incorrect signals from the brain. The condition results in abnormal postures or movements, with or without tremor.
Dystonia has a variety of causes one of which is an unwanted side effect of taking certain drugs used to treat other conditions. Where dystonia is caused by the side effects of drugs in this manner, this is called tardive dystonia.
There are number of different types of involuntary muscle activity that result from neurological conditions caused by the side effects of drugs. As a group, these are called tardive dyskinesias. Tardive dystonia is one type of tardive dyskinesia in which the involuntary movements tend to be slow and writhing. Other types of tardive dyskinesia include facial tics and irregular, dance-like movements called choreas.
Tardive dystonia is most commonly the result of side effects from a type of drug which is prescribed to treat schizophrenia and psychosis called a 'dopamine receptor blocker' (DRB). In recent years, DRBs have been improved to reduce the risk of causing tardive dystonia but unfortunately some risk still remains. Some DRBs are used to treat nausea and dizziness, not psychosis.
If the symptoms described below appear after taking oral medication, it is essential to discuss this immediately with the doctor who prescribed them. It may be necessary to discontinue the drug – but this must be done in a controlled manner under the supervision of a suitably qualified doctor.
Acute dystonic reaction
In most cases of tardive dystonia, the symptoms of tardive dystonia tend to be acute but short-lived. This is called an acute dystonic reaction. Such reactions usually affect the face causing strange movements of the face and/or mouth. In some but not all cases, the movements can cause problems with eating and swallowing (such movements are called oromandibular dystonia). It may also cause hyper-extension of the spine amongst other effects.
Fortunately the majority of these acute reactions can be successfully treated with injectable anticholinergic drugs which will usually terminate the attack.
If it is important for the patient to continue taking DRB drugs then the physician would be expected to look for different types of DRB drugs that hopefully will not cause a further acute dystonic reaction.
Many other drugs have been reported to cause acute dystonic reactions including anti-depressants of the type that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, calcium antagonists (sometimes used to treat high blood pressure and angina), some anaesthetic agents, anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and phenytoin and even illicit drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy.
Tardive dystonia
Tardive dystonia is a more taxing condition as it can be permanent. It is caused only by DRBs and usually only after people have taken the drugs for months or even years.
Symptoms can include one or more of involuntary movements of the face and/or mouth (oromandibular dystonia see above), involuntary eye closure (blepharospasm), voice problems, involuntary twisting or movement of the neck (cervical dystonia) and contortion of the trunk and limbs.
Occasionally, symptoms do disappear but unfortunately this is rare (around 1 in 10 cases). Research suggests that, if the drug causing the tardive dystonia has been taken for only a short period of time, remission of symptoms is more likely than if the drug has been taken for a longer period.
The first step is usually a controlled withdrawal of the drug causing the problem. If it is necessary to continue using DRBs, one of a class of newer, "atypical" DRBs (such as clozapine or olanzapine) may be a suitable substitute.
What other treatments are suitable will vary by individual and may include drugs commonly used to treat dystonia - for instance oral medications such as anticholinergic drugs (trihexyphenidyl) or baclofen. These drugs may have side effects such as sleepiness that need to be discussed with your doctor.
Botulinum toxin injections can also be helpful to manage involuntary movement in one or more specific areas. There is no clear way to predict which treatments will work for each person.
Where other treatments are not effective, deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be an appropriate alternative. In this procedure, electrodes are planted into the brain to help 'rebalance' movement and to control posture. The electrodes are powered by a battery implanted in the chest.
Last updated June 2014
Disclaimer The Dystonia Society provides the information on this page as general information only. It is not intended to provide instruction and you should not rely on this information to determine diagnosis, prognosis or a course of treatment. It should not be used in place of a professional consultation with a doctor. The Dystonia Society is not responsible for the consequences of your decisions resulting from the use of this information, including, but not limited to, your choosing to seek or not to seek professional medical care, or from choosing or not choosing specific treatment based on the information. You should not disregard the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider because of any information you receive from us. If you have any health care questions, please consult the relevant medical practitioner.


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Degrees: B.A., M.A.
Minimum Requirements for Degree: B.A.: 130 credits;
M.A.: 30 credits
The northern studies program offers an interdisciplinary study of northern problems and policy issues. The purpose of the northern studies program is to give interested students a broader study of the northern region -- its environment, peoples and problems.
The geographic location of UAF is outstanding for the study of northern issues. Students examine the countries and regions throughout the circumpolar North, and their distinctive problems, such as the survival of indigenous populations, environmental and wilderness issues, high rates of alcoholism and suicide, fragile environments, adaptation to extreme cold and cycles of light and darkness and adult development in small frontier societies.
The northern studies curriculum is centered around an interdisciplinary course (NORS 484W -- Seminar in Northern Studies) which is taken in the senior year.
The M.A. program is designed especially for students who live and work in the North and who want to expand their knowledge of the history, economics, politics, psychology and anthropology of northern regions. Many northern studies students are seeking employment with northern agencies and want to develop a broad perspective on northern issues. Some students plan to pursue doctoral work in a discipline such as history or anthropology and seek a master's degree with a broad approach. Other students are employed as teachers, military personnel, or agency staff and want a rich, interdisciplinary program. The program is suitable for any of these goals, and it is designed to be compatible with either full-time graduate study or full-time employment.
The program offers a thesis or non-thesis option. The choice of option is guided by the student's interests and goals, the graduate advisory committee, and the requirements of the university. Faculty in the program are drawn from such disciplines as Alaska Native studies, art, anthropology, economics, English, geography, history, library science, political science and psychology.
For information on studying at McGill University, Montreal, Canada; the University of Copenhagen, Denmark; or opportunities for study in the former U.S.S.R., see Study Abroad.
Undergraduate Program
Northern Studies -- B.A. Degree
1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
3. Complete the following northern studies core requirements:*
** Students are encouraged to use the major in conjunction with a discipline-based major. Double majors linking Northern Studies with, for example, Alaska Native studies, anthropology, geography, history or political science majors may double count a maximum of 9 credits from the above groupings toward the second major. Other majors may double count a maximum of 9 credits toward their university distribution requirements.
*** Two semesters of a northern language, such as Eskimo or Russian.
1. Complete the following:
1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the master's degree requirements.
3. Complete the following
Send comments or questions to the
UAF Admissions Office.
Last modified June 10, 1998


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Rum Review: Bacardi Rum 8 Year Old
Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 25, 2010
For my introduction to this review I thought I would write a short history of the Bacardi Company. I did a little research and realized very quickly that a "short' introduction was impossible. So I changed gears and wrote instead a longer article called "Ron Bacardi & Cuba – Turbulent Times" and published it "Extras" Section of my Blog (And published previously on Rum Connection). If you click on the article name you will be brought to the article.
One thought I would like to add, is that I went into this review fully expecting to dislike the Bacardi 8 Year Old. It is, after all, quite fashionable to bash Bacardi and claim with a somewhat superior air that anything they make is for the masses, and therefore obviously inferior. Let me say right up front that it is just that type of intellectual snobbery that made me pass up this wonderful rum for almost a year. This rum doesn't just break the stereotype I had in my head … it destroys it!! Here is an except from my review:
"…. I could not help but notice that the delivery of the Bacardi 8 year old rum was very similar to the delivery of a really good whisky. I am not talking about flavours mind you, I am talking about style. The rum carries a lovely light smoke, and a firm oak flavour which provides foundation and character. This is not a sweet rum dripping with honey. It is a firm well oaked rum…."
You may read the full review here:
Review: Bacardi Rum 8 Year Old Rum
Please enjoy the review and the cocktails added.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


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When Minnesotans and visitors stay at one of the state's bed and breakfasts, they may be staying at a facility that a state or local fire official has inspected. But chances are just as good that they are not.
A Minnesota Public Radio review of bed and breakfasts found Minnesota's regulations to be inconsistent on how such small businesses are inspected for fire safety, rules that vary from city to city.
How state and local officials scrutinize bed and breakfasts has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, after a July fire at a New Ulm bed and breakfast killed six people. Some say such inspections have become increasingly important given the growing popularity of bed and breakfasts, across the United States and in Minnesota.
Some travelers love the ambiance of bed and breakfasts, and their unique features: Cozy Victorian mansions, rustic cottages tucked in the woods or castles with a lake view.
In Minnesota, the state's Bed and Breakfast Association counts 114 members, according its 2010 guide. But not all of these charming homes are inspected the same way.
By law, state officials must inspect bed and breakfasts with six rooms or more every three years. If a bed and breakfast has fewer than six rooms, Minnesota law considers it a residential facility and leaves it up to individual cities to implement fire inspection rules.
"That number is just an arbitrary number that international fire codes have designated," State Fire Marshal Glen Bergstrand said.
According to state records, the Minnesota fire marshal's office inspects 11 of the bed and breakfasts in the association's 2010 guide, including three in Stillwater and one each in Hastings, Preston, Spicer, Pipestone, Lanesboro, Mentor, Afton and Annandale.
The six inspectors who visit these bed and breakfasts are also responsible for reviewing hundreds of other small living facilities that provide accommodations for 16 or fewer people, among them child care centers and foster homes, Bergstrand said.
In some cities, local fire officials conduct inspections.
However, every bed and breakfast in the state, regardless of size, must have a state health inspection. State records indicate health department officials visit roughly the same number of bed and breakfasts the association has members. However, those inspections only include basic fire checks.
In some of those cases, they may be looking at just the basic fire safety requirements," Bergstrand said. "Others may have in their regulations a more in-depth type inspection to do."
Cities that have their own fire inspection requirements include Duluth and Hastings, where fire officials inspect bed and breakfasts every three years.
In New Ulm, the site of the deadly fire, officials inspect bed and breakfasts annually as part of the licensing process.
The main house at the Bohemian Bed and Breakfast in New Ulm wasn't licensed for occupancy this year, according to its most recent inspection in December. As a result, it did not have an inspection. A smaller carriage house was inspected and a problem noted with the fire extinguisher was resolved.
Investigators ruled the fire was accidental and started from untended candles.
MPR News also contacted officials in other popular destinations, including Stillwater, Grand Marais and Lanesboro. Officials in those cities do not require bed and breakfasts to have fire inspections, even though with 21 facilities between them they account for nearly 20 percent of the state's bed and breakfasts.
Officials in those cities say in part their lack of required inspections stems from insufficient personnel and whether they have a full-time fire department.
In Winona, bed and breakfast operators must only obtain an annual county environmental health inspection. Since the New Ulm fire, Winona fire officials have started conducting inspections with the county's environmental health services department, Winona Fire Marshal Jim Multhaup said. The first was last week.
Multhaup said fire department officials want to join the inspection to share insight into what they'd look for during a regular fire inspection.
"We're not looking to duplicate services," he said. "It's going to be one inspection, eventually, the way the county has always done it. But hopefully with a little more insight on looking for potential fire hazards."
Despite the state's patchwork of laws, some operators say the regulations are adequate.
The Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association offers its members a $300 inspection that includes a visit from a consultant who offers bed and breakfast owners advice on safety, cleanliness and maintenance, according to its website.
But no inspection or state regulation would have changed the outcome of the New Ulm fire in New Ulm that killed six, said Shannon McKeeth, the association's president.
"This was a very tragic event and it saddens a great deal of people that this happened," McKeeth said. "We trust that our officials know exactly what they're doing and we trust the decisions that they make." In Lanesboro, the state-designated bed and breakfast capital of Minnesota, there are 26 lodging facilities. Some have permits to operate as bed and breakfasts, but others are considered inns and general lodging. The city makes this distinction depending on zoning regulations.
According to state records, six of Lanesboro's facilities are inspected by the state fire marshal's office, including the Historic Scanlan House, a 19th century Victorian mansion.
Scanlon House owner Kirsten Mensing was surprised to find out that state officials do not inspect smaller bed and breakfasts. Mensing said Minnesota needs better fire regulation for all bed and breakfasts, regardless of size.
"I wouldn't expect a fire inspector to give me health codes -- you know, go through my kitchen and judge my refrigerator," Mensing said. "So I wouldn't expect a health inspector to go through my electrical and think he's going to know all about the electrical."
Around her six-bedroom house, Mensing points out safety measures she's voluntarily taken through the years. She started using fire-resistant beds and linens after a guest burned through a comforter with a cigarette. She has fire extinguishers in each room and only uses tea light or jar candles around the house.
Mensing displays her state Health Department license on the refrigerator but keeps the fire inspection documents on her computer. No one ever asks about them.
"I think I've really had 10 people, seriously, in the last 26 years ask about fire exits and things like that and that's really it," she said. "It's not the concern that's generally on most people's minds. As an owner, that's my concern. I need to make sure, and that's why I go through everything to make sure that if anything does happen, they can get out safe. I'm not any different; I want to get out, too."
Bed and breakfast customers also have become more interested in safety.
On a recent trip to Lanesboro to celebrate their anniversary, Stephanie and Steve Ciccone of Coons Rapids, said they never worried about safety at bed and breakfasts. But the recent fire in New Ulm changed that.
I don't think that would hinder me from going to one that has less than six bedrooms," Stephanie Ciccone said. "Maybe I would have some questions like if they do burn candles, if there is a way to have somebody be looking after them."
Her husband said a uniform state standard makes sense.
"I think whether you're holding 30 families or three families, you're still housing other families," Steve Ciccone said. "You should have the same restrictions everybody else does."
Bergstrand, the state fire marshal supervisor, said the department considers requests for additional inspections every couple years. But expanding the state's fire inspection program to facilities that have fewer than six rooms would be expensive, he said.
Others say more uniform fire regulations simply won't work in smaller communities that rely on voluntary fire departments.
"It's really a decision that probably should remain at the local level about whether the resources are available and whether there's a demand for the inspections," said Anne Finn, assistant intergovernmental relations director for the Minnesota League of Cities. Since the New Ulm fire, Finn hasn't received inquiries from cities about implementing local fire regulations that include smaller bed and breakfasts.
"These businesses are struggling as much as anybody else," she said. "To add another layer of fees on them, there's a lot of pushback out there."
Finn said some cities offer voluntary fire inspections for a fee. In the absence of a broader state fire law, she said, owners of smaller bed and breakfasts should consider hiring private inspectors.
But she said consumers should always ask about safety measures when they visit.


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Last night's NLCS Game 4 was just a little too stressful for my tastes. After jumping out to an early lead in the first inning via a Ryan Howard long ball (which I missed, by the way, while helping my young procrastinator finish a school project which was due today), the Phils' bats went silent as Randy Wolf found his groove for the next several innings.
Joe Blanton, on the other hand, started out strong, but then began to falter the second time through the Dodgers' lineup. The Dodgers took a 4-2 lead, and I began to resemble this:
Yep, I was giving some serious hairy eyeballs to the Dodgers, particularly when ManChild, oops I mean ManRam, was for once not "being Manny" in the outfield, as he ran in to make a shoestring catch on an Ibanez liner to end a Phillies scoring threat.
The Phils did manage to cut the margin to 4-3, but the Dodgers still held a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. But now it was payback time. Last Friday, it was the Phillies who blew the one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth to lose, 2-1, when their pitching began to unravel.
Jonathon Broxton, last night was your turn.
Broxton retired Ibanez for out number one. Matt Stairs came in to pinch hit, and worked a walk; Eric Bruntlett came in to pinch run. After Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch to put two men on base, Greg Dobbs came in to pinch hit and was retired on a humpback liner to third.
Two outs, I'm starting to imagine how bad my mood will be today.
Up to the plate comes Jimmy Rollins, who was only hitting .167 so far in the NLCS (not good, Jimmy). Miraculously, Jimmy smoked a liner to the gap in right to score both Bruntlett and Ruiz. Happiness ensued! I felt like doing this:
but unfortunately I don't live near a beach (must change that situation!).
In the postgame interview, Rollins looked like he was doing his best Etta James impersonation:
Love the look, Jimmy – I hope we see it again this season!
The Joy of the NLCS Schedule (she says sarcastically)
So why is it that during the regular season, teams can play eight, nine, even ten games in a row, but come the postseason, they can't seem to play more than two days in a row?? Why exactly do we need an off-day in the middle of the three games being played in Philadelphia? I'm sure it has something to do with TV and advertising revenues, but I don't like it.
The Joy of Technology
It seems that StubHub experienced an "email glitch", and accidentally sent messages to fans of the Mets that said,
"Be there alongside your New York Mets as they chase baseball immortality. Go to StubHub, where you'll find a fantastic selection of tickets to every playoff game — so you experience the championship chase live and in person."
Hee hee! I wonder if there were any dimbulb Mets fans who got confused and actually tried to order tickets?
Apparently fans of a few other non-playoff teams also got erroneous messages (see full story here), but I always take secret glee in the travails of Mets fans. Sorry, but I can't help it :-).


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Congress nears funding deal
There's already movement to avoid the fiscal cliff.
House and Senate leadership Thursday approached a deal to fund the government for six months — a move that would avert a Sept. 30 shutdown, and keep the federal government operating through March.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: GOP fears shutdown showdown)
The deal would keep the government funded at the same levels of last year's debt limit law, a spending level Republicans have consistently dismissed as too high. But it would also avert a messy pre-election showdown over shutting down the government, something neither party wants.
The six-month funding resolution illustrates the sway of conservatives over Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and his leadership team, as the conservative Republican Study Committee, led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, advocated for a six-month funding resolution instead of a three-month bill preferred by leaders. The Senate also backs a six month funding bill.
The bipartisan funding bill will be rolled out early next week, aides said. When Congress would vote on it is still unclear, but both chambers would need to approve the deal by Sept. 30. After next week, lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol will head home to run for reelection — it's a critical period for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
The rest of the "fiscal cliff" — the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts and automatic defense cuts that were part of the debt limit deal— still loom with no deal in sight before the post-election lame-duck session. But a potential breakthrough on government spending would take at least one crisis off the table.
Republicans are also struggling to make a deal on a major package of business tax breaks, known as "tax extenders." These special interest tax provisions may be on the chopping block, thanks to opposition from House conservatives. The tax breaks ranging from alternative energy to research and development, and have always been favored by the business community, but tea party leaders see them as special interest tax handouts.
A series of Ways and Means Committee hearings this week, which included testimony from lawmakers from across the ideological spectrum, demonstrated little GOP unity over which of the more than 100 provisions should be extended, throwing into serious doubt any ability to pass a package that's coveted by business lobbyists.
GOP freshmen and conservative members of the Republican Study Committee have shown little love for the so-called extenders package, despite widespread support for the measure from their allies in the business community — many of whom are big Republican donors. For these Republicans, any support for these special provisions could dilute their pursuit for a broader tax-reform package in the next Congress, if the party retains the majority. Only one provision is garnering widespread support: the tax credit for research and development.
"Their whole goal is to drive this [debate] toward tax reform, and they don't care if they crash the car into the wall along the way," said a House GOP aide. "You're resetting all the policy, and you're increasing the pain level and incentives to do tax reform."
The House is scheduled to vote next week on extending the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, while the extenders package isn't even on the leadership's radar screen at this point.


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The renewed Shpagat is open daily from 10AM and offers you a pleasent stay in it's coffee house morning and noon style or a crowded atmosphere as a bar on the evenings and nights. he style at SHPAGAT is great for bringing a date to chat and get to know one another. Maybe if all goes well you'll be off to the clubs afterwards Free entrance
Russell Sammut
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fawzi aljohani
Aleksander Kramberger
Oscar Aguilar
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COURSE: LB-300 Business Communication in the Digital Age (3)
Extensive practical application of diverse forms of written and oral business communication with the aid of technology. Topics include writing memos, reports, email messages; using multimedia Power-Point slides in presentations; facilitating business meetings; creating electronic resumes; using online discussion groups; and handling the challenges of international and cross-cultural communications. Prerequisite: LN-112 and 90+ Earned Credit Hours.


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Cabo Sun & Fun Vacations is a private company that offers vacation rentals and a "hands on" property management service that specializes in selected residential properties that are not available to other rental companies. Owned and operated by a 21 year Cabo bilingual resident who knows her way around Cabo. She can make your vacation what it was truly meant to be. She personally manages the properties she rents so that you are guaranteed the lowest rental price available avoiding added extra costs and assuring the lowest price available along with hands on management so that you are assured a hassle free vacation!
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Click the links below to view and print the Cabo Sun and Fun Vacations brochure.
View Cabo San Lucas - San Jose / Corridor on Google Maps


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What enemy general who fought in North Carolina is most memorialized here?
Here is a hint. The Charlotte pro basketball team is taking back the Hornets name.
One reason they are taking back that name is because the old Charlotte Hornets sports gear is still selling all over the world. It is in fact one of the most popular NBA brands long after original owner George Shinn moved the team to New Orleans. Why has this defunct brand been so popular? At the beginning the Charlotte Hornets had an appealing story. It was North Carolina's first major league sports team, with amazing attendance and plucky teams that played above their potential. But that was in the past. Folks in Chapel Hill argue that their own Alexander Julian's colors and design of the uniforms is the secret of their continuing popularity.
I like to think that the Hornet name itself had a lot to do with it, in part, because it was an insect. Such little creatures, even those with big stingers, are rarely used for athletic teams, although some college teams like the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have big fan followings. But Charlotte was the first modern major league pro team with a stinging insect mascot, and it set the team apart.
History probably played the most important role in the attachment the local community holds to the Hornets name.
Here is where the hint about the foreign general comes in. During the American Revolution, British troops occupied the village of Charlotte for a short time. The patriot militia and general population harassed the occupiers so effectively that the British commander tagged Charlotte and the surrounding area "a damned hornet's nest of rebellion."
Ever since, Mecklenburg people have been proud to be called hornets and have their county identified as a hornets' nest. Check the seals, flags, and symbols of Charlotte and Mecklenburg and you will usually find a hornets' nest somewhere in the design. Miss Leticia Currie, our wonderful teacher at Davidson Junior High, loved local history. Every day she read a chapter of a favorite book. If a student brought a real hornets' nest to school, she read an extra chapter that day after she proudly displayed the nest on the classroom wall and gave us a short lecture on our proud heritage.
The British commander who came up with "damned hornet's nest of rebellion" designation was Lord Cornwallis, who is my nominee for most memorialized enemy general.
In 1780, after occupying Charlotte and Hillsborough, he fought a critical battle at Guilford Court House, and then marched to Wilmington to lick his wounds and prepare for the march to Yorktown, where he surrendered in 1781.
Cornwallis traveled across more of North Carolina than many of us who have lived in the state for years.
Up in Hillsborough, they remember Cornwallis's brief occupation in their town's histories, and there is a residential community named "Cornwallis Hills."
There is Cornwallis Avenue in Gastonia; Cornwallis Streets in Garner, Pittsboro, and Winston Salem; Cornwallis Roads in Riegelwood and Rose Hill; Cornwallis Lane in Charlotte; Cornwallis Drives in Mocksville and Greensboro; and of course, the long Cornwallis Road that runs from just north of Chapel Hill, across Durham and then through the Research Triangle Park. Surely some of the thousands of commuters who see his name every day wonder why we so prominently honor a general whose invasion caused North Carolinians such great suffering.
Perhaps it is to remember the strong resistance that General Cornwallis encountered from patriotic North Carolinians across our state.
Or maybe it's just in gratitude for giving us that Hornets nickname, one that after 225 years, is still worth fighting for.
D.G. Martin hosts "North Carolina Bookwatch," which airs Sundays at noon and Thursdays at 5 p.m. on UNC-TV. For more information or to view prior programs visit the webpage at www.unctv.org/ncbookwatch.
This week's Sunday showing will be preempted by special programming. The Thursday (June 6) guest is Heidi Durrow author of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky."
In a dark story, told by Heidi Durrow in her novel, "The Girl Who Fell From the Sky," a mother and her three children fall together from the roof of an apartment building in Chicago. The mother, son, and baby girl die. But 11-year-old Rachel survives and, as "the girl who fell from the sky," becomes the book's central character.
The program will also air at Wednesday June 5 at 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on UNC-MX, a digital cable system channel (Time Warner #172 or #4.4). In addition, airing at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on UNC-MX will be a classic Bookwatch program featuring Clyde Edgerton author of "Lunch at the Picadilly."
A grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council provides crucial support for North Carolina Bookwatch.


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The Art & Science Of Alan Parsons
GRAMMY-nominated engineer/producer and musician Alan Parsons was the featured guest at the GRAMMY Museum on Sept. 29, 2010, as part of the Museum's An Evening With series. Before an intimate audience of 200, Parsons shared his thoughts on modern recording technologies, his experience working with the Beatles and Pink Floyd, his new video project titled Art & Science Of Sound Recording, and working at the famed Abbey Road Studios.
"The day I first walked up those steps [at Abbey Road Studios] they were just wrapping up the white album [The Beatles]…and the vibe was very strong about the big double album being completed," recalled Parsons.
"Six months after starting I got a call saying the Beatles needed help at their new studio at Savile Row. EMI and myself got the call to go down and install equipment…and that's ultimately what became Let It Be."
Following the discussion, Parsons performed a few songs with members of the Alan Parsons Project, including "Eye In The Sky," "Games People Play" and "Sirius."
Parsons began his career as a staff engineer with EMI Studios until landing a job at London's Abbey Road Studios at the age of 19, working as an assistant engineer on the Beatles' Abbey Road and Let It Be. He subsequently went on to work with artists including Jeff Beck, Paul McCartney, Pilot, Pink Floyd, and Al Stewart. In 1975 Parsons founded the Alan Parsons Project with GRAMMY-nominated songwriter/lyricist Eric Woolfson. That same year the duo, supported by a revolving troop of session musicians, released their debut album, Tales Of Mystery And Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe. A string of albums followed, including 1977's I Robot, which charted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, and 1982's Eye In The Sky, which peaked at No. 7. Parsons has been the recipient of eight GRAMMY nominations in the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical category; his first came in 1973 for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon. Parsons' recent project, Art & Science Of Sound Recording, is an instructional DVD set featuring tips on studio acoustics, Internet recording, approaches to live recording, and mixing, among other topics.
Upcoming GRAMMY Museum events include An Evening With My Chemical Romance (Jan. 26), Musicians Institute Presents: Sampling Across Genres (Jan. 26) and GRAMMY Museum Presents: S'Talking Zappa (Jan. 27).
For more information on the GRAMMY Museum, visit www.grammymuseum.org.
Click on the "GRAMMY Museum events" tag below for links to other GRAMMY News stories in this series.


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Give Credit Where Credit is Due !
For some reason one recent Tampa Bay advertisement just doesn't seem to have a right or clear cut answer for itself. For what ever side of the AL East fence you lay your loyalties, no matter how you seem to slice it, dice it or julienne the argument, this one isn't going to be that simple. For whichever direction your common sense take you in the departure of Carl Crawford from Tampa Bay, somehow the whole ball of wax just seems to ultimately come back full circle again and again with no clear compromise.
The swirling bi-polar gambit of emotions seem to be taking me from the highs of adulation to the brink of suddenly swirling down through the circling drain towards an ebb tide of constantly churning polar opinions that makes you dizzy by wanting to simultaneously applaud and bang your hands in utter frustration at the same time. Two great minds of thought both good and evil somehow occupying the same brain matter without a sign of mental implosion……yet.
When it is impracticable to obtain permission, use of copyrighted material should be avoided unless the doctrine of fair use would clearly apply to the situation. The Copyright Office can neither determine if a certain use may be considered fair nor advise on possible copyright violations".
By the way, I made sure to give a photo credit on the same Carl Crawford's original All Star game photoback in 2009. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well today, a photo credit would have kept me from writing my own thousand words. I stand up and applaud the intent, then shake my finger at the conclusion. Please everyone, give credit where credit is due…..That gets you the respect of everyone.
10 Comments
I agree 'credit where credit is due'
big problem today is with search engine images producing the same image in so many locations there are times when it's tough to decide who is the originator, this however was a blatant attempt to capture credits for something especially when they didn't really pay for the ad either as it was from donations….
good call exposing them
I understand that sometimes there is not a photogrpaher credited to the photo. In that case, you do not have to credit them since it might be from an ambigious origin.
The media is always screaming that we "borrow" their photos without paying fees or even acknowledging the photog's exsistence. Im just want credit where credit is due…when possible. That might keep the legal hounds at bay who want to eliminate any type of free photo sharing in the future.
This doesn't make DRB bad people, it was just an oversight that needs to be addressed in the future.
Rays Renegade
AHHHH SNAP! Dude, you should get licensed as a private investigator! If for nothing else, you get a cool hat and a dark office ;-)
Thanks for this reminder! I've been inconsistent in crediting photographers for their shots lately, and I think it helps to remember that the photographs we use in our posts don't just appear out of nowhere.
As for the Carl Crawford trade to Boston, I'm sorry for your loss. It's nice to see that the community of Rays fans are still supporting him!
This is an excellent reminder. I've run into this at several jobs too, when the employer finds a great image that would be perfect for the next marketing piece and doesn't think about the steps that need to be built into the timeline in order to use that image appropriately. And in these cases where the image is being used by a company potentially for financial gain, it goes beyond credit, the artist needs to give permission and paid. Fortunately my current company is a lot more savvy in this regard, because I hate telling a big exec no, but it's not like it would be the first time, LOL.
As a side note though, it was a really of DRaysBay to give Carl Crawford a nice, classy send off. I have never heard of such thing before when the reason for leaving wasn't retirement but I sure wish I had!
Got to tell you I did have a dream I was going o be a CIA spook one day, but reality happened. I have thought about being a private investigator, and I could always find a fedora somewhere.
But then I would miss out on all this fun…
Rays Renegade
I remember a JBlog that Mark Newman(Our MLBlogs.com Professor and MLB.com writer) did a few years ago sout this same subject. We are not credentialed MLB writers, but if we show responsibility and respect for things like photo credits…Some one could take notice.
You never know. Something as small as a photo credit could get one of us on MLBlogs.com that big break to possibly write for a living.
Rays Renegade
I think the DRB guys had a great idea before Crawford decided to stay within the division, but after he decided to go to Boston, the ad should of been on hold.
At that point Crawford should have done a 1 page ad thanking us, the Rays fans, not vice versa.
Crawford still has not done aything to thank the Rays fans base…But Carlos Pena is putting a 1-page ad in the TBT publication this morning. Los showed his props to a locale that gave him a chance durinf a rehabilitation of his MLB career.
Rays Renegade
With all due respect, there are NO grey areas when it comes to photo when it is the property of the photographer and outlet that distributes it. Newspapers (like the SP Times, Tampa Tribune, etc.) and online entities (such as ESPN, Sportsline and others) PAY distributors such as AP or Getty for rights to use them. Whether you give photo "credit" or not, using a photograph without expressed permission from those distributors is outright stealing.
The Examiner, which was referenced above, allows it's writers to draw from a select number of AP photos (they may have an agreement with Getty as well) to use in conjunction with a story/column. I frequently drew on that ability because they paid rights fees. However, let me go one step further.
I am not just a writer but a professional photographer and I used my own photos (giving myself photo credit of course) with my copy. I have spent a lot of money obtaining equipment that has allowed me to shoot some of the biggest events in the area (hockey, auto racing, basketball, etc.). My photos have appeared in numerous publications (online and print) including the PGA Tour and the Huffington Post. As copyright owner of those photos, I granted permission to those outlets ONLY, not to be copied for use elsewhere or hotlinked to a blog.
For anyone to use my photos without MY permission is stealing from me. Are those people paying me for my time? My expenses? My equipment? The answer is no and each time you or someone else uses a copyrighted/trademarked photo with out paying for the privilege or have expressed permission it is theft.
In addition, because a specific AP or Getty photo is doctored doesn't change the fact the photo belongs to someone. Furthermore, for those who think photos that show up on Google or some other engine, ask yourself this: Do you honestly think some Joe Average Fan took that great catch photo from Row ZZ and posted it on the net for anyone to use? Hardly.
As I do not write for this blog, there is no way for me to know what their use of copyright or trademark material is. Frankly, I would think someone would have asked that question a long time ago.
Ted Fleming
Thank you for bringing that up from the "professional" side of the equation. I am glad I did not mis-quote you or take your context too out of bounds.
I am glad you brought up the fact of "doctoring" photos. That was my main problem with the DRB ad along with the fact Mr. Vishwanat did not even get a courtesy thank you himself in the bottom portion of the ad.
I think everyone will look at this post and your comment and think harder in the near future.
That is one of the reason I have begun to take photos myself. I understand both side of the story and with my photos, I can hopefully eliminate my oen future need or desire to "Beg, borrow or steal" another photo"
Thank You Ted.
Rays Renegade


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SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) Four weeks ago, Karen Sayers received a phone call that, in her words, changed a lot of things.
If not for the response of local EMS personnel and the quick and knowledgeable actions of two of Buena High Schools athletics staff members, the events leading to that phone call could have ended very differently.
The afternoon of Nov. 5 started like any other Monday for Sayers daughter, Savannah Sayers, which meant she was out in the sports fields with her softball teammates.
We were running around the track for conditioning, the sophomore said.
What happened next is fuzzy for Savannah, but crystal clear for those around her.
I was told I just kind of collapsed on the ground, she said.
Not far away, in the dugout, was Buena softball coach Mark Schaefer.
I heard a little bit of a commotion, so I came out to see whats going on. I saw one of the girls running down, saying that Savannah had a seizure, Schaefer said.
After more than two decades of coaching student sports, Schaefer said he had seen myriad injuries and conditions. That knowledge helped guide his actions that afternoon, when he directed Savannahs teammates to get his cellphone and call 911 while he made his way to the track.
At that point, she was still breathing.
I sent the other kids after Woody and the nurse, he said.
Wesley Wood, or Woody as she is known by students and staff members, has been the certified athletic trainer for Buena High School for the last four years.
An eventful week may see her dealing with ACL tears, ankle sprains or concussions, but this day would prove to be different.
In 13 years of doing this Ive never had this happen, she said last week, when she and Schaefer were recognized by Savannahs family and local first responders for their quick thinking that doctors said saved her life.
I was up in the building, and two of the players came to get me. They said, We need you out at the softball field, that someone had fainted or fallen down, Wood said.
When she arrived to find Schaefer and an unresponsive Savannah, she could already hear sirens in the distance, she said.
911 had already been called, so I knew they were coming. I heard them, as a matter of fact, as I was performing CPR, she said.
When Woody got there, Savannah had already stopped breathing from what I can tell, Schaefer said. I had given a couple of rescue breaths. I could hear the sirens in the background, and Woody checked the pulse and started CPR right away.
In the emergency medical service field, there is a phrase, the chain of survival, said Brian Jones, battalion chief of Sierra Vista Fire Department.
Within that chain, there are certain steps that have to be taken in order to have a good outcome, he said. Calling 911 and starting first aid immediately, and taking corrective action, such as defibrillating a patient who needs it, are vital in situations such as this one. In this incident, it was a perfect chain.
Sierra Vista Fire Department medical personnel would soon arrive and defibrillate Savannah twice before taking her to the Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, before she was airlifted to Tucson Medical Center.
Sayers said she was told the entire event, from the time her daughter collapsed, to the time she arrived at the hospital, would measure only about 10 minutes.
Last week, as she recalled the various meetings with doctors who would tell her things like only one in 10 people survive what her daughter had just went through, Karen Sayers told the two dozen or so friends and family gathered at the Buena softball field why the cardiologist had been so interested in the immediate care her daughter received when she first collapsed.
He said, because not only did she give it in a timely manner, but she gave it really well. There was no damage to her heart and there were no signs of oxygen deprivation to her brain. He said that you saved her life, she said, speaking to Schaefer and Wood.
After struggling to come up with an appropriate way to thank them, Sayers presented both with framed photographs of her family at Thanksgiving We had a lot to be thankful for this year and a photo taken while Savannah was still recuperating in the hospital and Wood and Schaefer had paid her a visit.
Below the photos was a message of eternal gratitude from a thankful family.
Soon after the incident, Savannah was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, which the Mayo Clinic describes as a heart rhythm disorder that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats. These rapid heartbeats may trigger a sudden fainting spell or seizure. In some cases, your heart may beat erratically for so long that it can cause sudden death.
Savannah, an athlete who played volleyball and basketball in middle school, would come to have an internal cardiac defibrillator implanted in her heart.
While her future in sports may be less clear these days, what is not is the appreciation she and her family have for those that saved her life.
Thank you for knowing how to do your jobs and for responding so quickly, and for being the right people at the right time, Karen Sayers said.
Without a doubt, its a miracle. God took care of her, in all aspects, according to the way I see things, Schaefer said. Seeing her laying on the ground that day, to Friday when we went up there to see her, I just look at her and think, What a miracle.
In addition to the framed photos from the Sayers, Wood and Schaefer were presented with Life-Saving Awards from the Sierra Vista Police Department.
Battalion Chief Jones also presented the two with Challenge Coins, given out within the department to firefighters who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Its imperative that as citizens that we act, and on that day, Woody and Coach Schaefer acted, and acted in a way that really saved a life, Jones said.


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East Coast digs out from storm, bracing for more snow
CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Friday, December 28, 2012 6:29AM EST
Last Updated Saturday, December 29, 2012 9:37AM EST
While people in Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick dig out from record-breaking snowfall, those in Newfoundland are bracing for their turn as the massive storm moves east. And Friday may not even be the end of it, as a second storm is forecast for the region this weekend.
The northeast coast and central parts of Newfoundland are expected to receive anywhere between 20 and 30 centimetres of snow on Friday, the highest amounts forecast of anywhere in the province. Winds are expected to gust to up to 100 kilometres an hour along the island's south coast.
It's the latest blow from a storm that's causing travel havoc. Air Canada issued travel alerts for several cities in New Brunswick and Labrador on Friday, and has warned customers that flights to or from St. John's International Airport may be delayed or cancelled. Flight delays are still rippling throughout the region.
It hasn't been any easier for travellers hoping to get around by boat. Marine Atlantic vessels were tied up due to high winds and rough seas on the Cabot Strait and no daytime crossings to Nova Scotia were scheduled.
Snowfall breaks records
This is the same storm system that left Montreal buried under a record 45 centimetres of snow Thursday, breaking the previous one-day record of 43 centimetres set in March 1971. The city reported many road accidents, including a pileup involving at least 15 vehicles on a highway east of the city. No serious injuries were reported.
The storm also led to scores of flight cancellations and vehicle abandonments, including those involving a number of city buses.
Quebec police had to resort to snowmobiles to answer some emergency calls. Hydro Quebec workers also had to use snowmobiles and snowshoes to reach customers who were still waiting for power to be restored from a previous storm.
After the storm left Quebec, it landed in northern and south-central areas of New Brunswick late Thursday, with a total of 38 centimetres falling around Moncton. Residents woke up to snowed-in driveways and in many cases, unplowed streets, making for a slow start for those headed to work on Friday. About 2,600 New Brunswick Power customers lost electricity due to the storm, but it has since been restored to all but 150.
"It's crazy," said local resident Chris Larocque, surveying the snow-banked streets Friday morning. "I didn't think it would be like this today. It's unreal."
While most of the major driving routes in the area have now been cleared, sections of TransCanada Highway remain covered in slush and dangerous for drivers.
Some snow also fell across parts of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, followed with rain driven by heavy winds.
The region saw its share of weather-related traffic accidents, particularly due to icy roads and poor visibility. In Halifax, where about 20 centimetres of snow fell, one driver lost control on the road and slid into a pedestrian who was on the sidewalk, sending that woman to hospital with a broken leg.
It was Halifax's second major storm in just over a week, with about 20 centimetres of snow falling on Dec. 19 as well.
Toronto's first major snowfall
The storm also touched down in Ontario on Thursday, where provincial police reported several single-vehicle collisions -- in Pickering, St. Catharines, Vaughan and beyond -- as vehicles ended up in ditches or stranded on roadways.
The storm marked Toronto's first major snowfall of the season. The city hasn't received more than 10 centimetres of snow since March 23, 2011, when 12.6 centimetres of snow was recorded at Pearson International Airport.
At least one death in Toronto was blamed on the storm, after a man collapsed and died while shovelling his driveway.
With reports from The Canadian Press


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Cuttings of ivy, pothos, begonia and coleus root quickly in these handblown rooting vases. The intriguing design makes an attractive window ornament,
with or without a cutting. Includes jute hanging cord.
(based on 5 reviews)
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By Ruby
from Meadow Bridge WV
Best Uses
This is so beautiful haning in the window of my kitchen, I love the way the sun shines through
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Rooting vase
By Lu
from Brush Prairie, WA
I bought this for my sister in law. She has trouble growing plants, but this will make it easier for her. I am a plant lover and have had one of these in my office for years - it is a great way to keep plants in an enclosed area.
from Brush Prairie
I have this in my office full of rooting plants that will continue to grow for years. Several co workers have commented on its beauty. I love to have plants in my home and office.
By Linda
from Central Florida
Bought the blue one as a Christmas gift. When I received it, I like it so much, I bought all three colors for myself. Recipient of the gift loved it! These are a lot bigger than they look online. Perfect!
Rooting Vase is beautiful and functional
By Bugbix
from Sanatoga, PA
Using this to root plant cuttings. I love the colors of this vase, picked the blue one, and it looks great hanging in front of my picture window in my dining room. The roots grow quickly in this vase.
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FYI - Hot VWs News.
Minnesota Bug-In
Other Hot VWs News Stories
Don't Miss the Next Issue. Subscribe Now!Subscribe now to get the latest issue of Hot VWs Magazine.
GREENSBORO GHIAFrom North Carolina, Tim Amick's '68 Karmann Ghia underwent a two-year restoration project that converted it into the sassy convertible he cruises today. Also in the March issue is coverage of the nearby Fast Times at Farmington event, Solvang 2016, tackling pedal rebuilding and more — it's certainly an issue worth adding to your collection.


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LAKEWOOD — A stubborn wildfire near Lakewood on Thursday evening burned 38 acres, threatened homes and filled the skies above north Snohomish County with a smoky haze that lingered for hours.
The fire was reported about 4:30 p.m. in a former logging area east of Warm Beach and north of Lake Goodwin, off Happy Hollow Road.
One firefighter suffered an eye injury from flying debris, Silvana Fire Chief Keith Strotz said Friday. No other injuries were reported.
Crews were summoned from throughout Snohomish and Skagit counties, along with the state Department of Natural Resources. A Snohomish County sheriff's helicopter also used a bucket to drop water on the flames.
"The fire was so big we had to surround it to protect structures," Strotz said. "We pulled departments clear to Gold Bar."
Shifting winds complicated the response. At least one house was evacuated, but folks were allowed to return home about 10 p.m. Thursday, the chief said.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. No houses were damaged in the fire. A half-inch of rain that fell overnight was further good news. By morning, about 40 wildland firefighters remained on scene, looking for hot spots.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; email@example.com.


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Prosecutors, police discuss challenging DWI cases
Oct. 19, 2012 at 5:19 a.m.
Unbeknownst to most, prosecuting someone for driving while intoxicated is often as complicated and time-consuming as taking on a murder trial.
There's grappling with expert testimony in regards to blood analysis. There's training rookie cops on how to avoid taking the bait from seasoned defense attorneys keen on antagonizing them for their investigating techniques. And there's dealing with a defendant, who, in the jury's eyes, often resembles their next-door neighbor, a productive member of society with no criminal history.
That's why local law enforcement officers and attorneys had a meeting of the minds of sorts at the Victoria College's student center Friday.
The six-hour training - hosted by the more than 100-year-old Texas District and County Attorneys Association - provided the group with tools needed to boost conviction rates for a crime the U.S. started buckling down on in the early 2000s.
"What separates you from other drivers?" Tarrant County Prosecutor Sherry Armstrong, the event's speaker, asked, simulating how she'd start and end each trial by plucking at jurors' heartstrings. "All you have is a little white line and whole lot of faith that everyone else out there has 100 percent of their faculties."
She then posed scenarios that, if left untouched, can often unravel a DWI case and challenged the estimated 50 participants to find solutions.
Some hypotheticals included confronting drivers who refuse field sobriety tests. But, if they have two or more prior convictions for drunken driving, they're subject to a blood draw. Sometimes people claim they have injuries that'd make it impossible for them to do the tests correctly, others pretend to have asthma attacks, said Grapevine Police Sargent Marc Shimmick.
He encouraged investigators to document everything - whether that is snapping photos of a car cup holder overflowing with beer caps on an iPhone, recording everything on a dashboard camera, listening in on jailhouse phone calls or tracking down itemized bar tabs and medical records.
W. Clay Abbott, a DWI prosecutor, said police officers are often under such extreme time constraints they skimp on details in their written reports later, even if they specifically remember the person inverting their consonants.
"So trying to write out this great American novel," is challenging, he said. "That shouldn't be surprising."
And sometimes technology doesn't have the intended affect.
Victoria County Assistant District Attorney Eli Garza said jurors can focus on a video from the scene and expect it to be dramatic.
"A lot of the time when we think of someone intoxicated we think of someone who is drunk and throwing up ... That's not the legal definition," he said.
Intoxicated means having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, according to the Texas Penal Code.
Assistant District Attorney Luther Easley said the course was a welcome refresher.
He's coordinating with judges on a system that would allow them to sign search warrants after hours for blood draws, which generally lose their ability to stand up in court if not tested quickly after the arrest.
Garza said he hopes that system will be in operation by next year but recognizes Victoria has fewer judges than bigger jurisdictions. He said in Harris County there's a judge who works late into the night for that reason. In Victoria, they typically work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There's anywhere from 200 to 250 DWI cases presented to the Victoria County District Attorney's office annually, Garza said.


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Ravens get Super Bowl kudos from lawmakers
BALTIMORE (AP) - The Baltimore Ravens are receiving good wishes and congratulations from all corners, including from members of Maryland's congressional delegation.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski calls Baltimore a "world-class city with world-class fans" and says she's looking forward to welcoming the Ravens back and celebrating Sunday night's Super Bowl victory.
( PHOTOS: Pols' Super Bowl bets through the years)
U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings says he's proud of the Ravens for winning, especially because they were underdogs and many commentators had counted them out against the San Francisco 49ers.
Both called the Super Bowl win a fitting sendoff for Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who is retiring after 17 seasons with the team.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who danced and sang with Ravens fans in New Orleans, said the city will host a parade on Tuesday.


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Paul Pierce respects Ray Allen, his former teammate with the Boston Celtics, but he might not quite understand him, or the decision he made to join the Miami Heat.
"I'm a little bitter that he went to Miami, but he's still a brother of mine," Pierce told the team's official website Thursday.
Allen will join the same Heat team that defeated the Celtics in last year's Eastern semifinals en route to an NBA title. Although he said the next meeting with the Heat, which happens NBA opening night, will be "weird," Pierce holds no malice toward Allen.
"Ray made the best decision for him," Pierce said. "That's what it's all about: You get in these situations, you become a free agent and you make a decision based on what's best for you and your family. Ray will always be a brother for me. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be wearing a championship ring. So the things he was able to do for this organization will never be forgotten."
Allen and big man Kevin Garnett joined the Boston Celtics prior to the 2007-08 season. The move paid immediate dividends and the Celtics won the 2008 NBA title over their rival Los Angeles Lakers. In his five seasons with the Celtics, Allen averaged 16.5 points and shot 41.3 percent from the 3-point line.
But Allen turned down a two-year, $12 million offer from the Boston Celtics to make about half that per season in Miami, where he will earn a mini mid-level that pays about $3 million over the three years of his deal.
Despite his obvious contributions, injury and a rocky relationship with point guard Rajon Rondo marred Allen's final season with the Celtics. Allen also was moved to sixth man as the Celtics made room in the starting lineup for rising guard Avery Bradley.
"Not starting bothered Ray," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
Rivers took the blame for Allen's departure but did not deny there was tension between Allen and Rondo, a fact that has been widely cited for Allen's decision to sign with Miami.
"People can use all the Rondo stuff—and it was there, no doubt about that—but it was me more than Rondo," Rivers said, per Wojnarowski. "I'm the guy who gave Rondo the ball. I'm the guy who decided that Rondo needed to be more of the leader of the team. That doesn't mean guys liked that—and Ray did not love that—because Rondo now had the ball all the time. ... "
He will play without Allen, the man he called "a brother," but Pierce is pleased with the moves made by Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. The Celtics signed Garnett to an extension and will have new additions Jason Terry and Courtney Lee in the backcourt. A healthy Jeff Green also could help out with the loss of Allen on the wing.
"I love what Danny's been able to do," Pierce said. "It was a tough decision this summer. A lot was riding on what direction we were going to head in. It was just a domino effect, once we signed Kevin, we knew were going to try to make another run at it. That's pretty much the way I looked at it. Once we signed him, a number of guys were able to jump on board."


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The lottery is projected to raise about $89 million for college scholarships in the fiscal year that ends June 30. Last year the lottery generated $94 million for scholarships, after being projected to bring in $105 million by former director Ernie Passailaigue, who resigned in October.
Last year the lottery had sales of $464 million and Woosley said in a meeting with reporters on Thursday that he wants to boost that total by at least 1 percent, $4.6 million, this year.
Woosley is also looking at what aspects of the lottery's operation can be cut to save expenses.
The Arkansas Lottery Commission helped a bit by setting the ceiling for the new director's salary at $175,000. Passailaigue earned $324,000 annually, a figure that drew consistent criticism during his tenure.
Passailaigue's two top deputies were paid $225,000 each, people he brought with him from South Carolina where he ran that state's lottery. Woosley said he doesn't plan to fill those deputy positions, though he said he may wind up approaching the commission to ask that he be allowed to hire a chief operating officer if he finds that he needs the help.
The salary savings come to about $600,000 off the bat.
The commission offered a high-end salary at start up in the hope of finding an experienced hand who could bring the lottery on line quickly and without problems. Voters approved a 2008 ballot measure allowing a state lottery with the proceeds going to fund in-state college scholarships. The first tickets were sold in 2009.
Woosley, 38, served as the lottery's in-house attorney until being named to the director post last weekend.
"You don't need an expert," Woosley said, but noted that he and the rest of the staff have had valuable on-the-job training and that many workers came with long experience in financial management at other employers.
"I think we have the experience internally," Woosley said.
Lottery commission Chairman Dianne Lamberth said the promotions Woosley plans can help sales of other draw games, such as Cash 3 and Cash 4.
"Some people don't know how the Cash 3 and Cash 4 games are played -- when they're drawn, how quickly they're drawn, Lamberth said.
Lamberth said she and other commissioners were impressed with Woosley's "vision" and that she is confident the enterprise will grow under his leadership.
Lottery Commission member Ben Pickard, one of Passailaigue's harshest critics, had pushed the former director to elevate the lottery's profit margin, which was 20.2 percent at the end of fiscal 2011. The lottery had the initial goal of a 25 percent profit margin but that was driven down by the intense popularity of scratch games.
Pickard said he supports Woosley's efforts to reduce costs and increase revenues, mainly by trying to build sales of draw games.
"Obviously at this point with Powerball, we're going to have to wait and see.
The lottery has satellite claim centers in Camden, Jonesboro and Springdale, where players can redeem tickets worth more than $500. Woosley said he wants to keep the centers running for now because players on the state's fringes don't want to drive 2.5 hours or more to cash a ticket in Little Rock.
To help cover costs of running those centers, Woosley said they will begin selling tickets sometime in the next few months. The leases on the centers expire in 2014, when they may get another look.
Woosley said lottery ticket retailers shouldn't feel threatened by sales at the state outlets and that there are no plans to open a chain of state lottery stores.
"We're just simply trying to cover the cost of the claim centers," Woosley said.
An important key to improving the lottery's bottom line will come through greater sales of draw games, such as Powerball and Mega Millions.
A Powerball jackpot of more than $300 million drove strong sales in February. The first week this month had ticket sales of $13.8 million, breaking the state weekly sales record by nearly $1 million. Powerball tickets now cost $2, and players can opt to toss in an extra dollar, which doubles the value of any prize other than the big jackpot. The game is rigged so that jackpots start at about $40 million and grow at a faster rate than before the January price hike.
Mega Millions tickets remain at $1 apiece. At least for a time last week, the Mega Millions jackpot was larger than the Powerball top prize, a bargain that can help sales of the lower-priced tickets.
Woosley said he expects draw game sales to remain strong over the next few months, perhaps enough to goose lottery profits to the "magic" $100 million level.
Pickard said he thinks the lottery can generate that much.
"I see it as a possibility," Pickard said. "Sometimes you have to set goals you have to stretch for," Pickard said.
But the draw games remain a small part of overall lottery sales. Arkansas players favor scratch games so much that they generate 84 percent of the state's ticket sales, the highest scratch-to-draw ratio among the 44 states that have lotteries.
Woosley said the lottery is preparing to launch Twitter and Facebook accounts to help promote the games through social media and plans to update its website. The lottery will be able to send blast emails to customers who signed up to receive updates.
A lot of customers see the rack of scratch tickets in convenience stores and just point to the ticket they want, without giving a thought to one of the numbers games, Woosley said.
He wants to use promotions to introduce players to how to play draw games, including the Arkansas 50-50 monthly raffle and the multi-state Decades of Dollars game.
Scratch tickets have a much smaller per-ticket return for the lottery than for the draw games, which carry a 50 percent profit margin. So even incremental increases in draw game sales can improve the lottery's bottom line.
The $13.8 million in sales for the first week in February suggest that a large proportion of the adult population in the state of 3 million people know how to buy a draw ticket.
Woosley said the coming promotional effort should help determine if there are regular players waiting to be found.
"We may just be a scratch (ticket) state," Woosley said, indicating he's comfortable working with the lower margins.
"You do not want to cut prizes," Woosley said, because that's what drives repeat sales.


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Crazy 8s
"Crazy 8s" is an independent ska and funk band that was mainly active in the 1980s. They are known for their "politically pungent" lyrics and
Crazy 8s
The Crazy 8s were founded at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon and attained recognition mainly through airing on college radio, specifically KBVR FM. Their first album, ''Law and Order'', was released in 1983 and sold 6,000 copies in its first week, finally totalling 11,000 units sold. The album reached the top 20 on the Gavin Report during the year of its release, with the hit single ''Johnny Q Public''. They were selected to appear on Star Search as a novelty rock band, and received a top score of four stars. Afterwards, they were reviewed by TV Guide, who said that the lead singer, Todd Duncan, bore a striking resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman of MAD Magazine fame.
In 1984 the Crazy 8s opened for The Clash, Violent Femmes, and The English Beat. In 1985 they played with Red Hot Chili Peppers on their first tour. They were featured in the September 26 1985 issue of Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 10 bands playing on college radio.
The Crazy 8s went on to make a total of six albums, including one live reco...


text:
CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy defeated Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles 6-2 in the club's penultimate preseason match before the start of the MLS regular season on March 3.
The match was a barn burner that featured several impressive goals including a brace by LA left back Bryan Gaul. Robbie Keane and Leonardo opened the scoring in the first half, but in the second half, the match really took as the team's traded goals in quick succession.
Bryan Gaul's brilliant finish opened the scoring before Tijuana pulled to within two with a strike from Luis Garcia Carmona. In the 80th minute, Hector Jimenez extended LA's lead to three with a calm right-footed strike. Three minutes later, Jack McBean calmly headed home a deflection that put him alone on the goal. Tijuana pulled a second goal back in the 83rd minute off a curling free kick by Bruno Piceno.
Gaul finished the scoring in the first minute of stoppage time with a deft chip shot into an empty Xolos net.
LA ends their preseason slate on Friday against the Colorado Rapids at UC Santa Barbara's Harder Stadium.
A few notes on the match:
LA began the match in the following lineup:
*Referee Juan Guzman dished out six yellow cards—three to each team---and two red cards—one to each side. Rafael Garcia was shown a red card in the 47th minute, two minutes after coming on to the field and Tijuana's Luis Trujillo was given his red in the 72nd minute, just a minute after he checked into the match.
*The match was the second time this preseason that A.J. DeLaGarza and Sean Franklin were partnered on the right side – the first coming in a preseason victory against UCLA. When asked about this, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena told reporters that LA is "looking for a little bit of cover in all the positions."
*It was also the second time that Leonardo and Omar Gonzalez were paired in central defense. The duo started the second half of last Saturday's scoreless draw against Gangwon FC together.
*Robbie Keane donned the captain's armband for the match and is expected by many to serve as the club's captain once the season begins. Throughout the first half, Keane showed the willingness to drift into deep midfield in order to kick start Galaxy attacks.
*Arena lauded Keane for his contributions on Tuesday: "He was very good and showed a really good attitude early in the game and obviously, scored a good goal and did a lot of good things.
*From the start, Bryan Gaul was aggressive in the attack, pushing up so far into midfield that at times Colin Clark appeared to be more of a third forward than a left wing.
*LA ended the game in the following formation:
*Once Charlie Rugg entered the match, he repeatedly checked forward to assist Magee with LA moving into a 4-3-2 formation at times. Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena implied in the post game press conference that Rugg would started up top had Juan Guzman not sent off midfielder Rafael Garcia in the 47th minute.
*Arena on Garcia's red card: "It doesn't help in an exhibition game, but maybe it is a lesson for Rafa. He certainly came in a little late, although I don't think it was a red card. It was an interesting exercise for the guys…You can say that [it was positive to go 10 v. 11 for several minutes], but there were so many changes going on that it is a little unfair for the guys on the field because you want them to play against even numbers. Jack McBean quickly became a right-sided midfielder in the exercise and that made it a little bit awkward, but it's all part of it."
*Greg Cochrane once again put another solid performance appearing very energetic on the left side and provided the assist on Hector Jimenez's goal in the 80th minute.
*Arena on Matheus Ferreira, the club's Brazilian trialist: "Solid. Not pressed to do a whole lot of defending at the end. Those two center backs at the end [Kofi Opare and Ferreira] need a little bit of work on their positioning and communication, but for the first time out with them together, they did fine.
*Tommy Meyer missed his second straight preseason match due to a strained hamstring that he suffered in practice. Arena told reporters that the club is evaluating the defender and the injury may cause him to miss the start of the season.
*Heading into their final preseason game of the year on Friday against the Rapids, LA are 4-1-1 this preseason.


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*Mod Request, I am sorry if this post is in the wrong section - If you need to move it - feel free to do so*
Hello everyone,
My name is Julian and I am 23 from New Jersey. I am seeking two individuals to start a project online around the gaming scene.
If you are a gamer, specifically PC or XBOX, than this message would be especially interesting to you. I am looking for serious people though around 18+ though.
Now, I know without a business plan it is hard to find good people but my focus here is to find some good people with similar goals and interests to myself. Obviously, a good amount of money is a primary factory in any project, however, depending on skills I can not afford to pay someone that may just take the money and leave, especially early in the project.
I am trying to start a project, a form of a gaming community. Not no boring, dull, crappy common community that you see everywhere that targets one game. But a community that can bring many different gamers together for a specific purpose. My ideas, incorporate Achievement Hunter Type videos with a mix of red vs blue and using my pro tip videos in counter strike that are flying around the internet if you are a counter strike player, you seen it.
We had a forum for just Counter Strike that made it to the top 150k websites but we had a problem with the guy managing the site, who disappeared(Some think he was arrested). Regardless of that, I am trying to get this project bigger than what is was before. We had an IP Boards forum, that had both free and paid people subscribing to it for different benefits.
I have connections to many gaming companies such as Alienware or Maingear as well as Professional Gamers in MLG, WCG, and CGS(when it was alive).
The money aspect of things, was hopefully going to be collected through things like adsense on the website and on my youtube videos, as well as any donations and if do the paid members idea to help fund the project and give yourself something for your dedication. Also every now and than can get things from the companies above for giveaways or if hardware is required, they are iffy on random hardware for people that may just leave that helped with the project so its a trust/dedication thing for that.
Constructive Criticism is appreciated. I do understand that because I cannot offer any straight payment options that it will be hard to find good people to partner on this project with me. But anyone that has the same dedication, patience, and motivation as myself will notice a benefit very soon. Plus, this can be start of something big and very fun to do.
NOTE: I have access to many servers and domains. The company I work for is a networking company. I have access to countless servers to use for this project so domain and hosting is covered. I also have a reseller account to get any website domain for free so there is no issue there.
I AM VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND CAN GET IN MORE DETAIL. I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE ANY TIME WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE IMMATURE AND SNEAKY. TRUST IS A HUGE THING, ESPECIALLY FROM EXPERIENCE PLAYING ON TOP LEVELS OF COMPETITIVE GAMING. Please be respectful and considerate and I can promise this will go well.
What I am looking for:
A person that knows how to create websites and/or get a site up and running. (I provide the services) I have ideas on things for the site but do not know how much experience and time and skill it takes to get it working. Features like, point systems on a forum, for example, per post that can be used to collect prizes and hardware that I have. The kind of code for the site to know does not matter but I hope it is something that can be very easily changed to accommodate new features. I am sure down the line when a stable income is coming in, we can use a database feature or something. WE DO NOT NEED TO MAKE A SITE FROM SCRATCH, I CAN BUY TEMPLATES, however if it is easier and it can be done, we can discuss that.
Video Editor
Although I know not to look here for this type of person but who knows what we may run across. This person must know how to edit videos together from footage that I have to get. Nothing amazing but the quality has to look perfect. HD h264 type quality so there is no static on youtube. These videos will also be on the site. Programs old video makers used were Sony Vegas and After Effects. (Photoshop but not necessary)
-- I have a lot of support from 30-50 gamers that would be active on the site, however most of them are 14-20. The older ones do not have any experience to help with the site or videos but would be helping with advertising and such. Dedicated gamers they are, haha.
If your interested you can reply back.
www.youtube.com/thereallegacy for examples of videos that will help bring traffic.


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Submit News
Blog: Auto
Do We Need EVs with Turbo Engines Becoming so Fuel Efficient?
Shane McGlaun
October 17, 2011 1:15 PM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
You're doing it wrong.
Turbos are on 75% of new cars sold in Europe
You don't have to be a scientist or an automotive engineer to look at the fuel economy that major automakers are squeezing out of their vehicles with normal combustion engines today and wonder if we really need EVs and hybrids. More than one diesel car in Europe is able to provide fuel economy as good or better than the hybrids people generally think are so fuel thrifty.
The catch is that we rarely see diesel engines in the US inside a car, that will be changing, but the diesel car isn't common today for American drivers. One thing that is becoming very common for fuel efficiency sake is the addition of a turbocharger to allow a smaller displacement engine to produce acceptable power to provide the performance drivers expect.
The turbocharger is something that was often thought of for performance cars like the Grand National Buick in the mid to late 1980's. Today the turbo is used in a number of engines including the very popular EcoBoost line from Ford. Ford's EcoBoost engine inside the
F-150 truck
is selling very well and has a towing capacity on par with normal engines with larger displacement. The turbocharger is even more widely used in Europe where
reports that 75% of all new cars come with one.
Craig Balis from Honeywell Turbo Technologies told Reuters in an interview, "The turbocharger is a green technology in the sense that it's helping cut emissions and raise fuel economy. It's a critical component to get more fuel efficiency out of the engine."
"Emissions regulations in Europe, the United States and worldwide are a driving force for cleaner, greener vehicles and that's a great landscape for turbocharging," said Balis. "We're confident about the continued evolution of combustion engines and the growing role turbocharging has."
reports that a diesel engine that has a turbocharger can get 40% more mileage than one without a turbo and a gas engine can go 20% further per liter of fuel than one without a turbo. With the impressive economy that normal engines with turbochargers achieve there are many that wonder if we even need EVs and hybrids.
Pierre Gaudillat, policy officer at the Transport and Environment lobby group in Brussels, was asked if we need EVs from a CO2 point of view. He said, "That's a valid question. The answer is: maybe not. Turbos are a no-brainer for cutting CO2 because the efficiency gains are really quite significant. In the near term, we don't really need and can't count on electric vehicles to deliver the CO2 savings. Maybe not until about 2030 or 2050."
"So far we have not seen a single Android device that does not infringe on our patents." -- Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith
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