text: OK, this issue halfway came up in another thread here but I'm curious. What do you think it would take to make a self-sustaining Mars colony? I would probably say the ability to grow food, produce drinkable water, power and breathable air, extract necessary raw materials and use the to manufacture needed parts and tools, and repair machinery as needed. People are pretty tough and could do without a lot of the comforts we take for granted.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Dietitians Dish: Hydration, proper nutrition part of good game plan
Sept. 13, 2010 at 4:13 a.m.
Updated Sept. 14, 2010 at 4:14 a.m.
By Kendra D. BlaschkeSo you've survived two-a-days and the harsh Texas heat. Now, those Friday night lights are shining on you, and the last thing on your mind is nutrition. Most understand that football is a game of strength, speed and skill; however, few realize how much nutrition can affect game-time performance.
Water is the best legal sports performance enhancer on the market. A two-percent loss of body weight due to dehydration can decrease performance by as much as 15-20 percent. The Texas heat, along with humidity and protective equipment required in football, all increase the likelihood of dehydration. An easy way to assess hydration status is by monitoring urine color. When adequately hydrated, urine should be the color of lemonade; apple juice color urine means you are already dehydrated. Monitoring changes in body weight can also quantify fluid losses. Athletes should weigh themselves before and after a workout in dry clothes. For every pound of weight lost, the athlete should consume 16-24 additional ounces of fluid.
While not all sports require a sports drink, Texas football players must replenish electrolytes, and, therefore, sports drinks are recommended for outdoor workouts and games.
Current fluid recommendations to optimize performance are as follows:
Four hours before workouts/games: Slowly hydrate with 16-20 ounces
During workouts or games: Sip on a sports beverage containing electrolytes and carbohydrates; half-time is a great time to get in some extra fluids
After workouts/games: Replace fluids lost (16-24 ounces for each pound lost)
The goal of a pre-game meal is to top off the energy and fluid stores so the only thing the athlete is focusing on during the game is the game itself. The ideal meal would be consumed four hours before game time and provide just enough so the athlete is neither hungry nor overly full. The meal should be high-carbohydrate, low-fiber, low-fat. Carbs are the main fuel source for football players as they provide glucose to the bloodstream making energy readily available. Good carbohydrate choices are simple foods like enriched white bread/pasta, fruits and vegetables and cereals without added fiber. One should try to avoid high-fat, high-fiber foods that tend to empty slower and leave athletes feeling full and sluggish. Athletes should also steer clear of complex fatty foods like trail mix and peanut butter before a game as these don't break down as quickly.
Examples of good pre-game meals include:
Turkey sub, frozen yogurt with fresh fruit toppings
Pasta with marinara sauce, steamed vegetables, fruit
Chicken breast, steamed rice, green beans, fresh fruit smoothie
Just as hydration and pre-game meals can affect performance, lack of proper refueling after strenuous exercise can lead to chronic fatigue and delayed muscle recovery. It is recommended that athletes consume a good source of carbohydrates and protein within the first 15-30 minutes following an intense workout or game. This can translate into these suggestions:
Glass of chocolate milk
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Yogurt and granola
Fruit and yogurt smoothie
A full meal should then be consumed within 2 hours of the post-game "snack."
Kendra Blaschke is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with a Master's of Science Degree in Nutrition. Send questions or comments to dietitians @vicad.com.


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Russell Branyan is giving the Brewers a midseason lift in the run production department.
After batting .359 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 153 at-bats at Triple-A Nashville, Branyan earned his promotion to Milwaukee in late May.
"It was time," manager Ned Yost told Brewers.com of the callup. "He was really doing well. ... We needed another left-handed bat in our lineup, so we figured we'd give him a chance to see what he can do."
Branyan, a 32-year-old veteran who previously played for Milwaukee in 2004 and 2005, has hit .264 with 11 home runs and 16 RBIs in 87 at-bats this time around. He has a .681 slugging percentage and 1.079 OPS.
Balester wows 'em in debut: The Nationals called up hard-throwing Collin Balester, who made his Major League debut against the Marlins on Tuesday night. Balester gave Washington five strong innings and the bullpen held on for a 9-6 victory to give the rookie a win in his first outing.
"Those last four innings seemed like they took about four hours," Balester told the Washington Post. "It was fun, though, to watch. I'm just so happy to be here and so happy to win in the big leagues."
"Very impressive," manager Manny Acta said of the right-hander's one-hit effort. "We haven't had an arm come through our system like this since Javier Vázquez. It's exciting. The kid threw the ball very well."
Sampson finds success out of bullpen: Chris Sampson has been a force coming out of the bullpen for the Astros. So impressive, he is now being used in the eighth inning at times.
"He's been really good in the bullpen," manager Cecil Cooper told the Houston Chronicle. "In the spring, we talked about that he's a guy that could be really key for us pitching out of the pen. I think he's feeling more comfortable doing it.
"Most guys that have started before, I'm sure they still want to. But Sampson, I think, has kind of bought into the idea that he could be real effective and help us. I've always said that because he's so efficient with his pitches, when he's right, he can throw two days in a row and throw maybe two innings two days in a row."
Lind making all the right moves at plate: Adam Lind is getting extended playing time in the Blue Jays outfield, and he is coming through for his teammates. Earlier this week in a game against Atlanta, Lind hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and later moved a runner over to third base on a ground ball to the right side of the infield, a move that paid off as the runner eventually scored.
"He got the runner over and got a big sacrifice fly," manager Cito Gaston told the Toronto Star. "He might not have got a hit, but he helped the club."
Church off DL, back to his old self: Ryan Church's return from the disabled list got off to a solid start. Starting for the first time since June 5, Church went 2-for-4 Sunday night against the Yankees and then added another hit in three at-bats Monday against St. Louis. Church had been the disabled list since early June with post-concussion syndrome.
Church went on a brief rehab assignment before being activated before Sunday's game.
"I was able to test myself there, and then I was like 'OK, it's game time, I can go,'" Church told Newsday. "I felt good. It was good to get out there, sweat, move around and make some plays."
Posada makes rare appearance at first base: Don't expect to see it often, but Jorge Posada took the field at first base on Sunday for the Yankees. Manager Joe Girardi said he went with Posada at first because he wanted Jason Giambi to have a day off and have as many right-handed hitters as possible in the lineup against southpaw Mets starter Oliver Perez.
"I still consider him a catcher," Girardi told Newsday of Posada, "but if I need any positional player to help us out at a different position or as a way to keep their bat in the lineup, I expect them to do it."
Longoria gets hardware to certify success: Evan Longoria's rookie campaign just keeps getting better and better. He was named the AL Player of the Week for the week ending June 29. Longoria hit .433 (13-for-30) with five doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs. He also had a .900 slugging percentage. For the season, Longoria leads all rookies in home runs with 15 and is two homers short of tying the AL rookie record for home runs before the All-Star break. Tim Salmon hit 17 before the break in 1993.
"It's kind of that feeling where everything is just going my way right now," Longoria told Raysbaseball.com. "I'm just trying to keep it going, trying to ride it out. Every day you come to the ballpark, you don't know what's going to happen. I'm having success right now. I'm just trying to keep doing what I'm doing."
Hamilton's dream preempted All-Star selection: Unless something drastic happens, Josh Hamilton will be starting for the AL All-Stars at Yankee Stadium and will likely compete in the Home Run Derby. Hamilton, however, has already competed in the Derby -- at least in his mind.
"About three months before I was given clearance to return to playing, I had a dream that I was in a home-run contest and it was at Yankee Stadium," Hamilton told the Dallas Morning News. "I don't remember any details about my hitting, but I do remember that a lady came up at the end and put a microphone in my face and I got to tell my story to everybody in the stadium."
Hamilton is currently second among outfielders in voting. His 19 home runs rank him in a tie for first in the AL and he leads the Major Leagues with 80 RBIs.
Mulder begins comeback with relief appearance: Mark Mulder made the first relief outing of his 203 career appearances on Monday night.
"I was as excited as I've been in a long time," manager Tony La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Guy's worked so hard. ... This guy is a great athlete. People in this town and in this league have only seen a little bit of it. In the American League, they know this guy is nails."
Loewen off DL, added to bullpen: Adam Loewen was activated from the disabled list this week, and he now finds himself pitching out of the bullpen. He worked two innings on Tuesday without giving up a run.
"I think I've been 100 percent for a while now," Loewen told the Baltimore Sun. "It was just a matter of getting used to coming out of the bullpen, getting ready quick, that kind of stuff. I got a lot of experience coming out of the bullpen the last three weeks. I'm excited to get going."
Jones able to avoid disabled list: After missing eight consecutive starts and with a disabled-list stint looming, Chipper Jones informed manager Bobby Cox that he was ready for action prior to Tuesday's game against the Phillies.
"It's great [news]; nobody wanted him to go on the DL," Mark Teixeira told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Hopefully there won't be any more setbacks with his quad and he'll be with us the rest of the season."
Wainwright working to get back on track: As Adam Wainwright continues to work his way back from a sprained right middle finger, he says that he feels close to returning. It's the lack of mobility in his joints that's a surprise to him.
"I would think if everything's good from there, I'll start throwing," Wainwright told the Belleville News-Democrat. "It feels a lot better. I'm out of my splint and I'm able to grip things. Not heavy things, but I'm able to squeeze soft putty and all that kind of stuff.
"When I took the splint off, my finger felt fine, but my joints were just completely locked up. It's amazing. A couple of weeks without bending your finger and your joints just go to waste."
Griffey Jr. provides memorable blast: Ken Griffey Jr., doesn't mind how his team comes up with its victories, as long as they happen. Griffey came off the bench and blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Reds a 4-3 victory over the Pirates on Monday.
"For the most part, you do like to play 8 1/2 innings and then go out there and shake hands," he told MLB.com. "But I guess shaking hands at home plate ain't bad, either. I knew if it was close, I'd have a chance to swing the bat. An opportunity came about, and I was able to get up there and help the team win."
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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robertk wrote:
The commentary to the Netti pakarana has a section on the 38 vancakkha dhammas- the cheating dhammas.
For example on of them is related to renunciation: one moves to a secluded place, gives up meeting with people and feels this is because they are developing renunciation. It is just as likely to be done out of subtle aversion to the problems that come with society. On the othe rhand one stays in society and feels that one is doing this through equanimity or metta- but doesn't see the attachment to sensuality that is really motivating the behavior..
And practically every real right action in the spiritual realm has its not always obvious cheating counterpart (vangakkha). If there is no genuine awareness one might be 'cheated ' by these fakes for a lifetime.
there is a parami called sacca, truthfulness that is woefully underdeveloped in most of us. So we are always quick to cling to anything that looks like progress and exaggerate it in our own mind.
Hi Robert,
How does one become aware and counter these vangakkha dhammas if they are so subtle as to be easily mistaken for kusala dhammas?
kind regards,
basically , in my opinion , as soon As there is the merest hint or feeling of having Kusala we can be sure that attachment is blossoming and delusion is flowing.
so how to have kusala without clinging? no easy way, other than by really revering the teachings i think so that they become our teacher rather than tricky aspects of lobha which we take for insight.


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Busy promoting ARTPOP in Germany, Lady Gaga debuted new song "Gypsy" at Berlin's Berghain club yesterday (October 24) during a TV event. And she wore a handlebar mustache while doing so.
"So I wrote this song while I was traveling around the world," she said before playing the stripped-down piano ballad (above). "They said that a gypsy doesn't have a home but I do have a home. I have a home with you always."
She added: "This is my first performance of this record. This is very special to me. Thank you for sharing it with me."
"Sometimes a story has no end/ Sometimes I think that we could just be friends/ Cause I'm a wandering man, he said to me," she sings at the track's start.
As she announced on Twitter earlier this week, Gaga will be debuting a new song in every territory I travel to over the next 3 weeks! An exclusive for each country!"


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Sheldon Gensler remembers the day the Sarasota Jewish Council established its headquarters building located at 1900 Main St. He spent his time scurrying from one side of the building, home to his law office and fax machine, to the other side to take care of council business.
"When they asked me to be president in 1971, I said I would accept if we would have an office, a secretary and an executive director," Gensler said. "My request was granted, and that's how we got started."
Gensler's fondest moment was the council's (which later became the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation) 25th anniversary party at the Van Wezel.
"That was when it was just a fledging organization," Gensler said. "But the community came out in great numbers — 1,700 people attended."
Perhaps the biggest milestone is yet to come; the federation will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend with a free community-wide festival Sunday, Nov. 8.
"This event will allow the community to experience what a 21st-century Jewish federation has to offer — relevant programming, pluralistic Jewish education and service to the community at large," said Judy Weinstein, federation president.
Guided tours showcasing the 34-acre campus will familiarize guests with the new campus, at 580 McIntosh Road, recently reopened facilities and numerous federation-sponsored classes and workshops. Activities include art exhibitions, cardio tennis, basketball and conditioning clinics, mini-education classes and a sampling of community programs, such as Shalom Baby, Witness Theater and Young Ambassadors. In addition, the event will also celebrate the fourth annual IMPACT Family Fun Day with face painting, wall climbing, games music and Kosher food. IMPACT is a social networking program through the federation. Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy as part of IMPACT's toy drive to support the Building Strong Families Program of Jewish Family and Children's Services.
To commemorate 50 years of the federation's history, a special film showcasing the federation's leaders of the late 1950s through today will take place at 1:30 p.m., in the Bea Friedman Theater in the main Flanzer building. Interviewees featured in the film, such as Gensler, will share their experiences of living in Sarasota and how the federation has impacted their lives. They will also comment what's in store for the federation's future.
Following the film, a town hall question-and-answer session led by a panel of federation staff and volunteer leaders will take place.
"Being part of the federation has been a great experience for me and I've been rewarded its success over the years," Gensler said. "Today I'm very happy. If we keep working hard and have good leadership, the federation will flourish and remain strong. The future looks good."
Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].
WHAT: Sarastota-Manatee Jewish Federation's 50th anniversary celebration
WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
WHERE: 580 McIntosh Road
INFORMATION: Call 371-4546 or visit www.smjf.org.


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Candahar, Ghuznee & Cabul Medal awarded to Sgt. James Beck, 1842
Obverse, a bust of Queen Victoria
Reverse, inscription surmounted by crown with laurel wreath around
Candahar, Ghuznee and Cabul Medal (First Anglo-Afghan War)
The First Afghan War of 1839 had culminated in the British restoration of the Shah Shujah al-Mulk, a situation which caused his dissatisfied people to rise in revolt in 1841. The murder of the British envoy provoked an initial evacuation of the British garrison, most of which was massacred on its march back to India, and a response in force for whose three battles variant medals were awarded.
This is the award for participation in all three sieges, of the city of Kandahar, the mountain pass fortress of Ghazni and the Afghan capital of Kabul. Despite a bloody suppression of the revolt there, it was decided by the East India Company (in the light of the murder of the Shah meanwhile) that it was no longer profitable to occupy the country, and British forces withdrew until 1879.
This medal was awarded to Sergeant James Beck of the 41st Regiment. Lester Watson purchased it at some point before 1928.


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The Orange County Fair Board on Thursday gave public corruption prosecutors rare access to its legal correspondence from a failed effort by some board members to buy the 150-acre fairgrounds – an effort that critics say was marked by cover-ups and money laundering.
Board members voted 6-0 to allow local prosecutors to question their former lawyer – the state attorney general's office – about the 2009 effort to buy the fairgrounds, which was put on the auction block by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The effort to sell the property was eventually abandoned, and the fairgrounds are no longer for sale.
By waiving attorney-client privilege, the board also is allowing prosecutors to obtain emails and correspondence between the board and its state lawyer dealing with the proposed sale.
The access is part of a renewed investigation by the Orange County District Attorney's Office to determine whether board members and staff laundered public money to pay for the private effort to buy the Costa Mesa site.
The unanimous vote belied tension among board members over claims that fairgrounds money was routed through a contractor to former state Sen. Dick Ackerman and county lobbyist Platinum Advisors to represent the private purchase effort. Ackerman, Platinum and others were paid more than $100,000 to talk with state legislators and officials about the sale, according to Theresa Sears, a member of an internal fair board committee that investigated the purchase effort.
Board members David Ellis, Kristina Dodge and Joyce Tucker were part of the campaign to buy the fairgrounds. Ellis did not attend Thursday's meeting. Dodge and Tucker recused themselves because of a potential conflict of interest.
Board member Ali Jahangiri agreed with the need to open the books for the district attorney, but said there was nothing to hide.
"It's been lingering and it's taken up a lot of time," Jahangiri said. "It's like a witch hunt and you can't find the witch."
Board member Nick Berardino, who pushed for an internal inquiry that found some consulting contracts had been hidden, bristled at Jahangiri's comments.
"I would not characterize it as a 'witch hunt,' but a journey to the truth," Berardino said.
The bid by board members to purchase the fairgrounds prompted the attorney general's office to stop representing the fair board because of potential conflict with its role as the attorney for the state.
Orange County prosecutors had previously cleared the private effort of any wrongdoing in 2010, following a 10-month investigation. The probe found no evidence of self-dealing or illegal lobbying.
But criticism persisted and the fair board, at Berardino's behest, put together a committee to look at the failed privatization bid. That committee found that lobbyists were paid through a contract with existing fairgrounds vendor LSA & Associates. In a previous interview, Ackerman told the Register that those bills were later backed out and paid by a private foundation formed by board members.
There were other questionable transfers.
In 2009, the fair administration deposited $8 million into the account of the California Construction Authority, a joint-powers authority that paid LSA and other fair contractors.
The fair chief executive at the time, Steve Beazley, said later that "the funds were sent to CCA to safeguard them from the state," according to the internal report.
The committee recommended that prosecutors reopen their investigation.
Sears, a citizen who was appointed to the internal committee, said the panel found cover-ups, violations of open-meeting laws and conflicts of interest.
"This is going to be a case study of what not to do in a public agency," Sears told the board Thursday.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com


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UW Credit Union Goes Live With Mobile RDC
The $1.7 billion UW Credit Union in Madison, Wis., has gone live with a mobile remote check deposit service.
As with its other mobile banking offerings, the mobile RDC solution was created by the credit union's own IT staff.
"We are using Ensenta (Mitek-powered) to provide the image processing functionality and risk/fraud detection for mobile deposit, but the member experience was all developed in-house," said Denise Danczyk, communications coordinator at the 177,400-member UWCU.
Mobile RDC lets members make deposits into their checking or savings accounts by taking photos of checks using a mobile device.
"We're committed to giving members access to the latest technology to make banking as convenient and accessible as possible," said Eric Bangerter, vice president of e-commerce and Internet services at UW Credit Union.
UW Credit Union said it now has 432 employees, 22 branch locations and more than 100 ATMs in the University of Wisconsin communities it serves in the Madison, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Whitewater areas.
Below is the home screen for mobile banking at UW Credit Union.(Click on it to see enlarged image.)


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Gwyneth Paltrow Yearns to Be More Like Her Idol Jessica Simpson
Gwyneth Paltrow, tired of raking in millions to be one of the most overrated actresses in Hollywood, would rather focus her time on building her own empire of expensive things no one really needs. Just like Jessica Simpson.
The 33-year-old Oscar winner is allegedly bored with acting, so she wants to work full-time on her lifestyle site GOOP and the fitness company that she owns with trainer Tracy Anderson.
"She admires Jessica's empire. She wants to make a killing," a source confessed to Us Weekly of Paltrow's future plans for world domination. "She's lost her passion for movies."
If that sounds silly, chew on this: Simpson's eponymous fashion endeavors pull in almost a billion dollars a year. Yes — "billion" with a B. So maybe Jessica is not as dumb as she'd have us believe.
That said, a Paltrow rep promises that Gwynnie won't quit acting entirely, saying, "Her plan is to do one, maybe two supporting parts a year."
Think of her as a starving artist. Just one that calls $150 denim-colored sweatpants and $90 white T-shirts "essentials."


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Porcello offers Tigers much-needed relief
Starter enters game in 17th inning, but takes loss in 19th against Blue Jays
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
TORONTO -- Rick Porcello usually barely shows a reaction on his face coming off the mound after an inning, whether he gets a big out or retires the side in order in routine fashion. That's the mentality of a starting pitcher, especially the even-tempered Porcello.
So as Porcello pumped his fist and ran into the dugout Sunday, he looked like a high-adrenaline reliever rather than a 13-game winner. He stranded a runner on third, but it was his first inning of work.
It was the Tigers' 17th inning.
"It was a really weird feeling for me. I was like shaking out there," said Porcello, who threw the final 36 pitches of Sunday's 6-5, 19-inning loss to the Blue Jays. "I was pretty pumped up. I was just trying to bring some energy.
"I knew the guys were tired. They'd been grinding the whole day. Kins [Ian Kinsler] and Miggy [Miguel Cabrera] and those [guys], they were out there standing for 6 1/2 hours."
For most of Sunday's marathon, Porcello was simply watching them from the dugout. He wasn't scheduled to pitch in this series, and wasn't scheduled to start until Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. He threw 30-35 pitches off the mound in his regular between-starts workout on Saturday, so he wasn't even on call.
As Sunday's game reached the 15th inning, the Tigers' bullpen emptied and acting manager Gene Lamont looking over his options, Porcello's day changed dramatically.
"I mean, I've come out of the bullpen before," Porcello said, "[but] not really on a day where I'm sitting there watching the game not prepared to pitch at all. Obviously Geno told me to get down there and that Joe [Nathan]'s got one inning and then you're in the game, you're going to have to pitch."
Thus came the bizarre sight of cross-traffic bullpen. As Nathan, the last reliever available, ran in from the Tigers bullpen to pitch the 16th inning, Porcello jogged down the right-field line from the dugout to start warming up.
Porcello entered in the 17th inning without a scouting report nor a real game plan. He took the signs from catcher Bryan Holaday, who entered the game in the 11th, and took it from there.
"Pretty much just winging it at that point, trying to keep the ball down and get somebody out," Porcello said.
For two innings, it worked. He stranded the winning run at third base in the 17th with help from a deft play by right fielder Torii Hunter, turning a would-be single from Juan Francisco into a fielder's choice at second base for the second out. He needed just four pitches in the 18th to get three groundouts to second.
With each inning, he wasn't thinking about how long he could go, but how long he'd need to go.
"I was just thinking: Let's push a run across and I'm going to close this thing, and we're going to go and win this game," Porcello said. "At that point, if you play that many innings, it doesn't matter."
Much like his start last Thursday against the Yankees, Porcello did not get the run support. On he went to the 19th, when Munenori Kawasaki's leadoff single and Porcello's off-balance throw to first on a sacrifice bunt led to runners at the corners, nobody out and the middle of the order up.
He walked Melky Cabrera to set up a force play at every base. Jose Bautista's loft to right field on a hanging slider left the force moot.
As tough of a loss as it was, it's a game he'll remember for the rest of his career.
"My hat's off to both teams," Porcello said. "The way everybody battled today, it was an exceptional game, and everybody left it on the field. We lost and that obviously hurts, but I think everybody can be proud of the way they worked today. That was a grind."
The grind almost surely means he won't make his scheduled start Tuesday. Manager Brad Ausmus had no rotation plans to announce beyond Justin Verlander for Monday's series opener in Pittsburgh as scheduled.
Conceivably, the Tigers could push back Porcello by a day and start Robbie Ray, who was scheduled to join the Tigers rotation Wednesday, a day early. If not, they'll need a second starter to call up from Triple-A Toledo beyond Ray, who is filling in for injured Anibal Sanchez.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Your logo magnet will cover the whole Empire State.
The Wild Bunch Eagle Promotional Plush Animal is the perfect mascot for your school or team.
Whether you are running for government office and need promotional products for fundraisers or political campaigns, or perhaps show appreciation for loyal supporters, ePromos has it all! Catch attention of new supporters with small items that can be easily sent through the mail such as full color promotional buttons! Corporate gift baskets will delight devotees and seal their loyalty for you!


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Camden Maine Romantic Suite
Windrose Suite , this bed and breakfast room is furnished with queen bed, traditional antique décor, second floor room, walk in shower, separate old fashioned clawfoot soaking tub, two room suite private and romantic feels like a small apartment, spacious bathroom and sitting room with two wingbacked chairs, television in both rooms B&B room in Maine with many amenities standard, see details Windward Sleep Best Sleep Ever ™ Bedding sleeps 2 max
This romantic suite in Camden Maine is the perfect getaway. With complimentary breakfast, free WiFi and offstreet parking you can walk to the harbor shops and dining. The Windrose Suite is period decorated with a lovely clawfoot soaking tub and a private entrance. It is in the SoHi neighborhood of Camden. SoHi is residential and features stately American historic homes. Staying SoHi is to stay out of the commercial zone but near all the action. Come to Windward Inn in SoHi.
Windward House Windrose Suite
Windward House's nautical theme is based upon the fact that it is so near the harbor that people yachting and moored in the harbor have been staying here for more than a quarter century. Sailors captains crew and passengers taking a night off from their cabins or while their boat is in the yard can walk to Windward House, and all the great things in Camden Maine. Windward House Windrose Suite is named for the compass rose, or the diagram on the face of a compass or map showing the directions of North, South, East and West with a series of arrows or rays. This room was previously called the Trisha Romance suite, named for a notable artist who used to stay there every time she visited Camden Maine. Windward House Windrose Suite is one of our most romantic suites – although romance is not easily quantifiable, this is attested to by the romance project box of love poems left there years ago. Stay in the Windward House Windrose Suite and you'll understand why!


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Capsules may contain an odor characteristic of L-Carnitine.
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Stories. I was thinking about stories, earlier. Stories, narrative, interpretation, explanation; and science, evidence, testing. I forget what started the train of thought, but it was about the way stories give us explanations of why people do things that are peculiarly satisfying, and that science can be irritating when it tells us a story is wrong.
The thing about stories is that they give us permission to make unquestionable claims about what people think, and what their motivations are. We can't do that in real life, you know. If we're sharing a bit of gossip about Eleanora or Archibald, we don't tell it the way a storyteller does. We narrate facts or reports, what we've seen or what others say they've seen; we don't announce what the protagonists thought. That's because we don't know. Stories have opposite rules – in telling stories it's just normal to say what everyone thinks. Homer did it all the time.
That's interesting, isn't it. In real life we don't know what other people think, we just infer it from how they behave, and often we're aware that we don't have a clue. In reading or hearing stories, we enter an alternate world where we can be told what everyone thinks.
Why is that so peculiarly satisfying? Probably partly because we can't do it in real life; we can't have that comfortable sense that we understand exactly why everybody does everything. Probably also partly because it's explanatory. There just is something satisfying about a good explanation – "good" in the sense of being a good fit and making sense of something that was a puzzle or a jumble.
I suppose I'm talking about folk psychology. I'm thinking that stories probably have a lot to do with where we get our folk psychology. I'm also wondering if they trick us into thinking we understand other minds better than we really do.


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Attention won't stray from field as Deadline approaches
By Jeff Kirshman / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- The A's and general manager Billy Beane are notorious for their willingness to pull the trigger on deals at the Trade Deadline, but manager Bob Melvin insists it won't serve as a distraction for his team as the July 31 Deadline looms less than a week away.
"I don't think it's much of a distraction for these guys, to be honest," Melvin said. "Whether something's done or not, we feel like we have a good team. It would be one thing if everybody was looking at a glaring weakness we need to address. You're just trying to incrementally upgrade your team, and if there's something out there to be done then you do it."
White Sox starter Jake Peavy has been rumored to be on the A's radar, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Oakland may also look to upgrade a middle infield that has featured a platoon of Adam Rosales and Eric Sogard -- serviceable but not stellar solutions at the position, especially considering Oakland's sporadic hitting this season.
Nonetheless, the A's (59-42) hold a 3 1/2 lead over the Rangers in the American League West and own the best mark in the Majors since July 1 of last year.
"I think based on where we are, we feel good about our team," Melvin said. "We don't look too far ahead. I think you have long-term goals and short-term goals. Our long-term goal is, yeah, we think we can go back to the postseason again, but then we narrow it back down to today and doing everything we can to win today."
With Jaso on seven-day DL, A's recall Vogt
OAKLAND -- The A's recalled catcher Stephen Vogt from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday to replace John Jaso, who was placed on the seven-day disabled list designated for players with concussions.
Jaso exited Wednesday's series finale against the Astros in the eighth inning with a headache after he was hit in the mask by a foul tip for the third time in four games. He had reached base safely in each of his past 27 starts at catcher prior to the incident.
"Nowadays, there's more evidence and more scrutiny put upon those types of things," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "In the past, you kind of just played through these things and I think it's shown with some injuries, head injuries in the past, that you do need to be more careful with it."
Melvin said he anticipates the seven days will be enough for Jaso to recuperate. He must spend a minimum of seven days on the DL, and he will be transferred to the 15-day DL if he isn't reinstated after 14 days.
"I think that's why they did it, made it seven days, because they got together with whoever the proper people are to diagnose these things," Melvin said of the rule established specifically for concussions. "But yeah, I would think [Jaso would be back]."
Vogt made a good showing with his first appearance with the A's in early July. He went 2-for-13 with a home run for his first Major League hit in his first stint with the club. The A's won all four games he started at catcher, and Melvin credited his ability to manage Oakland's starters despite a limited rapport with the staff.
Vogt has batted .323 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 16 games with Sacramento since he was optioned back down, and he posted a .324 average with 13 home runs and 58 RBIs in 74 games with the River Cats this season.
Rosales aims to boost offensive production
OAKLAND -- Adam Rosales was nestled in for a mid-morning nap on Tuesday when A's assistant general manager David Forrest called him with news that he had been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
"It was a great wake-up call to know that I'm coming back to help the team out," said Rosales, who joined the team in Houston on Wednesday.
The middle infielder's designation to Triple-A on July 8 served as a wake-up call in its own right that his offensive production will need to improve if he's going to prolong his stay in the Majors.
"Whenever anything like that happens, at least in my experience, it's always been a wake-up call to me," Rosales said. "I understand it's to get me right. And in order to play here, you got to be able to hit.
"It's the Major Leagues. You got to expect to hit and expect to perform every day, and I understand that and that's what the team needs from me, and I plan on doing it this time."
Rosales was batting .200 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 48 games prior to his demotion, and he batted .240 with six RBIs in six games with the River Cats.
Known more for his proficiency on the defensive end, Rosales said his confidence had dwindled at the plate in the weeks leading up to his stint in the Minor Leagues, adding that he's focusing on improving his mentality with his at-bats.
Oakland has committed seven errors in five games since the All-Star break, including six in two games against the Astros. Three of those were charged to Grant Green, who was optioned following Tuesday's loss in Houston.
Vinnie Catricala was designated to Double-A Midland to clear a spot for Rosales on the 40-man roster.
"I think if I continue to play solid defense, that's the No. 1 role for me, but I need to be able to help the team out on offense better than I was before," Rosales said.
A's look to clean up after rough defensive series
OAKLAND -- Wednesday's error-free game in the A's 4-3 victory over the Astros was a welcome return to form for a team that had committed a season-high three in each of the two games prior.
The back-to-back defensive debacles marked the first time the A's have posted consecutive games of three or more errors since Sept. 23-24, 2009; the three unearned runs allowed in their last three games matched the amount allowed over the 35 previous contests.
Oakland still pulled out the 2-1 series win over the Astros despite its lackadaisical defensive display. A's manager Bob Melvin credited his team's ability to continue notching victories in spite of its shoddy play.
"You know you're going to go through stretches where you don't play well," Melvin said. "Sometimes it's going to be the defense, sometimes it's going to be the hitting and sometimes it's going to be the pitching. When you're going through a period where you don't feel like you're playing well in a certain facet, it bothers you some, but you just have to tighten it up and play better because we have the ability to."
The A's own the 16th-best fielding percentage in baseball at .984, with 60 errors in 3,666 chances over 101 games.
"When you're not playing well, you're trying to stay away from losing too many series in a row, too many games in a row, and if you can scratch out a couple of wins and win a series like we did in Houston even though we didn't play great, I think that's a great sign," Melvin said.
Jeff Kirshman is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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3D or not to 3D [1]
A while back I posted an article on this blog called "In Praise of Black and White." In it I mentioned that the invention of color film brought about a number of films that focused on color shock effects and explosions rather than focusing on the story. I believe that many of the films made today would not seem as good to us if we were forced to watch them in black and white. Today we have a rise in another new gimmick format called 3D.
This is not the first time that 3D films have been attempted. 3D films have a history going back before the 1950's. I don't want to go into a history of 3D films, but I will say that the 3D technology used today works much better than the 3D of the 50's and 60's. It seems like almost everyone is jumping on the 3D bandwagon and films that were originally planned for 2D release have been re-mastered to give a 3D effect regardless of whether the 3D effect adds to the film or not. I have been told that Peter Jackson has thought about re-mastering the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in 3D and that George Lucas has mentioned doing the same thing for his Star Wars films. The question I must ask is whether 3D is really worth it? My answer might surprise you. Yes, I believe it is, however, I don't feel that every film needs 3D and in fact might be hampered by it. Some films work great in 3D and as we improve the technology and how directors use it I hope to see some great films produced in 3D.
One of my favorite films is the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz [3]. At the time the film was made, black and white was king. Color filmmaking was expensive. The first two or three times I saw The Wizard of Oz I watched it on a black and white TV (yes, I'm that old). There really wasn't a difference between Kansas and the Land of Oz; but the story grabbed me. I came to love the film before I ever saw it in color. When I finally saw the film in color the difference was amazing. Oz became an even more magical place. The use of color enhanced the story, but did not drive the story. The same can be said of today's 3D effects. In a good film, it should enhance the story without distracting from it. Nothing will change the need for a film to have a good story. A bad 3D movie is still just a bad movie.... Or is it?
With today's technology 3D has two dangers that can take a good film and destroy it. The first is a dimming of the brightness and colors of the picture. Cinematographers are going to need to take this into account when filming. The picture needs to be brighter for the effect not to muddy up the picture. The second is distraction. In the 50's and 60's films tried to show off their 3D effects by having things seemingly come out of the screen towards you. Today many films try to do the same thing. Recently, I purchased a 3D TV, not because I wanted 3D, but because I got a good deal on it. To try it out I obtained a copy of the new Alice in Wonderland [4] and watched it. I saw this film in 3D in the theaters, but have watched it twice in 2D since. I do like the 3D version better. I did, however, find some of the effects distracting. As I said, 3D is great for making things pop out of the screen, but I found myself watching a dragonfly as it sailed out of screen into my family room when the focus of the story and action was in the frame. There was a nice WOW factor to the dragonfly, but there really wasn't a point to having it fly out into my room. For me 3D works best when I feel like I'm looking out a window. The window may be sitting still, moving, riding a roller coaster, or soaring over a sky line. I like having the sense of perspective that 3D gives me, just don't throw things in my face all time and don't think 3D will make your movie better. If a film doesn't work in 2D it won't work in 3D and it might just be hampered by it.


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Tagged: charles gipson
December 16 – Happy Birthday Charles Gipson
After spending his first five big league seasons with the Mariners, this speedy utility player was signed as a free agent by the Yankees in 2003. He saw little action during that year and was released by New York that September. His only two hits while in pinstripes and the first of the two RBIs he drove in as a Yankee came off then Toronto ace Roy Halladay.
The most significant pinstripe moment of the only other Yankee to be born on this date also involved a star player. This outfielder actually replaced Mr. October in the third inning of an October Yankee game.


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BERLIN – State officials announced last week the approval of a conservation easement on a vast tract of land in Worcester fronting the Chincoteague Bay considered a lynchpin property of sorts, connecting a much larger area of the county now permanently protected.
Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the state's Board of Public Works had approved a perpetual conservation easement on the 228-acre Phillips Farm along the Chincoteague Bay south of Public Landing through the Rural Legacy Program, which will protect valuable agricultural and forested land and implement significant water quality preservation measures in the coastal bays watershed. The acquisition will also permanently preserve 3,379 feet of riparian buffers. The County Commissioners will hold the conservation easement.
The 228-acre Phillips Farm is adjacent to another huge tract of Worcester County already protected by Rural Legacy conservation easements, bringing the total number of acres protected in the immediate area to around 6,500 acres. When the nearby E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area is added to the equation, the total acreage in the rural area of the county near the Chincoteague Bay totals nearly 10,000 acres.
"Maryland Rural Legacy areas preserve the natural beauty of our state and contribute to improved water quality, forest conservation and wildlife protection, all important components of our Smart, Green and Growing initiative," said O'Malley, who sits on the three-member Board of Public Works. "Under this important program, I am proud that these vital natural resources will be protected for future generations of Marylanders to enjoy and explore."
Last week's announcement came just days before the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP), along with its state and federal partners, released a report card on the health of the coastal bays, giving the estuaries a grade of C+ on several important factors. Naturally, placing 228 acres of rural land fronting the Chincoteague Bay in a perpetual conservation easement continues to be a step in the right direction, according to MCBP Executive Director Dave Wilson.
"Obviously, we have water quality issues in the Chincoteague Bay and this will absolutely help with that," he said. "We're obviously very pleased. This is a pretty piece of property and that part of the county is just gorgeous."
Enacted by the General Assembly in 1997, the Rural Legacy Program has provided over $182.7 million to preserve 62,079 acres


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|Baby Story Time
Event Type: Baby
Age Group(s): Baby - Birth to 23 months with adult
Date: 3/20/2018
Start Time: 11:00 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM
Connect with your baby through stories, rhymes, bounces and songs, followed by a play time. Registration required.Library: Owings Mills Branch
Location: Owings Mills Children's Programming Room
Status: Openings (15)
|Please Note
We're sorry. The first registration date for this event is scheduled for 3/13/2018 at 8:00 AM.
Please come back and register at that time.


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Moore: Lack of discipline, skill and conditioning all contribute to Cowboys' penalty woes
Cowboys beat writer David Moore answered reader questions during a live chat Tuesday. Here are some highlights:
The penalties are beyond ridiculous. JG says every week they are working to clean those up. What do you see them doing in practice to remedy this? What is the reason for this problem?
David Moore: We are only allowed to see a portion of practice and not the part where they work on penalties. Garrett said this week that backup quarterback Kyle Orton will use a lot more hard counts in practice against the first team defense in an effort to make sure they don't flinch and jump offsides. As for my theory...Well, I know people talk about how penalties are the sign of an undisciplined team. I believe that's true to some extent. But sometimes players commit penalties because they aren't good enough or they've gotten beat on a play and are trying to minimize the fallout. I believe a lack of skill and conditioning also contributes to penalties.
Let me get this straight. The number 1 draft choice of 2012 suffers 6 penalties in the game against Philly. Do the Cowboys have a DB coach? If so, what do you think he should do?
David Moore: The Cowboys have a very good defensive backs coach in Jerome Henderson. I would argue we've seen a dramatic improvement in the play of the secondary this season. A lot of that has to do with the talent upgrade, but Henderson deserves credit as well. The fact this is the first game a rookie corner has looked like a rookie corner I believe is a testament to Claiborne's ability and how he's been used.
Every week the Cowboys "round up the usual" suspects to see which former NFL player is unemployed and, if signed, may help them. It appears that Sims and Peprah are under a lot of pressure to play well as in each game they are playing for their career. That is grade out above average, or they are out the door. Do you know which players they are bringing in this week for tryouts?
David Moore: This week's signing will likely be moving one defensive linemen from the practice squad – either Ben Bass or Robert Callaway – to the active roster to replace Kenyon Coleman, who is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a triceps tear. Sims has caught on very quickly and will continue to play even when Dan Connor returns. Peprah had a bust or two in the Philadelphia game, but I wouldn't be surprised to see his playing time increase.


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Tagged: Reliever
According to the Philadelphia Daliy News, the Phillies have added veteran reliever Mike Koplove to add depth to their bullpen.
Phillies add Koplove to bullpen
Champs reportedly add veteran right-handed reliever
By Robert Falkoff / MLB.com
Hopefully this move will help the team next year.
The Phillies aren't resting on their World Series accomplishments. In a move that could eventually add depth to their 2009 bullpen, the Phils have agreed to terms with veteran reliever Mike Koplove, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Citing two sources familiar with the situation who confirmed the agreement, the Daily News said Koplove is likely to wind up at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but will have an invitation to be in Clearwater, Fla., with the Major League club for Spring Training.
Koplove spent last season in the Dodgers' system, going 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA for Triple-A Las Vegas.
Last year, the Phils made a relatively unheralded bullpen move in signing Chad Durbin, and Durbin wound up being a key factor in Philadelphia's run to a World Series title. Koplove, 32, has only seven Major League appearances since 2005, but has pitched 254 2/3 innings in his career. (H/T Phillies.com)
Well, I'll wait until spring training to see if this guy will actually help the team or not. But, if he does, how the Dodgers let him out of their minor league system I'll never know.


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Just when things were showing signs of picking up in the golf world, the last two weeks of financial news has struck fear back into the business. The politics of Washington D.C., problems in Europe and unemployment figures here in the U.S. have cast a shadow on the world economy. The stock market has lost 10% in the last two weeks alone, and is still trending down. Things are so negative that gold, investor's "safe haven", hit an all-time high and then sold off from it's high point during Thursday's 500 point drop.
On Friday night, August 5, it was announced that the S & P rating for the United States was downgraded from AAA to AA+. What does this downgrade mean for everyone? For starters, the amount of interest the U.S. government pays on it's debt goes up. Rates on car loans, mortgages, credit cards and student loans will be going up. This downgrade will hit the pocket books of the American people, and discretionary spending on golf will be no exception.
I was traveling last week in New York and was a guest at a few clubs in Southampton. You could feel it in the air. Everyone was talking about the problems facing the country. This morning on the range tee in Miami, a buzz of "whats going to happen next?" was heard down the tee line. If the members are taking cover, its only a matter of time that conversations about cut backs at clubs will take place.
This downgrade will give golf courses enough of an excuse to delay capital expenses and cut back on operating budgets…just what we don't need to have happen. Many superintendents have been asked to do more and more with less every year. This next inevitable round of cuts may be the breaking point for many guys.


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I'm a bit confused right now. I'm 18 years old and studying at university which means I've got to learn and work a lot. Sometimes too much. Sometimes I'm so so so fed up with it and then I start thinking... It feels a bit like I'm spoiling my youth. I'm young and free right now, but I don't have the time to enjoy it. I always got to sit on a chair and learn and learn even more. Then I think, maybe I should just stop with it or study something easier. But then it would feel like I'm destroying my future, and one day - when I will be too old for uni - I'll regret for being too lazy.
At the same time I'm having another dilemma. Studying hard now makes the chance that I won't have exams in the summer bigger, but this means little free time now (while I should be enjoying my "student-time") and (hopefully) three months vacation in the summer. Having fun now with the risk of having exams in the summer. I have no clue what to do!
Oh, I don't even know if I'm making any sense at all, but it would be nice if you - wise Oracle - could help me out of this.
The way I see it Mini is you've (hopefully) got a very long life ahead of you to enjoy.
If you're struggling with all the work, I feel it would suit you better to slow down and ease off a little. I don't see why you need 3 months vacation. Have some time now and some time in the Summer – you can have both.
Yes you're young but traditionally this is study time so you're not the only person facing this problem. Maybe speak with a friend or someone in your class about how they are coping with the workload and finding a study/free time balance. You could also speak with a tutor and explain how you're feeling - they may be able to help.
I don't think changing what you study is necessarily the right move, unless you detest the subject(s) and haven't got a career path in mind. Your future is important. For the sake of a few years, when your hard work pays off it will be worth it.
Another option is to reward yourself. Whenever you complete an assignment or whatever, afford yourself a treat – whether a night out with friends, a takeaway, some music, cinema…
I'm not personally a huge fan of my next suggestion but it may be a really positive driving force for you. After Uni, many people take a gap year and go travelling. That may be something of interest to you and something you can plan and look forward to when the work is over. Don't forget though, once you get a job you may still have similar problems. What you need to do is manage your time.
Just because you'll be working doesn't mean life can't be fun – even if it's hard too.
There is a saying that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – interests outside of studying are just as important.
Try not to stress about it and keep a study schedule so you can plan allotted time. Hope that helps you but try and stick with it.
Over to you.
I know how you feel, since I'm going through a similar situation. First, really ask yourself if what you're studying is what your heart wants, only you can discover this. Meditation helps you reconnect with your inner self, you don't need any special training, just start by sitting (or laying down) in a place where you will not be disturbed, maybe play some meditation music (something very calm), close your eyes and concentrate on your heart beats until you feel at peace. It's normal to have several thoughts get in the way, but the trick is to let them "pass", don't hang on to them, remember the heart beats. It takes practice, but if you're consistent and if you're gentle on yourself you will find great results. The second thing I recommend is setting aside 1 hour a day to do what you love the most (could be music, painting, a sport or just talking to a friend, etc), respect this time and make it a commitment to allow yourself to let go and have fun. And last but not least, spend more time around nature, sit under a tree, walk barefoot on the grass, hear the birds, etc). Nature reminds us that "we live in a beautiful world, yes we do, we do". Good luck! Adelina.
I don't really think college is for everyone, but I would encourage you to have a plan/ goal for the future. If you have one and you're feeling discouraged because it's hard work, I think you should just keep pushing forward. Sometimes we give up on what we really want because it's difficult, then usually end up regretting it. We feel accomplished after completing something that we had to put a lot of effort in, not something easy. Organizing your day would help with time management. I know that when I start to slack off and put off doing work, I panic and it all feels chaotic because I have no time. As for the exams, it all depends on your summer plans. I would probably just want to work hard now and have free time later, though. Hope this helps. Love, Darem.
I think you have answered yourself already, if you behave too lazy right now you will surely blow up your future. I've seen that in many of my former High School classmates; they thought life was easy and that having fun mostly all the time would not ruin their future... They didn't get any scholarships and have failed university, they're stuck in square one.
My advice to you is to enjoy your youth, manage your time wisely and know your priorities, fun and (if you wanna call them) sacrifices CAN co-exist together.
Greetings, Lalo.
I think I understand what you are going through, I think pretty much everyone can find themselves identified in some ways with your dilemma of not knowing what we want in life or just not even knowing what is it that we are questioning to ourselves. But what I do know is that if you want to be somebody, if you want to get somewhere you need to wake up and work for it, no mattering what your goal is. I'm not saying it will be easy but the fact that you are gonna have to work hard for it makes it ten times rewarding at the end, trust me.. so find the balance and hang in there! Cami.
I wish I had thought about this at your age, like you do. I'll be done studying in a month, I have spent 5 years at the university, been working hard and it paid - everything went well, I even already have a job waiting for me, I'm so thankful for that. But on the other hand, I felt completely alone the whole weekend, and I wish I hadn't 'forgotten' about how keeping good friends can be important. You can't study 100% of the time, and even if you tried to, you would be so tired that it would very soon be counterproductive - so allow yourself some time to have fun and enjoy your youth. We all need that. It's all about finding a good balance, I think, without forgetting about long term plans. Now about your exams, honestly, if you can work now to have a long vacation, I'd definitely go for it - you'll have 3 wonderful months to have fun without regrets, knowing you did what you had to do. Good luck! Lucas, France.
Thanks to all those who replied to this week's question. Remember, Team Oracle is open to anyone so if you fancy replying, click to read this week's, and send us your answer.


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By James Smircich
NOTICE: Silver fuming will be discussed in this paper. Silver fuming can be hazardous to your HEALTH! The use of proper ventilation and/or a proper respirator is mandatory for SAFE fuming of metals!
Those of you who do not know much about fuming should get proper instruction before attempting this project. Fuming of metals without proper ventilation can be very dangerous to the health!
This work involves two important design elements. The first is something I call a fingerprint stringer. The second design aspect is silver fuming that forms a metallic tracery along the fine pattern laid down by the fingerprint stringer.
Here is the overview of this project. We will make a stringer of tiny intense black dots on a gather of transparent uranium yellow (clear can also be used.). When pulled, this stringer will have many separate black lines. When this stringer is applied to a base bead of transparent uranium yellow (I have also provided a photo of a black base bead with a uranium stringer), the effect is that the black lines look like fingerprints because they are so tiny and close to each other. When these lines are fumed, the silver gravitates to the lines! The colors of the silver fume can then be affected by various adjustments of a reducing flame. It should be noted here that a pure silver mirror reflectance is not the effect we are looking for. As attractive as the mirror finish would be, I have not been able to achieve good results. However, using reduction settings, you can achieve colors in the blue and yellow/green ranges.
We will start with the fingerprint stringer. I did not invent this type of stringer. It has been in use in flower petal, stem and vine techniques for centuries. We will use transparent uranium yellow and intense black for this work. There are three ways to achieve this stringer. First, we can apply tiny dots of intense black to a gather and pull into a stringer. Second, we can use fine frit (coarse pepper size). Lastly, we can pull threads of intense black and break them into tiny pieces to use like frit.
For this project will make a fingerprint stringer by placing tiny dots of intense black directly on a gather and pulling . Be sure to keep the dots small (coarse pepper).
To make a thread type stringer, pull about 10 threads (medium size sewing thread) from an intense black rod to a length of about 12 inches. Bundle these threads and break 1/8-inch pieces off the end of the bundle until you have broken the entire length of the thread bundle. This should produce about a teaspoon full of broken thread. Next, spread the broken thread or the frit out in a thin layer on a carbon graphite pad and roll the gather over them to pick one layer of intense black thread or frit. Only pick up one layer so there will be spaces between each piece of black. For those bead makers out side of the USA, I believe you'll have to purchase intense black form a supplier here in the US.
As you go to the flame, you may see many ends of thread standing off the gather. Do not boil them! Melt them down slowly and you will see that the effect will be tiny dots of black all over the gather. Next, heat and pull the gather into a stringer that is 3/32 inch in diameter (mandrel size).
Next, you will make a blank bead of any color (however, colors that are affected by a reducing flame will ADD another metallic effect to the overall mix of colors. Also, some colors scorch in a reducing flame). I like to use transparent uranium yellow for the base bead and the stringer. When the bead is formed, apply the stringer. You can do any type of design (dots, meander lines, or pattern work). Melt the applied stringer design down slowly. If you melt them too hot, you will see the lines break up as in the lace effect with intense black. This sometimes looks just fine but you should learn to get both looks at will. You can also comb the stringer design.
Next, silver fume the bead in a medium REDUCING FLAME. Use a Boro rod that has two leaves of pure silver applied to the end of the rod (do not use anything but fine/pure silver). I must say here that silver fuming is not easy to control. Sometimes you get a lot of silver on the bead and at other times you will have trouble getting anything to happen. Everything depends on the heat in the bead when you fume. If the bead is too hot, the fume is likely not to stick. If it is too cold, the bead may shatter in the flame or the fume may appear to stick but rub off after annealing.
If you get too much fume on the bead and it looks muddy, go to an oxidizing flame and burn off the excess while being sure to protect the shape of your base bead. You may think that you have burned off ALL the silver, but NO! When you return to a reducing flame, you are likely to get a RE-BLOOM of the silver effects (if not, you can fume again). If you are out at the end of the flame, you are likely to get blue highlights. If you are in the middle of the flame you are likely to get yellow tones. The amount of the reduction setting also effects the outcome of the entire process. The first few effects you see may be faint but beautiful. You'll need to develop an eye for the proper amount or color of the fume to suit your own tastes. Sometimes you will get effects that you may never be able to get again. I love the elusiveness of the adventure.
The payoff here is that the silver tends to gravitate to the lines. This gives you a fingerprint-like pattern in blue and yellow tones! I believe the silver fume is attracted to the gross amount of metallic oxides already present in the intense black formula. When metal oxides are on the surface of hot glass, they tend to puddle.
I am posting some photos of beads with THE SILVER TRACERY EFFECT here in this article. More examples of this work and my other papers on glass effects are on my web site, www.smircich.com.
Also please share your findings about this process with our readers here at here at this venue so we can all benefit from the collective science. Have fun with it, and stay on center, Smircich


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text:
While the search for missing country star Craig Strickland continues, his wife Helen Strickland is speaking out to express gratitude for the outpouring of support and the hard work of the search patrols.
"The canine units [and] the Kay County Sheriff's Department have been so wonderful to us," she said in an interview with 4029 TV. "The Oklahoma Highway Patrol having gone above and beyond, especially going through this struggle, is the most comforting thing you can have."
The 29-year-old Backroad Anthem frontman has been missing since Monday when the boat used by him and his friend, 22-year-old Chase Morland, was found capsized in Oklahoma. Morland was eventually found dead, but Helen Strickland remains hopeful that authorities will find her husband, especially since the Oklahoma Highway Patrol were able to narrow down their recovery area on Thursday.
PHOTOS: Country music's cutest couples
"To see how much more work can be done in a specific area, it has given us a lot of rest because we feel like that'll give us a lot of hope they will find Craig soon," she said. "It's more painful for us to think he could be underwater. Still we want that closure in seeing him."
Strickland posted to her Instagram on Friday that they have received approval for more professional crews to join the search for Strickland moving forward. She also shared a photo of her friends posing in front of a lake and gave thanks for their support.
READ: Craig Strickland's dog found alive
"Thank you to my sweet friends for being there for me during one of my rougher days. You left everything to be there with me and I couldn't have made it to this point without you," she wrote. "You make me laugh when I wanted to just sit and cry. Thank you to friends who have offered to come. I appreciate the love you have sent. Thank you everyone for all of your continued prayers and support. Your prayers have helped get me through another day. Still searching. Love you all."
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement said in a press release that Friday's search will resume at daybreak with two more search canines, multiple side scan sonars and a helicopter.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to both families during this difficult time.


text:
Will Chipper trade his golf clubs for a bat?
By Terence Moore / MLB.com
You can't blame New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman for trying to make Chipper Jones do the ridiculous. I mean, there is no way the future Hall of Fame third baseman should switch from 19 seasons wearing a tomahawk across his chest to several days, weeks or months walking around in pinstripes.
So much for logic.
In case you haven't noticed, logic is no match for adrenaline or even money when it comes to an eternal truth in sports: Athletes wish to play forever, especially if they were slightly better than good.
Retirement? Well, to most of these folks, "retirement" is just a silly little word waiting to be replaced by "comeback."
Exhibit A: Tony Gonzalez, the future Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end for the Atlanta Falcons. He announced his retirement before last season. Then, after his team finished just 10 yards shy of winning the Super Bowl, he delivered a tearful goodbye in the locker room.
Gonzalez basically said on Tuesday, "Never mind."
What took him so long? If you're a retired athlete, and if you can breath and lift a couple of fingers, you're always seconds away from convincing yourself to resurrect your old glory.
Which brings us back to Cashman and Jones.
The Yankees GM delivered an SOS through reporters earlier this week to Jones and to others in search of help for his team's injury-depleted roster on a short-term basis. The Yankees mostly are desperate for a third baseman or a first baseman since they've lost Alex Rodriguez (hip) and Mark Teixeira (wrist) to injuries.
Enter Jones, 40, who has spent his last few years with the Braves needing a slew of things stronger than Elmer's Glue each day to keep his feet, knees, ankles and toes from falling apart.
Still, Cashman spent this week with Georgia on his mind. He kept recalling how Jones used his nearly peerless switch-hitting skills to make the Braves one of the most consistent threats in the Major Leagues through the 1990s and beyond.
Jones eventually responded to Cashman with a tweet: "Enough with the rumors! While I am flattered about the speculation of being enticed out of retirement, I'm happy with life as a bad golfer!"
Later, Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "I'm flattered, but no. My knees can no longer take playing baseball at its highest level. Plus I can't imagine donning any uniform other than a Braves uni! I'm looking forward to being more of a father to my boys and a better hack on the golf course!"
Even though Jones declined the Yankees' offer without the hint of backtracking, he only did so for the moment. Which means you couldn't fault Cashman for trying again in the future.
Enough with the rumors! While I am flattered about the speculation of being enticed out of retirement, I'm happy with life as a bad golfer!- Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) March 11, 2013
It ain't over 'till its over.
Just couldn't resist that reference to the great Yogi Berra, who really did retire without returning.
Come to think of it, Berra also came back.
He tried to stay away, though. After 18 years as the Yankees' catcher through 1963, Berra retired to manage the Yankees to the 1964 American League pennant. He was fired after they lost the World Series, and then bolted to become a coach for the New York Mets.
Before long, Berra felt that playing itch again, and it was scratched after he was activated by the Mets near the end of April 1965 as a pinch-hitter. He played in four games overall for the Mets, and started two of them, but Berra was released after hitting .222.
Nobody ever said comebacks were pretty.
Not that such a thing matters to those returning. Their nagging pull to leave retirement starts with that adrenaline, which ranks among the most addictive forces on earth.
The examples are plentiful, and they span the sports world. While tennis standout Kim Clijsters prospered after her comeback, Michael Jordan, Brett Favre and the majority of those returning boxers of yore produced mixed results or worse.
Andy Pettitte joined Clijsters as an exception.
The gifted left-hander retired from baseball after the 2010 season despite three trips to the All-Star Game, five World Series rings and lots of zip left in his pitching arm. He stayed away from the Major Leagues during the 2011 season, but Pettitte joined the Yankees in the spring of 2012 as a pitching instructor.
Soon, Pettitte was back in the Yankees' starting rotation, where he remains effective and vibrant today.
Could Jones become the Yankees' latest Pettitte? Not only does Cashman suggest as much, but so does Jones' 2012 season.
In only 112 games, Jones hit .287 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs. Plus, all of those numbers were clutch enough from the middle of the Braves' batting order to have Hall of Famer Barry Larkin praising Jones over the phone near the end of last season.
Larkin noted that, since Jones had lost zero bat speed in his estimation, Jones still had enough left to play a couple of more years as a designated hitter in the AL -- you know, at worst.
At best, well, you know what Cashman thinks.
The question is: What does Jones think? The answer is: It likely depends on what that adrenaline is telling him at the moment.
Terence Moore is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Weighing only 1.7 pounds, the Canon
XA25 is small enough to be held in one
hand, yet has features generally found in
professional camcorders. The detachable
handle contains XLR inputs for professional
microphone connection, and a holder
for an onboard shotgun microphone.
Primary camera functions, such as exposure,
focus and white balance, can be
set to automatic or be controlled manually.
To conserve space, customizable buttons
control key camera functions instead of
dedicated physical switches. These can be
assigned to provide manual control of settings
such as iris, focus, audio levels, and
white balance.
The Canon XA25 has a 20X optical
zoom lens with the 35 mm equivalent of
a 26.8 mm to 576 mm range, and a minimum
object distance of 23.6 inches. The
optical image stabilization has the ability
to compensate for motion over five-axis directions
compared to the usual two.
The nearly 1/3-inch CMOS sensor has
2.91 megapixels that are individually larger,
allowing low light shooting with a minimum
subject illumination of 1.2 lux. The
camera is also equipped with infrared
imaging for shooting in complete "visible"
It records on two SDHC memory
cards and offers the choice of
two codecs: AVCHD at data rates
of 28, 24, 17 and 5 Mbps, and
MP4 at data rates of 35, 24,
17, 4 and 3 Mbps. Both codecs
use H.264 compression.
The 28 and 35 Mbps
data rates are at 59.94p. The
Canon XA25 can also shoot
at 23.976 for a more film-like
look. A cinema mode adds to this
look by emulating the film color palette.
The two memory cards can be set up to
record sequentially for maximizing recording
time, or you can set the camera to record
backup clips of the footage as it's being
shot. A third option allows the camera
to record a low data rate version on card "B"
for easy transfer over Wi-Fi to the Internet.
The XA25 has a built in Wi-Fi transmitter
that allows FTP transfer of MP4 video.
Recorded clips can be transferred to a PC
or mobile device. The camera supports a
Web browser interface to provide selective
camera control remotely via smartphone
or mobile device.
The HD/SD SDI output is a significant
feature for a camera of this price range as
it allows uncompressed video to be sent
to an external recording device to attain
maximum quality. The XA25 also has an
HDMI output. Either of these output ports
can also be used to connect an external
HD video monitor.
The first thing one notices about the
Canon XA25 is its small size. However, it's
equipped with a high-quality image sensor
and produces a very sharp image with
clean color rendition and smooth motion
The camera allows automatic or manual
control of key functions such as exposure,
white balance and focus. Manual control,
however, is not provided by physical
knobs or switches, as most camera control
operation is achieved through the LCD
touchscreen where you can access controls
on a quick tool menu. Or you can assign
a function to any of the five customizable
buttons. One of these is a turntable
knob on the front, making it ideally suited
for iris control.
I like the concept of assignable
buttons, but found them
to be oddly placed in different
locations on the camera. After
I assigned them to specific
functions, it was easy to forget
which button did what.
Although the customizable
buttons enable you to
gain manual control, some are effectively
just shortcuts to an onscreen
menu. In the end, this all made it hard to
quickly change camera settings from automatic
to manual and control the functions
in rapidly changing situations.
The camera seems to function best
when using automatic controls, which I
do have to admit, work very well. The auto
focus, exposure and white balance adjust
quickly and accurately, making this a camera
ideally suited for news and run-and-gun
style documentary.
The Canon XA25 is designed to allow
dual recording from the higher bit-rate
modes of AVCHD or MP4 to lower MP4
bit-rate modes on storage card "B." When
shooting AVCHD 28 Mbps (59.94) or MP4
at 35 Mbps (59.94) you cannot perform
identical backup recording.
I tested the higher bit-rate modes and
dual recording to lower bit-rate modes and
then examined the visual quality obtained
on an HD monitor. The AVCHD footage appeared
superior to the MP4 footage. However,
the highly compressed MP4 footage (4
and 3 Mbps) is very impressive, considering
the file size reduction. I recorded a clip at
AVCHD 24 Mbps on card "A" and a simultaneous
compressed version at 4 Mbps and
observed that they held up favorably even
though there was a large file size difference
(133 MB and 16 MB). The clear choice for
any final production video would be the
highest data rate AVCHD; however, the 3 or
4 Mbps MP4 footage is of excellent quality
for web posting or proxy editing.
The 24p footage looked good and successfully
creates a more film-like look. This
can be enhanced further by using the camera's
cinema mode, which enables nine filter
effects. The first two are the most practical:
"cinema standard" and "vivid," which
accentuate primary colors; the rest are
more like special effects, which are better
achieved through post applications. However,
if you need a quick style, the camera
offers "dream," "cool," "nostalgic," "sepia," "old
movies," "memory," and "dramatic B&W."
I should advise that when the "cinema"
mode is used you cannot record at the
highest data rates for AVCHD (28 Mbps
59.94p) or MP4 (35 Mbps 59.94p).
Overall, I would say that the Canon
XA25 falls somewhere between a prosumer
and a professional camera. It's primarily
menu driven, and consequently behaves as
a professional camera with additional effort.
That said, the more familiarity I gained
with the menu, the faster I could use it.
This is a camera with a learning curve, but
once you master menu navigation, you can
operate it manually and achieve professional
The camera is best suited for ENG and
documentary work, where using automatic
functions is practical and efficient. If you're
planning to shoot a dramatic production,
Canon makes a number of other excellent
cameras that are better designed for that
purpose. These include the EOS C100, C300
or C500 and many of their DSLR cameras.
I found that battery life was not so good,
so I recommend getting an extra battery
and an external charger to use with the
If you don't have a memory card reader,
you can view and import card content by
connecting the provided USB cable to a
computer. I connected the camera to a Mac
via the USB cable and two icons for cards
"A" and "B" immediately appeared on the
desktop with full drag-and-drop functionality
for transferring files.
I could not get the "movie uploader"
Wi-Fi application (which provides remote
control over smartphone) to connect to the
camera. Both my iPhone and iPad showed
connectivity, but the app did not. I observed
many similar complaints online. However,
this is a third-party app that's not made by
Canon and apparently it needs an upgrade.
The Canon XA25 is a very good camera
for ENG, documentary or second camera
use where a compact, fast and versatile
camera is desired. It has a combination of
wide focal length capability, low light level
capability, a sharp image, highly efficient
memory card compression and extreme
mobility. The ability to record simultaneous
footage on a second memory card at very
low data rates is a plus when shooting for
multiple uses. Full manual control exists
with some limitations, but the automatic
controls are first rate, making it a great
choice for fast-paced shooting.
Geoff Poister, Ph.D., is a member of the
film and television faculty at Boston University
and is a regular contributor to TV
ENG, documentary or second
camera use
Dual memory cards, internal Wi-Fi
transmitter, choice of two codecs,
XLR mic inputs and more
Canon USA
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text:
Wang falters as Yanks drop Game 1
Fifth-inning rally overshadowed by Indian's five-run outburst
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
Chien-Ming Wang had little to work with, and the brightest stars of the Yankees lineup went dark as New York slogged through an underwhelming 12-3 defeat to the Indians, dropping Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday.
Managing just four hits in all -- and none off the bats of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada or Hideki Matsui -- the Yankees lost for the first time to Cleveland this season, adding unwanted emphasis to every inning ahead in the best-of-five ALDS.
"We need to get a win back for it," said outfielder Johnny Damon. "Three losses and we're heading home. It would be too tough to overcome a deficit of 2-0 against this team."
The game appeared to have early momentum in the Yankees' direction, as Damon hit a controversial home run to open the game and watched a reversed call work in his favor, but any good luck quickly turned as Wang, the Yankees' Game 1 starter in two consecutive playoff series, turned in one of his worst outings of the season.
Working on seven days' rest, the 27-year-old right-hander allowed eight runs and nine hits in a rocky 4 2/3-inning start. Wang walked four and struck out two, allowing a pair of home runs and later lamenting sinkers that didn't sink and sliders that flopped flat.
"I feel today wasn't good," Wang said. "Maybe I worked too quick."
Yankees manager Joe Torre had entertained the idea of bringing Wang back on short rest to pitch what could be a pivotal Game 4, and he insisted that he had not been dissuaded. But certainly, in any grand plan, the Yankees expected a much better performance.
"I'm not afraid of Wang pitching against Cleveland again," Torre said. "He didn't pitch his game tonight. You know, you win 19 games in this league, you certainly earn it. I'm certainly not going to shy away from him pitching again."
Up by a run before he even touched the ball, Wang could do little with the lead, allowing three runs in the bottom of the first. That was the last of any advantage the Yankees would see against AL Cy Young Award candidate C.C. Sabathia, their offense clocking out fairly early as the Tribe seemed intent on pitching around probable AL Most Valuable Player Alex Rodriguez.
Rodriguez walked twice, once intentionally, and popped out in four at-bats in his first October action since his 1-for-14 postseason against the Tigers last year. The two outs made him 3-for-41 without an RBI in the playoffs since 2005, but A-Rod said that if the Indians keep making him pass the baton, he'll just wait to be driven in.
"I think it's important for me to just swing at strikes and stay patient," Rodriguez said. "The more I get on base, I'll keep trust in the guys behind me."
On Thursday, Rodriguez would be left waiting all night. Meanwhile, with former Yankees outfielder Kenny Lofton in the middle of a memorable three-hit, four-RBI evening, New York's pitching came completely unraveled in a five-run fifth inning.
Wang falters as Yanks drop Game 1
Tribe bats come to Sabathia's aid
Lofton turns back clock
Unfinished rallies costly to Yankees
Damon: Indians up to challenge
Garko: Game 1 a blast, but just one game
Chess Match: Wedge's strategy works
Short hops: Yankees | Indians
Nothing easy for these Yanks
Tribe on verge of something big
Game 2 starters: Pettitte | Carmona
LeBron spurns Tribe, sports Yanks cap
Superfan's first pitch | Cleveland revels
Notebooks: Yankees | Indians
Victor Martinez blasted a two-run homer off Wang with one out in the fifth to increase Cleveland's advantage to 6-3, slugging the first offering of his at-bat over the right-center-field wall as pitching coach Ron Guidry and Posada pleaded with Wang to lower his pitches.
"His pitches were up in the zone, and we had no slider," Posada said. "We mainly tried to get him to throw the two-seamer down, and most of the pitches were up in the zone.
"He got better and better, and then everything went south afterward. It seemed like his arm was dragging a little bit, and I was trying to get him on top of the ball and talked to him a lot. He was just trying to do too much."
Jhonny Peralta stroked a broken-bat double to right, and Lofton followed by shooting Wang's 94th and final pitch up the middle for an RBI single. Casey Blake later popped a two-run double down the right-field line off rookie Ross Ohlendorf, opening up a six-run Indians lead.
Travis Hafner also reached Ohlendorf, who made the roster over veteran left-hander Ron Villone, for a solo home run in the sixth.
"My fastball was just up and missed a little bit more than I should have," Ohlendorf said. "Jorge said I wasn't finishing off my pitches."
The Yankees touched Sabathia for three runs in five innings, executing consciously to work his pitch count high -- he threw 114 -- and get him out of the game early.
"I thought it was exactly the game plan we wanted to execute," Rodriguez said. "We were very patient in not only the first inning, but the first five innings were great. Sabathia is a Cy Young contender, and he made his pitches when he had to."
Because of that, New York missed numerous opportunities, most strikingly a blown bases-loaded chance in the fifth. After Damon's home run -- the second leadoff homer of his postseason career and the first home run to lead off a playoff series in Major League history -- and Robinson Cano's fourth-inning solo shot, the Yankees could not take advantage of six walks (one intentional) that Sabathia issued -- none of the six runners scored.
New York brought in an additional run on Abreu's opposite-field double in the fifth to close to within one run, but it left the bases juiced as Sabathia came back from a 3-0 count to strike out Posada and induced Matsui -- now 0-for-12 in his career against Sabathia -- to pop out, ending the inning and preserving the lead.
Torre confirmed that the catcher had the green light to swing away in that situation.
"Probably the best pitch I got to hit was that 3-0, and I fouled it off," Posada said. "It was tough to lay off -- kind of borderline up."
New York's most lopsided postseason defeat in six years was the fourth consecutive loss for the Yankees, who logged a victory in Game 1 of last season's ALDS against the Tigers before dropping the final three games to bow out earlier than anticipated.
"With what we had to deal with pretty much all year, especially since early on when we dug a hole for ourselves, we understood that we certainly can't feel sorry for ourselves," Torre said.
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Companion to the VP-727xl and VP-727 In-CTRL™ Seamless Switchers – Ideal for Live Events
Hampton, New Jersey– April 15, 2009 – Kramer Electronics, a worldwide supplier of innovative and reliable signal management products, announced the introduction of the VP-727A high-performance 8×2 audio switcher for balanced stereo audio signals. The unit can switch any input to either the preview or program output, making it ideal for presentation applications that require an audio preview option. The unit is designed for live, staged events as well as projection systems with sound in conference rooms, board rooms, auditoriums, hotels and houses of worship.
The VP-727A adds an audio component to the Kramer VP-727xl and the VP-727 In-CTRL™ Seamless Switchers. It will operate in conjunction with the VP-727T Presentation Switcher Control Panel, for a complete audio and video switching and control package.
The VP-727A features eight unbalanced stereo audio inputs on RCA connectors. It also offers three program outputs: unbalanced stereo audio on RCA connectors, balanced stereo audio on a 5-pin terminal block connector, and S/PDIF on an RCA connector. It has one unbalanced stereo audio preview output on an RCA connector and a selectable headphone connector on a 6.5mm jack for preview or program audio outputs. It has a bandwidth of -3dB at >22kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of >85dB.
source: catalogs.infocommiq.com


text:
Amazon Flexes Its Loan Muscles
Over the past couple of weeks, bits and pieces have leaked out about a new commercial loan pilot program from Amazon Inc. and how the online retail behemoth's entry into the small business lending could put credit unions, banks and other lenders on high alert.
Releasing very few details, the Seattle-based company did confirm it rolled out its Amazon lending program through Amazon Capital Services Inc. at the end of 2011 to serve sellers of all sizes.
Amazon online merchants involved in the program told The Wall Street Journal the loans that they were able to secure ranged from $1,000 to $38,000 and had interest rates of between 1% and 13.9%. The company is also apparently offering small business credit card interest rates that range from 13% to 19%.
For credit unions, the reaction has been mixed on what Amazon's latest venture could mean to their efforts to start and maintain their business lending programs given the retailer's global reach.
"It's no doubt aligned to the higher risk, higher reward segment of small business and should play well with home-based firms that find traditional financing and merchant services availability difficult to obtain due to their lack of storefront," said Bill Beardsley, president of Michigan Business Connection LLC, a CUSO that underwrites and originates commercial loans and manages more than $200 million in credit union business loans.
Amazon has not responded to several requests from Credit Union Times on more details about its lending program.
"This proves that there is a market to serve small business that is not currently being well served," said Guy Messick, attorney with Messick & Lauer PC in Media, Pa., who has extensive expertise in CUSO startups.
Rather than seeing Amazon as a competitive threat, Beardsley is optimistic that there may be opportunities to work with the online retailer.
"The credit union business lending model is based on intimacy and service, not one size fits all global scale, and it's certainly possible that the two can co-exist, maybe even work together, to help small businesses succeed," Beardsley offered.
While Amazon may be seen by some as a foe encroaching into unchartered territory for the company, credit unions might still have an edge.
"Credit unions continue to offer products that meet the needs of small business owners through personal service, products tailored to specific needs, credit card programs, SBA 7(a) loans and numerous other product offerings," said Tony Lillie, chief credit officer and credit union member business manager for CU Companies, a New Brighton, Minn.-based CUSO that offers business lending, investment, realty and title services to more than 70 credit unions.
That includes the ability to offer lower loan fees, lower interest rates, and in some cases, annual dividends, Lillie said. Still, exceptional service to members may be the advantage credit unions wield over Amazon and other nontraditional lenders.
"From inside our business as a CUSO, we see where that personal service is appreciated and necessary," Lillie said. "We've seen when our credit unions' borrowers have initially gone to the larger lender. Those lenders simply don't have the flexibility in their loan programs and aren't in tune with the borrowers' needs."
Meanwhile, Lillie acknowledged Amazon may certainly have a spot on the lending playing field.
"This move by Amazon to fill the role of a traditional bank is very welcome into the marketplace," Lillie said.
Instead of Amazon having to fund all of their selling partners' working capital needs, Jack Antonini, president/CEO of NACUSO in Newport Beach, Calif., said he would like to see the company partner with credit unions that can help the local businesses that Amazon is helping today. "Amazon doesn't have unlimited capital, so working with a partner makes sense," he said. "Let's see if Amazon, with some credit union business leaders, can come up with an innovative, collaborative way of making these loans together for the benefit of credit union small business owners throughout the country."