text:
With three extra-base hits, Carp makes most of start
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- The forgotten man finally appeared for the Red Sox on Wednesday night as Mike Carp shook off the rust and hit the ball all over Progressive Field.
Carp, a left-handed hitter, got the nod at first base while Mike Napoli served as the designated hitter.
The only Boston player not to start in the first 13 games made up for lost time, belting two doubles and a triple in his three at-bats, helping the Red Sox notch a 6-3 victory over the Indians.
"Like I said, it's been a lot of fun watching these guys," Carp said. "I know I'll get my opportunity here and there. You've just got to be ready to go whenever you get it. I try to stay sharp, prepare myself the best way I can, and it worked out well today."
Manager John Farrell looked like a genius for deciding this was the night to get Carp in the lineup.
"I didn't know that he'd do that," Farrell said. "I just felt like he's a good fastball hitter. Again, we talked about getting a number of lefties in the lineup. You know what? He swung the bat very good. To get the base hit inside the third-base bag to start things off, he just did a heck of a job for us."
How has Carp gone about trying to stay sharp?
"I'm just trying to work on staying short in the cage. We have [first-base coach] Arnie [Beyeler] throwing BP to us, and he brings it kind of firm and gives us more of an opportunity to see a live pitcher," said Carp. "I had a [simulated] game against [Felix] Doubront the other day so I could see some live pitching. "
While Carp was in the lineup, Jackie Bradley Jr. was on the bench for the second straight game against a righty.
Bradley opened the season as an everyday player, but the club's No. 2 prospect is starting to take on a more reduced role. He is likely to go to the Minors when David Ortiz is activated, which could be as early as Friday.
"He's handled it very well, and yet if he's frustrated, we would expect that to a certain extent, but it hasn't affected his work," said Farrell. "We know he's getting challenged right now, too."
Hanrahan understands DL move, starts ramping up
CLEVELAND -- Closer Joel Hanrahan would have preferred avoiding the disabled list, but he understood why the team put him there on Tuesday. The righty has been dealing with a right hamstring injury that he first felt in the Red Sox's second game of the season at Yankee Stadium.
"It's kind of one of those in between things. I don't think four days would have been enough, but 15 will be [more than enough]," Hanrahan said. "I think 15 will be plenty of time, and if you come back too soon, it's just going to linger through the whole year. I think the 15 days will be plenty to get it all out of there and hopefully not have to deal with it again this year."
Hanrahan played catch at 75 feet on Tuesday and graduated to 90 feet Wednesday. In due time, he will probably go on a short Minor League rehab assignment before being activated. He is eligible to pitch for the Red Sox again on April 30.
Perhaps a tune-up in the Minors will help Hanrahan snap out of the funk he was in early in the season, posting an 11.57 ERA in six outings.
Though Hanrahan isn't an excuse maker, he doesn't dispute that the hamstring injury could have impacted some of his pitches, particularly his breaking ball.
"It was there a lot more on my breaking ball," Hanrahan said. "I'd throw a breaking ball and kind of aggravate it a little bit. It's a funny thing, because the arm strength and velocity are still there. It kind of effects your mechanics and being able to locate the ball. We're all strong enough that we can create velocity. Velocity without location is not going to help anybody.
"It was my decision to keep going out there. If I went out there, I felt like I could get the job done. I'm not looking for any sympathy on why things happened. It's part of our competitive nature to go out there."
But with a strong foundation in his legs, Hanrahan looks forward to showing people why the Red Sox acquired him in the first place.
"Yeah, exactly," Hanrahan said. "It's tough for a pitcher to go out there without their legs. It's something I'm looking forward to, just getting back out there. I love the game of baseball, but it gets kind of boring sitting in the dugout watching and knowing you can't do anything."
Will Hanrahan regain the closer's role as soon as he returns?
"I don't think we're sitting here today ready to make that claim," manager John Farrell said. "We've got to get through some things first -- particularly how he responds with the hamstring. He's going to need a couple of rehab appearances just to get himself going again. This is a bigger-bodied guy that is a power pitcher, and we want to be sure that he feels comfortable physically before we bring him back to us, and we'll work through that at that time."
Andrew Bailey, who has 81 saves, will hold down closing duties in Hanrahan's absence.
Lackey getting close to mound work
CLEVELAND -- For the second straight day, John Lackey played long toss, but Thursday is a more significant day as the righty throws off the mound for the first time since straining his right biceps on April 6.
"We're planning to get him off a mound tomorrow, lightly," said manager John Farrell. "If all goes well, he would have another bullpen [session] on the weekend with some game activity shortly thereafter so he's making very good progress. There's no symptoms remaining in the biceps area and he feels really upbeat and positive with the way things stand right now."
By game activity, Farrell means that Lackey will either start a Minor League rehab assignment or pitch a simulated game.
"We haven't sat and mapped it out with him yet, so I think the one thing we've communicated clearly with John is that we want to be sure we test him as best possible before we get him back in a game at the Major League level," Farrell said. "We'll work through all that."
Alfredo Aceves again made his second start in place of Lackey on Wednesday night in Cleveland. Lackey is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday, but he's likely a little bit behind that schedule.
Worth noting
• Two Red Sox Minor Leaguers were suspended on Wednesday for violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Right-hander Gerson Bautista received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for Metabolites of Stanozolol. The suspension will become effective at the start of the Dominican Summer League season. Left-hander Miguel Pena also received 50 games for his second positive test for a drug of abuse. Pena, who is pitching for Class A Salem, will serve his suspension effective immediately.
• After arriving in Cleveland on Monday evening, the Red Sox had an impromptu team dinner in which 22 players showed up. The dinner happened just hours after the team learned about the tragic bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The dinner was another sign of the early-season closeness being shown by this year's club.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Fire destroyed a house Tuesday in the Durango Hills subdivision northeast of Durango.
The fire was reported at 4:18 p.m. in the 300 block of Sortais Drive, near Florida Road (County Road) 240 and County Road 234.
Renter Anton Stadt, his wife and a friend were home when one of them looked out the living-room window to see large flames on the front porch, said Fire Marshal Karola Hanks, with Durango Fire & Rescue Authority.
Mr. Stadt tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, was unable to, and they were very lucky to get out of the building, Hanks said. He literally had to run for his life.
Firefighters arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames, she said.
They were initially concerned about a wildfire, because the house fire spread to large trees and was torching, she said.
The house sits right next to a large draw, Hanks said. We were worried the fire would get into that draw and run straight up the hill.
An estimated 40 firefighters were on scene from DFRA and Upper Pine Fire Protection District. Multiple 911 calls were made during the course of the fire, and DFRA issued a complete call back of off-duty personnel to make sure all fire stations were manned.
We had two engines and a lot of tankers, Hanks said. I dont know exactly how many because they were running rotations, and I never had a chance to count them.
Firefighters pulled 16,000 gallons of water from the Edgemont subdivisions water system to fight the fire.
They were wonderful to work with, Hanks said. They said take it and put that fire out.
The house is owned by William Harris from Texas. Hanks did not know if he had been notified about the fire.
The house is a complete loss, Hanks said. We have contained the fire in the trees and the growth around.
The Stadts have renters insurance, and their insurance company was arranging lodging for the night. The Red Cross was on scene with a care package.
They lost absolutely everything they have, Hanks said. They didnt pick up a purse, a wallet, a set of keys or their cellphones. Somebody told me the cat did get out.
Hanks said both of the couples vehicles will be drivable, although parts of a Jeep melted. She got the VIN numbers of the vehicles, so the Stadts can have keys made.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. She said there are some leads, but nothing is definitive about the cause of the fire, which started on the deck outside the front of the house.
An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect location of the house fire in a headline. Also, Karola Hanks full title was not given.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dear Members,
Kamanita And Vasitthi
[By KARL GJELLERUP]
AT THIS TIME one of the bhikkhus came over to
us once a week and expounded the Teaching.
After some time Angulimāla's turn came — I did
not go into the meeting hall on this occasion but remained
lying in my cell, and begged a neighbouring sister to say
to him:
"Venerable Sir, Sister Vāsitthī lies sick in her hut
and cannot appear in the assembly. Will you, after the
meeting, go to her and expound the Dharma also?" And I
should add that this pretext of sickness was not entirely
untrue: the emotional torments which I had been experi‐
encing had also taken their toll on my body and I was
regularly faint and feverish during these weeks.
So, after his talk to the nuns, the good Angulimāla
and a companion came to my hut, greeted me deferen‐
tially and sat down by my bed.
"You see here, brother," I said then, "what none of
us would desire to see — a love‐sick nun — and you
yourself are the cause of my sickness, seeing that it was
you that robbed me of the object of my love. True, you
have since brought me to this great physician who heals
all life's ills, but now even his marvellous powers cannot
help me. In his great wisdom he has recognised this and
has given me a remedy to bring the fever to a crisis, and so
to get rid of the insidious germ of disease at present in my
"As a result, then, you see me at this moment with a
fever of longing raging within. So I wish to remind you of
a promise you once made to me to go to Ujjenī and
bring me certain news of Kāmanīta: whether he still lived,
and how he was. For my desire to know whether Kāmanīta lives,
and how he lives, is such an overpowering one that, until
it is gratified, there is no room in my heart for any other
thought, any other feeling,and it is consequently impossible
for me to take even the smallest step further forward on this,
our way to enlightenment. For this reason it becomes your duty
to do this for me, and to quiet my feelings by bringing me some
definite information."
After I had spoken thus, Angulimāla rose, and said:
"It will be just as you require from me, Sister Vāsitthī."
As he spoke I was unsure if his sense of duty was
also coloured with a feeling of criticism for myself, and for
my weakness of spirit. However, together with the bhikkhu who
was his chaperone, he left my hut and disappeared into the darkness
of the forest.
Angulimāla went straight to his hut to get his alms‐
bowl and in that same hour left the Simsapā wood. People
generally believed that he had simply gone on a pilgrim‐
age, following the Master. I alone knew the true goal of
his journey.
This step once taken, I felt myself grow somewhat
calmer, although haunted by a doubt as to whether I
should not have given him some greeting or messages for
my belovèd. But it seemed to me unfitting and profane to
use a monk in such a way — as a go‐between — while, on
the other hand, he could perfectly well go to a distant city
and give an account of what he had seen there. It would
also be something quite other — I said to myself with
secret hope — if he, acting on his own judgement and
without being commissioned to do so, should decide to
speak of me to my loved one.
"I will myself go to Ujjenī and bring him here safe
and sound" — these words resounded ever in my inner‐
most heart. Would the monk be likely, then to redeem the
promise of the robber? Why not, if he himself were con‐
vinced that it was necessary for both of us to see and to
speak with one another?
And with that came a new thought from which
streamed an unexpected ray of hope that at first dazzled
and then bewildered me:— If my belovèd should return,
what was then to hinder my leaving the Order and becom‐
ing his wife?
When this question arose in my mind burning
blushes covered my face, which I involuntarily hid in my
hands from fear that someone might just at that moment
be observing me and know my thoughts. What a hateful
misinterpretation such a course of action would be ex‐
posed to! Would it not look as though I had regarded the
Order of the Buddha simply as a bridge over which to
pass from a loveless marriage to one of romantic
fulfilment? My action would certainly be construed thus
by many. But, when all was said and done, what could
the judgement of others matter to me? And how much
better to be a devoted lay sister who stood loyally by the
Sangha, than a sister of the Order whose heart lingered
elsewhere. Yes, even if Angulimāla only brought me the
information that my Kāmanīta was still alive, and I could
gather from the account of their meeting that my loved
one was still true to me in the faithfulness of his heart,
then I would be able to make the journey to Ujjenī
myself. And I pictured how I would one morning, with
my shaven head and my robes, stand at the door of your
house — how you would fill my alms‐bowl with your
own hands and in so doing would recognise me — and
then all the indescribable joy of having found one
another again.
********to be continued*********
Edited by yawares
Kamanita 22 :The Sick Nun
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text:
BERLIN – The opportunity to reapply for the Maryland Main Street Program was fleeting, but Berlin managed to get its application in just under the wire, local program coordinator Michael Day reported last week.
Day personally drove the application, along with a similar application for Pocomoke City, to Annapolis on the due date, June 11, two days after the Berlin Mayor and Council meeting.
"You had Main Street before and lost the designation because they changed the requirements," Berlin Main Street Coordinator Michael Day told the council at last Monday's meeting during his attempt to get the "intense" application approved for submittal.
About 10 years ago, the state began requiring Main Street programs, which pursue economic revitalization of historic downtowns through preservation, to have a part- or full-time paid manager.
Berlin could not meet this requirement at the time, but four years ago, Berlin and Pocomoke City clubbed together to hire Day to manage a program for each town.
Since then, the town has pursued its own Main Street program, without any help from the state, while waiting for the Maryland Main Street Program to open to new participants.
"We've had no coordinating program to work with to guide us through the process," Day said. "Maryland won't even allow me to attend training or any of the meetings."
Despite the lack of state assistance, Berlin's Main Street efforts are "alive and well," Day said.
The current effort in Berlin and Pocomoke City cannot really be called a Main Street program, Day said, labeling his work a downtown coordinating program instead.
The Maryland Main Street Program seeks to enhance the economy of traditional towns and neighborhoods through preserving and rehabilitating historic buildings, planning, and marketing.
Despite the hiring of a paid manager in 2004, Maryland Main Street was not accepting new applications, not until a few weeks ago.
"The state opened it up to try and clear out some back log stuff with a due date of June 11," said Day. "I had to kind of scramble."
The timing was tough, coming right in the middle of budget season for both towns. "Everything on this has been fast tracked. Its giving us an opportunity so we have to jump on it," said Day.
There is no guarantee Berlin will make it back onto the Maryland Main Street list.
"We're in competition with about 10 towns in the state. I don't know how many they will accept," Day said.
Berlin and Pocomoke City will not be in suspense for long. Day said he has been told the decisions will be announced in one to two weeks.
The Maryland Main Street program is also making grant funds available to participating towns for the first time in years.
Day said the town could move more quickly on preservation and enhancement projects as part of the state program.
"It's a snowball effect. It's taking little baby steps and making things happen. We could take bigger steps than the coordinating program," Day said.
Berlin should take advantage of the help the Maryland Main Street Program would offer, said Williams, like training and grant possibilities that the town would have to pursue through different avenues otherwise.
"I think we would be one of the role models in the state," Williams said.


text:
COLUMBUS -- No one knows for sure where the Ohio State football team will end up this year, but after the first spring game under Coach Urban Meyer, one thing is for certain.
Wherever they Buckeyes are going, they're going to get there fast.
Utilizing a fast-paced, shotgun, no-huddle offense in which neither the Scarlet and nor the Gray team huddled a single time, the Scarlet defeated the Gray, 20-14, in front of 81,112 chilly fans in Ohio Stadium.
In 40 minutes of play, the last 20 of which were with a running clock, 91 offensive plays were run.
Meyer, earlier in the week, promised a pass-oriented spring game.
He didn't say it was going to be that lightning quick.
"I felt like today wasn't that bad," said second-string quarterback Kenny Guiton, who piloted the Gray offense. "We didn't even go that fast today (compared to practice)."
Guiton completed 16 of 24 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown for Gray. Sophomore Braxton Miller went 24-for-31 for 258 yards, engineering the game-winning drive that saw Rod Smith bull in from 7 yards out with 5:29 left in the game.
It was the first real look of what Ohio State's offense will be this fall. Not a single snap came with the quarterback under center. Plays were signaled in from the sideline and run as fast as possible.
There was no threat of a delay-of-game penalty on this day.
"Yeah, it's more fun," Miller said of the new spread offense brought in by Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman. "It's just like high school back at (Huber Heights) Wayne. Get the signals, get the ball and make the best plays you can."
With Miller and Guiton distributing the ball, the pass-crazed offense saw freshman Michael Thomas catch 12 passes for 131 yards for Scarlet, junior Corey "Philly" Brown catch 7 for 90 for Gray, and junior Chris Fields haul in 5 for 72 for Scarlet.
There wasn't much to the running game, which was by design. Senior Jordan Hall was held out of the game, as well as a few other players who Meyer said "didn't need to play." Smith had 46 yards on 8 carries for Scarlet, while freshman Bri'onte Dunn ran for 32 yards to lead Gray.
"We did some things offensively that are not who we are," Meyer said of the pass-a-thon. "We're going to be a balanced offense, and today was very imbalanced. That was done for a reason.
"You're taking one of the worst passing teams in America (last season). We've got to find out if we can do that."
Despite the 532 total yards piled up by the Buckeyes, Meyer said there are still questions that need to be answered, primarily in the quest to identify play-makers.
"We know we can run the quarterback. We didn't run it one time today," he said. "What we don't know, and after the spring game I STILL don't know, can we throw the ball? That was the objective today, and I have a better opinion on some guys today."
Scarlet wasted no time to take the early lead on Saturday, with Hyde capping a 5-play, 65-yard drive with a 1-yard run.
Drew Basil kicked two second-quarter field goals for Scarlet, sandwiched around a 28-yard touchdown pass from Guiton to Smith.
Meyer stopped "regular" play in the second quarter to allow Basil to attempt seven straight field goals from long range. Basil made four of seven, coming up just short on the last one -- a 58-yarder.
Guiton's 4-yard run on the last play of the third quarter brought Gray within a point, 14-13.
After Smith's touchdown run in the fourth made it 20-14, Guiton appeared to have Gray going for the go-ahead score. But Christian Bryant stepped in front of a Guiton pass deep in Scarlet territory.
"Just a late read by me," Guiton said of Bryant's interception.
Scarlet went the length of the field, with a Miller run to the 3 running out the remaining time.
The spring game was the last of 15 April days that Meyer and his staff worked with their new team.
Meyer indicated he learned a lot about his team. When asked specifically about the play-makers he set out to find this spring, he listed -- in order -- Jordan Hall, Jake Stoneburner, Hyde, Brown, Thomas and Devin Smith as his top six.
When asked of his "pecking order" at running back, he -- in order -- listed Hall, Hyde, Smith and Dunn.
Of his defense, he said, "I expect our defense to get very close to Ohio State standards very soon."
As displeased as he sounded at times throughout the spring regimen, Meyer sounded as optimistic after the spring game.
"We identified our issues and we also identified our strengths," Meyer said of his team's 15-day spring regimen. "This has to be the best offseason (between now and August practices) in the history of college football. It HAS to happen. It starts Monday."
Among those not dressing, besides Hall, were linebackers Curtis Grant, Josh Perry and Storm Klein, tight end Jeff Heurmann, receiver Evan Spencer, defensive linemen Jonathan Hankins and Nathan Williams, offensive lineman Jacoby Boren, receiver Verlon Reed and defensive backs Jamie Wood and C.J. Barnett.


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8 servings, 1 cup each
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Pair this delicious side salad with your favorite cooked lean meat, fish or poultry.
Toss salad greens with apples and pomegranate seeds in bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve. If salad is refrigerated longer than 1 hour, dip apples in carbonated lemon-lime beverage before adding to salad to help prevent them from turning brown.
Substitute dried cherries or cranberries for the pomegranate seeds.
Substitute 1/2 cup chopped PLANTERS Sliced Almonds for the panko mixture.
You can also combine crumb mixture on a rimmed baking sheet instead of in bowl. Coat cheese pieces, a few at a time, and cook in batches. This keeps the cheese pieces firm so they don't melt while browning. Keeping the cheese cubes cold helps them retain their shape while browning.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.


text:
I have a problem with inserting objects with an entity data model, and despite my best efforts to find the solution, I'm coming up short.
I have a database with lots of tables which refer to others. two of these tables are vendor and gl_account. a vendor may have zero or more gl_account objects associated with it. I want to create a vendor object and all of its gl_accounts in one go, but I keep getting foreign key constraint errors.
am I doing something horribly wrong? I don't want to call SaveChanges() after creating the vendor object, because then it can't be rolled back if something else goes wrong.Code:vendor myVendor = vendor.Createvendor(0); // the value for id_vendor gl_account glAccount = gl_account.Creategl_account(0); // the value for id_gl_account myVendor.gl_accounts.Add(glAccount); dbContext.SaveChanges();


text:
Southern University System
News & Media
The Bayou Classic announces 2013 schedule of events, Road Show schedule - Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The Bayou Classic Wednesday, May 29, 2013, announced their official schedule of events for the upcoming series of events beginning November 26, 2013. Each year, this weekend of events brings together family, friends and alumni of Grambling State University and Southern University to see one of America's greatest college sports rivalries and celebrate football, family, and the traditions surrounding Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
This year's schedule includes the fan favorite Battle of the Bands and Greek Show, occurring November 23, as well as a couple of new events.
"This is a big year -- the big 4-0 -- and we are ready to celebrate with new events and bigger events that celebrate what the Bayou Classic has brought our community for over 40 years," said Dottie Belletto, president of New Orleans Convention Company, Incorporated (NOCCI), the management firm of the 40th Annual Bayou Classic. "We've put together our schedule of events focused on continuing our work to make Bayou Classic fan and family friendly, but have developed new programming that helps nourish our HBCU community through their financial and health success."
In advance of this year's 40th celebration of the Bayou Classic, the Bayou Classic Roadshow will travel to events and five football games this year, including both Grambling and Southern universities'
homecoming games. The Bayou Classic Roadshow gives fans an opportunity to participate in challenges, win prizes, meet former Bayou Classic participants, and share why they think their favorite team will win The Bayou Classic.
Read full release with schedule


text:
Trey Songz slashed his way into a No. 1 movie as Texas Chainsaw 3D took the top spot at the box office this weekend.
The latest in the slasher film franchise took in $23 million in receipts and cut into the tickets of Django Unchained, which landed at No. 2. after it's second week ($20 million). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ($17.5 million), which has been in theaters for several weeks, followed closely behind.
Though the film is a hit, Trey Songz recently said he wants to give himself time to grow into bigger roles.
"I think the beautiful aspect of my character is that he's a very likable guy," he told MySpace. "He's not a character that has too many layers of depth where I had to really remove myself, because as an artist that's making an album and being pulled away from that to go shoot a movie, a horror film at that, I still had a studio in my room."
Check out the trailer here.
The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre hit theaters in 1974. There has been several sequels (as well as a prequel) since its arrival.
In October 2012, it was announced that Songz had joined the cast of the upcoming romantic comedy Baggage Claim, a Fox Searchlight film based on the novel written by David E. Talbert.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Trey will be featured in the romantic comedy about a 35-year-old flight attendant driven to find a fiancé to take to her sister's engagement party. Paula Patton is set for the starring role of Baggage Claim, which will also feature Adam Brody, Derek Luke, Montana Moore, Tay Diggs, Djimon Hounsou.
—E. Parker, Radio.com


text:
Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Jenny McCarthy's Vaccine Stance Worries Experts as She Joins
'The View'
Public health groups are worried that actress Jenny McCarthy
will use her new position on a television talk show to spread her
anti-vaccination views.
In recent years, McCarthy has become well-known for her claims
that vaccines caused her son's autism and her anti-vaccination
stance. Vaccine advocates fear that as co-host of ABC's
The View, McCarthy will spread dangerous misinformation,
USA Todayreported.
One group wrote to
The Viewproducer Barbara Walters last week asking her to
keep McCarthy off the show.
"Jenny McCarthy's unfounded claims about the dangers of vaccines has been one of the greatest impediments to efforts to vaccinate children in recent decades," said Amy Pisani, the executive director of Every Child by Two, an international vaccination group co-founded by former first lady Rosalynn Carter, USA Todayreported.
"Children have died due to this misinformation, and those who perpetuate lies for personal gain ought to be held responsible," Pisani said.
Two dozen studies have failed to find any link between autism
and vaccines, and the advocacy group Autism Speaks has said there
is "no connection" between vaccines and autism,
USA Todayreported.
McCarthy has appeared on
The View17 times and will begin her co-host duties on Sept.
9. In its announcement, ABC did not mention whether McCarthy will
talk about vaccines or other medical issues.
Good 'Spatial Reasoning' May Be Sign of Creativity in Kids:
A high level of spatial reasoning in children may be a better
indicator of creativity and innovative thinking than math or verbal
skills, according to a new study.
Spatial reasoning is the ability to visualize and manipulate
two- and three-dimensional objects. Children who are gifted in this
area may be inspired to do things such as dismantle a clock or
The New York Timesreported.
In this study, researchers concluded that standardized tests
such as SAT and ACT should be revised to included greater focus on
spatial reasoning in order to identify children who excel in this
skill and nuture their ability.
"Evidence has been mounting over several decades that spatial ability gives us something that we don't capture with traditional measures used in educational selection," study lead author David Lubinski, a psychologist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, told The Times. "We could be losing some modern-day Edisons and Fords."
The study was published in the journal
Psychological Science.
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Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Information Services. All rights reserved.


text:
Rockies manager: Bruce, Votto more than just hitters
By Hal McCoy
Staff Writer
Sunday, August 24, 2008
DENVER Colorado manager Clint Hurdle knows Joey Votto and Jay Bruce can hit he doesn't need to watch closely to see that Votto had six hits in the first four games against the Rockies this year.
Hurdle watches other aspects of a young player's game, and he scores both Votto and Bruce on a high scale.
"I like both," he said. "I've watched them more not swinging the bat.
When I like guys, I tend to watch more when they are not hitting. That's when they create separation from being a good hitter to a good player.
"There are always handfuls of guys who were born to hit and want to hit, but I like to watch their intensity on defense and what they do when they get on the bases," Hurdle added.
And how are they?
"They've been showing up very good in my eyes," he said. "Votto's splits of hitting right and left are better right now than Bruce's, but that takes time. Our Brad Hawpe was not good, and this year he has having a breakthrough year against left-handed pitchers.
"I notice both Votto and Bruce are aggressive hitters, look to be confident hitters and seem to enjoy what they are doing," Hurdle said. "They both have age on their side and skills. That's a great combination to have."
Delay on call-ups
Any September call-ups, when rosters can be expanded from 25 to 40, will be delayed by the Cincinnati Reds because Class AAA Louisville is in the International League playoffs and Reds manager Dusty Baker said, "That's a good delay for them, playing for something."
The call-up candidates on the 40-man roster when they are made: pitchers Homer Bailey and Todd Coffey, infielder Paul Janish and not much else because, as Baker said, "Most are already here."
Baker, though, believes call-ups should be a reward for those who have done well, whether on the roster or not, and singled out left-handed pitcher Adam Pettyjohn.
"He is one guy nobody has talked about he's a crafty lefty and is 14-5 this year," Baker said. "He won 15 last year (Actually, 16 at Class AAA Nashville, Tenn., and Class AA Huntsville, Ala.). I don't buy that about guys not having enough fastball. It's if they know how to win."
Is Frazier too big?
Baker was watching the Little League World Series on his office TV, and somebody commented on how big the Hawaiian pitcher was.
"You know, Todd Frazier (Class A Sarasota, Fla., shortstop) played on the Toms River, N.J., team that won the Little League World Series (1998)," Baker said. "He has 12 homers, but I'm thinking he might be too big (6-foot-3, 215 pounds to play shortstop.
"But then I see Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (6-3, 205) and, man, that whole Colorado infield is big," Baker said. "Maybe Frazier isn't too big."
Rockies third baseman Ian Stewart is 6-3, 205, second baseman Jeff Baker is 6-2, 210 and first baseman Garrett Atkins is 6-3, 215.
An added duty
Due to scheduling conflicts Friday, Aug. 23, there was no "official" official scorer at the Reds-Rockies game, so the duty was shared by the media relations directors, Rob Butcher of the Reds and Jay Alves of the Rockies.
They did well, making all the right calls, but one fan disagreed and yelled after they ruled a base hit on one play, "Hey, official scorer. That was an error."
Said Butcher, "Now I feel official."
Quote of the day
Jeremy Affeldt was looking at his National League Championship ring, presented to him by the Colorado Rockies Friday night (he was a member of the Rockies last year, a team that lost the World Series to the Boston Red Sox): "This is a loser's ring. But it's the nicest loser's ring I ever saw."


text:
Replace soda with these refreshing, cheaper and healthier alternatives
Soda Alternatives
Related Articles
Reducing the Cost of Beverages
Beverage Savings
Soda Substitutes
I Need a Soda Alternative
I am a full time college student. My husband is disabled. We are on an extremely limited budget. The most expensive thing on our grocery bill is soda pop. I would like to get my family to drink water, tea, lemonade, anything else cheaper. If I don't buy it, my husband just sends my teenagers over to the pop machines or the convenience stores and pays an even higher price. I have finally convinced them that the generic brands are okay, but they are still too expensive. I could use some advice.
Anita B.
Replacing Soda With Fizzy Kool Aid
We are big soda lovers here too. One way we've found to limit our soda intake is to combine it with Kool Aid. Packets of unsweetened Kool Aid are pretty cheap -- you can find them 10 for $1 on sale. We then fill a glass 3/4 or more full of prepared Kool Aid and then top it off with Sprite or 7-UP. You can add orange soda to orange flavors and so on. That gives you a little fizz but greatly cuts down on the amount of soda you use!
Mom's Solutions
Being a single mom with 3 growing and "always hungry and thirsty" older teens, I can understand the dilemma of the "Soda Wars". Some of my tips are these (they work--I tried all of them).
Challenge your family. If they are willing to try alternate drinks such as juice, tea, water etc. the money saved from "soda" can be put aside for a special family time such as ordering a pizza and buying a DVD. Also challenge them to develop their own drink ideas. When my children were younger, they experimented with mixing different flavors of Kool Aid and quite often were very successful. The only rule was it could not be wasted. Flavors not high on the list of drinking were frozen and made into home made popsicles.
Challenge them...they quite often provide very satisfactory and creative solutions on their own.
Vicki T.
Water First, Then Soda
It will be hard to believe this could work, but I am one bona fide soda addict and it works for me!
Here's the rule at my house (for me ... the kids, on the other hand, are MUCH more flexible): I can drink as much soda as I want. Yup, that's right. Just one caveat: Before I drink that soda, I have to match it with an 8-oz. or larger glass of water. BEFORE!
If your water doesn't taste so great, invest in one of those filters in a pitcher, like Brita. Seems costly at first, until you do the math. You can get one of these pitchers, with the filter (watch the box! -- they don't all come w/filter) for around $20. This time of year you can probably get two for one in a holiday boxed promotion.
And yes, the replacement filters seem expensive too, at around $15 a crack, but my sister and I both have active families of three who drink a lot of water (I even make my juice, Kool-Aid and coffee with it) and almost never buy more than one replacement in a calendar year (nine months or so, usually).
Beware when buying: That pitcher looks huge, but the water goes fast! Either look for the "2fer" sale or make sure you have another, inexpensive pitcher or two around to hold water while the filter's making more. We often go through three per day without trying very hard!
Okay, that's a $35 investment over the course of nine months, or about $40 per year. Even if it only cuts the family's soda consumption by 25%, well, you do the math on your family because I don't know your particulars, but it's incredible.
Everyone knows all the benefits of drinking more water. But when I do drink it, honestly, I feel better! More energy, and I feel like my metabolism's on full-speed. My weight loss when I have altered nothing but this habit attests to that fact! And it isn't due to a reduction in sugar, because my soda is diet.
Maybe you've already figured out that the one person you'll have the hardest time with is that other adult in the house. This is a tough habit to break, and somehow, starting to drink water when you're not used to it seems sort of unsavory. You might ask him to just give it a try, start off with four oz. before each soda and move him up after a few days. When you see the family begin to slip off the soda wagon, prod with gentle reminders that they need their water! -- I wish someone around here would do that for me, because again, once out of the water habit, re-establishing it is tough.
Oh - and I've TRIED mixing juices with sparkling water and all those other concoctions. When I want a diet cola, darn it, that's what I want! And that's why this little trick works for me. Good luck!
Denise S.
The Juice Mix Alternative
In our efforts to eliminate soda from our lives we have come up with a good substitute. We purchase 2 liter bottles of soda water (carbonated without sugar) and 1/2 gallon cans of Juicy Juice or similar 100% juice drinks. Mix them 50/50 in the soda water bottles. Try different flavor combinations. We like plain soda water and "Cherry" Juicy Juice. Still has carbonation similar to soda without the sugars.
Ken M.
A Family Battle
First you need to convince your family that this is a family problem not just yours, therefore everyone needs to be involved in the solution. Research first, then call a family meeting. Calculate how much per month is being spent on brand name soda, including the vending machine. Then calculate the savings by using generic soda. Offer several alternatives, powdered drink mix mixed with club soda, cutting down on amount of sodas used with their choice of replacement, or totally replacing sodas with water, tea, and lemonade. Show cost savings for each of these alternative methods. Another strategy is letting another item go instead of the sodas. When we were in an economic pinch and my family was not willing to give up brand sodas, what they agreed to was cutting out on other things for a trade-off. If you are down to your last and there is nothing else to give up, then present that to them. Ask them for solutions. All adverse and depressing influences can be overcome, not by fighting, but by rising above them.
Sun Tea
I make "Sun tea" and spice it up with fruit juices. Pour about 6 ounces of tea into a container. (I use the Rubbermaid pourables.) I make several at once. Freeze these just like they are. The morning we pack the lunch, I pull out one container, and add about 3 ounces of juice. The thawing iced tea keeps the sandwich cold to boot!
My family and friends LOVE our lemonade. We used to buy soda, etc. but now just orange juice and make homemade lemonade: Guests have choice of milk, water, orange juice, and lemonade all year round. Recipe came from bottle of RealLemon I believe.
6 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup lemon juice from bottle - Real Lemon or any store brand is fine. I get my Real Lemon juice at a Sam's Club
Stir well and chill. Cheap and delicious all year long. Doubles fine too. I have had many converts from the more expensive mix and drink lemonade brands.
Debbie S.
Make Your Own
Try making your own soda. Many home brew beer stores also carry mixes for making your own soda pop.
Pamela D.
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Share your thoughts about this article with the editor.


text:
Maloney tells of suicide attempt
Former boxing promoter Frank Maloney, who is now living as a woman, has said her transgender struggle led her to attempt suicide.
The 61-year-old, now known as Kellie, guided boxer Lennox Lewis to lift the world heavyweight boxing title during a successful career.
Maloney, who was yesterday backed by Lewis and other sporting personalities for telling her story, told the Mirror she could not cope with leading a double life.
"It got to a point where I just couldn't cope any longer. I couldn't go on and I had to end it," the father-of-three told the paper.
Kellie said she attempted suicide but later broke down and told her daughter how she had lived her life feeling trapped in the wrong body.
In a lengthy interview she had told the paper she is now undergoing gender reassignment therapy.
She thanked the public for the positive reaction she received, including comments on social media from former footballer Stan Collymore and boxing commentator Steve Bunce.
Reacting to the news Lewis said he respects Maloney's decision.
Lewis said: "I was just as shocked as anyone at the news about my former promoter and my initial thought was that it was a wind up. The great thing about life, and boxing, is that, day to day, you never know what to expect.
"This world we live in isn't always cut and dried or black and white, and coming from the boxing fraternity, I can only imagine what a difficult decision this must be for Kellie.
"However, having taken some time to read Kellie's statements, I understand better what she, and others in similar situations, are going through. I think that ALL people should be allowed to live their lives in a way that brings them harmony and inner peace.
"I respect Kellie's decision and say that if this is what brings about true happiness in her life, than so be it."
Maloney announced his intention to call time on his 30-year career with immediate effect last October.
His decision brought an end to a colourful career which saw him guide Lewis to glory despite memorably being derided as a ''mental midget'' by US promoter Don King.
Lewis said on Twitter when Maloney retired: ''Big up 2 Frank Maloney on a massive career in the fight game. Gonna miss those Union Jack suits. All the best to u and urs.''
Maloney's garish suits might have earned him fame as Lewis's sidekick, but his jovial image belied a shrewd boxing brain as he swerved King's obstacles to lead Lewis to the top.
Maloney told the Press Association when he retired: ''Boxing has given me some great times but it's not the same business I grew to love any more.
''The characters have gone and gradually over the last six months I have realised that I don't want to be involved in it any more.
''I am now going to go travelling through Europe with my two Airedales and see how far I can get. You never know, in six months I might miss it, but I know now it is the right time to finish.''


text:
I am completely new to xfce (this weekend), and am also fairly new to linux though not a complete noob. I'm comfortable in a terminal or development environment, and am currently running XFCE on top of Arch.
I did a full arch system update (pacman -Syu) today, to find that all .jpeg support had been lost - but only for the XFCE desktop and wallpaper-chooser application (not sure what it's command name is). All libraries seem to be intact and Gimp / Imagemagick have had no trouble recognizing and displaying jpegs in full colour.
I have managed to fix the issue partially, by removing and reinstalling gdk-pixbuf and gdk-pixbuf2 - which I recall threw some errors during the system update. However, all custom (jpeg or png) wallpaper images are displayed in black and white once they are set as wallpaper. In the 'Desktop Settings' menu / wallpaper chooser within XFCE settings I can once again recognise jpegs as image files, and view them in colour, as I can in any file-manager that I use., though they appear in b&w once set as wallpaper. Also - all desktop icons are in colour, and I can set background of any panel to a jpeg and it will appear in colour - so it appears to be only the desktop that is affected...
Has anyone experienced this issue, or have any advice on how I might go about debugging and resolving this?
Last edited by j2496i (2012-04-23 17:55:55)
You *MAY* have accidentally set the saturation of the wallpaper to 0 run this from the command line and see if it helps
xfconf-query -nRt double -c xfce4-desktop -vp /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/saturation -s 1.0
@HK - thanks for the tip!


text:
I am trying to write a wstring and wchar_t array to file using wofstream. My wstring is populated with a unicode string I obtained from a registry key name(using RegEnumKeyW). It contains a non-ascii character that is displayed as a square block in the registry. I display the wstring with MessageBoxW to see that it contains the same text as the registry. It does.
However, when I write the wstring to file using wofstream and read it immediately back into another wstring using wifstream, the strings differ. When I look inside the file that was written, it does not contain the proper characters. It has ascii characters where the unicode characters should be. It may be it is downcasting the unicode character to its ascii value and then writing it to file, but this is defintely unexpected given wofstream is designed for wchar_t output.
Do I need to set some locale for it to work right? I have no experience with it, so I am unsure.
I am on Windows XP using MSVC++ 6.0 SP6. I am using the STLport stl because wofstream has a bug with MSVC++.
Thanks for any help you can give.


text:
Though I liked the movie I can understand your guyzes (not a word really, lol) frustration. But maybe I was so happy because I seriously thought the movie would turn out like the Eragon one. Compared to that, Twilight was awesomesauce.
I have also had the experience of being disappointed with movie adaptations of books before, like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter (they always leave out sooo much, and put stupid jokes in, but I digress). After a bit, I realized that no movie was going to be exactly like the book, or as good as the book in its entire form, but that it could still be enjoyable. At least they followed the plot for Twilight and didn't make the FBI version they originally planned. That woulda been horror.


text:
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Creeper review
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These shoes are great! They're so comfy. I'm a size 8-9 women's, and I ordered a men's 9. Fits very nice. Took a day or two to break them in like most shoes. My new favorite pair! Also Rivithead's customer service is very helpful and friendly!
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text: Photos: Best of Shawn Marion - follow The Matrix from Phoenix, to Miami, Toronto and Dallas This Story is About... Mavericks Headlines Sports Mavericks +1 /. /. /. /. /. /. /. Shawn Marion poses for a photograph on media day in 2009. /. Dallas' Shawn Marion dunks againt Miami during the Mavericks' win over the Heat on Dec. 20, 2010. /. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban rubs Shawn Marion's head as he falls into the bench during Game 2 of Dallas' playoff sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. /. Shawn Marion, then a member of the Phoenix Suns, dunks during the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta. /. Shawn Marion (left) and Anfernee Hardaway (second from left) of the Phoenix Suns read to a group of kids during the unveiling of the Childrens Reading and Learning Center in Phoenix, part of the NBA Read to Achieve Program. /. Shawn Marion during his days with the UNLV Running Rebels in 1998. /. Team USA's Shawn Marion dunks against Argentina during the 2004 Olympics Athens. /. The disappointment shows on the faces of Tim Duncan (left), Amare Stoudemire (center) and Shawn Marion, who won the bronze medal during the 2004 Summer Olympics. /. Team USA's Shawn Marion dunks against China in the World Basketball Championships in 2002 in Indianapolis, Ind. /. Shawn Marion (right) and Jason Kidd, shown here as Phoenix Suns teammates in 2001, are teammates again in Dallas. /. Shawn Marion (right) with Phoenix teammates Stephon Marbury (left) and Anfernee Hardaway in 2001. /. Shawn Marion with NBA Commissioner David Stern during the 1999 NBA draft. Marion was drafted by the Phoenix Suns. /. Shawn Marion, playing for the sophomores, dunks the 2001 Rookie Challenge on Feb. 10, 2001 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. /. Shawn Marion with Miami coach Pat Riley during a 2008 news conference announcing Marion had joined the Heat. /. Miami's Shawn Marion tries to block a dunk attempt by Houston's Yao Ming during a game in 2008. /. Dwyane Wade (left) and Shawn Marion of the Miami Heat display the hors de oeuvres they created during a team cooking class as part of the 2008 NBA Europe Live Tour on Oct. 8, 2008 at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe hotel in Paris, France. /. Shawn Marion (left), Toronto Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo and Marcus Banks pose for a picture during a Feb. 17, 2009 news conference. /. Shawn Marion smiles before a 2010 game against Phoenix at American Airlines Center. /. Shawn Marion, with the Toronto Raptors in 2009. /. Shawn Marion celebrates a basket during Game 5 of the Mavericks' first-round playoff series against Portland. /. Shawn Marion blocks a shot by the Lakers' Kobe Bryant during the first half of Dallas' Game 1 victory over L.A. in the Western Conference semifinals. /. Shawn Marion clowns around with Dirk Nowitzki on media day in 2009. /. Shawn Marion soars past Oklahoma City's Jeff Green for a layup during a game on Dec. 27, 2010. /. Shawn Marion goes up for a dunk during the first half of the Mavericks' Game 4 victory at Oklahoma City. /. Shawn Marion (right) and Tyson Chandler celebrate the Mavericks' Game 4 win over the Thunder. /. Shawn Marion in action against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 1, 2010 at the American Airlines Center. /. A cluster of Lakers watch Shawn Marion go in for a dunk in Dallas' Game 2 victory in Los Angeles. /. Phoenix's Shawn Mario n dunks against Dallas during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals in 2005. /. Shawn Marion dunks over Portland's Gerald Wallace during Game 1 of the Mavericks' first-round playoff series against the Trail Blazers. /. Phoenix's Shawn Marion dunks for the Western Conference during the 2006 NBA All-Star game at the Toyota Center in Houston. /. Shawn Marion blocks a shot by Dirk Nowitzki during the 2005 Western Conference semifinals. /. Shawn Marion blocks a shot by Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant with just seconds to play, helping the Mavericks get to overtime in their Game 4 win over the Thunder. /. Shawn Marion dunks during Game 4, a win which gave the Mavericks a 3-1 series edge over the Thunder. /. Shawn Marion dunks against Dallas during a 2006 playoff game at American Airlines Center. /. Shawn Marion is introduced before a game against San Antonio in April. /. Phoenix's Shawn Marion hangs on the rim after dunking against Dallas during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in 2006. /. Miami's Shawn Marion dunks over Golden State's Mickael Pietrus during a game in 2008. This Topic is Missing Your Voice. View Comments Story DNA Mavericks Headlines Sports Mavericks Mavericks Gallery


text:
All quotes tagged Depleted
(34 quotes found)
"Right now the Guard's equipment stocks are depleted. That's going to have an impact on their ability to do domestic relief missions."
"Producers began adding more e10 to extend the supply of fuel. And available stocks (of ethanol) were depleted overnight,"
"The reservoirs of ozone-depleting chemicals found in old fridges and air-conditioning systems may be greater than anticipated, and if this continues into the future then the projection of ozone hole recovery in 2050 may have to be extended."
"Last year it took four votes to pass the budget and each time the budget kept getting depleted to what I thought was a dangerous point. I'm very happy to say the vote passed the first time out."
"Due to depleted stocks, GMB [state-run food distributor Grain Marketing Board] is now giving us 400 tons of wheat a week, down from 600 tons."
"In Vietnam, they poisoned us with Agent Orange, and now they are poisoning another generation with depleted uranium and other toxins."
"Even though the geographical size of the ozone hole was the largest on record and the ozone depleted earlier than ever, the severity of the ozone depletion within the hole reached about the same levels as the past few years."


text:
Select Draft stars set for fast track to bigs
Hultzen, Rendon among players who could make it in short order
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
Sometimes, though, it happens fast. Chris Sale was closing games for the White Sox less than three months after being taken with the No. 13 overall pick last year.
The 2009 Draft was particularly successful in featuring players who quickly reached the big leagues. Cincinnati right-hander Mike Leake, taken No. 8 overall, made his professional debut in the big leagues in 2010. Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg both went from the top 10 of that Draft to Washington last season, as did the Braves' Mike Minor, who selected No. 7 overall. Aaron Crow, taken No. 12, is currently in the Royals' bullpen, and No. 15 Alex White was in the Indians' rotation before getting hurt.
There are bound to be players selected in this week's Draft who will get to the Major Leagues just as quickly. Undoubtedly, many were taken with that potential in mind. As the names above indicate, pitchers tend to get there faster, though there are advanced hitters who shouldn't take all too long. Here are some players from this year's Draft who might be coming to a Major League ballpark near you sooner rather than later.
Danny Hultzen, LHP, Mariners: The No. 2 overall pick had been called the "safe" pick when being discussed as a potential No. 1, but that undersold him a bit. He's got very good stuff and plus command, a combination that could get him to Safeco Field in short order.
Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Brewers: The Brewers are no doubt hoping their top pick, taken No. 12 overall, can get to Milwaukee quickly. Jungmann will be coming off a stellar career at the University of Texas, during which he played at a high level, faced top competition and had no problem with the spotlight. He's got three plus pitches and maintains his stuff through a game. As his command improves, he'll shoot through the Brewers' system.
Tyler Anderson, LHP, Rockies: Anderson is one of those "pitchability" lefties, one without plus pure stuff but with an advanced idea of how to pitch. His average fastball plays up because of his outstanding command and he's got a changeup that's at least above average and good slider to go with it. The No. 20 overall pick may not have a high ceiling, but he also shouldn't take long to be big league ready.
College relievers: Whether it's someone who pitched out of the bullpen or one who will get shortened up into a relief role, there were a number of hurlers who could help a team out very quickly as a reliever. Maybe not Sale-like quick, but quick enough. Right-handers like University of Hawaii closer Lenny Linsky (No. 89, Rays) and Louisville closer Tony Zych (No. 129, Cubs) may not close in the big leagues, at least not right away, but should soon provide relief help. If the D-backs want to shorten up Andrew Chafin (No. 43) or Anthony Meo (No. 63), they could be among the first of this class to reach the Majors.
In a year that wasn't particularly deep with college hitters, there are a few who should be able to advance fairly quickly. Keep in mind that no hitter from the 2009 or 2010 Drafts has made it to the big leagues as of yet, so adjust expectations accordingly.
Anthony Rendon, 3B, Nationals: There may have been questions about Rendon's shoulder, but there aren't about his approach at the plate. Without the injury, there were some who believed he could hold his own at the highest level right now. He's got tremendous plate discipline and should hit for average and power. Even if the No. 6 overall selection moves to second base because of Ryan Zimmerman, if Rendon is healthy, he could follow a Dustin Ackley-type path. Ackley, drafted No. 2 by the Mariners in 2009, already has more than 500 at-bats in Triple-A and should be in Seattle before long. Rendon might make it even faster than that.
C.J. Cron, 1B, Angels: Cron isn't known for being particularly athletic and he'll be limited to first base, but there's no doubt the No. 17 pick can hit. He can hit for average and power, and for a guy with that kind of pop, he really doesn't strike out all that often. His father, Chris, is the Tigers' Double-A manager, and guys who grew up around the game often have a better understanding of what it takes to reach the Major Leagues.
Kolten Wong, 2B, Cardinals: Taken No. 22, Wong gets high grades for his makeup, his work ethic and his bat. That's exactly the kind of combination that enables a hitter to move quickly. He gets on base, knows what kind of hitter he is and runs well. He doesn't have to make a transition to second base because he's already played there. A future No. 2 hitter, he could be with St. Louis before you know it.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com and writes a blog, B3. Follow @JonathanMayoB3 on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
of Bernard E. Anderson Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards
Fiscal Year 2001 Request
for the Employment Standards Administration
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:
I am pleased to have this opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the Fiscal Year 2001 budget for the Employment Standards Administration (ESA). ESA is the largest agency in the Department of Labor with over 4,000 employees located in offices throughout the country. Because we administer dozens of laws enacted by Congress that cover nearly every worker in America, we make every effort to be as accessible to the American worker as possible, whether through our physical presence in the field, the use of the Internet, or through some other means.
Secretary of Labor Herman has discussed how innovative the Department's FY 2001 proposals are and how they build upon the solid accomplishments of recent years. I would like to echo that view because that is certainly the case with the Employment Standards Administration. In the past few years we have made great strides in addressing problems in child-labor, the garment and agricultural industries, and in pay discrimination. We have worked to better manage our workers' compensation programs and have made great improvements in reducing the number of days lost due to Federal workplace injuries or illnesses. We are also moving ahead with our initiative to provide Internet based public disclosure of union financial reports. Our experience with Strategic and Performance planning has helped us to concentrate our efforts where they can provide the most benefit.
ESA's work is vital to the Department's success in achieving the Secretary's goals of a Secure Workforce and Quality Workplaces. The ESA strategic plan goals are: 1) to create better workplaces by increasing employer and employee awareness of, commitment to, and involvement in assuring fair wages and equal employment opportunity, minimizing the impact of work related injuries, and safeguarding union democracy; and 2) to secure public confidence through excellence in the management and delivery of ESA's programs and services. Our FY 2001 budget request not only supports these ESA goals and furthers the achievement of two of the Secretary's strategic goals, but builds upon our most recent accomplishments.
ESA's total Salaries and Expenses request for FY 2001 is for $393.9 million and 3,934 FTE, including $13.6 million and 32 FTE associated with new or expanded initiatives in FY 2001. Overall, ESA's FY 2001 request provides resources totaling $26.4 million and 32 FTE more than the FY 2000 funding and staffing levels. Another $30.5 million and 129 FTE are requested through the Federal Employees' Compensation Special Benefits Fund Fair Share assessments.
Enforcement of Wage and Hour Standards
The Fair Labor Standards Act -- which establishes the minimum wage, overtime standards and child labor restrictions -- protects the most vulnerable in the workplace, low-wage workers and the working poor. Even in today's economy, violations of this law still occur. Investigation-based compliance surveys of the Los Angeles and New York garment manufacturing industries found that fewer than 40 percent of employers met the minimum wage and overtime requirements. The same low level of compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act was found in a national survey of poultry processing plants. And only 70 percent of nursing home employers and 57 percent of residential care facilities are in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The Wage and Hour Division has a long-term goal of increasing compliance with labor laws -- especially in these low-wage industries like garment manufacturing, agriculture, health care, as well as restaurants, hotels/motels, guard service and janitorial service. The goal of increasing compliance is expressed in the Wage and Hour Division's Performance Plan that was adopted in response to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). We are focusing on the low-wage industries because they have a historically high level of noncompliance and employ vulnerable workers who often won't complain about violation of their workplace rights. It is a difficult challenge to realize lasting changes in compliance behavior in these sectors of the economy. In 1999, with the additional resources sought and obtained by the President, Wage and Hour conducted national enforcement initiatives geared to increased labor law compliance -- especially in agriculture -- in the salad bowl crops of lettuce, onions and cucumbers, and in garment manufacturing.
In addition, Secretary Herman has made the safe and legal employment of youth a priority for the Department and we are looking at innovative steps, including enforcement, education, and partnerships, that can be taken to ensure that workplaces are free from illegal child labor. Last June, Secretary Herman launched a new child labor initiative, Safe Work/Safe Kids, to bring national focus to the need for both increased child labor compliance and the creation of safe, legal and positive work experiences for our youth. In addition, Wage and Hour conducted some 50 local child labor initiatives targeted at increasing compliance in industries such as restaurants, retail establishments, grocery stores and amusement parks where youths are most commonly employed, These initiatives, involving almost 1,800 investigations, found nearly 2,200 minors illegally employed and resulted in fines of $1.7 million against 314 employers.
Turning to FY 2001, Wage and Hour is requesting $6.3 million in additional funding for five specific initiatives to: (1) implement a nationwide toll-free number and "expert" systems that provide callers with accurate and timely information; (2) increase compliance with domestic child labor safety and health standards and reduce on-the-job injuries to young workers through enhanced education/outreach and partnership with other governmental, non-governmental, and business organizations; (3) increase compliance through enhanced enforcement, particularly through strike force efforts in targeted industries; (4) begin a three year cycle to replace desktop and laptop computers and to finance Wage and Hour's share of increased information technology infrastructure costs; and(5)fully fund enforcement efforts in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Total resources requested for Wage and Hour will provide $152.7 million, an increase of $10.8 million. The FTE level will remain at 1,528.
Federal Contractor EEO Standards Enforcement
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has proposed a Fiscal Year 2001 budget of $76.3 million and 813 FTE. OFCCP supports the Secretary's Strategic Goal for Quality Workplaces through the outcome goal to Foster Equal Employment Opportunity Workplaces. To realize this goal, OFCCP is working to redefine all GPRA performance goals related to increasing the number of Federal contractors brought into compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity provisions of federal contracts. OFCCP will continue the President's Equal Pay initiative begun in FY 2000. Additionally, in support of Secretarial and Administration goals, OFCCP seeks an additional $500,000 and five FTE for this initiative to assist contractors in addressing pay disparity problems outside of the enforcement context.
This request will utilize resources to develop and implement Industry Partnerships. OFCCP will provide professional and consistent industry wide technical assistance regarding compensation practices. OFCCP will advance an industry partnership agenda that will identify and assess various methods to assist contractors in addressing pay disparity problems outside of the enforcement arena. OFCCP will identify and explain best practices and successful self-audit strategies relevant to specific industries and share summary Equal Opportunity Survey data with those industries.
Federal Programs for Workers' Compensation
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers three major disability compensation programs that ease the financial burden on certain workers, or their dependents or survivors, resulting from work related injury, disease, or death. OWCP's Salaries and Expenses request for FY 2001 is for $120.9 million and 1,184 FTE, an increase of $10.9 million and 25 additional FTE. Another 129 FTE are funded through the Federal Employees' Compensation (FECA) Special Benefits fund Fair Share assessments and 17 FTE are funded in Black Lung through the reimbursable agreement with the Social Security Administration.
Part of the Secretary of Labor's second Strategic Goal of a Secure Workforce is supported in the Outcome Goal to Protect Worker Benefits. OWCP supports achievement of that goal by getting injured workers taken care of, paid properly and promptly, and making sure they understand what is happening in the process. OWCP works to get injured workers back on the job as soon as is medically advisable, keep the costs of OWCP programs in line, and, in so doing, protect the interests of not only the injured workers, but those of their employers and the Federal Government. In dedicating itself to these goals, OWCP has accomplished much in recent years.
Since 1992, OWCP's use of early nurse intervention in new disability cases and vocational rehabilitation services have helped over 34,000 injured Federal employees return to the workplace, and careful evaluation of long-term disability cases under FECA's Periodic Roll Management has netted more than $400 million in benefit savings. OWCP has reduced the average length of disability in new FECA time-loss cases by 9% since 1997, and established a new measurement of disability time loss for all Federal cases under the Presidential Initiative, Federal Worker 2000. Fee schedules have reduced charges for medical service by millions of dollars; a quality assurance program has been established to review physicians' bills for duplication and other improper practices. Federal agencies are being helped by FECA to gain better access to claims information, speed the filing of new injury notices and better service for their injured employees.
Underpinning its strategic-level performance is OWCP's investment in automated system solutions. Major spending initiatives in FY 2001 include the continuing redesign of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) computer system and a transition to "paperless" operations. This latter project includes installing document imaging systems in FECA district offices and converting approximately 85,000 paper case files to electronic form. OWCP's budget also supports the Departmental Information Technology Crosscutting Initiative to procure compatible hardware and software maintenance and support for DOL's common IT architecture; enhance system security; and purchase long-term licensing for a common database management system.
To improve program effectiveness and address customer service deficiencies, OWCP will revamp its communications system and adapt industry best-practices solutions for the FECA program; centralize call processing for consistent and sound medical treatment authorizations; train FECA staff for strengthened customer relations; expand claimant and employer access to FECA claims information; and restructure the FECA claims examiner positions to better focus on case management.
In last year's appropriation bill, Congress directed the Administration to provide its recommended action to address growing Black Lung Disability Trust Fund (BLDTF) indebtedness. As reflected in the President's FY 2001 budget request, the Administration will propose legislation this year that authorizes a refinancing of the outstanding BLDTF debt, extends the BLDTF excise tax levels, set to expire in 2014, at current rates, and provides a $1.5 billion appropriation to compensate the General Fund for the foregone prepayment premium. Generally speaking, the prepayment premium approximates the charge that banks levy to recoup at least part of the interest lost when loans are refinanced at a lower rate.
Office of Labor-Management Standards
The resources requested for this activity in FY 2001 are $30.6 million and 290 FTE. This includes a request for $143,000 and 2 FTE to address workload increases in employee certifications in a timely manner.
In FY 2001, OLMS will conduct complaint-based investigations to ensure democratic union officer elections and supervise remedial officer elections as required. OLMS will conduct criminal investigations and investigative union audits under its streamlined audit programs to safeguard union financial integrity. In FY 2001, OLMS also will implement a new electronic filing and Internet-based public disclosure system for reports filed under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA), principally some 32,000 union financial reports. Performance goals will emphasize two key objectives in this program area. A key objective will be to secure timely filing by unions with $200,000 or more in annual receipts since they generate the most public disclosure interest. Another will be to increase the number of filed union annual financial reports that meet standards of acceptability. As necessary, OLMS will conduct investigations to determine whether reports are required of employers, labor relations consultants, and union officers and employees on the basis of activities conducted. Performance results for LMRDA program goals will be tracked using information from established labor organization reporting and case data systems.
Compliance assistance for union officials and outreach to inform union members concerning their LMRDA rights will be continued. Partnerships with major international unions also will be fostered to seek their assistance in promoting compliance by affiliates with statutory reporting requirements.
The OLMS Division of Statutory Programs will continue certification of employee protection arrangements. A major objective will be to complete all certifications within 60 days of referral, consistent with applicable guidelines, even with workload increases anticipated as a result of new transit grant programs. Performance results will be tracked using information from an established case processing system.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my formal statement. I appreciate the support you have given the Employment Standards Administration in the past and the opportunity to appear before you today and discuss our proposals for the next fiscal year. My colleagues and I will be happy to respond to any questions regarding the proposals in our FY2001 request.


text: The Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland sponsored the 2008 Poetry Contest for children from special education and children from kindergarten through ninth grade. The theme was "Nature's Song". Three of the winners are from Worcester County and were sponsored by the Worcester County Garden Club. Winners from Worcester Preparatory School were third grader Abby Bright and seventh grader Emma Richardson, who are pictured above with County Garden Club President Marion Novack, Club Vpast President Joan Vetare and Worcester Prep's Dr. Frederick Spurlock and Dr. Merle Marsh. The eighth-grade winner, not pictured, was Addison Cook of Berlin Intermediate School.


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King Creativity Fund Supports Six Student Projects for 2009-10
A new musical group on campus, a new biomedical instrument and a video documenting the threats imposed by exotic species in Florida and Texas are among the projects supported this year by the King Creativity Fund.
This is the 10th year the fund has supported "innovative and visionary projects" proposed by Southwestern students. The fund was established in 2000 with an endowment provided by Southwestern alumnus W. Joseph "Joey" King. Each year, the fund supports up to 20 projects. This year, six projects were funded for a total of $17,955. Students will present their projects at a symposium to be held Thursday, April 15, 2010.
Lauren Bird, Briana Garcia and Thomas Newman received $5,575 to fund a steel drum band that will be called the SU Steelpan Ensemble. The ensemble will perform public concerts featuring the distinctive genre of music from the Caribbean. It will be open to all Southwestern students, faculty and staff.
Pelham Keahey, Will Hardy, Mason Cradit, Andrea Holland and Steven Solis received $3,400 to build a new type of apparatus for the detection and identification of microorganisms. The device will record changes in the electrochemical properties of samples suspected to contain microorganisms. Such a device could enable doctors to prescribe specific treatments sooner, since current methods for detecting which pathogen has caused an infection can take from three days to several weeks. The detector will be based on a design patented by Gerald Wade, shop manager for the Fondren Jones Science Center.
Matt Trawick, Olivia Stanzer, Allyson Plantz, Brandon O'Conner, Jessilyn Massey and Ryan Saurage received $2,950 to create a film that will document the threats imposed by exotic species in Florida and Texas. The two species the film will focus on are an applesnail known as Pomacea insularum and the Burmese python. Since most exotic species are introduced by humans, Trawick hopes the film will help reduce such behavior. All the students participating in the project are students in Biology Professor Romi Burks' research lab.
Other King Creativity projects funded this year include the following:
Duncan Alexander, a senior art major, received $1,830 to produce and display four artworks that will experiment with the interaction between paintings and digital animated projections overlaid on the surface of the paintings. Alexander will present his artworks to the public as part of his senior exhibition Dec. 3-13. He also will post the works on his blog at http://hypothete.blogspot.com/
Carlos Barron, also a senior art major, received $1,800 to create an exhibition of large-scale digital prints that will showcase his talent in the area of insect macrophotography. Barron said he wants to show viewers the "individual nature of the inhabitants of a microcosmic world that is normally hidden from our view." The works also will be shown as part of his senior thesis exhibition and posted to an online gallery.
Morgan Mingle and Stephanie Henderson received $2,400 that will enable them to take advantage of a rare opportunity to study and work with infant dolphins at Pet Porpoise Pool in Coffs Harbour, Australia. The two will spend four weeks there over the holiday break. Their goal is to help understand how the dolphins develop language ability and the social context in which certain vocalizations are made. Both are junior animal behavior majors.


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State of the Union: Bill Bader Jr. interprets trends.
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 03 February 2013 23:40
NORWALK, Ohio -- The president of Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio evaluated trends in drag racing and recent surprises in the 2013 event lineup while remaining loyal to racers and sponsors.
"You dance with who brung ya," said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio as he spiced his State of the Union speech at the Mr. Gasket Banquet of Champions with commitment to strong local programs.
"We will always be a sportsman racers' race track," Bill Bader Jr. said. "It's how we got here."
Winning sister awards of 2012 Track of the Year -- from the National Hot Rod Association as well as from CompetitionPlus.com -- carries the responsibility of leading the way to solve common drag racing challenges.
For example: How can insiders open doors and windows to welcome new racers and fans?
Getting started in drag racing may seem like a formidable wall because of the intimidation factor in the pits, and the expense of the sport, Bill Bader Jr. said.
A common theme at race tracks across the country is shrinking car counts, Bill Bader Jr. said, adding what began as a minor matter emerged into an alarming problem.
"Bracket racing is dead in the South," Bill Bader Jr. said. But here the Mr. Gasket $50,000 Super Series remains robust. "Our car count was up in 2012. That's good. We are trying with all our might to maintain affordable racing so we can transition kids from Wednesday night."
A bridge to the Mr. Gasket program from entry-level events requires creativity.
As an experiment to infuse vitality into the Wednesday night program, the cost to race or watch dropped in 2012 from $12 to $7.
"It increased our car count by 75 cars and adult admissions by 131 people weekly," Bill Bader Jr. said. "That gives you an idea how important $5 is. People don't realize that they can take their station wagon down the track on Wednesday night. We have to cultivate and build from within. That is our feeder system for Saturday."
The weekend racing culture follows most Mr. Gasket $50,000 Super Series teams, who pull into the track on Friday evening to race on Saturday.
"It's become a camping weekend," Bill Bader Jr. said. "It's your cabin. It's your hunting blind. It's your boat.
"Our challenge is to figure out how to bring those future racers to Saturday."
One idea creates racing workshops delivered by top Saturday racers on Wednesday nights in the Media Center at Summit Motorsports Park, Bill Bader Jr. said.
Another possibility may be to fashion a special category for seasoned racers on Wednesdays so new racers catch a fever for Saturdays.
"Most of these kids want to go up and down the track as many times as they can, collect an E.T. slip and brag to their friends," Bill Bader Jr. said. "Our weekly average was up 46 cars. I was pretty proud of that."
On the regional level, similar solid results brought to Summit Motorsports Park the third largest car count out of 43 race tracks in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
"It was 12 behind the second place finisher, which was Las Vegas in March," Bill Bader Jr. said. "Hopefully we can overtake second place in 2013."
Part of the vigor of an individual track involves encouraging other tracks' quests for stability and growth.
"Every race track has a core of racers," Bill Bader Jr. said, recalling when a track in Michigan closed. "I remember going to a transmission shop in a place I don't ever want to revisit."
The racers from Michigan responded to his invitation and swelled the Saturday series in Norwalk to 160 cars in Super Pro and Pro, Bill Bader Jr. said.
"That's when our legend grew about the track that races all night every week," Bill Bader Jr. said. "Yeah, we did. But of that core, 95 percent parked and stopped racing."
As a result, they're not available to run at the Ten Grand Nationals and other specialty races, Bill Bader Jr. said.
"I don't view other tracks as competition," Bill Bader Jr. said. "I view other tracks as necessary to our life blood."
Considering the economy, Summit Motorsports Park found many reasons to celebrate the 2013 Golden Anniversary of the dragstrip all year with bold new events and revived oldies to complement the strong racing programs.
For an example of a bold new event, the Summit Racing Equipment Shakedown at the Summit presented by Mickey Thompson October 4-6, 2013 features Outlaw Pro Mods, Outlaw 10.5, Outlaw Drag Radial, Pro Import, and Pro Street Bike, and others.
The Shakedown motto, "A win on your roof is stlll a win," captures the adventuresome spirit of racers vying for a chunk of a $130,000 purse event.
"I have never been a part of an event that has created the buzz and vibe of Shakedown," Bill Bader Jr. said. "There are more sponsors calling us to get involved than I have ever had before. This thing is going to be something very special. It's not like anything we've ever had at Summit Motorsports Park."
The door cars use small tires with huge horsepower, big wheelstands, and guard-wall-to-guard-wall racing, Bill Bader Jr. said.
At the other end of the spectrum, the 2013 season melts the winter blahs with the Spring Warm Up on April 20, 2013, featuring 11 hours of Test N' Tune and a huge swap meet.
The next event on April 27 revives an oldie, the Funny Car Fox Hunt, calling out historic BB Funny Cars, and admitting all girls for free, said Bill Bader Jr.
Another sweet treat of the Funny Car Fox Hunt unveils as Al Hannah, owner of Hannah Motorsports, debuts the new Queen of Diamonds Jet Dragster driven by Jill Canuso.
"It's a state of the art, exotic Jet Dragster," said Bill Bader Jr. "Like something out of the "Star Wars" movies."
In addition, the Mr. Gasket $53,100 Super Series launches at the Funny Car Fox Hunt, including Bear Motorsports Junior Dragsters presented by Wiseco, Bill Bader Jr. said.
"We are introducing new races to our Summit Motorsports Park lineup," Bill Bader Jr. said. "We are running heads up two times with the Renegade Racing Association. We picked two events -- June 1 and September 7 -- where the weekly car counts can absorb those cars.
"I understand the girl we brought to the dance is bracket racing," Bill Bader Jr. said. "Everything cycles. We may be to the place where we look at heads up racing as an affordable alternative to bracket racing.
"Out of 300 sanctioned tracks in North America, less than 10 can say their bracket program was up this year," Bill Bader Jr. said.
The closing of the All Harley Drag Racing Association caused an unfortunate change in the schedule, too, Bill Bader Jr. said. That weekend, June 8-9, 2013, now holds a Mr. Gasket $53,100 Super Series event and a Friday Test N' Tune.
But Nitro Harley lovers still can rave for their faves at the 7th Annual Mickey Mart Rewards Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, May 17-19, 2013, a part of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the new Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series.
Also, don't miss the two fireworks displays that canopy the Cavalcade of Stars Friday and Saturday nights, after fire shows by Bob Motz and his 200 mph Jet Kenworth; Jill Canuso and her new 300 mph Queen of Diamonds Jet Dragster racing Ernie Bogue and his Beast from the East Jet Dragster; plus 260 mph Funny Cars and 280 mph dragsters.
The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, part of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series July 4-7, 2013 continues our Golden Anniversary as the NHRA drag racing stars launch drama and sizzling track action.
The highlight of our Golden Anniversary, the Auto Plus Night Under Fire on August 10, 2013 is packed with thrills such as Benny "The Bomb" Koske, Disney stuntman Chris Morena, racing stuntman Tim Chitwood, World Record Harley Davidson Motorcycle Jumper Bubba Blackwood, and Monster Truck drivers Dan Runte and the Summit Racing Bigfoot, and Randy Moore and the War Wizard.
Also, favorites return, such 15-time Funny Car World Champion John Force, Bob Motz and his Jet Kenworth, four Jet Dragsters, and Ed Robinson's Wheelstander.
We might need more seats for these two events, Bill Bader Jr. said.
Three more new events burst onto the park, beginning with the National Mustang Racers Association Nationals June 14-16, 2013, which Bill Bader Jr. hopes will capture the popularity of the Fun Ford Weekend.
The National Muscle Car Association Nationals, August 23-25, 2013 features a Cobra Jet Showdown and a special late-model hemi shootout.
Then the huge Monster Mopar Weekend September 13-15, 2013 includes a swap meet, manufacturers' midway, race and car show.
Of course, the Ames Performance Pontiac Nationals returns August 2-4. The No Box Bonanza is June 21-23, and the Ten Grand Nationals presented by Fleenor Racing Transmissions launches August 30-September 1.
And don't forget the High School Nationals on Sunday, May 5, with all the intensity of racing whatever, carbureator rebuilding races, crazy car crams, and young people ages 16-18 having a great time.
The Wanda AkzoNobel Blue Suede Cruise July 19-21, 2013 already doubled its car count over last year, Bill Bader Jr. said, announcing the return of historic classes of drag racing, including BB Funny Cars, AA Gassers, Super Stockers, and more.
A rock band from the 1960s, Jay and The Americans, performs live in concert on Saturday night, followed by Blue Suede Cruise fireworks.
In 2013 the K&N Halloween Classic presented by Harland Sharp celebrates its 40th Anniversary with special activities, Bill Bader Jr. said.
For one, the Wednesday race changes to an all-run bracket race day, Bill Bader Jr. said.
Also, with the 2012 Super 64 rescheduled for Saturday, May 25, 2013 because of rain, the Super 64 will receive one more chance to run at the Halloween Classic. If the Super 64 rains out again, it moves to another date, Bill Bader Jr. said.
"We've got some neat stuff planned for Halloween Classic 40 that you're going to hear about through the spring and summer," Bill Bader Jr. said.


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By Rich Lindbloom
Serendipity: an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. Good luck, good fortune.
Going 8-1-1 in the last 10 games, with Tazer still trying to count to ten, might add new meaning to the word serendipity. Not even the most optimistic Blackhawk fan could have expected the good luck and fortune that have been our allies over the last couple of weeks. Are you kidding me; Andrew Shaw has two shots bounce off various parts of his body for goals in the last two games? After struggling mightily in January and February between the pipes, are beleaguered goalies are named #1 (Emery) and #3 (Crow) Players of the Week the last two weeks in the NHL? (That's got to be an oxymoron or something.) Johnny Oduya, acquired in the 11th hour of the trade deadline, suddenly anchors the aft end of a listing defense? Temperatures hovering around 80 in mid-March? Before I get into the "full speed ahead" portion of this article, I'd like to tell you about a serendipitous moment that happened in the Orcas Islands in the Puget Sound. Continue reading »


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Headlines for Thursday:
|Ping Mark Wilding
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|Chat with Mark Surman
How do you know if an idea is innovative? You might feel that your pet idea is amazing, only to find out it's not only obvious but can already be found in several open-source implementations. (Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!) Patent searches are difficult because patents are intentionally vague. Your best bet? Ask subject experts, or just put it out there and see if anyone complains. As long as it's innovative to some people, it's okay, right?
I wonder if the most missed opportunities, however, are when we don't think an idea is innovative, when we think it's blindingly obvious to everyone. Some things come naturally to us because they makes sense given our experiences and our situation, and we forget that even if we're in the same situation that other people find themselves in, our experiences give us a unique perspective on things. How can we recognize our innovative ideas if we think we're ordinary?
Here's what research into creativity and expertise has to say:
The empirical evidence on creative achievement shows... that individuals require a long preparatory period during which they master the relevant aspects of that domain until they are even capable of making creative contributions to the domain. ... Extended education is, thus, necessary even to recognize major innovations and distinguish them from products matching acknowledged achievements previously created by earlier eminent performers. - K. Anders Ericsson, 1998
In order to recognize that something is new, you should know the old stuff. Pretty straightforward, right? That can involve a lot of work. Even in science and other well-documented fields, people specialize because they can't keep track of everything going on. Where's the pay-off for this work?
...the extended education of expert performers primarily elevates the level of play and search by providing the appropriate tools and the rich knowledge about previous achievements. - K. Anders Ericsson, 1998
The more you know, the more you can play with, the wider the solution space you can explore. Every programming language you learn opens up new worlds for you. Every tool you try out adds value in a combinatorial explosion. The further you go, the likelier it is that you come up with ideas that few other people could have come up with, too. And the more you learn about what's already there, the better you'll be at recognizing when something's new.
Right. But you don't have time to do that. So what can you do?
Here's how I deal with personal-level ideas:
If an idea seems innovative to me, it's probably innovative for at least one other person. If I can, I want to find that person and make his or her life better. ;) If I come across lots of people for whom this is a new idea, I might really have something good on my hands.
If an idea seems obvious to me, I'll keep it in mind anyway, and I'll share it with other people. Chances are, it's innovative for at least one other person, etc. Sometimes I'll realize I have cool ideas by just talking to other people and thinking about how we deal with things differently. I usually share the details of my little idea as a blog entry because I just know I'm going to run into more people who want to hear about it. I almost always come up with even better ideas while I'm describing the original one. So I really like sharing ideas with people, especially people who share their own ideas with me. We all grow.
I'm not too concerned yet about Really Innovative Ideas that need IP protection. I'm just practicing the skills of coming up with good ideas and making them happen. I have a growing collection of the cool ideas I spot or come up with, which I keep on index cards because index cards are the best for rapidly flipping through stuff. Starting with the idea that everything is innovative to somebody, the task then becomes one of filtering through this whole list of ideas to find one or two that can make someone incredibly happy. Sometimes I'll start with that someone in mind, and then my brain will kick into high gear and come up with suggestions. (I love that!) Sometimes I'll start with a cool idea and then, just for fun, see what I can apply it to and who might like it.
Is an idea innovative or not? I don't think it really matters to me. I have a feeling it should matter—after all, I'm currently doing my master's research—but I'm much more interested in whether it's worth it to find people it's new to (and everything is new to someone, which you know if you've ever tried teaching someone division), and what else I can do with the idea. That's why anyone who spends a few minutes with me at a networking event will come away with bucketloads of ideas and things to check out if they give me any sort of clue about their interests. That's why I love listening and sharing stories, because that helps me add people's experiences to my idea pool and lets me exercise my brain.
And then it becomes true: the more I learn and try out, the more ideas I have to play with, the more clearly I can recognize when most people will think that an idea of mine is crazy or cool. And that's not work - that's fun! So I think that's a great way to practice being innovative. Don't worry if your ideas are innovative or not! You'll always be able to find people who'll think those ideas are new and useful (although in some cases, you'll have to look very very hard). If these ideas make your life better, go for it. If they make other people's lives better, great! As you practice, you'll learn more and more about what other people think and how other people think, and you'll get not only a better sense of what's new but also what could be!
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