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Discussion in 'Future of Trek' started by Beyerstein, Aug 14, 2013.
Responding to the threads initial question;
Forced kiss.
^I never said it wasn't forced.
Also: "No."
I didn't claim you did. But it's an important distinction.
Wow, totally shocked at the amount of people saying they don't care or that the prime line is dead...
I'm all for going back personally, rather than sitting through another Into Darkness, which basically used the same story and just switched characters when it came to 'Who dies of radiation poisoning' and piled in a load of CGI explosions etc.
Star Trek for me is about a story, not just constantly blowing things up and shouting. For me at the moment Star Trek is dead because I can't see what they can do other than keep rehashing old story lines and switching what happens to who. If we want new story's etc. we have to explore very late 24th century early 25th. Going forward is the best possible way to 'revive' trek. What Abrams has done 'could' have worked but Into Darkness killed it for me. I couldn't believe what I was watching. This is best example of someone who doesn't care for Star Trek, he just wanted another action movie. The writing was LAZY as hell. Shit I think my 3 year old son could have come up with something better.
This is also a reason I'm buying TNG on blu ray and re watching DS9 because I love the prime verse and certainly would have it back in a heart beat given the chance.
Well said. I've mentioned a few times Into Darkness for me was Abrams cherry picking plot elements from across the franchise, changing them to suit, putting it all in a blender and boom, you have a "new" movie. Even though there wasn't anything in it we hadn't already seen before. Somehow I expect his third movie will be like this too. If you're going to go out of your way to invent a clean slate universe, do something original with it!
Hear, hear! I'm almost certain his third movie will just be a rehash too. Let's just say I'm not really looking forward to seeing it, and it pains me to say that about Star Trek.
Geez, I'm not even a huge Star Wars fan, but I can see him destroying that franchise too... But, maybe it'll work because he actually 'cares' for Star Wars...
Star Trek has been rehashing plots since season one of TOS. TMP was a rehash of "The Changeling". TWOK brought back a villain from TOS. TVH was a time travel story reminiscent of at least three TOS episodes. TNG and show that followed mixed and matched TOS characters. The Next Generation films desperately tried to duplicate the success of TWOK and TVH.
There was a kot of story in both of Abrams films. If someone can't see the story through the "explosions" I think the problem might lie with them.
^That just makes STiD a rehash of a rehash. That's a bad direction for Star Trek IMO.
A poll for this thread would be interesting. Is it too soon for a "Do fans want the prime timeline back? 2" thread?
Though make sure you have a yes, a no, and multiple other choices ("give it a chance" or "I don't know").
Star Trek has never shied away from rehashes in the past, so why would it be a "bad direction"? As I said, Star Trek has be reusing plots, characters and situations since it's beginnings. One of its more highly regarded episodes ("Balance of Terror") is lifted directly from a movie.(The Enemy Below) It's how the elements are used that's important, not the origin of the elements or if they've been used before. For my money, STID took elements from Space Seed and TWOK and created a new and interesting story.
Its never to soon for a poll. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a poll with that topic before ST09 came out.
I think you miss the point completely, it may have used similar plots in the past for episodes but we were still learning about the characters, a back story etc.
I can assure you there is no problem with me, I know what I'm watching, if you read my previous post you'd realise I said Abrams Star Trek 'could' have worked if it wasn't for Into Darkness, so mentioning 'both films' is irrelevant. Into Darkness offered us nothing new, I learnt nothing new. That is my point. Apart from Kirk 'dying' of radiation rather than Spock, it was just ooh big explosion and ohh more CGI.
You tell me where the new story is?
All I can say is that I had the most fun with Trek since 1991 watching Star Trek Into Darkness. Which is why I go to the movies.
Trek is nearly fifty-years old, I'm not sure there's anything you could produce that wouldn't be similar to something the franchise has already done and it still be recognizably Star Trek.
The "Prime Timeline" doesn't actually exist.
I think fans are making a distinction that exists nowhere except inside their own heads.
There is no a single cohesive overarching "prime" universe. Whether fans want to admit it or not, TMP was the first Trek reboot. The next film, TWOK, was another reboot. There is almost no reconciling Nick Meyer's Trek with Gene Roddenberry's. In Nick Meyer's Trek, Starfleet is unapologetically full military and Klingons have pink blood. TNG was Roddenberry rebooting himself, and the other spinoffs are derivative works created by other people. Fans consider all of this one vast universe only by ignoring the myriad contradictions between the various visions of the various creators and producers.
Abrams vision of Trek is no more or less valid than Nick Meyers'. And I say that as one who is not a fan of the Abrams movies. Let's just stop pretending that every derivative work of Trek to ever hit the airwaves or movie theater is all one unified whole. It ain't. It's no more one unified whole than the original Sherlock Holmes stories, the movies with Basil Rathbone, the new Sherlock with Cumberbatch, and the animated series SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22ND CENTURY represent a unified whole.
I think the problem is -- and no insult is intended to anyone -- that some fans who call themselves Star Trek fans are really "Rick Berman Trek spinoff" fans. That was merely one vision of Star Trek; it had its day mostly in the 1990s, but that day is done. Star Trek needs to move on.
Again, I don't like the Abrams films, but I'm hopeful someday for a good reboot, with no baggage at all from any 1990s derivative TV series.
Sure it does, there are several hundred hours of it.
I understand what you're saying, but, regardless of having Klingons with pink blood etc. they all (for the most part) kept in line with what we knew about the characters and continued to build on them, on screen. All of them had a back story and again (for the most part) were well written and had a depth to them.
Nick Meyer's movies were all, pretty much, based in the middle of a war between Starfleet and the Klingon empire so it made sense that they were 'unapologetically military' in their approach.
It also made sense with new technology etc. that things would look differently than they did in the 60's and 70's so things like Klingon forehead ridges/blood colour was more an evolution than a reboot.
Abrams Trek, as others have mentioned, was meant to be a 'clean slate' reboot. For example The destruction of Vulcan, having Chekov from the start of the adventure, Scotty's sidekick etc. etc. Also his insistence that his movie would be called Star Trek and Star Trek: Into Darkness would be Star Trek 2 and not Star Trek 11/12 etc. He didn't want it to continue down that line as the others were.
I did enjoy Star Trek 2009. But why, after doing all of the hardwork, did he decide to almost just remake TWOK with a few bits added in. It just seemed such a lazy way to continue his version of Trek IMO.
^Except for fan shows, books, and games, which I think may last longer than the reboot, should part 3 fail.
While books may be able to survive selling thirty or forty thousand copies, that number of viewers is no where near enough to keep a TV or movie series afloat.
^If a new TV or movie series only brought in book fans, yeah, though that's unlikely.
Separate names with a comma.


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Recap - Sparks Defeat Phoenix 89-55
Los Angeles cruised to victory on Sunday, running Phoenix out of the gym and running up an 89-55 score at STAPLES Center.
Bettors who backed the Sparks were also rewarded, as they covered the closing number as a favorite of 7 at sportsbooks. Over-Under bettors saw the total score go UNDER the closing total of 163.5.
Los Angeles got 16 points from Candace Parker and another 16 points from Jantel Lavender. Lindsey Harding contributed 5 assists, while Jantel Lavender cleaned the glass with 9 rebounds.
Phoenix got 9 points from Brittney Griner in a losing cause and another 9 points from Jasmine James. Jasmine James contributed 4 assists for the Mercury, while Krystal Thomas had 8 rebounds.
First-half bettors who backed Los Angeles were victorious, as the score was 49-26 at the break.
Los Angeles won the battle of the boards, outrebounding their counterparts 38-33.

subset: commoncrawl


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Cupcakes don't make the world go round, but they do come pretty close – and not just the sweet ones! Savory cupcakes are a modern twist on the classic sweet versions that we're all used to, and have been popping up all over the country as of late… and with offerings like lasagna, maple bacon, and caprese, it's not hard to see why. Cupcakes are just such a cute, dainty way to serve up deliciousness, and coupled with my love of bite size things, this trend is ideal. If you're new to the savory concept, here are a few great recipes to get you started:
Bacon Maple Cupcakes (from Delish)
- 1 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
- 1 1/2 cup(s) cake flour (not self-rising)
- 1 tablespoon(s) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
- 2 stick(s) (1-cup) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
- 1 3/4 cup(s) sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tablespoon(s) maple extract
- 1 1/4 cup(s) milk
- 2 cup(s) heavy cream
- 1 pound(s) semisweet chocolate, chopped, or chocolate chips
- Pinch of salt
- bacon
- Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the cupcake pans with your choice of cupcake liners. Into a medium bowl, sift together flours, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in maple extract. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined after each addition.
- Using an ice cream scoop, fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake 20 minutes until golden and the tester comes out clean. (Or until your house smells like pancakes!)
- Ganache: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring cream to a full boil; turn off heat. Add chocolate, and swirl pan to completely cover with cream. Slowly whisk mixture until smooth. (To get silky-smooth ganache takes longer to mix than you think!) Add salt; stir until combined. Transfer to a clean bowl and let chill overnight or until spreadable.
- When cupcakes have cooled, spread some ganache on top. Chill for a minute or two. While the cupcakes are chilling, cook up some of your favorite bacon however you like it. (Crunchy and toasted is recommended.) Chop in pieces, top the cupcakes, and voila !
Goat Cheese, Fig, and Onion Cupcakes (from Cupcake Project)
For Cupcakes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon backing powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup grilled onions
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup fig spread
- ½ cup goat cheese
For Frosting
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¼ cup goat cheese
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon fig spread
- grilled onions
For Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and baking soda and set aside.
- In a blender, liquefy eggs, sugar, grilled onions, butter, fig spread, and goat cheese.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just integrated.
- Divide batter evenly between twelve cupcake liners.
- Bake for twenty-five minutes or until the tops bounce back when lightly touched.
For Frosting
- Mix the butter and goat cheese until creamy.
- Mix in the powdered sugar until incorporated.
- Mix in the fig spread.
- Spread on cupcakes.
- Optionally, top with grilled onions.
T's Meaty Lasagna Cupcakes
I had to include my very own recipe for lasagna cupcakes. Bite sized and delicious, what more could a girl ask for?
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 cup minced onion
- 3 gloves garlic, crushed
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
- 2 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 tablespoon salt (or more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 bags (approximately) shredded mozzarella
- Lots of grated parmesan cheese
- Cupcake pan
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil on high.
- When hot, add onion and garlic and heat on medium.
- When starting to brown, add ground beef and sausage.
- When all is well browned, drain liquid and transfer to a large pot.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water.
- Season with basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours to reduce and thicken sauce, stirring occasionally.
- Fill another large pot with water and add a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and bring to a boil.
- Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, then drain noodles and rinse with cold water.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, egg, Italian parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and approximately 1 cup grated parmesan.
- Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Spray the cupcake pan with cooking spray
- Line each cupcake tin with two lasagna noodles that you wrap around the tin so make a cupcake holder base
- In the center, add the meat sauce, ricotta mixture, mozzarella and Parmesan
- Cover with foil and bake for about 15-20 minutes (until the cheese is melted and bubbling, but not burnt)
Mini Pepperjack Savory Cupcakes with Creamy Pesto Swirl (from Babble's Family Kitchen)
Mini Pepper Jack Savory Cups
- 1 ball plain pizza dough
- ½ cup pepper jack cheese
- olive oil for brushing
Creamy Pesto Frosting
- ¾ cup soaked cashews – drained
- 2 tablespoons water water
- 1 cup fresh basil
- ½ avocado
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup walnuts (add more to thicken as needed)
- 8 small cloves raw garlic
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- salt to taste
- optional: ½ jalapeno or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes for spice.
Garnish: finely diced fresh tomato and fresh basil leaves
- Heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place small balls of dough in each tiny muffin cup. Brush balls with olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of cheese on top of each.
- Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.
- For Creamy Pesto Frosting, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Salt to taste – and add more lemon juice to thin further or more walnuts to thicken. You can add in a half a jalapeno – or spices like cayenne or red pepper flakes as desired.
- Chill frosting until ready to use. Then use frosting tip to swirl on top.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves and diced fresh tomato.
Cheddar Scallion Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese (from MingMakesCupcakes)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ stick butter, melted
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup chopped scallions
- 4 ounces cream cheese, whipped
- scallions
- Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add eggs, melted butter, and cheddar, beating until combined.
- Add sour cream and scallions and mix until combined. Mixture will be light and fluffy.
- Drop by spoonful into greased small muffin pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Best served warm or reheated in oven.
- Top cupcakes with a dollop of whipped cream and slivers of scallions cut along the diagonal.
Savory Italian Meatloaf Cupcakes (from Kelley Ward)
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed or extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 teaspoons (about 5 cloves) garlic, chopped
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell peppers, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 4 eggs, large, one for egg wash
- 1 teaspoon salt, kosher
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper, black
- 1 cup Asiago cheese, grated
- 1 cup authentic Italian breadsticks, crushed or substitute with breadcrumbs
- 2 pounds ground beef, lean
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- 1 cup marinara sauce, plain or spicy if desired
- 1 pre-packaged puff pastry, defrosted
- 1 small can pesto sauce, if desired
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease or coat a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil in a 5.5 quart or medium sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions and red bell peppers and sauté for 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté until onions and peppers are just soft. Let cool.
- Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl whisk three eggs, add basil and season with salt and pepper.
- In another small bowl combine the Asiago cheese and crushed authentic Italian breadcrumbs.
- In a large bowl combine the meat with the basil and egg mixture. Add Asiago cheese, breadcrumbs, and balsamic glaze to the large bowl. Using your hands, mix ingredients until just combined.
- Take out one puff pastry sheet and place onto a lightly floured surface area. Unfold the thawed pastry sheet. Roll the pastry sheet into the size you need. Using a pizza cutter or knife cut the sheets into the number of pastries you need. One pastry sheet makes 9 cups. Press pastries into muffin pan cups. Fill cups with 1 ounce of meat mixture.
- Top with marinara, cheese, and a dab of prepared pesto if desired.
- Whisk the fourth egg for an egg wash. Brush the visible surface of the pastry with the egg wash.
- Place the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling, pastry is golden brown, and meat has reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Mouthwatering, right?
What's your favorite out-of-the-box foodie trend? Let me know in the comments and I just might feature it in a post down the road.
Related Stories:
Creative Ways to Eat an Avocado
Foodie Find: Forkly
Foodista: Grilled Cheese Gone Gourment
Foodista: Pudding Parade


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WashCo budget depends on sale of county assets
Staff Writer
FORT EDWARD, N.Y. -- Washington County supervisors on Friday approved a 2013 budget and the sale of the county's nursing home and public health services amid some final protestation.
"I don't think this has been picked apart," opined one county resident on the budget.
Calling into question pay raises for county officials, Paul Donaldson of Hartford said salaries couldn't be compared across county lines. "They have massive amounts of money" in Lake George, he said, continuing to say the county attorney was not worth the salary, the amount of sheriff's patrols was not mandated, and "the county administrator hasn't had an original idea in 10 years."
Calling taxpayers the employers of county government, Donaldson said they couldn't afford the tax burden. "Those people are important; you people are not, I hate to tell you," he told supervisors, predicting they would be voted out of office next year.
The budget approved on a 10-7 vote included a 3.08 percent year-over-year increase in the tax levy and, as one supervisor said, "(counted) on the check coming in" from the future sale of county assets.
Supervisors from the local Cambridge area -- including Alan Brown, William "Beaver" Watkins, and Robert Shay, representing Jackson, Cambridge, and White Creek, respectively -- were in the minority to vote against the budget and salary adjustments for certain administrators and department heads.
Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell, the county budget officer, said next year's levy would have featured a double-digit increase if the public health services and five county-owned transfer stations had their funding continued. "Everything in this 2013 budget is dependent upon the downsizing of our government," as set in motion, he said.
"I'm hoping we can move these back across the table as fast as we can," Campbell continued, speaking to ongoing negotiations. "The faster we move, the more money we save."
A study prepared for supervisors last year projected the Pleasant Valley Nursing Home would cost the county $11 million in net subsidies over a five-year period; while home health care services were projected to cost an additional $2.546 million over a three-year period.
The county's five transfer stations meanwhile were expected to lose more than $242,000 this year because of declining revenues despite steadily increasing user fees. A public hearing was scheduled for Dec. 21 to hear feedback on proposals the county received to sell or lease those recycling centers.
"I believe we need to stay the course," said Campbell. "If those three things aren't divested ... we're looking at a huge tax increase."
Brown said the county needed sufficient reserves in case one or more of the sales fell through, and he introduced a failed budget amendment to shift $500,000 into the general fund from highway paving.
Separate resolutions approved by the board of supervisors Friday authorized the sale of the county's certified home health care, long-term care, and hospice divisions to HCR Home Care, a Rochester-based firm that bid $550,000 for those services; and the sale of the county's 122-bed Pleasant Valley home in Argyle to the Centers for Specialty Care for $2.4 million.
The county will continue to run those operations while the sales are ratified and approved by the state Health Department. Argyle Supervisor Robert Henke was joined by Greenwich Supervisor Sara Idleman and Watkins in opposing the two measures.
A series of public hearings earlier this year drew mostly opposition to calls for privatization. "I think it's unfortunate we're doing this," said Idleman, calling the home health services "second to none" but acknowledging a "number of things that have conspired against" the county's Public Health and Hospice division, including bad past management.
"I just think the county is the ultimate safety net," she said. "I think it's a huge mistake, a huge mistake."
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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News & Events
For the Media
Clarkson University Remembers the Life and Legacy of Everett G. Foster, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Ardent Supporter of North Country Region
[A photograph for media use is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/news/photos/foster.jpg]
Everett G. Foster, Chair of the Clarkson University Board of Trustees and Sr. Vice President /Managing Director of RBC Wealth Management in Watertown, N.Y passed away in his home on Saturday with his wife, Judy, son Ben Foster and daughter Katharine Foster Meyer at his side. A member of the Clarkson Board of Trustees since May 2000, he had served since October 2005 as the 18th leader of Clarkson's governing body.
During Rett Foster's tenure as Chair, the University flourished, achieving record applications and first-year student enrollment, significant growth in research and national stature, and the initiation of a campus master plan that has already brought about marked improvements to the campus infrastructure. Major projects included the construction of the Technology Advancement Center, renovation of Walker Arena and Hantz Field, a new President's House, additions to residence halls, and a transformative Student Center now under construction for completion in fall 2010.
In paying tribute to Chair Foster, John B. Johnson, Jr., longtime Clarkson trustee and friend of the Foster family said, "With his wonderful wife, Judy, Rett Foster was a tireless supporter of everything that brought good to the North Country, from education to health care, from patronage of the arts to saving historical treasures, and from the stewardship of our natural environment to the creation of new jobs through smart investments in the talented people who call the North Country home. His business acumen, genuine concern for humanity and keen wit will be missed sorely by all who called him friend and colleague."
President Tony Collins added, "Rett Foster has given Clarkson a lasting legacy of leadership and progressive direction that befits the attributes of our namesake Thomas S. Clarkson, a man that everyone called friend. Together with his wife, Judy, he inspired a spirit of community and service that is the source of goodwill and philanthropic gifts back to the institution. He was not afraid of adversity in his personal and professional life, but instead engaged people in core values that stand the test of time."
At the height of the economic downturn, Chair Foster provided steady guidance and confident foresight to move forward with an ambitious master plan. While other institutions struggled to maintain the status quo, Chair Foster encouraged the Board and administration to leverage Clarkson's strong financial position for the good of the community and the institution's future. President Collins added, "Today, Clarkson reflects Chair Foster's character - resilient, committed, confident and competitive, always with a touch of good humor. He will be deeply missed."
Within private higher education governance, Clarkson's Board of Trustees is unique in its mixed representation of alumni, corporate partners and regional advocates. Mr. Foster, a graduate of Colgate University, felt a strong affinity to Clarkson's history of making an outstanding education available to talented North Country students and its role in advancing economic opportunities throughout the region. His interest in scholarship opportunities for local high school students led to his active involvement in a variety of Clarkson projects prior to his service as a volunteer Trustee.
Chair-Elect and Vice Chair of the Clarkson Board of Trustees Thomas E. Holliday of Los Angeles, Calif. will assume the duties of Board Chair. Last year, Mr. Foster had announced his intentions to step down as Chair in October 2010.
When he was elected to the Clarkson University Board of Trustees in 2000, Mr. Foster led the Tucker Anthony, Inc. office in Watertown, N.Y. Tucker Anthony became RBC Dain Rauscher in 2002 when it was purchased by Royal Bank of Canada, and in a subsequent reorganization, the investment management portion of the international firm was renamed RBC Wealth Management.
Prior to Tucker Anthony, Foster worked for the trust department of Morgan Guaranty Trust Co., New York City, and then joined the Watertown branch of Foster and Adams stock brokerage in 1968 as office manager. His grandfather, Howard C. Foster, was a founder of the brokerage firm. He became a general partner of the family firm in 1970 and was named manager of the office when the firm was acquired by Tucker Anthony in 1977. He became a vice president in 1979, and in 1981 he was regional director for Upstate New York and a managing director of Tucker Anthony Holding Co.
A native of Plainfield, N.J., Foster graduated from Colgate University in 1964 and received his MBA with honors in finance from Boston University in 1967. While in school, he was a radio operator with the Navy Reserve from 1964-65.
Foster was involved in a number of community and philanthropic organizations. In 1999 he was honored with the Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award. The award was established in 1952 to recognize those who go the extra mile for the community. Winners are selected based on citizenship, achievement, leadership, dedication and motivation, with an emphasis on community service.
Foster was a past president of the Northern New York Community Foundation, a founding board member of the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation of Northern New York, a Dohl Development Corp. board member, treasurer and chairman of the building committee for the Haun Library in Clayton, a Thousand Islands Association board member, a Watertown Downtown Development Task Force member, and a YMCA capital campaign fund-raising chairman.
He also was board director, treasurer and chairman of the Decade and Beyond Campaign for the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT), and founding president of Friends of Hobart-William Smith Rowing, raising money to build a new boathouse and create an endowment.
Foster and his wife, Judith, helped start the Governor Flower Society in 1988 -- a fund-raising arm of the United Way established to encourage others to get more involved in charitable giving. Foster has also been president and campaign chairman for United Way of Jefferson County, president of Watertown Family YMCA, president of the Joint YMCA- YWCA Merger Task Force, director of the Jeff-Lewis Federal Savings and Loan Association and United Northern Federal Savings Bank, president of the Northern New York Mental Health Association, president of the Cerebral Palsy Association, president of the Association for the Blind, president of the Forest Lake Club in Hawley, Pa., president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and its "businessman of the year," Watertown Town Council member from 1978 through 1981, and member of the New York State Senate Higher Education Advisory Council.
He has been a Rotary exchange student host, won the Distinguished Service Award of the Watertown Jaycees in 1973, was named "Volunteer of the Year Award" by the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility in 1991, was finance chairman for the Urban Mission, a Watertown Town Republican committee member, financial supporter of the Thompson Park Zoo and head of the Thousand Islands Arts Fund.
Words of comfort to share with the Foster family and gifts to a Clarkson University fund established by the Board of Trustees in Mr. Foster's honor can be directed to the Office of External Relations/ Board of Trustees at Box 5500, Potsdam, NY 13699, 315-268-4483.


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Samardzija gets work accomplished in 'B' game
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Cubs Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija threw 66 pitches over four innings in a "B" game on a back field against the Rangers on Wednesday and survived.
"They like to hit the fastball in the Minor Leagues," said Samardzija, who served up a home run among six hits.
His slider, which was "garbage" in his last outing, was "very good today."
"It's really hard to evaluate this," he said of the workout. "You just want to get your pitch count up, work on your routine a little bit, and have a little bit of fun out there, to tell you the truth."
For example, he tried different combinations with his pitches, working with catcher Steve Clevenger.
"The ball the dude hit for a homer, we were working on elevating the ball up in the air, and I elevated it for him, and he hit it out of the park," Samardzija said of Zach Cone's three-run shot. "Certain things like that, you look at it, and the result doesn't necessarily dictate the means.
"Obviously, you want to throw up zeros anytime you're on the mound," he said. "You look at how the pitches went and how everything went and go from there. The way my arm feels, for me that's most important. You have a 10 o'clock game, you want to make sure you get your body warmed up, your arm warmed up."
Cubs manager Dale Sveum was happy with the workout.
"He came out and threw strikes," Sveum said. "It was a controlled atmosphere we wanted to put him in where he got up and down four times. He was working on some stuff you wouldn't do in a regular game. His secondary stuff was good and he was getting strike one, and obviously, getting too much of the plate with his fastballs."
The Rangers had called the Cubs about playing a "B" game, and Samardzija drew the short straw for the long, early drive.
"Situations like that, you can work on one certain aspect, work out of the stretch," he said. "You can kind of control the environment a little more."
Named the Opening Day starter, Samardzija said the good thing is he knows when he'll be pitching -- April 1 against the Pirates.
"I've just been keeping an eye on that date, and making sure all my pitches and windup and stretch and all the little things are right where they need to be for that date," he said. "It just changes things a little with the lead-up to it. You know what the intensity of that game will be. You just take it easy and not let your emotions build up over the next few weeks."
Castro pain-free, waiting to return to game action
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro said Wednesday he feels no soreness in his left hamstring and is sidelined strictly as a precautionary move.
"There's no pain anymore," Castro said Wednesday in Mesa. "When I'm hitting on the field, it's 100 percent, I don't feel anything."
He has not played in a game since he felt tightness in his hamstring one week ago. Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Castro may not be back in a game until Monday.
"I want to be playing," Castro said. "I don't want to see the other people play. It's not for me. I like to play every time I can get in the game."
If there's no pain, why is he sitting now?
"I want to be strong, I don't want to go in a game now and get hurt in a game and [be] out maybe one month of the season, two weeks," he said. "I don't want that. I want to make sure I'm good and can play in the season."
Castro appeared in all 162 games last season, and that's a goal of his heading into the 2013 season.
"It's an important goal for me," he said. "I see guys who play a lot of games, and that's what I like to play. I don't care where, I don't care what league, I like to play. This is the only thing I know how to do is play baseball. That's why I put it in my mind to play. I don't want to miss games. In the season, I don't want to miss games. I like to play every game."
Bogusevic building confidence with strong start
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Brian Bogusevic is the first to acknowledge it's too early in Spring Training to be awarding any one a job. But he may have the inside track on a spot on the Cubs' bench.
"It's nice to get off on the right foot," said Bogusevic, who began play Wednesday 8-for-18 (.444) in nine games.
He played first base on Tuesday, and will see some time there as the Cubs try to find a backup for Anthony Rizzo.
"I've played there a little bit in the past, enough to be comfortable over there but not enough to be feeling like I know everything about it," Bogusevic said. "That's the good thing about having such a long Spring Training is that there's a lot of time to work on stuff. It's something I really want to work on."
Bogusevic grew up a White Sox fan in Oak Lawn, Ill., and attended De La Salle High School, which is near U.S. Cellular Field.
Did he ever imagine wearing a Cubs uniform one day?
"Once you turn professional, that goes out the window," he said of the intracity rivalry.
One element of Bogusevic's game that has impressed Cubs manager Dale Sveum is his approach against left-handed pitchers. He's a left-handed hitter.
"Sometimes there's a stigma that lefties don't like hitting off lefties," Bogusevic said. "It's tough, but I feel I'm capable of doing it. Over the last couple years when I've been in the role of coming off the bench, you don't get a lot of at-bats off left-handed pitching. I've had quite a few early in the spring and it's helped. The more reps you get, the more comfortable you get."
Extra bases
• Hisanori Takahashi has pitched for the Mets, Angels and Pirates, coming to the Major Leagues in 2010. Has the Japanese left-hander given new Cubs pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa any tips on adjusting?
"I feel he's an accomplished pitcher in Japan and since we're from the same country, I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do over here," Takahashi said Wednesday. "Some of the system, pitching-wise, might be a little different compared to what he's used to in Japan. We're kind of joking about stuff and just having fun."
Takahashi, 37, who is competing for a spot in the bullpen, made his first spring start and gave up three runs on five hits over three innings against the Rangers in Wednesday's 3- loss. He's a non-roster invitee in Cubs camp, and didn't know Fujikawa well.
"Him being an accomplished closer, I felt a closer has to be in his own world to do his job, and there was some mystery about him," Takahashi said through interpreter Ryo Shinkawa. "Once I got to know him, he's really friendly and a nice guy."
Japanese ballplayers do train a little differently, but in exchange for longer days, they get an off day every fourth day. Takahashi did talk to Fujikawa about adjusting to the lifestyle in the U.S. Food isn't a problem.
"There's a lot of Japanese [restaurants] around, and I'm sure you guys all go for sushi," Takahashi said.
The Phoenix area is well known for Mexican food.
"I love it," Takahashi said.
• Fujikawa, Carlos Marmol, Shawn Camp and James Russell are locks for the bullpen. The Cubs will have to make a decision on Hector Rondon, the Rule 5 Draft pick, who threw one inning in relief Wednesday, giving up one hit and striking out one. He's given up two hits over four innings in four games this spring.
That leaves at least six players competing for two spots, including Takahashi, Blake Parker, Michael Bowden, Zach Putnam, Jensen Lewis, and Cory Wade. Parker missed most of last season because of an elbow injury.
"At this time last year, he opened your eyes a little bit with the life on his fastball," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said of Parker. "He has an above-average slider that he can get swings and misses on. He's interesting as well."
• Brent Lillibridge is sidelined with a groin strain, injured one week ago. Lillibridge, a non-roster invitee who is competing for a spot on the bench, could return early next week. Being sidelined now doesn't necessarily hurt his chances.
"He got to play," Sveum said of Lillibridge who appeared in five games before he was injured. "It was nice before he got hurt that at least I got to see him at first, second, third and short. Toward the end, he'll play a little outfield."
• Third basemen Ian Stewart and Josh Vitters, both sidelined with left-quad strains, are making progress and could get back in Cactus League games next week.
Pitcher Matt Garza, still out with a strained left lat injured Feb. 17, apparently was feeling better.
"[Tuesday] was the most upbeat he's been and the best he's felt," Sveum said, adding that the right-hander might try to play catch this weekend.
Garza is expected to miss the first month of the season.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: Most male gymnasts, it seems are stunted in all areas (voice, height), with the exception of Blaine Wilson. His voice seems fairly baritone. Bart Conner and Mitch Gaylord's voices seemed to get deeper after they retired. Kurt Thomas, now in his forties, makes exercise commercials, and his voice is fairly low.Originally Posted by JonnyCoop


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Tagged: wrigley field
Cubs bringing a Priest was a bad idea
It feels good knowing that the Dodgers only need 1 win to advance to the NLCS. Let's talk about the Cubs… Basically the whole country is rooting for the Cubs. The Media is rooting for the Cubs. The "experts" picked the Cubs to win this series and most of them picked them to win the World Series. So what happened ? 2 main reasons. First reason is that people forget that this Dodgers team is a different team than back in July. This is a team that is showing alot of confidence and having Manny Ramirez on the team doesn't hurt. Plus all the young guys have matured alot and playing great. We as Dodger fans know who is James Loney, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley and all the young guys. We know that they are very talented and capable of being future superstars (if they aren't already) We have been following them since they came up in 2006 Plus with the addition of Ramirez, it has brought a new atmosphere in the clubhouse. While the Cubs being in the playoffs is a great story for the media, it doesn't warrant them to be favorites to win. My second reason for the Cubs troubles is that they are focusing to much on the curse. Are they cursed ? Are they not cursed ? Why even think about it ? Did anyone notice that a Priest was in the Cubs dugout before Game 1 ? When I saw this, I couldn't believe it. Basically having a Priest in the dugout is telling the world that they believe there is a curse and that there is something wrong in the stadium. I was looking for the video of the Priest in Wrigley Field and I found it…
Crazy huh ? I don't have anything against the Priest being there. But knowing that there is cameras everywhere and someone will catch this, why even bother ? This is saying that they really believe that they are cursed. It's in their heads. Shouldn't have they learned from the Boston Red Sox and the Babe Ruth curse ? It's all imagination. There is no curse folks. You just haven't played great in the last 100 years 🙂


text: The purpose of this course is to provide information about the counseling purview of audiologists and speech pathologists. Topics, such as theories of counseling, lifespan issues, emotional responses to communication disorders, multicultural issues and providing diagnostic information will be presented. Counseling techniques for families and for support groups will be discussed. Students will learn basic counseling techniques and will learn application of these techniques for specific disorders.


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OAKLAND — In addition to temporary bus bridges to aid commuters, if a BART strike becomes "extremely lengthy" the agency has a dozen managers who could shuttle riders on the trains, the agency said Saturday as talks seemed to be making progress in the attempt to avoid a Monday morning strike.
Lead union negotiators left the building just after 10 p.m., leaving behind some junior team members to go over cost details with BART management, but they too soon began trickling out.
"Frankly, we have a long day tomorrow," said Pete Castelli, executive director of SEIU Local 1021.
BART's chief negotiator, Thomas Hock, said from his standpoint, the sides are "a lot more than halfway there."
Using BART management to operate trains is a last resort, BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said Saturday, but the 12 former train operators are capable of operating them and would do so "only if a strike becomes extremely lengthy." Such a move would have to be approved by BART's board of directors, and union officials have already attacked such a plan, saying it would endanger riders.
BART has scheduled 130 to 150 buses to arrive Monday and pick up commuters at nine East Bay BART stations and take them to San Francisco in the event workers walk off the job that morning, Trost said.
Both sides spent part of Saturday caucusing separately, Castelli said.
"It's important work," he said. "Committee work leads to proposals. We're trying to finish up supplementals, smaller issues. We expect to be here a long time tonight."
BART General Manager Grace Crunican, who entered talks Friday, was off-site for most of Saturday, Trost said, but Crunican and Hock returned to the building at 6:30 p.m.
Neither side is discussing specific bargaining numbers, honoring a gag order requested by the mediator. But Hock did emerge from the building shortly before 8 p.m. to report that while the most critical pay and benefit disputes still needed to be resolved, the two sides had tentatively agreed to some supplemental items requested by SEIU.
"We're still hoping we can get this done," Hock said. "Whether or not we do, whether or not we don't, that's up to them."
He characterized the tenor of the talks as cordial. "Everyone's very pleasant," he said.
Chris Finn, a BART train operator and recording secretary for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, spoke to reporters about a half-hour later.
The unions, he said, had "presented some new ideas to management, and we'll see how they're responsive to those."
After lead negotiators met earlier in the evening, smaller committees would be convening late into Saturday night "to see if we can agree on the numbers," Finn said.
Monday's deadline is the fifth work stoppage deadline of the past few months.
First, unions called a strike in the wee hours of July 1, shutting down trains before most commuters woke up. Then management asked the governor to avert a shutdown late at night on Aug. 4. After that, a judge ordered the cooling-off period at the governor's request on the last day possible, Aug. 11.
Polls suggest commuters have had enough, with 76 percent of Bay Area residents opposed to a strike, according to a SurveyUSA poll commissioned this past week by KPIX.
Staff writer Mike Rosenberg contributed to this report. Contact Matthias Gafni at 925-952-5026. Follow him at Twitter.com/mgafni.


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Breakthrough Awaits Talented Hollywood Hamster
As much as we bemoan the dearth of good roles for women, minorities and Coreys, things have really never been worse for gerbils. But a change may be in the offing as early as this weekend, when one lucky hamster has the chance to break the fluorescent-plastic ceiling en route to the A-list:
CASTING Hamster for short film (los angeles)
I am looking for a hamster.
I know I could buy one, but then I would own it. So , I was hoping to just rent one for 50 bucks for a couple hours.
The Hamster will be work in a studio shoot on a greenscreen. He is playing Rocky, the captain of a boat.
please send a picture
We are shooting for a couple hours on saturday, that is this coming saturday the 28th in Hollywood.
This coming Saturday? Fuck! Our hamster already made plans. Whatever — his headshots haven't arrived yet anyway.


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Adult Onset of Asthma
Many people develop asthma in childhood. However, asthma symptoms can appear at any time in life. Individuals who develop asthma as adults are said to have adult onset asthma. It is possible to first develop asthma at age 50, 60, or even later in life.
Adult onset asthma may or may not be caused by allergies. Some individuals who had allergies as children or young adults with no asthma symptoms could develop asthma as older adults. Other times, adults become sensitized to everyday substances found in their homes or food and suddenly begin to experience asthma symptoms. About 50 percent of older adults who have asthma also have allergies.
Signs & Symptoms of Adult Onset
Asthma symptoms can include dry cough, especially at night or in response to specific "triggers"; tightness or pressure in the chest; difficulty breathing; wheezing (a whistling sound) when exhaling; shortness of breath after exercise; and colds that go to the chest or "hang on" for 10 days or more.
How Adult Onset Asthma Compares
with Childhood Asthma
Unlike children who often experience intermittent asthma symptoms in response to allergy triggers or respiratory infections, adults with newly diagnosed asthma generally have persistent symptoms. Daily medications may be required to keep asthma under control.
After middle age, most adults experience a decrease in their lung capacity. These changes in lung function may lead some physicians to overlook asthma as a possible diagnosis. Untreated asthma can contribute to even greater loss of lung function.
Diagnosis of Adult Onset Asthma
Asthma symptoms can mimic other illnesses or diseases – especially in older adults. Hiatal hernia, stomach problems, or rheumatoid arthritis can create asthma-like symptoms. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has many of the same symptoms as asthma. COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is very common in older adults, especially those who are or have been smokers.
If your asthma symptoms are caused by allergies,
take steps to control known or potential triggers in your environment.
To diagnose asthma, your physician will question you about your symptoms, do a physical exam, and conduct lung function tests. In addition, you may be tested for allergies. Your primary care physician may refer you to a pulmonologist or an allergist for specialized testing or treatment.
If you have any asthma symptoms, don't ignore them or try to treat them yourself. Get a definitive diagnosis from your healthcare provider.
Managing Adult Onset Asthma
There are four key steps to successfully managing asthma:
- Learn about asthma and stay up-todate on new developments.
- Take prescribed medications. Don't make any changes until you check with your doctor. Don't use over-the-counter medications unless prescribed by your doctor. Check your lungs daily at home with a peak flow meter.
- You often can detect changes in your lungs with a peak flow meter before you actually feel your symptoms increasing. Visit your doctor regularly for further in-office tests. These lung tests are painless and provide valuable data that help your physician make adjustments in your medications.
- Make an asthma management plan with your healthcare provider. A plan establishes guidelines that tell you what to do if your asthma symptoms get worse.
Controlling Asthma Symptoms
If your asthma symptoms are caused by allergies, take steps to control known or potential triggers in your environment. Allergy-proof your house for dust, mold, cockroaches, and other common indoor allergens to which you are allergic. Reduce your outdoor activities when pollen counts or ozone levels are high. Choose foods that don't contribute to your asthma or allergy symptoms. Evaluate your workplace for possible allergens, and take the necessary steps to reduce your exposure to them.
Special Considerations for Adults
with Asthma
Many adults take several medications or use over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, regularly. Work with your doctor to simplify your medication program as much as possible. Explore the possibility of combining medications or using alternate ones that will have the same desired effect. Be sure to discuss potential drug interactions with anything you take, including vitamins.
Some asthma medications increase heart rate. If you have a heart condition, discuss those side effects with your healthcare provider. Older "first generation" antihistamines can cause men with enlarged prostates to retain urine. Oral steroids can make symptoms of glaucoma, cataracts, and osteoporosis worse.
Adults with arthritis may need special inhalers that are easier to operate. Anyone with asthma should consider getting an annual flu shot. Older adults also should talk with their doctor about getting a pneumonia vaccination. People with multiple medical conditions need to be aware of how their illnesses may affect one another.
Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, www.aafa.org
This article was originally published in Coping® with Allergies & Asthma magazine, May/June 2011.


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You are here: Home Built-In Cupboards
Built In Cupboards The Affordable Option
We manufacture and fit built in cupboards for bedrooms, lounges and other areas in your home.
Get your individually unique built in cupboards custom made and designed for by Herchris Creations. We design our built in cupboards from the ground up, to include all the features that you will ever need.
Built In Bedroom Cupboards
Our expert advisors will assist you with the right choice of wood, design, finishing and handles to fit the décor of each room. With many people it is difficult to choose between a light wood or a dark wood finish. With computer generated images you will be able to see the design for yourself long before the first wood is cut.
This option gives you the best view to see what your new built in cupboards will look like and how the choice of finish will affect the overall look and feel of your room.
After the design and your approval the wood is cut and the finishes prepared in our factory in Pretoria. Once completed, we install and assemble your built in cupboards at your home, normally everything is done within one day.
Call us now and let one of our professional advisors help you choose the right built-in cupboard design for your home.
Built-in cupboards or built-in wardrobes as the Americans call it are always but space when buying a flat or duplex. Even most residences in South Africa do not have adequate packing space in their cupboards and many new property owner are obliged to have their cupboards redone.
Now built in cupboards in a home does not only include bedroom cupboards as you very well know. Linen cupboards, work desks, dressing spaces and so on are additionally categorized as built-in cupboards. Most of exactly what I just discussed does not apply to most houses as many of us South Africans can hardly pay for a 2 bedroom home. Nonetheless let's take a look at the 4 points mentioned above.
Producing most space for Bedroom Cupboards
One of the easiest methods to create the majority of packing or hanging space in your bedroom cupboards is to make the units larger. Instead of having a 500mm broad bic put in why not have actually a 1000mm fitted. This will allow you to stuff 3 clothes items beside each other instead of two. By doing this you will utilize the rooms you usually have empty beside your clothes items.
Linen Cupboards
You can do one of two things in your linen cupboard. The firs is to fit even more shelves in it. A lot of people when packing their linen cupboard will leave a big space above the sheets and duvets to make the products pack at the back more easily obtainable. If you place a couple of additional shelves in the linen cabinet that area is made smaller sized and better used. You can additionally make the cabinet larger to pack even more linen items alongside one another as pointed out in point number 1.
Work Desk
Work work desks are an excellent means to create even more work surface space as well as packing space in a home. Whether it's a workplace, children's room or even a sewing room for the spouse work desks can be a wonderful addition to arrange things which would otherwise stand against the wall, lay around or congest your room cabinets.
Dressing rooms reign supreme
Yes I understand. Not many individuals have the dollars or room to have a dressing room installed but it's absolutely something to plan in pencil for when you do. Dressing spaces do not necessarily need to have doors and can be open. This will help you save loads of cash as the doors are typically the most costly part of the built-in cupboards in the dressing room. The cabinets inside your dressing space are likewise white melamine and as white melamine is the most inexpensive kind of wood it will bring the rate of the cabinets down too.
Interior Design You Won't Find Anywhere Else
Do you want to be the next big interior designer? Think you have what it takes to turn people's homes into a work of art? If so then you are going to want to read through this article and see what you can learn about how to be a well rounded interior designer.
Use wallpaper to upgrade shelving. Assemble-yourself bookcases are an economical choice, but they tend to be boring and look a bit cheap. To make them more stylish, try adding a bold wallpaper on the back of each shelf. Arrange your books and knickknacks to show off the pattern. This simple trick will give a store-bought shelf some pizzazz without breaking the budget.
Try decorating with maps. Maps are a fun and inexpensive way to decorate a room. You can frame them and hang them on the wall as art, or you can adhere them directly to your walls as wallpaper. They are great for children's rooms and home offices. Make the decor more personal by using maps of places you've been, your hometown, or places you dream of going.
A great interior design tip is to learn the art of subtlety. Some people prefer gaudy styles and that's perfectly fine. But a lot of people just end up with tacky decorating because they're overzealous and just don't know when to stop themselves. All you have to remember is the saying "more is less".
Layer in patterns and textures throughout your interior design. These touches can be very fun and inspiring. As well, the textures add a new sense dimension to your room. When people are enjoying your space, they will be engaged not only by their eyes, but also by their sense of touch.
All your careful interior-design decisions will be overlooked if the room you create is no longer functional. Issues like traffic flow, upkeep and your personal comfort, as well as the room's intended purpose, need to be taken into consideration before any design decisions are made for the most satisfying results.
Have a detailed contract with an interior designer if you choose to hire a professional. This will benefit the both of you and ensure you are on the same page, with no surprises or cost overruns. A good interior designer will want a contract anyway, so it is a good way to establish that they are a reputable businessperson.
Don't be afraid of color! So many people keep white walls in their home simply because they are unsure what colors would work for them. You don't have to go crazy with color--even painting one wall a vibrant color will change the feel of a room. If you are afraid to paint, start with throw pillows in bright colors and see what you think.
Take thorough measurements of the room you're decorating before you start shopping for furniture. Size is important. Measure both your room and any furniture you plan on buying. Just because it can fit into a room, doesn't mean it is of a practical size. Make sure that you're still going to be able to walk around in the room with ease.
Before designing your home, you should know exactly what you are wanting to put the emphasis on. For example, do you have a widescreen television you want to showcase? If so, then make sure the distance between your TV and the seats are approximately three times your screen size. Understanding what you want to emphasize in your home is crucial to designing it the way you desire.
Hopefully with all of the advice you have learned you can figure out how to find a way to be a unique and well rounded interior designer. Go into this subject with confidence and the best outcome should come about for you, good luck in all of your future endeavors.
Earn Your Home A Promotion With Improvement Ideas And Tips
Doing a quality job on your home improvement project is ideal! However, that is not the only thing that you need to consider. Make sure the work is done with safety in mind first of all! Not sure where to begin with home improvement? Don't worry; this article has helpful home improvement tips to get you started.
Avoid back strain when installing upper kitchen cabinets by attaching a board to the wall at the level where the base of the cabinets will finish. Allowing the base of the cabinet to rest on the board and support its weight while screwing the cabinet to the wall is better for your back.
Upgrade your water heater to a tankless style for an endless supply of hot water and lowered energy bills. Rather than heating a large drum of water continuously, these devices heat water as it passes through the heater, which is much more efficient than tank-style water heaters. You can choose from whole-house heaters, or those that are meant to supply water to one room or faucet.
When doing interior painting in your home you need to get a good brand of painters tape. There are a lot of brands on the market but not all do the jobs they profess to be able to do. You need to read reviews about the tape before using it in your home because paint bleeding onto molding can be very irritating and a pain to fix.
When looking for someone to help you with home improvements, do your research. This is important because you do not want an inexperienced or unskilled person working on your home. Ask around for a good worker from family and friends or go online and look for reviews on home contractors in your area.
A great home improvement project that will save you a bundle is to install a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can allow you to program in a variety of different settings so that you are using your heating and cooling system only when you need it and without having to monitor it constantly.
Take your trash out at least once a day. Don't let your trash pile in the kitchen because it attracts flies and ants as well as mold. Make sure that you don't let your trash take over your kitchen and set aside three minutes a day when you throw it out.
If you have watercolor paintings hanging in your home, try to place them where they do not receive direct sunlight. The sun, or any bright light, will cause the colors to fade over time. Your treasured paintings may lose their vibrancy--and value. Keeping them out of the sunlight will help preserve their colors.
When you are trying to narrow down which home improvements to tackle first, a good plan is to make a wish list first, of everything that you would do if you could do it all. Go through your home and figure out what needs fixed and make a note of each item. Then you can begin to prioritize what items are the most pressing and what you can afford to fix first.
Start your kitchen cabinet install with the top cabinets. It will make it easier for you to get nice and close to the wall so you do not have to stretch to reach the wall to put the screws into place. You should also start with the corner cabinet and line the rest of them up to that one; but be sure to use a level.
Yes, a quality home improvement project will really add to your home, but as you have read, don't forget safety! Do research to know how to get the job done. So, what are you waiting for? Use the above tips, and start improving your home!


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Downtown Ann Arbor clothing store temporarily closed following small fire
Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com
The sign on the front door of the store at 201 S. Division St. said "We will re-open as soon as possible." Owner Roger Pothus could not be reached for further comment.
Cole Bertsos I AnnArbor.com
Tom Gritter, assistant vice president for commercial client services for McKinley, Inc., which owns the building the clothing store is in, said fires and incidents such as this are few and far between in his experience. He said it's mostly up to the owner of the store to get in touch with insurance and cover damages.
The damage done to the business is unknown, but in a previous interview, Pothus said the smoke damage to the clothes was his first concern, and there was no physical damage from the actual fire.
"Some people said 'get the clothes dry cleaned,' but then they're just not the same," he said Dec. 4.
Gritter also that all McKinley properties are equipped with an alarm system that calls the fire department immediately, which is why the Ann Arbor Fire Department showed up to the scene before Pothus even had a chance to call them.
"The response was phenomenal," he said the night of the fire.
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
Roger...I hope you can get back up and running soon. What an awful time of year for this to happen...
Wolf's Bane
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 12:37 a.m.
All that polyester rubbing together?
Wolf's Bane
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
tough crowd.


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Kipnis happy with April 2014 results at plate
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- The way Jason Kipnis sees it, things could not get any worse this April than they did in April 2013. In order for the second baseman to add a trip to the All-Star Game to his career resume last summer, first he had to dig out of a deep first-month hole.
Kipnis' early-season slump this year hardly seemed like a setback in comparison.
"The way I put it is, I set the bar so low last April that it's kind of gravy here on out," Kipnis said with a laugh. "Even with my average not being that high, I'm having good at-bats, swinging at the right pitches, not chasing too many."
During Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Royals, Kipnis delivered the decisive blow with a two-out RBI double in the seventh inning. Heading into Thursday's tilt against Kansas City, the second baseman had a .279 average and an .881 OPS over his past 12 games.
On the young season, Kipnis was batting .243 with three home runs, five doubles, 10 RBIs, 11 runs scored and three stolen bases through 21 games as the No. 3 hitter. Prior to his recent 12-game turnaround, though, he opened the year with a .194 average and .688 OPS in his first nine games.
While going through the initial struggles, Kipnis focused on the success that was hard to see in the box score. The second baseman said he has improved a lot in that regard, finding positives in some at-bats that ultimately turned into outs.
"Absolutely," Kipnis said. "Before, I would rather take a swinging bunt [single] than a line-drive out, but you're starting to learn there are quality [at-bats] and there's a right way to go at the situational hitting. The three-hole comes with some responsibility and I think I'm handling it well so far."
Kipnis also knows now not to worry too much about a gradual start.
Last season, Kipnis hit .200 in April and saw his average drop to .189 in early May. The second baseman then hit .340 to pull his season average as high as .301 by the beginning of July. That extremely strong offensive push convinced former Tigers manager Jim Leyland to add Kipnis to the AL All-Star team.
"He has less far to climb this year," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He really dug himself a hole last year and he climbed all the way out of it. He's always a threat. Every time. Whether it's left-handed or right-handed, because he can hit the ball all over the field, he can hit the ball out of the ballpark, he can beat you with his legs.
"I don't really look up and see what Kip's batting average is, because we want him hitting all the time."
Axford delivers solid early work in closer's role
CLEVELAND -- There has been some drama to a handful of John Axford's outings this month, but Cleveland's new closer has still found ways to piece together a solid opening act.
Entering Thursday, Axford led the American League with eight saves and had a 2.79 ERA through 11 appearances out of the bullpen. It has not only been a welcomed early showing for the Indians, but also for the pitcher, who has labored historically in April.
"It's definitely better than what I felt last year," Axford said. "In years past, I've always felt pretty solid -- the numbers just have not been there. It's always been a struggle for me in April -- ERA, walks, WHIP, everything.
"Coming into the season, I just wanted to focus on making sure I got off to a good start and trying to put my best foot forward, I guess."
Axford is one of only four closers in Indians history to chalk up at least eight saves in the first month of the season. Joe Borowski (nine in 2007), Mike Jackson (nine in 1998) and Jose Mesa (nine in 1996) also accomplished the feat. Axford's eight saves are a personal best for April, topping the five he collected in the first month of both '11 and '12 with the Brewers.
Through 9 2/3 innings, Axford limited batters to a .176 average with nine strikeouts and seven walks. While the early walk rate is higher than the right-hander and the Indians would prefer, manager Terry Francona said he has seen improvement of late.
"He's starting to, like [on Wednesday], he stuck some fastballs," Francona sad. "[He] really stuck them, right where he wanted to throw them. When he does that, that makes that breaking ball so effective. He's got a few more walks to this point than he wants, but not lately. He's starting to really stick that fastball, which is good."
Masterson working on revving up his velocity
CLEVELAND -- Justin Masterson is five starts into his season and still searching for the kind of fastball velocity he featured in recent years.
The Indians have not been able to pinpoint a specific reason behind the noticeable decrease in pitch speed, but both pitching coach Mickey Callaway and Masterson are tackling the issue behind the scenes. Callaway said the big right-hander has increased the volume of four-seam fastballs during bullpen sessions in an effort to build more arm strength.
"I think right now, he just can't find that four-seam velocity that he had last year," Callaway said on Thursday morning. "I wouldn't say he's reinventing himself. I think he's playing the cards that he's dealt right now. We're working towards finding the four-seam velocity again and he's been working hard."
Masterson has averaged 88.7 mph on his fastballs (four-seamers and two-seamers combined), which is down from 91.6 mph in 2013, 91.9 mph in '12 and 92.7 mph in '11. Over that same stretch, Masterson's slider has gone from roughly 83 mph on average over the past three years to just 81.1 mph this season.
During Wednesday's start against the Royals, Masterson had very little difference in velocity between his four-seam fastball (90.3 mph) and two-seam sinker (89.5), according to PITCHf/x data. In April of last season, he was averaging 93.7 mph with his four-seamer and 92 mph with his sinker.
"In Spring Training, I don't think it was as noticeable," Callaway said. "I thought it was more he was working on just two-seaming the ball to really hone in on that aspect of his game, and really start trying to command that two-seamer. Maybe with that approach, he didn't build enough arm strength where he could go get that four-seamer. Whatever it is, I know we're working toward getting that back."
Callaway said the encouraging aspect is that Masterson has still been able to perform well on the mound in his last two outings, during which he has posted a 2.84 ERA with 15 strikeouts and four walks in 12 2/3 innings. In the previous two starts, the righty had a 10.80 ERA with 11 strikeouts and eight walks in only 8 1/3 innings.
"He's confident he's going to find it," Callaway said. "He just doesn't have it right now. He's doing whatever he can to win with the stuff he's got. He's pitching with what he's got. Every pitcher goes out there that day and they don't know what they have.
"He's trying to do the best with what he's got and he's done a pretty good job of that in his last two starts."
Quote to note
"They made it tough last year and it's going to be tough again this year. That's kind of the way you see it in the Central. Everybody plays each other really tough, some good young talent. We're all going to make some mistakes as we go about it, but I think whoever limits their mistakes the most is going to be on top."
-- Indians starter Justin Masterson, on the Royals
Smoke signals
• Yankees starter Michael Pineda was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Red Sox for pitching with pine tar smeared on the right side of his neck. While using a foreign substance on the baseball is not allowed per Major League Baseball rules, many pitchers within the game use something to assist with their grip.
"I think everybody knows that most people do it," Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "We know why they're doing it, what they want it for. You just have to be a little more discreet about it, if you're going to do it. Especially in cold weather, the ball does get very slippery."
• With one scheduled start left in April, Masterson has no decisions through 28 innings and five starts this season. There have only been two pitchers in Cleveland history (Ken Schrom in July 1987 and Bobby Locke in June of '61) to finish a month with at least 28 innings and no wins or losses.
"As long as we're winning, I'm happy," Masterson said. "That's perfectly fine. I'll take however many no-decisions come as long as we keep winning the games."
• Entering Thursday's game against the Royals, Indians left fielder Michael Brantley led the Tribe in hits (23), home runs (four), RBIs (18), total bases (39), runs (tied, 12), stolen bases (four), average (.295) and OPS (.875). Brantley signed a four-year, $25 million extension at the onset of Spring Training.
• Right-handed reliever Vinnie Pestano, who was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on April 9, has enjoyed a solid stretch since joining the Clippers. Through five appearances, the former Tribe setup man had a 1.80 ERA with nine strikeouts, two walks and a .176 opponents' average in five innings.
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Wegner Award to Hoosman for Serving the Underserved
Children provided an urgent and charming backdrop to the National Credit Union Foundation's 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Awards dinner as the foundation recognized programs and individuals whose lives and careers have been involved with young people.
The event recognized Credit Union Miracle Day, along with Hubert Hoosman Jr., CEO of Vantage Credit Union and Rick Craig, retired CEO from America First Federal Credit Union.
Giving the Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Program to the Credit Union Miracle Day highlighted the impact that a little physical activity can have in the lives of sick children and the organizations and facilities dedicated to helping them recover.
Credit unions have long supported the Children's Miracle Network, a collection of hospitals dedicated to researching childhood illness and providing treatment, often free of charge, to sick children across the country. Credit Union Miracle Day is one of the mechanisms credit unions have used to advance their support through a program called Credit Unions for Kids.
Juri Valdov, long time credit union executive and industry leader serves as chairman of the Credit Union Miracle Day effort and accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
In his remarks, Valdov recalled how he and long time credit union industry leader Bill Brooks had initially thought it would not be that difficult to organize the organization's first race, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in Washington in 2002.
"We imagined we could show up and put this thing together a couple of weeks before," Valdov said. "But we soon learned that it took a good deal more than that."
Since then, the organization has seen its original race grow to become one of the signature springtime events in Washington and has added similar races in Sacramento, Calif., as well as in the army bases.
Hubert Hoosman won recognition with the Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Individual Achievement for his leadership efforts both as CEO of the 100,000-member $702 million Vantage Credit Union as well as with the African American Credit Union Coalition.
The award recognized that Hoosman had risen through the ranks at the credit union for 30 years, taking the reins at the institution in 1994. His leadership has been characterized by programs the credit union launched to help financially underserved and lower income areas nearby and to reach out with internships and other programs aimed at young adults in its field of membership.
In his remarks, Hoosman expressed gratitude to a wide range of supporters, colleagues and other executives who he said had mentored him over his career and he urged credit unions to refrain from making loan underwriting decisions solely on credit scores.
Former CEO and executive Rick Craig's own children and grandchildren helped bolster the theme of supporting children during the presentation of his Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Craig's award recognized his long work on different credit union organizations as well as his exemplary work at political organizing as he helped America First and other credit unions in Utah fend off political attacks from the banking lobby in that state.


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I downloaded the new installer ver. 5.2201 and updated as usual. I hit the PLAY tab and the installer re-installs the guide. I followed the suggestions such as Delete the Dugi guides and reinstall along with the settings in the installer however with no luck.
When I log in WOW and get to the Character screen and check the Addons, the Dugi Guides read INCOMPATIBLE.
Any suggestions?


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How about them apples: Paralyzed cop finds business success
When a bullet stopped Jim Mullen from doing what he loved most - policing - he found another love
When Chicago police officer Jim Mullen was shot in the cheek and spine on duty, most thought he wouldn't make it. He was instantly paralyzed and would spend the rest of his life dependent on a ventilator to breathe.
Mullen and three other officers were responding to reports of gunfire in Rogers Park in 1996 when George Guirsch, 61 at the time, opened fire, forever bounding Mullen to a wheelchair.
Guirsch was originally sentenced to 140 years in prison (later resentenced to 100 years) and died in his jail cell in November 2011.
"I really hold no malice toward George," an incredibly positive Mullen told the Chicago Sun-Times the week of Guirsch's death. "I never really have. He was someone who was disturbed, and you know, there are a lot of officers out there that risk their lives every day. It was just my turn, I guess."
Since then, Mullen has worked as a news reporter, politician, and successful businessman of a food company that will soon become a national brand.
When Life Hands You Apples
It's no secret that Mullen likes to keep busy.
"I like to get up and swing the bat," he says. He was presented with the opportunity to report for CBS informing the public about people with disabilities, a passion he pursued for four years.
"I was a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic reporting the news. It was crazy if you think about it, but it worked," said Mullen.
Having been born into a police family – Mullen's father served as a Chicago cop, and his wife is an officer today – Mullen missed his first love and found a new way to protect and serve his city by running for alderman of Chicago's 41st ward in 2010. He ran as an Independent candidate, and though he came in third, he looks back at the experience as one of the greatest and most difficult things he's ever done.
Another light bulb went off for Mullen when a nurse told him about her family's barbeque sauce business. His mother made arguably the best apple sauce in the world, and what better way to honor her than to bottle her recipe? After much local success, Mullen launched a campaign to go national with it.
Mullen exceeded his goal of raising $25,000 through KickStarter, a funding website for new companies, which will help him put his product – Officer Mullen's Chicago's Finest Craft Apple Sauce – on shelves in 14 additional states within six months.
"It's never been about the money," said Mullen. "It's about me keeping busy, and sharing my mom's spirit."
Although he's reached his goal, Mullen says he still hopes to break even.
"I'm my own worst enemy. I love to give the stuff away. I gave away two just today, going to the bank! It's a bad business model," he joked.
His brothers and sisters in blue at the Chicago PD are largely behind the funding for Officer Mullen's Apple Sauce, and in turn, he donates yearly to the Chicago Police Memorial Fund.
Life With the Top Down
Another passion Mullen has managed to keep alive is his love of General Motors muscle cars. With his nurse of 17 years, Bill, in the driver's seat and his ventilator in the backseat, Mullen cruises through town like he did over 30 years ago in his '68 Corvette convertible.
"Apple sauce and horsepower," he said laughing, recollecting his passions.
"Ninety percent of the time when I wake up it's like Christmas," he said. "I got shot in the cheek with a .357 and I'm alive. It's better than winning the lottery. I'm still a husband and a dad; I can still watch my daughter grow up. Things aren't so bad."
His daughter, now 17, was only 6 months old when he was shot on duty.
"I'm the same guy I was before I was shot. I'm setting an example, that there is life after [a tragedy] like this, you know? That's what it comes down to. If you're disabled, you still have opportunities, but it's up to you to pick yourself up by the bootstraps."
To help Mullen with his launch and get a taste of the world's best apple sauce, visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chicagosfinest/mullens-apple-sauce-chicagos-finest-craft-apple-sa.


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Apple's Siri does not like Google Glass
0. phoneArena posted on 26 Aug 2013, 19:48
Siri has always been pretty sassy, and has had a solid amount of snark when it came to the competition. That said, Siri seems to have a few things to say on the subject of Google Glas, and as you might expect, Siri is not a fan of Google's new beta device. Google's Eric Schmidt has claimed that Google and Apple have an "adult" relationship, but that doesn't mean the two can't take jabs at each other...
This is a discussion for a news. To read the whole news, click here
1. Shatter (Posts: 2036; Member since: 29 May 2013)
Is somebody jealous?
4. daddysbeenabadgirl (Posts: 157; Member since: 26 Jul 2012)
And another lame article that has no substance and goes no where. iPA and MH are desperately trying to keep Apple relevant...Pathetic really =D
8. ihatesmartphone (unregistered)
iPhonearena XD
10. Napalm_3nema (Posts: 2236; Member since: 14 Jun 2013)
"Relevant"? This word, I do not think it means what you think it means. The company with the bestselling tablet, laptop, smartphone, mp3 player, and the biggest stacks of cash does not need a journalist, a fanboy, a baker, or a candlestick maker to keep it "relevant."
"Men lie, women lie, numbers don't."
14. Sesameopen (Posts: 109; Member since: 02 Aug 2013)
Actually, they do not have the bestselling tablet nor laptop. Tablets go to Asus and laptops go to dell.
17. johnbftl (Posts: 281; Member since: 09 Jun 2012)
They don't have the "biggest stacks of cash" either. Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell's bankroll compared to Apple's is like laying an AmEx black next to a Green Dot card.
22. SGSatlantis (Posts: 227; Member since: 20 Jul 2011)
Check your numbers before making a point and educating other people. Apple is only the biggest mp3 player seller and we all know that the mp3 industry is pretty much dead.
11. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)
shes just plain dumb.
2. mas11 (Posts: 1034; Member since: 30 Mar 2012)
It's easier to trash talk than defeat a competitor
3. Edmund (Posts: 656; Member since: 13 Jul 2012)
lol... Reminds me of the MS Ads dissing Siri
6. Googler (Posts: 813; Member since: 10 Jun 2013)
A step backwards for Apple, they don't need to do this but yet can't help themselves.
7. MyJobSux (Posts: 106; Member since: 01 Apr 2012)
If Siri really answers questions about glass like that, its hilarious. Kind of like the commercial where the iPad is compared to the Windows tablet and you hear the Siri voice. M$ slapped around the iPad but in a way it seems like Apple is slapping themselves around in a strange way, well, to me anyway, HAHA.
9. sprockkets (Posts: 1612; Member since: 16 Jan 2012)
It's apple - they can't help but talk trash about their competitors.
13. softfurryanus (banned) (Posts: 232; Member since: 09 Jul 2013)
Apple is better than most of their competitors in terms of senseless trash talk. Look at Samsung and MS and then tell me Apple is that bad, one of the reasons I respect the company is because they don't do ad campaigns devoted entirely to bashing another product. It doesn't make a cocky remark like this that couldn't be said up front acceptable, but I don't think Apple is that terrible in the field of trash talk.
19. takeja (Posts: 35; Member since: 16 Aug 2013)
Sorry, but Apple is a trash according to the facts about poor products and lack of morality:
1) no free copy a file
2) no default app (browser) selection
3) just 20 years old icon concept
4) "Apple iOS Apps Leak More Personal Info Than Android".
5) "iPhones most vulnerable among smartphones"
6) "40% of iOS popular apps invade your privacy without any permission"
7) "Apple censoring iCloud emails and attachments!"
8) "Apple played 'central role' in ebook price-fixing conspiracy"
21. Googler (Posts: 813; Member since: 10 Jun 2013)
Hello, I'm a PC.
12. bugsbunny00 (Posts: 2214; Member since: 07 Jun 2013)
siri likes google maps.haha
15. tedkord (Posts: 15731; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)
I got a different response. It said, "I'm going to apply for a patent on wearable computers and sue Google Glass for copying me."
16. vaibhavaggarwal (Posts: 44; Member since: 05 Jul 2013)
you forgot the best one: "Just so you know, I don't do anything when you blink at me" ;D
18. gazmatic (Posts: 795; Member since: 06 Sep 2012)
this is a funny article...
i read all those in the siri voice
i cant believe how fandroids are taking this personally
20. Tomfromsouth (Posts: 79; Member since: 02 Apr 2012)
I know, I think its hilarious. I have an android phone and I can still laugh at myself. Stop taking yourselves so serious people. Wow you people need a life. Stop winging.
Good job apple. Can't wait for android to bring something cheeky back (will probs be samsung)
23. AfterShock (Posts: 3698; Member since: 02 Nov 2012)
Poor Siri, I guess she don't do that.
She just likes to talk.
24. VictorLazo (Posts: 3; Member since: 21 Aug 2013)
LOL that's really funny. On another subject, why is everybody so upset at PA for having Apple related articles?? The site is called PHONEarena not ANDROIDarena.... Besides a few non serious articles once in a while are all right :)
25. dirtydirty00 (Posts: 425; Member since: 21 Jan 2011)
what a piece of work that siri is. its best use is for getting some punch lines.
26. PK1983 (Posts: 215; Member since: 08 Aug 2012)
I dislike Apple, but I have to give them credit, that was very clever.


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Oat-Bran Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
While dabbing in the kitchen one day, my husband, Dale, came up with these hearty cookies. I begged him to make them again, but he hadn't written down the recipe. Ten batches later, he finally recaptured the wonderful flavor.
- 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 package (11-1/2 ounces) milk chocolate chips
- 2 cups chopped walnuts
- 1-1/2 cups All-Bran cereal
- 1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 7 dozen.
Nutritional Facts
2 each: 187 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 147mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
Reviews for Oat-Bran Chocolate Chip Cookies
Average Rating
© 2018 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC


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Fernandez called up on whirlwind day of transactions
Hard-throwing righty summoned because of injuries to Marlins' starting rotation
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Jose Fernandez is on Miami's Opening Day roster after all.
An unexpected series of events led to the Marlins reversing course on Fernandez, who now steps into a big league rotation without pitching above Class A.
"It is crazy," Fernandez said on Sunday morning before the Marlins worked out at Nationals Park. "I'm happy to be here. It's work I've worked for my whole life."
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria personally told Fernandez on Friday that he would be joining the club for Monday's Opening Day at Washington.
The 20-year-old is scheduled to make his big league debut on April 7 with a start against the Mets at Citi Field.
The decision to promote their top prospect was made largely because of injuries to the rotation. The startling transaction came on arguably the wildest day before a season opener in franchise history.
Fernandez, ranked seventh on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects List, has thrown a total of 134 career Minor League innings. Born in Cuba and raised in Tampa, Fla., the right-hander with the 96-mph fastball has dominated. He is 14-1 with a 1.75 ERA in his Minor League career, with 158 strikeouts and 34 walks.
Fernandez was Miami's No. 1 Draft pick in 2011. He was in big league camp, but was sent down a few weeks ago and was getting ready to pitch for Double-A Jacksonville. According to Baseball Prospectus, Fernandez could become just the third 20-year-old pitcher in the last 25 years to throw 100 innings in a season with no experience above Class A, joining Rick Porcello and Jeremy Bonderman.
His services were called upon because Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez were placed on the disabled list on Sunday, due to right shoulder inflammation.
Alvarez is on the DL, retroactive to March 27, while Eovaldi's stint is backdated to March 24.
The injuries have forced the Marlins to scramble their rotation. Eovaldi was initially set to pitch on Wednesday at Washington, while Alvarez was lined up to go on Friday at New York.
The Marlins broke Spring Training in Jupiter, Fla., on Thursday, and Fernandez was in the dugout on Saturday for Miami's exhibition against Triple-A New Orleans at New Orleans.
Now, the revised rotation has Ricky Nolasco going on Opening Day on Monday. Kevin Slowey, initially scheduled to be the fifth starter, will pitch on Wednesday against the Nationals and Wade LeBlanc will close out the series on Thursday.
Miami on Sunday also recalled right-hander Alex Sanabia, who will start against the Mets on Friday. Nolasco will get the call on Saturday, and Fernandez will close out the road trip.
Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said Fernandez will be on an innings and pitch-count limit this year. The right-hander will throw between 150-170 innings. Beinfest didn't give the specifics on pitch count.
"This has been tugging at us a little bit," Beinfest said. "We watched him in big league camp. We watched him last year. We watched him go down to the Minor Leagues. He's been just outstanding."
Fernandez accepts whatever limits the team places on him.
"They have a plan for me, and I know whatever plan they have for me, is for the best," Fernandez said.
Marlins manager Mike Redmond said the focus will be more on the innings than the pitch limit.
"We were excited to get a chance to watch him throughout the course of Spring Training," Redmond said. "Now, we're excited to have the chance to see him pitch in the big leagues.
"The innings limit [is] 150-170. We talked about it. That's just part of him. That's where we want to stay, and that's what we're going to do."
Regarding Eovaldi and Alvarez, the Marlins are hopeful they will be back toward the end of April.
"For whatever reason, they got tendinitis -- some mild inflammation in there," Beinfest said. "I'm not sure that it's pain for either one of them. It's just tightness. They're both young guys. We've got a long way to go."
Had Eovaldi and Alvarez remained healthy, Fernandez would have started off at Jacksonville. But still, it was going to be only a matter of time before his promotion.
In his last three Double-A Spring Training outings, the right-hander threw 12 scoreless innings -- striking out 19, while scattering just three hits.
"That's what I came to the United States for, to play in the big leagues," Fernandez said. "I'm going to try to enjoy every bit of it."
The Marlins wrestled with a number of issues regarding the rotation and Fernandez. It's unusual to have such an inexperienced and touted prospect break camp with the big league club.
By being with the team from Day 1, that means his MLB service-time clock starts right away, meaning he can reach arbitration and free agency quicker.
"When we got the word that Alvarez was not going to make it to Opening Day, we talked about what we were going to fill in [with]," Beinfest said. "Jose was always there. He was just so good down [in the Minors]. We went through a lot of time, from the top down, starting with Jeffrey, all the way to our Minor League people. The consensus was, this kid is ready to handle it here. He can pitch here. We had already put in place an innings goal for him."
Entering Spring Training, the Marlins were projecting the rotation would include Nolasco, Eovaldi, Alvarez and Jacob Turner.
But Turner struggled in camp, and he is starting off at New Orleans. So basically, three-fifths of the expected rotation isn't with the club on Opening Day.
"So we're going to ask some people to step in and step up," Beinfest said.
The Marlins announced on Sunday they have selected the contracts of seven players -- Fernandez, Austin Kearns, Casey Kotchman, Chad Qualls, Slowey, Chris Valaika and John Maine.
Because Miami's 40-man roster had been at 40, the team needed to clear up space. In doing so, the Marlins placed Logan Morrison (right knee), Alfredo Silverio (right elbow) and Jose Ceda (right elbow) on the 60-day disabled list.
"We've never seen anything like this, in terms of selecting seven guys," Beinfest said. "It's not even close. You usually get a couple of guys. The number on the DL is high. The number designated for assignment is probably a record with what I have been involved with. In the last 72 hours, the number of different plans that we had in regards to pitching, I think, will be up there as well."
First baseman Joe Mahoney (oblique) and catcher Jeff Mathis (broken collarbone) were placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The club also designated infielder Zack Cox, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, lefty reliever Scott Maine and right-hander Evan Reed for assignment.
Beinfest acknowledged calling up Fernandez was a bold move. But it was a decision the club felt needed to be made.
"We understand we can potentially have some criticism, saying, 'The guy hasn't pitched in Double-A,' this and that. And this guy is a valuable asset," Beinfest said. "I think we understand all those things, and we went through them. But they're all different. Some guys are going to be ready at 24. Some guys are going to be ready at 20. That's just the way it goes."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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The Swansea Bay Big Beachcomb
4 November 2016,
On a bright and breezy Saturday morning in September an enthusiastic group of children and adults gathered at the Mumbles in wellies and hi-vis jackets ready for a Big Beachcomb.
The Beachcomb was the first activity of Swansea Museum's Lost Treasures of Swansea Bay project, which is being funded by the Saving Treasures; Telling Stories project based at Amgueddfa Cymru.
Led by Paul Huckfield of the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust and Mark Lodwick of the Portable Antiquities Scheme Cymru we set out with the retreating tide to see what treasures of Swansea's past we could find.
The vast expanse of mud, sand, rocks and shallow pools did not look promising at first. But almost as soon as we had set off Paul was showing us the blackened and glistening remains of a prehistoric forest. Within another hour he had pointed out the sites of seven shipwrecks, old mooring points and other remains of Swansea's maritime past.
On the surface of the shore we found hundreds of pieces of old pottery, metalwork, animal bones, glassware and pieces of clay pipe. A particularly evocative find was the base of a wine bottle, dating back to the 1600s.
The glass was thick, and so dark that you could only see its muddy green colour by holding it up to the sun. This was a high-status object - once, it would have held a decent vintage rather than plonk.
When enough pieces had been collected in carefully labelled bags we laid them out on the slipway and sorted them into categories with the help of Paul and Mark – ceramics, glass and metalware, organic material.
We speculated about who the objects had belonged to, when they were made, and how they ended up in Swansea Bay. Some, such as the bottle and some of the pots, were imported items – could they have been among the cargoes of one of the wrecked ships? Had the pipes been smoked by sailors and fishermen with wheezy chests? Were the bones the remains of their dinner?
Our treasures have now been taken back to Swansea Museum where they will be studied by the Young Archaeologists Club and used as inspiration for the Dylan Thomas Centre's Young Writers Squad.
Look out for the next chapter in their history in a future blog.


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Reyes' comeback suffers another setback
Shortstop does not run the bases this week as expected
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
"We thought that would have been part of the progression," Manuel said as his Mets prepared to play yet another game with their injured shortstop on the disabled list. "Whether that is a setback or whether that is more time for the recovery for the things that he has been doing -- they're being very cautious with that at this point."
For some time now, Reyes -- who has spent more than two months on the DL with a right hamstring strain -- has been mobile. But he has not yet sprinted at full speed around the bases, and there is no longer a concrete schedule for him to do so.
This weekend remains a possibility, but at this point, it has to be considered something of an improbability. As recently as Tuesday, the Mets had indicated that Reyes would run the bases during the workweek.
"I wish I had an answer for you, but I just know that the people around him are very careful and cautious with the athlete," Manuel said. "We obviously entrust them with what they're doing, because that's what we do. So we have to be careful in our attempt to hurry him along."
General manager Omar Minaya, who said on Thursday that Reyes may still run the bases at some point over the weekend, had a slightly more optimistic outlook.
"The fact that he's out there running a little bit is encouraging," Minaya said. "But we've been in this cycle for a while."
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.