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CAMBRIDGE – Last year, the leaders of all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council visited India, accompanied by delegations of business leaders. The Indian economy has been growing at more than 8% annually, making it increasingly attractive for trade and investment. When US President Barack Obama visited in November, he supported permanent membership of the UN Security Council for India. So did British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. But the last to visit, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, said nothing at all about it.
Official pronouncements stress friendly relations between India and China, and some trade analysts argue that the two giant, rapidly growing markets will become an economic "Chindia." When Premier Wen visited several years ago, he signed a comprehensive five-year strategic cooperation pact. As Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh put it at the time, "India and China can together reshape the world order."
Change from the hostility
Such statements reflect a considerable change from the hostility that bedeviled Indian-Chinese relations following the two countries' 1962 war over a disputed border in the Himalayas. Nevertheless, strategic anxiety lurks below the surface, particularly in India.
China's GDP is three times that of India's, its growth rate is higher, and its defense budget has been increasing. The border dispute remains unsettled, and both countries vie for influence in neighboring states such as Myanmar. And, in recent years, China has worked behind the scenes to prevent permanent Security Council membership from conveying great-power status on India.
For decades Indian suffered of a little economic growth
But talk of India as a future great power is unavoidable, and some Indians predict a tri-polar world, anchored by the US, China, and India, by mid-century. India's population of 1.2 billion is four times that of the US, and likely to surpass China's by 2025. Vijay Joshi of St John's College, Oxford, argues that, "if we extrapolate present trends, India will have the world's third largest national income (after the US and China) within 25 years."
For decades, India suffered from what some called the "Hindu rate of economic growth" of a little over 1% per year. After independence in 1947, India followed an inward-looking policy that focused on heavy industry. But it turned out that the rate of economic growth owed less to Hindu culture than to imported British Fabian (and other) socialist economic planning.
Premature superpower
After market-oriented reforms in the early 1990's, growth rates soared, with projections of double-digit growth in the future. Martin Wolf of the Financial Times calls India a "premature superpower" – a country with low living standards but a huge economy. He thinks that the Indian economy will be bigger than Britain's in a decade and bigger than Japan's in two. India has an emerging middle class of several hundred million, and English is an official language, spoken by 50-100 million people. Building on that base, Indian information industries are able to play a major global role.
India has significant hard-power resources as well, with an estimated 60-70 nuclear weapons, intermediate-range missiles, a space program, 1.3 million military personnel, and annual military expenditure of nearly $30 billion, or 2% of the world total. In terms of soft power, India has an established democracy, and a vibrant popular culture with transnational influence. India has an influential diaspora, and its motion picture industry, "Bollywood," is the largest in the world in terms of the number of films produced yearly, out-competing Hollywood in parts of Asia and the Middle East.
Hundreds of millions of illiterate in India
At the same time, India remains very much an underdeveloped country, with hundreds of millions of illiterate, destitute citizens. Around one-third of Indians live in conditions of acute poverty, and India accounts for roughly one-third of the world's poor. India's GDP of $3.3 trillion compares to China's $5 trillion, and is 20% that of the United States. As a result, India's per capita income of $2,900 (in purchasing-power-parity terms) is one-half of China's and one-fifteenth that of the US.
Even more striking, while 91% of the Chinese population is literate and 43% is urban, the numbers for India are only 61% and 29%, respectively. Each year, India produces about twice as many engineering and computing graduates as America, but The Economist reports that "only 4.2% are fit to work in a software product firm, and just 17.8% are employable by an IT services company, even with six months training."
Discrete in public about relations with China
A symptom of this is India's poor performance in international comparisons of universities: the 2009 Asian University Rankings, prepared by the higher education consultancy QS, shows the top Indian institution to be the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, at number 30. Ten universities in China and Hong Kong are ranked higher. High-tech exports are only 5% of India's total exports, compared to 30% for China.
India is thus unlikely to develop the power resources to become an equal to China in the next decade or two. And, while the two countries signed agreements in 1993 and 1996 that promised a peaceful settlement of the border dispute that led them to war in l962, it is worth noting that, just prior to India's nuclear tests in March l998, India's defense minister described China as India's "potential enemy number one." More recently, in 2009, the border issue flared again.
Indian officials are generally discrete in public about relations with China, but in private their concerns remain intense. Rather than becoming an ally, India is more likely to become one of the Asian countries that will tend to balance China's strategic rise.


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Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Waxman, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the invitation to discuss the President's FY 2013 Budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invests in health care, disease prevention, social services, and scientific research. HHS makes investments where they will have the greatest impact, build on the efforts of our partners, and lead to meaningful gains in health and opportunity for the American people.
The President's fiscal year (FY) 2013 Budget for HHS includes a reduction in discretionary funding for ongoing activities, and legislative proposals that would save an estimated $350.2 billion over ten years. The Budget totals $940.9 billion in outlays and proposes $76.7 billion in discretionary budget authority. This funding will enable HHS to: Strengthen Health Care; Support American Families; Advance Scientific Knowledge and Innovation; Strengthen the Nation's Health and Human Service Infrastructure and Workforce; Increase Efficiency, Transparency, and Accountability of HHS Programs; and Complete the Implementation of the Recovery Act.
Delivering Benefits of the Affordable Care Act to the American People: The Affordable Care Act expands access to affordable health coverage to millions of Americans, increases consumer protections to ensure individuals have coverage when they need it most, and slows increases in health costs. Effective implementation of the Affordable Care Act is central to the improved fiscal outlook and well being of the Nation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting an additional $1 billion in discretionary funding and 136 full-time equivalents to continue implementing the Affordable Care Act, including Affordable Insurance Exchanges, and to help keep up with the growth in the Medicare population.
Expand and Improve Health Insurance Coverage: Beginning in 2014, Affordable Insurance Exchanges will provide improved access to insurance coverage for millions of Americans. Exchanges will make purchasing private health insurance easier by providing eligible individuals and small businesses with one stop shopping where they can compare benefit plans. New premium tax credits and reductions in cost-sharing will help ensure that eligible individuals can afford to pay for the cost of private coverage through Exchanges. FY 2013 will be a critical year for building the infrastructure and initiating the many business operations critical to enabling Exchanges to begin operation on January 1, 2014. The expansion of health insurance coverage for millions of low income individuals who were previously not eligible for coverage also begins in 2014. CMS has worked closely with states to ensure they are prepared to meet the 2014 deadline and will continue this outreach in FY 2013.
Many important private market reforms have already gone into effect, providing new rights and benefits to consumers that are designed to put them in charge of their own health care. The Affordable Care Act's Patient's Bill of Rights allows young adults to stay on their parents' plans until age 26 and ensures that consumers receive the care they need when they get sick and need it most by prohibiting rescissions and lifetime dollar limits on coverage for care, and beginning to phase out annual dollar limits. The new market reforms also guarantee independent reviews of coverage disputes. Temporary programs like the Early Retiree Reinsurance Plan (ERRP) and the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) are supporting affordable coverage for individuals who often face difficulties obtaining private insurance in the current marketplace. Additionally, rate review and medical loss ratio (MLR) provisions helps ensure that health care premiums are kept reasonable and affordable year after year. The already operational rate review provision gives states additional resources to determine if a proposed health care premium increase is unreasonable and, in many cases, help enable state authorities to deny an unreasonable rate increase. HHS reviews large proposed increases in states that do not have effective rate review programs. The MLR provisions guarantee that, starting in 2011, insurance companies use at least 80 percent or 85 percent of premium revenue, depending on the market, to provide or improve health care for their customers or give them a rebate.
Strengthen the Delivery System: The Affordable Care Act established a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center). The Innovation Center is tasked with developing, testing, and--for those that prove successful--expanding innovative payment and delivery system models to improve quality of care and reduce costs in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Since the Innovation Center began operations it has undertaken an ambitious agenda encompassing patient safety, coordination of care among multiple providers, and enhanced primary care. These projects can serve as crucial stepping stones towards a higher quality, more efficient health care system.
HHS is also working to ensure that the most vulnerable in our Nation have full access to seamless, high quality health care. The Affordable Care Act established a new office to more effectively integrate benefits and improve coordination between states and the Federal Government for those who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. While Medicare Medicaid beneficiaries make up a relatively small portion of enrollment in the two programs, they represent a significant portion of expenditures. HHS is currently supporting 15 states as they design models of care that better integrate Medicare and Medicaid services and is designing additional demonstrations to continue to improve care.
CMS is currently offering three initiatives that will help spur the development of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) for Medicare beneficiaries. ACOs are groups of health providers who join together to give high-quality, coordinated care to the patients they serve. If an ACO meets quality standards, it will be eligible to share in savings it achieves for the Medicare program, and may be subject to losses, offering a powerful incentive to restructure care to better serve patients.
Ensuring Access to Quality Care for Vulnerable Populations: Health Centers are a key component of the Nation's health care safety net. The President's Budget includes a total of $3 billion, including an increase of $300 million from mandatory funds under the Affordable Care Act, to the Health Centers program. This investment will provide Americans in underserved areas, both rural and urban, with access to comprehensive primary and preventive health care services. This funding will create 25 new health center sites in areas of the country where they do not currently exist and provide access to quality care for 21 million people, an increase of 300,000 additional patients over FY 2012. The Budget also promotes a policy of steady and sustainable health center growth by distributing Affordable Care Act resources over the long‐term. This policy safeguards resources for new and existing health centers to continue services and ensures a smooth transition as health centers increase their capacity to provide care as access to insurance coverage expands.
Improving Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety: The Affordable Care Act directed HHS to develop a national strategy to improve health care services delivery, patient health outcomes, and population health. In FY 2011, HHS released the National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care, which highlights three broad aims: Better Care, Healthy People and Communities, and Affordable Care. Since publishing the Strategy, HHS has focused on gathering additional input from private partners and aligning new and existing HHS activities with the Strategy. HHS will enhance the Strategy by incorporating input from stakeholders and developing metrics to measure progress toward achieving the Strategy's aims and priorities. Already, the Strategy is serving as a blueprint for quality improvement activities across the country.
CMS will continue funding for the Partnership for Patients, an initiative launched in April 2011 that sets aggressive targets for improving the quality of healthcare: reducing preventable hospital acquired conditions by 40 percent and preventable readmissions by 20 percent by the end of 2013, as compared to 2010.
Investing in Innovation: HHS is committed to advancing the use of health information technology (health IT). The Budget includes $66 million, an increase of $5 million, for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to accelerate the adoption of health IT and promote electronic health records (EHRs) as tools to improve both the health of individuals and the health care system as a whole. The increase will allow ONC to provide more assistance to health care providers as they become meaningful users of health IT. Furthermore, through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, CMS is providing hospitals and medical professionals who participate in Medicare and Medicaid with substantial incentive payments for the adoption and meaningful use of EHRs. As of the end of 2011, CMS had made incentive payments to 15,859 providers who have met the objectives for meaningful use in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program and 15,132 providers who have adopted, implemented, or upgraded EHRs in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. By encouraging providers to modernize their systems, this investment will improve the quality of care and protect patient safety.
Healthy Development of Children and Families: HHS oversees many programs that support children and families, including Head Start, Child Care, Child Support, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The FY 2013 Budget request invests in early education, recognizing the role high quality early education programs can play in preparing children for school success. The request also supports TANF and proposes to restore funding for the Supplemental Grants without increasing overall TANF funding.
Investing in Education by Supporting an Early Learning Reform Agenda: The FY 2013 Budget supports critical reforms in Head Start and a Child Care quality initiative that, when taken together with the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge, are key elements of the Administration's broader education reform agenda designed to improve our Nation's competitiveness by helping every child enter school ready for success.
On November 8, 2011 the President announced important new steps to improve the quality of services and accountability at Head Start centers across the country. The Budget requests over $8 billion for Head Start programs, an increase of $85 million over FY 2012, to maintain services for the 962,000 children currently participating in the program. This investment will also provide resources to effectively implement new regulations that require grantees that do not meet high quality benchmarks to compete for continued funding, introducing an unprecedented level of accountability into the Head Start program. By directing taxpayer dollars to programs that offer high quality Head Start services, this robust, open competition for Head Start funding will help to ensure that Head Start programs provide the best available early education services to our most vulnerable children.
The Budget provides $6 billion for child care, an increase of $825 million over FY 2012. This funding level will provide child care assistance to 70,000 more children than could otherwise receive services without this increased investment; 1.5 million children in total. In addition to providing funding for direct assistance to more children, the Budget includes $300 million for a new child care quality initiative that states would use to invest directly in programs and teachers so that individual child care programs can do a better job of meeting the early learning and care needs of children and families. The funds would also support efforts to measure the quality of individual child care programs through a rating system or another system of quality indicators, and to clearly communicate program-specific information to parents so they can make informed choices for their families. These investments are consistent with the broader reauthorization principles outlined in the Budget, which encompass a reform agenda that would help transform the Nation's child care system to one that is focused on continuous quality improvement and provides more low income children access to high quality early education settings that support children's learning, development, and success in school.
Keeping America Healthy: The President's Budget includes resources necessary to enhance clinical and community prevention, support research, develop the public health workforce, control infectious diseases, and invest in prevention and management of chronic diseases and conditions.
Million Hearts Initiative: The Million Hearts Initiative is a national public private initiative aimed at preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes over 5 years, from 2012 to 2017. It seeks to reduce the number of people who need treatment and improve the quality of treatment that is available. It focuses on increasing the number of Americans who have their high blood pressure and high cholesterol under control, reducing the number of people who smoke, and reducing the average intake of sodium and trans fats. To achieve this overall goal, the Initiative will promote medication management and support a network of electronic health record registries to track blood pressure and cholesterol control, along with many other public private collaborations. In FY 2013, the Budget requests $5 million for CDC to achieve measurable outcomes in these areas.
Preventing Teen Pregnancy: The Budget includes $105 million in the Prevention and Public Health Fund for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health for teen pregnancy prevention programs. These programs will support community based efforts to reduce teen pregnancy using evidence based models as well as promising programs and innovative strategies. The Budget also includes $15 million in funding for CDC teen pregnancy prevention activities to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies through science based prevention approaches.
Protect Vulnerable Populations: HHS is committed to ensuring that vulnerable populations continue to receive critical services during this period of economic uncertainty.
Reduce Foodborne Illness: The Budget reflects the Administration's commitment to transforming our Nation's food safety system into one that is stronger and that reduces foodborne illness. To reach this goal, the Budget includes $1.5 billion, an increase of $271 million over FY 2012, for FDA and CDC food safety activities. HHS will continue to modernize and implement a prevention-focused domestic and import safety system. Collaboratively, FDA and CDC are working to decrease the rate of Salmonella Enteritidis illness in the population from 2.6 cases per 100,000 to 2.1 cases per 100,000 by December 2013. In FY 2013, CDC will enhance surveillance systems and designate five Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence at state health departments. In addition to working with manufacturers to implement preventive controls, the Budget proposes an FDA food inspection and food facility registration user fee that will aid in providing resources to FDA to ensure the safety and security of the Nation's food supply.
Biomedical and Behavioral Research: The FY 2013 Budget maintains funding for the NIH at the FY 2012 level of $30.9 billion, reflecting the Administration's priority to invest in innovative biomedical and behavioral research that spurs economic growth while advancing medical science to improve health. NIH is generating discoveries that are opening new avenues for disease treatment and prevention and revolutionizing patient care. In FY 2013, NIH will seek to take advantage of such discoveries by investing in basic research on the fundamental causes and mechanisms of disease, accelerating discovery through new technologies, advancing translational sciences, and encouraging new investigators and new ideas.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: In FY 2013, NIH will continue to implement the new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), established in FY 2012, in order to re engineer the process of translating scientific discoveries into new medical products. Working closely with partners in the regulatory, academic, nonprofit, and private sectors while not duplicating work going on in the private sector, NCATS will strive to identify innovative solutions to overcome hurdles that slow the development of effective treatments and cures. A total of $639 million is proposed for NCATS in FY 2013, including $50 million for the Cures Acceleration Network.
Medical Countermeasure Development: The HHS Medical Countermeasure Enterprise includes initiatives across the Department covering the spectrum of medical countermeasure development, from early biological research to stockpiling of approved products. The FY 2013 Budget includes $547 million for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an increase of $132 million over FY 2012, to develop and improve next-generation medical countermeasures (MCM) in response to potential chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. The Budget also provides $50 million to establish a strategic investment corporation that would function as a public-private venture capital fund providing companies developing MCMs with the necessary financial capital and business acumen to improve the chances of successful development of new MCM technologies and products. Together, these investments will provide HHS with new tools to enhance the success of medical countermeasure development.
Enhancing Health Care Decision Making: The HHS Budget includes $599 million for research that compares the risk, benefits, and effectiveness of different medical treatments and strategies, including health care delivery, medical devices, and drugs, including $78 million from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund established by the Affordable Care Act. Evidence generated through this research is intended to help patients make informed health care decisions that best meet their needs. This level of funding will primarily support research conducted by NIH, core research activities within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and data capacity activities within the Office of the Secretary. Resources from the Trust Fund will support comparative clinical effectiveness research dissemination, improved research infrastructure, and training of patient centered outcomes researchers. HHS core research will be coordinated to complement projects supported through the Trust Fund and through the independent Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Investing in Infrastructure: A strong health workforce is key to ensuring that more Americans can get the quality care they need to stay healthy. The Budget includes $677 million, an increase of $49 million over FY 2012, within HRSA to expand the capacity and improve the training and distribution of primary care, dental, and pediatric health providers. The Budget will support the placement of more than 7,100 primary care providers in underserved areas and begin investments that expand the capacity of institutions to train 2,800 additional primary care providers over 5 years.
Living Within our Means: HHS is committed to improving the Nation's health and well being while simultaneously contributing to deficit reduction. The FY 2013 discretionary request demonstrates this commitment by maintaining ongoing investments in areas most central to advancing the HHS mission while making reductions to lower priority areas, reducing duplication, and increasing administrative efficiencies. Overall, the FY 2013 request includes over $2.1 billion in terminations and reductions to fund initiatives while achieving savings in a constrained fiscal environment. Many of these reductions, such as the $177 million cut to the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Payment Program, the $327 million cut to Community Services Block Grants, and the $452 million cut to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), were very difficult to make, but are necessitated by the current fiscal environment.
Regarding LIHEAP, the Administration proposes to adjust funding for expected winter fuel costs and to target funds to those most in need. The request is $3 billion, $452 million below the FY 2012 level and $450 million above both FY 2008 and the 2012 request. With constrained resources, the Budget targets assistance where it is needed most. The request targets $2.8 billion in base grants using the state allocation Congress enacted for FY 2012. The request also includes $200 million in contingency funds, which will be used to address the needs of households reliant on home delivered fuels (heating oil and propane) should expected price trends be realized, as well as other energy-related emergencies.
In September 2011, the Administration detailed a plan for economic growth and deficit reduction. The FY 2013 Budget follows this blueprint in its legislative proposals, presenting a package of health savings proposals that would save more than $360 billion over 10 years, with almost all of these savings coming from Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare proposals would encourage high quality, efficient care, increase the availability of generic drugs and biologics, and implement structural reforms to encourage beneficiaries to seek value in their health care choices. The Budget also seeks to make Medicaid more flexible, efficient, and accountable while strengthening Medicaid program integrity. Together, the FY 2013 discretionary budget request and these legislative proposals allow HHS to support the Administration's challenging yet complementary goals of investing in the future and establishing a sustainable fiscal outlook.
Program Integrity and Oversight: The FY 2013 Budget continues to make program integrity a top priority. The Budget includes $610 million in discretionary funding for Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC), the full amount authorized under the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA). The Budget also proposes to fully fund discretionary program integrity initiatives at $581 million in FY 2012, consistent with the BCA. The discretionary investment supports the continued reduction of the Medicare fee for service improper payment rate; investments in prevention focused, data driven initiatives like predictive modeling; and HHS Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiatives, including Medicare Strike Force teams and fighting pharmaceutical fraud.
From 1997 to 2011, HCFAC programs have returned over $20.6 billion to the Medicare Trust Funds, and the current three year return on investment of 7.2 to 1 is the highest in the history of the HCFAC program. The Budget proposes a 10-year discretionary investment yielding a conservative estimate of $11.3 billion in Medicare and Medicaid savings and 16 program integrity proposals to build on the Affordable Care Act's comprehensive fraud fighting authorities for savings of an additional $3.6 billion over 10 years.
Additionally, the Budget includes funding increases for significant oversight activities. The request includes $84 million for the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, an increase of $12 million, to continue to process the increasing number of administrative law judge appeals within the statutory 90 day timeframe while maintaining the quality and accuracy of its decisions. The Budget also includes $370 million in discretionary and mandatory funding for the Office of Inspector General (OIG), a 4 percent increase from FY 2012. This increase will enable OIG to expand CMS Program Integrity efforts in areas such as HEAT, improper payments, and focus on investigative efforts on civil fraud, oversight of grants, and the operation of new Affordable Care Act programs.
Additionally, Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Competitive Bidding is providing competitive pricing, while continuing to ensure access to quality medical equipment from accredited suppliers, which will save Medicare $25.7 billion over 10 years and help millions of Medicare beneficiaries save $17.1 billion in out-of-pocket costs over 10 years. The Budget proposes to extend some of the efficiencies of DME Competitive Bidding to Medicaid by limiting Federal reimbursement on certain DME services to what Medicare would have paid in the same state for the same services. This proposal is expected to save Medicaid $3.0 billion over 10 years.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $140 billion to HHS programs, of which $110 billion had been spent by grant and contract recipients by the end of FY 2011. The vast majority of these funds helped state and local communities cope with the effects of the economic recession.
Thousands of jobs were also created or saved, including subsidized employment and training for over 260,000 people through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program Emergency Contingency Fund.
The Recovery Act provided states fiscal relief through a temporary increase in Federal matching payments of $84 billion for Medicaid and foster care and adoption assistance.
HHS Recovery Act funds are also making long term investments in the health of the American people and the health care system itself. Beginning in FY 2011 and continuing for the next few years, HHS will be investing more than $20 billion to support implementation of health information technology in the health care industry on a mass scale. This effort is expected to significantly improve the quality and efficiency of the U.S. health care system. In addition, $10 billion in Recovery Act funds were invested in biomedical research programs around the country, including a major effort to document genomic changes in 20 of the most common cancers and to build research laboratory capacity. Of more immediate impact, $1 billion has been supporting prevention and wellness programs, including projects in 44 communities with a total combined population of over 50 million aimed at reducing tobacco use and the chronic diseases associated with obesity.
HHS has also met the challenges of transparency and accountability in the management of its Recovery Act funds. More than 23,000 grantees and contractors with Recovery Act funding from HHS discretionary programs have submitted reports on the status of their projects over the last 10 quarters. More than 99 percent of the required recipient reports have been submitted on time and are available to the public on Recovery.gov; non filers have been sanctioned. Finally, HHS Recovery Act program managers are working hand in hand with the Secretary's Council on Program Integrity to ensure that risks for fraud, abuse, and waste are identified and steps are taken to mitigate those risks.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Source: http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/2012/03/t20120301a.html

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Photographer's Note
Photo taken at the border city of Salto del Guaira
or many Brazilians go to shop for great prices.
Nobody has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
jhm (169770) 2013-12-08 2:41
Hello Francesco,
A nice daily life picture with these the street vendor, a very young boy as vendor.
Nice perspective and depth picture with pleasant colours.
Excellent composition and lovely captured.
Very well done, TFS.
Have a nice Sunday,
jcpix (14024) 2014-01-07 18:49
Hi Francesco,
Nice to meet you. :) These are generally some of my favorites, the daily markets and street scenes. There's always so many interesting things to see and absorb from different countries and cultures. A good capture here, and smart idea to include the shoppers for that added appeal and expression. Looks like quite a busy place, purchase on the go. Enjoy the day ahead.
All the best,
Photo Information
- Copyright: Francesco De Florio (deffra) (231)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2010-12-22
- Categories: Daily Life
- Exposure: f/4.5, 1/200 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2013-12-07 5:40


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The Rivals.com analysts tackle current topics in the recruiting world in a roundtable format.
1. Which recruit in your region is being talked about the most and why?
Mike Farrell, National/Mid-Atlantic: For me it's linebacker Alex Anzalone because of his recent visit to Florida. Anzalone has already flipped from Ohio State to Notre Dame, and now there is a lot of talk that another flip could be coming. He's being very quiet about everything, so where there's smoke there could be fire. Notre Dame fans have to be a bit worried.
Rob Cassidy, West: Four-Star cornerback Cole Luke is creating buzz the way the television show Lost did it. Nobody has any idea what's going on, so chatter follows. It's a proven method. Luke does so few interviews and plays his recruitment so close to the vest that every school's fan base thinks they have a shot to land him. He visited Texas a week ago but has gone off the grid since. The Longhorns, along with Notre Dame and Oklahoma, are thought to be the frontrunners.
Adam Gorney, West: A lot of people are talking about Tahaan Goodman as his recruitment goes on. It's pretty well accepted that USC is the leader for him, but that could still depend on whether the Trojans have room in their class. Some say UCLA could be a surprise player in his recruitment but others say the Bruins have only a small chance. LSU might be in the mix -- he has family in the area -- or there could be a sleeper out there not many know about yet.
Josh Helmholdt, Midwest: The top wide receiver prospect in the 2013 class, Laquon Treadwell of Crete-Monee (Ill.), has not only backed up his lofty status with outstanding play on the field this fall but also in the heat of an intense recruiting battle. Last week he released a top five of Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and his official visits start this weekend.
Woody Wommack, Southeast: Right now it has to be defensive tackle Montravius Adams. He's one of the top players in the country and not only is he uncommitted, but he's yet to really tip his hand toward any school. Now that he's taking visits and rumors are swirling about his mother's preferences, things are even more complicated. The bottom line is a lot of schools think they have a shot, and we could be waiting a few more months until we find out for sure where he'll end up.
Jason Howell, Southwest: Dallas Kimball defensive tackle Justin Manning seems to be in the news more lately, especially since he is taking visits. He has taken visits to Oklahoma, Texas A&M and TCU, and there is plenty of speculation as to where he end up. Popular thought is he will head to Oklahoma, where his brother DeMarcus Granger played, but he has been playing things close to his vest. He plans to make an announcement in the very near future, and over the weekend he was expected to be an unofficial visitor for the Red River Shootout. But he also wants to take official visits to LSU and USC. There's just been a lot going on surrounding this Army All-American.
Kynon Codrington, Southeast: Keith Bryant had a good time on his official visit to South Carolina as the Gamecocks crushed Georgia. For South Carolina this would be a huge pick up if they can flip him from his Miami commitment. The SEC East program has landed only one player from the tri-county area of Broward, Dade and Palm Beach since 2006 when Emanuel Cook decided to head north to the Palmetto State. A Bryant family member said Florida State and Oklahoma are still keeping tabs on him. Defensive tackle is a position of need for UM, so they need to do everything they can and more to hold onto the physical run-stuffer.
2. Is there a sleeper in your region who could be getting a bump in our next rankings?
Mike Farrell, National/Mid-Atlantic: Matthews (N.C.) Butler defensive back Channing Stribling was a bit of a reach when Michigan took him, but he has played very well this season and his stock is rising. He was outstanding at Michigan's summer camp, which is why he earned his offer, and he has carried that play over to this season.
Rob Cassidy, West: Las Vegas Bishop Gorman quarterback Anu Solomon, an Arizona commit, is making an open-and-shut case for a boost in ranking; but he's already a four-star and probably doesn't qualify as a "sleeper." That said, you don't have to leave Arizona's class to find a player that does. Undersized running back Mauriece Lee probably won't add a fourth star, but a jump from a low three-star to a high one may be in the cards. Lee runs with surprising power and purpose for a player of his stature. He doesn't translate well to camp settings, but when you see him on Friday nights, you take notice.
Adam Gorney, West: Viliami Latu is not necessarily under-the-radar since he plays at Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., but he's definitely moving up in the next round of rankings. He just committed to Arizona State last weekend and could be an early contributor for the Sun Devils. He's big, tough, plays without fear and was really impressive in a loss to Upland.
Josh Helmholdt, Midwest: Hamilton, Ohio, linebacker Marcus Oliver entered his senior season unranked and holding just one an offer from Miami (Ohio). The 6-foot-1, 235-pound inside linebacker has been dominant this fall, however, putting together ridiculous tackle stats and displaying BCS-caliber talent on the field.
Woody Wommack, Southeast: After watching Kinglsand (Ga.) Camden County athlete J.J. Green earlier this year, I came away very impressed. He has good feet and vision as a running back and also impressed in coverage and in run support as a cornerback. He may not fly up the rankings, but his stock is on the rise.
Jason Howell, Southwest: Waco, Texas defensive tackle Andrew Billings is one guy who has picked up a lot of steam in the region. He is not the most talked about prospect from a national standpoint and is a little on the undersized side of things. However, he is a freak in the strength department. Even though he is listed at defensive tackle, he is playing a lot of defensive end for his high school team and is being recruited as both an offensive and defensive linemen. He is close to four-star status right now, and I can see him getting a bump. Defensive end Dimarya Mixon also has some very impressive senior highlights and may need to see his ranking adjusted.
Kynon Codrington, Southeast: Well he isn't exactly a sleeper, but Fulton (Miss.) Itawamba athlete Ashton Shumpert is making a case to earn a fourth star. The only question is where does play at the next level? When he lines up at running back he flashes a tough, downhill rushing style that can get yards after contact and move the chains. On defense, he displays above-average range and is a good open field tackler. He has a chance to make a jump in the state rankings if he keeps up his high level of play.
3. Which team nationally is overachieving the most in recruiting?
Mike Farrell, National/Mid-Atlantic: I'd say Vanderbilt. James Franklin has Vandy in the national top 20 which is impressive with the Commodores having a sub-.500 record and getting beaten very badly at Georgia, where Vandy has done much of its recruiting damage. There was a time when you could pencil Vanderbilt in at the bottom of the SEC recruiting rankings every year. Those days are gone for now.
Rob Cassidy, West: What does a 2-4 start plus one bowl bid in the last four years add up to? If you're Virginia, it yields the No. 19 recruiting class in the country. The Cavaliers' pleasant surprise of a class is headed up by five-star running back Taquan Mizzell, the top all-purpose back in America. What second-year head coach Mike London and his staff are doing on the recruiting trail is impressive to say the least, and the excitement building in Charlottesville is warranted. After all, the program has averaged a final recruiting ranking of 37 over the last 10 years.
Adam Gorney, West: Auburn is definitely doing the reverse on the field, but in recruiting the Tigers are still doing a fantastic job.Wwith the season they're having, they have to be considered overachievers in recruiting. With five-star commits Reuben Foster, Carl Lawson and Dee Liner, Auburn's struggles might not be long. That's if all stay through this tough time. And that has to be something to watch if things get worse there.
Josh Helmholdt, Midwest: Usually Baylor is left to pick up the scraps after Texas, Oklahoma and others poach the Lone Star State's top talent, but this year the Bears have gone head-to-head with national powers on a handful of prospects, most notably Rivals100 wide receiver Robbie Rhodes, and won. Baylor is certainly benefitting from a post-RGIII bounce, and so far it has the Bears ranked among the top 25 recruiting classes in the country.
Woody Wommack, Southeast: Despite losing Dominic Walker last week, I think the answer is still Vanderbilt. James Franklin and his staff have done a nice job building one of the best classes in school history, now the main objective is holding onto it as the season wears along.
Jason Howell, Southwest: Considering its performance on the field it has to be Auburn, but we'll see how solid that class is as the process plays itself out. I also love what Notre Dame is doing. The Irish are putting together a fantastic class and hitting on prospects all over the country.
Kynon Codrington, Southeast: I'm going with Texas A&M. I thought the Aggies would struggle with other SEC teams raiding Texas, but Kevin Sumlin and his staff have done a nice job on the recruiting front and on the field as well with a 4-1 start (with the lone loss coming to top-five ranked Florida.) I really like the out-of-state pick ups of athlete Cameron Echols-Luper from Alabama and Noel Ellis out of New Orleans. The Aggies are ranked one spot ahead of Texas in the Rivals.com team rankings and are in the running with four-star athlete Ricky Seals-Jones.
Click Here to view this Link.
Click Here to view this Link.


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Knicks are soon sending out the relocation assignments for next season's phase II renovated upper bowl.
In case you missed it, here's the new seating chart from the RANGERS:
The Knicks haven't released prices yet. I'm in 409 and looking to find out where I end up.
Some Rangers STH in 409 have ended up in the West Balcony.
Here's my best guess as to where prices will end up:
West Balcony: $75
400 Back Rows: $10
400 Middle Rows: $49
400 Front Row: $65
200 Corner/Ends Upper: $60
200 Corner/Ends Lower: $79
200 Corner/Ends Front Row: $135
200 Center Upper: $73
200 Center Lower: $93
200 Center Front Row: $160
Whatever you may think the prices end up at, it's not going to be cheap!


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Maximizing the trader's state of mind is the key to successful results.
Conflicts, contradictions, and paradoxes in thinking can spell disaster for even a highly motivated, astute and well-grounded trader. Mark Douglas, an industry consultant since 1982, sends the message that a "thinking strategy" will profoundly influence a trader's success rate. Douglas addresses five very specific issues to give traders the insight and understanding about themselves that will make them consistent winners in the market.
Trading in the Zone™ offers specific solutions to the "people factor" of commodity price movement. It uncovers the true culprit for lack of consistency when it comes to stock picking: lack of focus and self-confidence. Through simple exercises, traders will learn how to think in terms of probabilities and adopt the specific beliefs necessary to developing a winner's mindset. Along the way, they'll gain valuable insights into their own entrenched misconceptions about the market.
Backed by compelling examples, Trading in the Zone™ adds a new dimension to getting an edge on the market. Through a better understanding of themselves, as well as of Wall Street's realities, traders will come to leverage the power of their psyche for unprecedented profitability.
©2000 Mark Douglas (P)2011 Gildan Media Corp
"[G]iven trading's risks, this book could assist experienced investors willing to engage in self-reflection." (Publisher's Weekly)
"Left me feeling inspried"
Several of my friends raved about this and I was pleased it was available in audio form so I went in, still I admit feeling sceptical. After all I've been trading 15 years, so I am already great right? Oh how wrong I was. Every example of a mistake I have repeatedly made was laid out clearly here with reasons why human psychology makes us repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
They say that 5% of poker players make money, the rest tick along or lose and yet millions still play. Same goes for trading, we are all there looking for the big winner. The book explains how trading is little to do with fundamentals and more to do with unhooking our deeply rooted beliefs instilled as we grow up. A child is told dozens of times a day what NOT to do, then they hit 18 become a trader, get a few lucky trades and there is nothing to stop them.
Mark Douglas doesn't offer you the get rich system you should use, it is assumed that anyone reading the book trades already using some technical analysis such as fibonacci retracements, MACD, RSI etc. But he does make you instantly realise that the market is not an enemy which always goes against you, it is there to be treated as a game of probability which you can play using your edge to in the long term to be a consitent winner, dare I say even a trader, rather then the gambler this book made me realise perhaps I am currently better categorised as.
The psychology insights were very interesting throughout. It could easily be viewed as a dull book, yet it kept me gripped throughout. A real revelation. I am really looking forward to trading with less stress, no emotion and paranoia free and buying that first yacht (ok dinghy)
"A Great Listen"
Works really well as an audiobook and obviously written by someone with extensive experience of trading. The book concentrates on the psychological aspects of trading and demonstrates that our greatest opponent is not the market but our own brain. The information contained in this audiobook, if followed, has the potential to save the novice trader many times its purchase price.
"Excellent book on the psychology of trading"
This is one of those books to read again and again. Probably the best book on the market focusing on the psychology of trading. Mark Douglas covers how to train your mind to become a consistent winner in the markets and teaches you a way to make this instinctive and effortless. This book is a must read for all levels of traders. (The book is aimed at traders with knowledge of technical analysis).
Even if you are not a TRADER this is a great book. It explains the mechanics of how a lot of things work in your mind and emotional structure. If you are a trader you will lose a lot less money following this guy's advice.
I had been told about this book and I am really glad I bought it... It has helped immensely in my trading, more so with my mind set... Well worth getting if you are serious about Trading full time.
"How to do backward somersaults on a tight rope."
I am a professional trader. This book is excellent, full of great insights and nice analogies. Whether an average person could accept this reality, or more importantly operate with the correct mind set is unlikely. Most lessons need to be learned first-hand. But any budding, failing or mediocre trader should listen to this work. If you find yourself, discounting the information or rationalising an alternative way of thinking; you will have at least identified the reasons, why you are probably doomed to failure.
"Very good insight but too long winding"
Parts of this book are absolute gems when it comes to trading mentality.
But the book is 7 hours too long
"very good "
very educational material, will recommend it to anyone looking to master trading discipline and psychology.
As a trader I can relate to everything Douglas discusses. This is a must read in order to understand ones mental processes when trading.
"Seems so obvious.... Superb"
He highlighted many of the traits that I go through.... I will probably reread this straight away..... Must read for anyone wanting to make consistent money from trading
"Your Edge and Consitency - The determining factors"
As a former Futures trader, I would recommend this to anyone thinking about entering trading, currently trading, or seeking to get back into trading. It will help to set your psychological foundation.
You don't need to know what's going to happen to make money in the market.
The author has an interesting theory that he calls, "The five fundamental truths".
probabilities - consistency - an "Edge"...just read/listen to the book. I have, twice.
"Fantastic book for Forex newcomers"
How true it is that Forex is 80% psychological and 20% fundamental. There have been times when I could kick myself for nurturing my losses thinking that the market will retrace. There needs to be no emotion when trading. This book helps me to recognize this very important factor. Great book that I will listen to over and over. It is very hard to trade without emotion when cold hard cash is on the line. Mark covers this topic well and goes through the normal barriers which people face.
"Awesome Book & Narration"
Really great book that opens your eyes to how people (including me) think when we start to dabble in the stock markets. The contents are great, are written in a style and view to impart coaching, answer questions and set out a game plan. The narration is brilliant and clear. Walter Dixon did a great job. Only flip side (if you can call it that) is the narration is 8 hours long! But all the contents are worth it. You need to make the time to listen to the whole narration in chunks at least. Good luck.
"Great a second time"
I read this book (hard copy) years ago and was surprised how much extra I got out of this audible version. Is it a different version or am I in a different mindset or am I now in the zone? It is worth the credit. If you are into this topic I recommend "The Little Book of Behavioral Investing (Unabridged)" by James Montier
"not succeeding in your trading this is a must read"
yes, probabilities in succeeding in trading are found in this audio book, stop wasting time, this is the read your after !
understanding that success in trading is in the probabilities
have a plan, test it, and stick to it, simple
"Must Read for any trader"
Being able to "read" while driving in my car is a big bonus. I finish the audio books quicker than when I read the book myself.
Trading in the Zone should be read at least once a year as it is a great reminder of what is required to be successful as a trader.
"You need it"
yes , essential mind set for successful trading
clarity on what we do during trades
not applicable
the whole book was an ahhh! moment
If you trade and want to be better this book willl help
"If you are a trader, then listen and read it!"
It's all about your attitude, and Mark will show you the way
No - listen twice
"Good Lessons"
This is more of a psychological read. Very focused on accountability and the mindset required for trading and other things. I found it useful. Pretty redundant in some places.
"The missing piece, a must for all traders"
This one you cannot mis, Mark presents the cold hard facts that are contained within all traders.
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© 2010 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Jones' two homers help sink Dodgers
Pirates' offense comes to life in Opening Day triumph
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates opened the season in front of one of the largest crowds in PNC Park history, but also amid questions about their offense. Would this lineup -- one that includes three players with less than one year of Major League service and only two members of the Pirates' 2009 Opening Day lineup -- be able to push across ample run support for its pitching staff? Well, for at least one day, those concerns were hushed, as the offense answered the question with an emphatic yes. The Pirates jumped all over Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla, as they tallied eight runs in the first five innings and then held on for an 11-5 win over the defending National League West champs. Monday's balanced production doesn't completely alleviate concerns about Pittsburgh's offense, but it certainly pleased the 39,024 on hand to watch the Pirates' first season opener in Pittsburgh since 2005. Never before had a Pirates team scored 11 runs on Opening Day in Pittsburgh. "There's such a history here of bad taste in your mouth," starter Zach Duke said. "For us to come out and perform the way we did today was definitely a big plus for us." "The way we came out, the way we played, this is what Opening Day is all about," catcher Ryan Doumit added. "You couldn't have asked for anything else. It's only one game and all that, but it means a lot more to us than people think." It meant that, for one afternoon, there was little talk about the Bucs' 17 straight losing seasons or the elusive mark of .500. For one day, the Pirates' offense -- and defense, too, for that matter -- could do little wrong. It wasn't necessarily vindication. But it was intended to prove a point. Regardless of external expectations, this club thinks it can win. "Right now, everyone is poking fun at us and saying we're not going anywhere," manager John Russell said. "That's the nature of the business. There are a lot of people who probably would like to see [the losing-seasons streak] continue because it's fun to write about. "We have talent. They know that to be able to win, they're going to have to do it together. We're not the type of team that is going to out-talent people, out-home run people. We're going to have to do things well." As it would turn out, the Pirates did out-homer Los Angeles in this one, with six of the team's 11 runs coming via the long ball. Garrett Jones jump-started the fun with a game-tying, two-run homer in the first that easily cleared the right-field wall and bounced into the Allegheny River. Estimated distance: 456 feet. Jones added an opposite-field solo shot two innings later to become the sixth player in Pirates history with two Opening Day homers. "That crowd just pumps you up so much when you get a big hit and drive in runs," said Jones, who was one of six Pirates players experiencing Opening Day for the first time. "I couldn't have dreamt it any better. That crowd, it just gets the butterflies pumping and adrenaline going." Jones' second homer gave the Pirates a 3-2 advantage, but it was Russell's decision to pull Duke in the fifth that swung this game open. Duke hadn't been at his sharpest, but he had found a way to keep L.A. off the scoreboard after allowing two first-inning runs. He stranded a total of six baserunners, including at least one in each of the first five innings. "I had to battle," said Duke, who picked up the first Opening Day win of his career. "But I figured out ways to get outs when I needed to." Still, when his spot came up in the fifth with two outs and the bases loaded, Russell didn't hesitate to call on pinch-hitter Ryan Church. It was evidence of his confidence in both Church and the team's new-look bullpen. "We had to get something out of that inning," Russell said in explaining the move. "You've got the bases loaded and he's a quality hitter. We felt like it was a good time to try and open up the game." Church delivered, knocking a bases-clearing double off reliever Ramon Ortiz into the right-center-field gap. "That was the backbreaker," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "Behind, 2-0 [in the count], you know here comes a fastball, so you're always ready," said Church, who went 4-for-10 as a pinch-hitter last season. "He just left it right over the heart of the plate, and I was looking to drive it." Doumit later added a trio of RBIs to his day as well, crushing a homer in the eighth that gave Octavio Dotel some added breathing room when he came out to make his Pirates debut. In all, this supposedly suspect offense connected for 10 hits, including four with runners in scoring position. Every hitter reached base at least once, with Ronny Cedeno and Jones finishing with multihit games. "I think we're going to be a scrappy bunch, but this is the style of play people can get used to us playing," Doumit said of the balanced attack. "Every day, it's going to be someone different playing the hero." With the win, Pittsburgh has now taken four consecutive season openers, the longest string of victories since the club reeled off six straight from 1935-40. The past three Opening Day victories haven't done much to change the course of the season, but that doesn't mean this retooled club is resigned to thinking this year can't be different. For one day -- the first day -- everything was nearly perfect. "As long as we continue to do that and feed off each other, maybe it can be like a snowball effect," Church said. "We really aren't going to pay attention to all that stuff that is outside that we can't control. We can only control what happens between the lines. I think a lot of guys here have heart and a lot of pride."
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Teixeira latest to join Derby field
Seven of eight participants set
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
Mark Teixeira is the latest slugger to confirm participation in the Derby, which leaves just one spot open. Atlanta slugger and Major League home run leader Andruw Jones, Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu, Milwaukee's Carlos Lee, Pittsburgh's Jason Bay and Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez have accepted invitations. Red Sox power source David Ortiz is also going, according to a published report.
Thus far, Major League Baseball has experienced little trouble fielding a squad of All-Stars from different countries to celebrate the game's international flavor and promote next spring's World Baseball Classic. The tough part for many countries was deciding which player would go.
Three of the top seven home-run hitters in the American league through Wednesday hail from the Dominican Republic: Ortiz, Texas' Alfonso Soriano and defending Home Run Derby champion Miguel Tejada. And that doesn't include feared sluggers Vladimir Guerrero and Albert Pujols. However, the choice became easier over the weekend, when Tejada told reporters he would rather see Ortiz represent his country.
"That's enough," Tejada said Saturday when asked whether he wanted to compete again. "I vote for [Ortiz]. I want David to be the guy. David Ortiz is our home-run king in the Dominican. I am going to suggest that he represent us in the Derby."
The Boston Herald first reported Tuesday that Ortiz accepted his invitation.
Pujols applauded the choice. "I had a great time when I did it, and I would love to do it again, represent my country, but we also have a great guy representing our country in David Ortiz," he said. "We've got a lot of guys. ... Tejada, he put on a show last year. So any of those guys, you can't go wrong with any of those guys. I just wish him (Ortiz) the best."
Teixeira shares the AL home run lead with 22. His participation marks the fifth time in the last six years that a Ranger has been in the field.
"I'm very excited about it," Teixeira said before the Rangers' game against Boston on Wednesday. "Hopefully it will be a great time. I'm sure it will be. It's quite an honor to represent the country."
Abreu will represent Venezuela, a country that has also produced young Marlins hitter Miguel Cabrera. Abreu had 18 home runs in 305 at-bats through Tuesday, with 11 coming in May. Last year, he celebrated the opening of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia with his second 30-homer season in four years.
Upon confirming his participation in the Derby, Rodriguez immediately proclaimed the obvious -- that he's not a home-run hitter. He's the only confirmed member of the field without a double-digit home run total, though he's seen several fly balls die at the Comerica Park warning track this year.
"I'm not a power hitter," Rodriguez said, "but I'm Puerto Rican. So I'll go out there and do my best."
Also hailing from Puerto Rico is Carlos Beltran, who has more of a track record of power. However, Beltran is also mired in the single digits, with nine homers in 76 games through Tuesday. He's also not from Detroit; the host city has had a player in every Home Run Derby since 1997 but one.
Jones, Lee and Bay didn't have much competition to earn their countries' honors, not that it would've mattered. With 12 home runs over a 15-game stretch in June, Jones powered his way past Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and into the Major League lead. One of just five natives of Curacao to play in the Major Leagues, and the only one currently active, he'll represent the Netherlands, the only European country to have a part in the contest.
Lee will hit for the pride of Panama on the strength of his 22 home runs through Tuesday. He knows Comerica Park well from his days with the White Sox -- he hit .386 there with six home runs in 41 games. He's the third Brewer in four years to take part in the event.
"He's got massive power. Stupid power," Brewers third base coach Rich Donnelly said. "He doesn't come up in [batting practice] and hit every ball out; Carlos works the ball around. But when he wants to try it, he's the best I've ever seen."
Bay isn't the only slugger in the Majors to hail from Canada -- Larry Walker and Justin Morneau also hit their way into the big leagues from up north -- but he's the only one in the All-Star Game. With 16 homers through Tuesday and a 26-homer rookie season last year, Bay will be the first Pirate to take part in the Derby since Barry Bonds did in 1992.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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September 10, 2012 - submitted by Jess, Australia
Q. I was watching the repeats of Coldplay at the closing ceremony of the Paralympics and they said that a rumour was going around that Coldplay got paid only 1 pound to perform. Is that true? Cheers :)
The Oracle replies:
It's not a rumour; every act/band who performed at the opening & closing ceremonies of both the Olympics and Paralympics got paid £1 to perform - including Sir Paul McCartney.


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Haha yeah it's a thing of the past until next week
I jest I jest.
Bottom line is this:
* Be more active in the thread
* Follow the thread closely (don't skip pages of content)
* Voice your opinion on matters that are being discussed
And 99% of these problems would disappear. Not to mention the thread would be 1/3 of the size since at a guess I'd say a good 50+ pages of this thread is discussion of "shenanigans".


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The vote extended Williams' three-year contract another year, which is now set to expire in 2016. School board president Morgan Barrett said the board set goals for the superintendent for the next year but did not specify on what the goals were.
While the school board did recommend several things it would like to see improved, Barrett said that the board pointed out plenty of positives as well.
"We talked about a lot of areas that are very positive and that the district is performing very well in," he said. "There were a lot of positive things that the board saw."
The contract was extended at Williams' current rate of pay, and Barrett said the board did not take part in salary discussions during the meeting.
According to the guidelines set by the Arkansas School Board Association handbook, the board evaluates the superintendent on a long list of criteria including his/her "reputation as a person and as a public worker among the community's leaders, aggressiveness and skill in promoting a workable program for the school district's continuous improvement," and "personal courage, exercised with appropriate tact, in facing opposition to the schools or programs."


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UK Album Sales Down 7 Percent
UK Album Sales Down 7 Percent
Total album sales in the UK equaled 119.9 million units in 2010, down 7 percent compared to 2009, according to UK trade organization BPI. Digital album sales increased 30.6 percent to 21 million units, while sales of CDs were down 12.4 percent. Sales of singles reached a record high of 161.8 million units, up 5.9 percent from the previous year, with 98 percent of purchases coming via digital sales. (1/5)
Apple Leads Smart Phone Market Share
Apple's iPhone currently holds a 28.6 percent share of the smart phone market, followed by Research In Motion's BlackBerry (26.1 percent) and Google's Android (25.8 percent), according to new figures released by Nielsen. The Android was the top-selling smart phone in the last six months, accounting for 40.8 percent of the market share, followed by the iPhone (26.9 percent) and BlackBerry (19.25 percent). (1/5)


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OMG! She's has a part! In her hair! And she resisted messing it up the entire 33 seconds! Yay Kristen! And I love how the entire cast is so adoring of Taylor, it's so sweet to see/hear. I'm actually getting excited about his role in the movie, something new (for me at least).
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.


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The latest episode of Revolution brought more revelations about the pasts of both Rachel and Miles – though not their mutual past. I guess that'll have to wait for that until a later episode, Rachel/Miles fans.
But before we got to any of our rebellious heroes, the episode, titled "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," kicked off in Monroe's office. A militiaman delivers Monroe the news that Tom and Julia Neville have fled Philadelphia. The militia has also managed to figure out why Major Neville left the city – spies have seen Jason alive and with the rebels, says the militia captain whom we learn was one of Neville's closest aides.
Monroe, always captivating and intimidating in his ability to hold power over a room without ever raising his voice, keeps his temper down upon this realization of Neville's betrayal. But though he keeps his voice steady, he's clearly pissed as he wonders aloud who can he trust – pissed enough to kill the militiaman who brought him the news with one shot to the head. Paranoid much, Monroe? Shouldn't he be worried that his men will be afraid to deliver intel like that for fear of getting killed shortly thereafter?
Meanwhile, a wounded man on horseback rides into the rebel camp with a message: Monroe's nuclear bomb is on its way to Atlanta. Three militiamen smuggled it across The Georgia Federation's northern border a day or two ago. So Miles, Charlie, and Nora have a new mission: Onward to Georgia, to stop a nuclear bomb.
The Georgia Federation is "a whole different world," as Miles says. There are steam-powered buses, plentiful crops grown with the warm weather, and clothing that doesn't shout "I'm on an extended camping trip."
To get through the gates of Atlanta, they disguise themselves as Georgia Federation soldiers. But Monroe's men with the bomb had the same idea – they've already gone through the soldiers' cabin where Miles and co. also decide to grab some uniforms, and one of them has left behind a message – in the form of a knife.
When Monroe finds the knife, he's pale and shaking. In flashbacks, we learn that this knife once belonged to Miles' grandfather, who found it to be a good luck charm in the Korean War, and to Miles' father, who in turn brought it with him to Vietnam. Seven years after the blackout, Miles gives the knife to a young militiaman named Alec (The Hunger Games' Dayo Okeniyi). After Miles tells him the history of the knife, Alec refuses to accept it. But Miles insists, saying he hopes this young man – who must have been the closest thing Miles has had to a son – will someday give the good luck knife to his own son.
When Miles, Charlie, and Nora get to Atlanta, they start searching for the nuclear bomb with a nifty little trick: Each walks around town with a flashlight, which of course will turn on if they're near the pendant powering the nuke. When Miles finds the hidden bomb, Alec quickly steps in. They don't share too many words before a fight breaks out between them, first with swords, then with fists. Alec – who learned all his military skills from Miles – manages to take the upper hand, pinning the former general against the brick wall of the alley. Then it's Charlie's turn to save her uncle's skin: She shoots an arrow into Alec's upper chest, which he promptly pulls out before grabbing the pack with the nuke and running off.
Charlie and Miles' pursuit of Alec ends with the death of a Georgia Federation soldier – Alec makes it look like Miles killed him and escapes while other soldiers arrest Miles.
NEXT: Meet Kelly Foster, another woman scorned by Miles Matheson


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Staff Writer
BENNINGTON -- A Pownal man who police say a woman witnessed having sexual contact with a 5-year-old girl was sentenced Friday to serve between 10 years and the rest of his life in prison.
Stephen J. Martin, 24, pleaded not guilty in August 2011 to aggravated sexual assault on a victim under 13 years old, along with a misdemeanor county of cruelty to a child under 10. In October of that year he also pleaded not guilty to a felony count of obstructing justice and two counts of violating court imposed conditions. He pleaded guilty to the aggravated sex charge in October of this year, along with the obstruction charge and condition violations. The state dropped the cruelty charge.
Judge Cortland Corsones sentenced Martin to serve between 10 years and life on Friday for the sex charge while the other charges carried concurrent zero to six-month sentences. Martin will receive sex offender treatment towards the end of the 10-year minimum.
According to Vermont State Police, they were told by the victim's mother that she had walked into a room and seen the child in a sexual position with Martin. She told police she also noted that Martin was exposed, and after denying anything inappropriate was going on, Martin left the residence and made insinuations that he would commit suicide. Police were initially unable to locate Martin but he turned himself over to police custody after a brief period of time.
Martin had been on probation for a grand larceny charge at the time of the incident.
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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Following Tottenham Hotspur's open training session at the Home Depot Center on Sunday, assembled media got a chance to speak with the Rafael van der Vaart about the upcoming friendly against the LA Galaxy.
Van der Vaart's thoughts below…
(On new head coach André Villas-Boas…)
VAN DER VAART: "There's a new coach, I think that [former head coach] Harry [Redknapp] did a great job, but the club decided something else. He's a young manger and a great manager and he wants to prove something after his few months with Chelsea. We want to win something and I think that we have a great squad and that's why it's so important to have a good preseason in LA. "
(On AVB's approach benefiting his game…)
VAN DER VAART: "It's always difficult to say and I don't like to say what is better and what is not. Every manager has his own style and I think that Harry did a fantastic job. [Villas-boas] is an honest man and I think that the team will have to work hard and I think it's a little bit different when you're manager of a national team as opposed to a club, but he can do it. He's a great man."
(On facing Donovan, Beckham and Keane…)
VAN DER VAART: "They're great men. I've played with Keano of course and he's a great lad. It's good that those kind of players play [in MLS] because soccer can become bigger and bigger in America so it's a good sign."
The Galaxy face Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, July 24 at The Home Depot Center. Tickets for that match are still available, starting at $40, at www.lagalaxy.com/tottenham