text:
Florimon to gauge injured wrist during BP
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- Twins shortstop Pedro Florimon was held out of the lineup for a third straight game with inflammation in his left wrist on Monday against the Royals. Doug Bernier started in his place and batted ninth.
Florimon took infield before the game and said the plan is to take batting practice before Tuesday's game before being reevaluated to determine when he'll return.
"It feels better," said Florimon, who injured his wrist while taking batting practice before Saturday's game. "Today, I'm going to take some ground balls and tomorrow I'm going to batting practice and we'll see how it feels."
Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony added that he doesn't believe Florimon will need to be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
"It's better today," Antony said. "He's day to day. The doctor examined him and said it was just a little tendon irritation in his left wrist, but that he's ready to go in a day or two. It's up to him. Right now, he's not a DL candidate so we'll see how he responds."
Perkins pleased with MLB's action on PEDs
KANSAS CITY -- As the Twins union representative, closer Glen Perkins didn't mince his words regarding the 13 players suspended on Monday as part of Major League Baseball's investigation into the Biogenesis clinic in Florida.
Perkins applauded the system for suspending those associated with the clinic, and said he hopes it deters others from using performance-enhancing drugs. He added that his teammates held a similar view, as they were happy to see baseball take action.
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"I think that no one is disappointed in that," Perkins said. "It's the goal of the drug agreement to bring justice to guys who cheated. It's gratifying, I guess, to see guys can't get away with it."
MLB on Monday suspended 13 players as a result of the league's Biogenesis investigation. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez received the stiffest penalty -- a 211-game ban without pay through the end of the 2014 regular season. Rodriguez, 38, has appealed the suspension, which is to begin on Thursday. His case will be heard by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. Rodriguez's discipline, MLB said in its written announcement, is based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years. Rodriguez's discipline under the basic agreement is for attempting to cover up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to "obstruct and frustrate" the investigation.
The other players who were handed 50-game suspensions include Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo and recently demoted Mets utilityman Jordany Valdespin. Minor Leaguers Fernando Martinez, Jordan Norberto, Fautino de los Santos, Cesar Puello and Sergio Escalona were also suspended.
|What they can't do:
|Cannot receive pay
|Cannot participate in Arizona Fall League
|Cannot participate in Postseason games
|Cannot be elected or selected to the All-Star Game (if player is suspended during the offseason, Spring Training, or championship season prior to the All-Star Game)
|What they can do:
|Can participate in Spring Training and extended spring training
|Can participate in affiliated Winter League games
|Can work out with the club
|Can participate in batting practice before the gates open before a game
|Can consent to an assignment to a Minor League affiliate for a period of time prescribed under Section 7.H.2 of the Joint Drug Program
Perkins noted the Twins have played against many of the players suspended, including Rodriguez who faced the Twins three times in the postseason in 2004, '09 and '10. Rodriguez hit .390 in those games with the Yankees winning nine of those 10 games.
"Pretty much everybody on that list we've seen," Perkins said. "So it's frustrating that those guys cheated and won games for their team when they weren't playing by the rules."
The Twins didn't have any current or former players on the list, which was at least a sigh of relief for the organization. Former Twins third baseman Danny Valencia was linked to the clinic, according to reports, but ultimately wasn't suspended.
"Any time things like that go down, you never want to be part of a bad situation like that," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "It's unfortunate for baseball, but it's good it's come to a conclusion. The speculation is over and the suspensions have been made, and everybody can move on."
Perkins said a teammate who was suspended for performance-enhancing drugs would have a tough time gaining trust upon returning to the clubhouse. He added that there's still no way to know just how clean the game is, but that this was a step in the right direction.
"I can't really speculate on that," Perkins said. "There's no way to know. These guys had obviously been taking things for a while and getting away with it. So there's no way to know, but it's cleaner today than yesterday."
Willingham likely to rejoin Twins in Chicago
KANSAS CITY -- Twins outfielder Josh Willingham officially began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Monday, and is expected to rejoin the Twins this weekend in Chicago against the White Sox.
Willingham, who had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on July 3, started at designated hitter for the Red Wings on Monday. He's expected to play five innings in left field on Tuesday and nine innings in left again on Thursday before being activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday.
"I think he'll probably DH, play the field, DH and then play the field," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "If all goes well through Thursday, he'll probably join us in Chicago on Friday and be activated on Saturday."
Willingham initially wanted to rejoin Minnesota in time for its doubleheader on Friday against the White Sox, but the Twins wanted him to play in four games before making his return. Willingham, 34, was hitting .224/.356/.398 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs before being placed on the DL on July 1.
"Hopefully those four games are enough to get his stroke back," Antony said. "He's been out a while, but he's a veteran guy and probably a little more prepared to handle this type of thing."
Outfielder Darin Mastroianni, who is on a rehab assignment with Class A Advanced Fort Myers, is expected to join Willingham with Rochester on Tuesday. Mastroianni, who had surgery on his left ankle on May 22, is also nearing a return with the Twins, but there's still no official target date.
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Espinosa, Bernadina among Nats on Classic rosters
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
The rosters were announced on MLB Network and simulcast on MLB.com.
Espinosa and Bernadina will represent Mexico and the Netherlands, respectively. This will be the first time both players will play in the Classic.
Espinosa and Bernadina are two reasons the Nats won the National League East title last season. Coming off the bench, Bernadina hit .291 with a .372 on-base percentage. Espinosa, Washington's everyday second baseman, played great defense, hit 17 home runs and drove in 56 runs.
The remaining six players are from the Nationals' Minor League system, and three of them -- Kieboom, Cordemans and Oduber -- will join Bernadina on the Netherlands team. Van Ostrand (Canada) and Torra (Italy) are expected to play for Triple-A Syracuse this year.
Nieto played for Class A Hagerstown last year and will play for Team Spain in the Classic.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the time. He also could be found on Twitter @WashingNats. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hello, Im a 46 year old returning tennis player. Played a lot (lot lot) as a junior. Walked away from the game at 16 in favour of another sport and various altruisms. Returned to the game for a short period aged 26 and pretty quickly my strokes came back to a rasonable level. Unfortunately I didnt keep it up. My return lasted less than a year. Now I'm 46 and have been playing regularly for the last year and a half. My body is in good condition though not quite fully fit. At least this is what I think but then i reconsider and ask myself how fit should a 46 year old be? I seem to have no template to guage myself against apart from other club players who seem to me at least to be fitter. i attend the gym or play tennis possibly 3 times a week. One or the other. My real question is this. Since Ive returned to the game almost 16 to 18 months ago, my game goes from bad to indifferent to really good. The really good days keep me coming back for more, a love of the game also helps. I frame the ball on my forehand more than i would wish. I play with a Head Mp prestige, a racket I played with as a junior thanks to semi sponsorship. I wonder am I asking too much of myself now to play with such a scalpel. i wonder has my tennis hubris surpassed my reality. At the moment Im considering taking lessons from the club pro. The frustrations involved in playing good one day and brutal the next have proved too much for me so I'm hopeing some coaching might help. I can get a 10 lesson deal and take it from there. A friend of mine says im wasting my time and that in time it will come back and that my errors are down to slight fixs which in time he feels i will correct myself. This may be true but i would hope the coach will speed up that process. I should also say I was involved in a motorcycle accident a few years ago in which I injured my back. When i returned to the game 18 months ago it was painful but walking mild jogging and a good deal of tennis and outdoor activities have pushed me on well. So despite a bad tennis game i still feel I have made excellent progress. However i still harbour notions of competing at a high level. How feasible is this? My body is good to go now. Would a session of coaching help? 10 lessons. Anyone else out there in the same position? Thank you


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They don't do centenaries by halves in Edlington!
Students at Sir Thomas Wharton Community College put on a super end-of-term spread to mark 100 years since the construction of St John's Church, Victoria Road Primary School, the completion of the Royal Estate and most importantly, the birth of an extra special resident, Edith Cragg.
With the centenaries coinciding with the outbreak of the First World War, the theme for the school's traditional tea party was obvious.
The school rolled out the red carpet to put on a very special event for Edith, who was picked up at her home address by the school 'bobby', PC Janine Kelly.
She was then taken to school in a police car with sirens sounding, to be greeted by members of Edlington Town Council and the Mayor of Edlington Don Astbury, local councillors, headteacher Mary McCorry, and students from the College Council.
Doncaster's honorary Town Crier Henry Cryer announced the special arrival to over 100 tea party goers and the whole school community of approximately 1,200 students and staff.
The theme of the tea party was the commemoration of World War One and featured displays put on by the Edlington Hilltop Centre's Local History Group, who had researched the life and times of Edlington residents during the war.
There was also a display by the Conisbrough and Denaby Re-Enactment Society who wore military uniform typical of the period.
Student Joe George gave a presentation charting Edith's life over the last 100 years and showed pictures of Edlington from throughout the century showing how things have changed and grown during her remarkable life in the village.
Dinner was served by the students who used traditional ingredients from the turn of the 20th century, with mutton hotpot, vegetables and homemade bread on the menu.
Edith was then given a special performance of songs from the early part of last century by members of the school's award-winning community choir.
Edith joined student Alysa Muge in an impromptu performance of the First World War song 'Smile, Smile, Smile' to a rapturous applause from everyone in attendance.
Bella Strutt, another tea party attendee and currently an amazing 102 years old, gave a 'Happy Birthday' wish to Edith, together with Mayor of Edlington, Don Astbury.
The party ended with a presentation of special retirement gifts to headteacher Mary McCorry.
Mrs McCorry has been the head at Sir Thomas Wharton Community College for six years, following a teaching career of 36 years at schools all around the UK.


text:
Columbia Parks and Recreation
Creating Community through People, Parks and Programs
Browse Como.gov Skip top Navigation. Translate this page
601 Rockhill Rd.
Park Hours: 6 am - 11 pm
10 Acres
Picnic sites
Trail - 0.66 mile; gravel and dirt; walking, hiking, nature trail
Formerly known as Rockhill Park, the City Council approved re-naming the park Clyde Wilson Memorial Park on June 21, 2010 in honor of Mr. Wilson's many years of service to the City. His notable activities included serving as a City Council member, one term as the mayor, involvement with many City commissions, and a found/leader of the East Campus Neighborhood Association. For more information on the re-naming of this park, see the related Council items.
Capital Improvement Projects
|Year Completed
|Project Description
|Clyde Wilson Park Improvements - replace bridges, improve park access, replace park entrance signs, trail improvements
|Acquisition of 1.3 acre adjacent parcel - Parmentier property
|Clyde Wilson Park Improvements - entry beautification,bike racks, trail improvements and additional signage.


text:
I have cleverly managed to get a smear of machine oil on my quilt. It is a very small smear (about 1/4" long) but I would much prefer it not to be there. When I have finished quilting and binding I thought I would dab some bar soap on the spot, soak the (very very small) quilt in warm water with dish detergent for a while, and then spin it and line dry. This little wallhanging has a lot of hand applique that I don't really want to stress more than necessary, so I would prefer not to machine wash it.
Do you think this might work? Does anyone have a different approach that might be better?
Oily Alison
PS The oil came from my walking foot. It had started jamming up, so I gave it a bit of oil. I've done this many times before with no ill consequences...but *sigh* there's always a first time!


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Toyota 86 GT (winner)
Renault Megane RS265 (Carry-over champion)
Ford Focus ST
Subaru BRZ
Toyota's new 86 coupe has taken the trophy for the best performance car under $60K – but it was a closely run race.
The 86 snuck home due to its unbeatable value-for-money equation, fun-to-drive nature and brilliant balance and steering.
One judge said: "I've never been in a car that generates that much attention. Kids are pointing it out on the street. Kids know about it."
The 86 and its twin, the Subaru BRZ, were both commended for the way they make the driver feel as if they're going fast even when they're not, with their rorty 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines building speed in a linear fashion, rather than in a big whoosh from a turbocharged thump. In fact, the BRZ and 86 were the slowest in our independent 0-100km/h testing, with the 86 managing an 8.1 second sprint time, and the BRZ clocking 8.2s.
"They're not actually fast, but they're gangs of fun," one judge said. "These two cars have enough power that you can have fun and not end up doing double the speed limit."
Said another: "You simply don't have to try hard."
Judges thoroughly examined the specification differences between the 86 GT and the BRZ, but decided that although the BRZ boasted some items such as bigger wheels and brakes and a digital speedometer, the 86 offered enough standard kit to make it the pick. In fact, the 86 – which uses the same tyres as the Toyota Prius – was found to grip better in the wet.
While there are subtle differences between the two cars in terms of suspension and tyre size, our judges agreed it was hard to pick, both on the road and on the racetrack. As one judge put it, no matter whether you choose the BRZ or 86, it's a "fun car to drive to the shop – it doesn't matter what you're doing".
One common criticism for both cars was the brakes package. As one judge put it, the kind of buyer who does track days will notice it: "the first thing you'd do would be to put bigger anchors on it".
The interior, too, was a bone of contention. The cheap looking stereo systems in both cars spoiled the ambience, and both didn't quite match their rivals for that "special" feel. The rear seats offered "bugger all space".
The Ford Focus ST was the only five-door hatchback in the mix, so it had practicality on its side. "It's just as practical as any other Focus," one judge said, while all applauded its big boot, rear seat space, excellent storage and the fact that it was the only car that didn't demand premium unleaded.
"It's going to be a lot easier for a lot of blokes to get the Focus ST across the line, rather than any of the others," said one judge.
Many agreed, but it was also clear that the plethora of buttons across the dash and steering wheel were somewhat overbearing. As one judge labelled it: "it's got the most buttons of any car since James Bond's Aston Martin".
The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine was lauded for its flexibility and its note, while the six-speed manual was smooth and simple.
While the car was very usable during town duties, many judges found themselves battling with torque steer, where the steering wheel tugs about in the driver's hands under hard acceleration. Some judges labelled it "annoying", suggesting the car needs some sort of electronic or mechanical front differential to better get the power to the ground.
Aside from the tugging, the steering was sharp and precise. One judge labelled it "unbelievable".
It was also spritely, managing the second-fastest 0-100km/h time during testing (7.0 seconds).
The other hot hatch in the mix was the reigning Performance Car under $60K champion, the Renault Megane RS. This car was updated earlier this year with more power from its 2.0-litre turbo and increased equipment, but at $42,640 plus on-road costs it was easily the priciest car here.
It was also the quickest. With a recorded sprint time of 6.6 seconds, the Megane was undeniably the perkiest – and it felt it, with judges calling its acceleration "exhilarating" and saying "it feels sporty and looks like a serious sporty car".
Some weren't happy with the exhaust note, with one describing it as having "a soundtrack by Dyson".
It was another criticised for poor button layout. To dial up the Sport mode – which you need to do in order to exact its full power potential – there's a complex series of buttons to press via a steering-column mounted stalk followed by an almost-hidden traction control button. All agreed it was too hard to do, but all concurred it was good "if you can find it".
Still, its credentials as a go-fast car were evident. All agreed it was fantastic fun on the track, with excellent grip, flat and poised cornering and involving steering with no notable torque steer courtesy, of the car's mechanical diff.
On the road, though, it was outplayed. The ride was felt to be too harsh and the visibility from the cabin poor.
In the end, the Toyota 86 claimed first place with six votes, while the Ford Focus ST scored two, the BRZ one and the reigning Renault failed to poll – an indication of just how far the game has moved on in the cut-price performance category in the past 12 months.
Should we have considered the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 to be the same car?
Some will say yes, because they essentially are. They are built in the same plant, have the same underpinnings, same body, same engine and gearbox and same raspy exhaust note.
But they're different cars, right?
The prices for each car certainly suggest so.
You can get the BRZ for $37,150 drive away, while the Toyota is $29,990 plus on-road costs. Sure, you get less equipment in the cheaper Toyota, but most of us felt that people who are going to buy the base model are more likely to spend the money they save modifying it for track days anyway.
Spare a thought for the Ford Focus ST. Any other year, this thing could have swamped the competition with its brilliant turbo four-cylinder, practical body and smashing price. But against the 86, it just didn't quite get there.
And what of the Renault Megane RS265? Wow, how the mighty have fallen. Don't get us wrong, this is still a spectacularly fun car to drive. But when you pitch it against these other bad boys, it's no wonder the Frenchman didn't get even one baguette from our nine Drive Car of the Year judges.
Tell us what you think - did we get it right?


text:
So I haven't been blogging much...life's been super busy around here.
I have been on a mission to get every area of my home/life organized.
I organized the entire house last year when my pregnancy nesting instincts kicked in, but I am ready to tackle it again!
I plan on updating some systems that aren't working for me and reorganizing the places that have become cluttered.
I've already started in the kitchen and hope to share pictures soon.
Anyway, until then I thought I would link up at Kelly's Korner for her "Show Us Your Life" home tour. I thought it would be fun to document what my living room looks like right now, so I can look back on it in a few years.
(The pictures are a little fuzzy because they were taken on my phone.)
The living room is a pretty big room and opens up into the kitchen. Donnie bought our leather couches before we got married. I love how durable they are and so easy to clean up. They are the best for kids! (Though my greatest fear is one of the boys taking a sharpie to it!)
Donnie and I made our coffee tables while we were dating. A good friend of ours is a woodworker and he helped us put them together. It was so much fun and such a great memory!
The picture on the wall is a canvas print of a lighthouse in northern California that we visited on our honeymoon. My mom made the super cute number pillows on my couch.
Drew made sure he was in at least one of the pictures.
I try to change the mantel decorations seasonally. It is such a small space to decorate but is a focal point for the entire room.
We listen to our favorite Pandora stations when we are hanging out in the living room.
My new favorite living room decoration is my thrift store frame that I turned into a magnetic chalkboard.
Well that's a little snapshot of my living room.
Thanks for stopping by!


text:
Cowlishaw: Erik Cole deal a good sign for Stars' finances, but does it signal the end of Brenden Morrow?
When this short hockey season began, I thought the new-look Stars would be an entertaining enigma.
The club hits the season's halfway mark next week (I said it was a short season), and recent developments have caused me to change my assessment. The Stars are a highly entertaining enigma.
Tuesday's surprising Michael Ryder-for-Erik Cole trade only confirms this. It's a sign of something for sure. I just can't tell you what it is.
My first inclination was to report that it's a deal that never could have happened in the faltering years of Tom Hicks' ownership. Ryder is a free agent after this year. Cole has two more years on his contract at a salary of $4 million each, though his cap hit is $4.5 million.
They are players who, as GM Joe Nieuwendyk said, provide "similar production, different styles." Cole is more of a power forward, in-front-of-the-net kind of guy. He scored 35 goals for Montreal last season, even more than Ryder's 33, but most of his career he has not come close to that. He had scored more than 25 just three times in nine previous seasons and had three goals in 19 games for the Canadiens.
Still, the fact that the team was willing to put his salary on the books for two more years had to be a good sign, right?
Well, if you factor in that Ryder will probably be in line this summer for three years at the same per year or slightly more, then it's actually a future savings for the Stars.
"There are a few things in play here." That was the first thing Nieuwendyk said to me when I spoke to him at the club's practice rink in Frisco. And one of those things is a much more sensitive issue.
Brenden Morrow, like Cole, is 34. Like the 6-2, 205-pound Cole, he plays a power forward role, although, lacking Cole's size, he does it more with grit. Morrow is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. If the team is happy to take on Cole's contract for two more years, will the Stars value their captain the same? Or is he on his way out?
Nieuwendyk didn't rule out further trades before the deadline, which comes — I'm not kidding here — April 3. That's 13 games before the end of the season.
He did say that he intends "to do right by the captain." That could mean any number of things, actually.
Stepping aside from the possibly paranoid view that Cole's arrival assures Morrow's exit, Cole said the decision to waive his no-trade provision hinged largely on his conversation with former Carolina teammate Ray Whitney.
"He talked about the city and the schooling, the teammates and the coaching — all glorious reviews," Cole said.
At the same time, you wonder how much new owner Tom Gaglardi spoke to one of his closest friends, team consultant Mark Recchi, about this trade. Recchi was a teammate of Cole's and Whitney's on that somewhat forgotten 2006 Hurricanes Stanley Cup team.
There's nothing wrong with soliciting lots of opinions. Also nothing wrong with an owner being involved in trades when millions of dollars — both salary cap and real — are in play.
I don't think we have to worry that the Jerry Jones of hockey has arrived in Dallas from Vancouver.
But we also can't say unequivocally we have seen an owner who is unafraid to spend money. Sure, his pockets aren't empty the way Hicks' were when he handed over the keys, but it's too soon to say where Gaglardi will direct this club financially.
In the meantime, it's scoring goals like crazy. The club's 11-game streak of scoring three or more goals ties the longest in franchise history. I think the injury to goaltender Kari Lehtonen had much to do with sustaining this streak, as players knew that the backup goalies here could not hold their own.
The signs of real scoring prowess coming out of this streak are great until you realize that the Stars' team that held this record was the 2001-02 Stars. That wasn't much of a scoring team, to be honest, and by season's end, Nieuwendyk had been dealt to New Jersey and Bob Gainey had fired both himself and Ken Hitchcock.
So these Stars move on, battling to hold their spot in the West top eight with a slate of home games coming that are sure to be entertaining. And that makes one team in AAC that can say that.
Follow Tim Cowlishaw on Twitter at @TimCowlishaw.


text:
Skip to comments.New Budget Delays or Cancels Much-Promoted NASA Missions
Posted on 03/01/2006 7:09:18 PM PST by lauriehelds
Some of the most highly promoted missions on NASA's scientific agenda would be postponed indefinitely or perhaps even canceled under the agency's new budget, despite its administrator's vow to Congress six months ago that not "one thin dime" would be taken from space science to pay for President Bush's plan to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars.
The cuts come to $3 billion over the next five years, even as NASA's overall spending grows by 3.2 percent this year, to $16.8 billion.
Among the casualties in the budget, released last month, are efforts to look for habitable planets and perhaps life elsewhere in the galaxy, an investigation of the dark energy that seems to be ripping the universe apart, bringing a sample of Mars back to Earth and exploring for life under the ice of Jupiter's moon Europa as well as numerous smaller programs and individual research projects that astronomers say are the wellsprings of new science and new scientists.
The agency's administrator, Michael D. Griffin, says NASA needs the money to keep the space shuttle fleet aloft, complete the International Space Station and build a new crew exploration vehicle to replace the shuttle.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
They axed JIMO, Mars sample return, and the Terrestrial Planet Finder??? Wha???
Noooooooo :(
Sad ping
When reported a month ago the reaction was: so, what's that. There is zero interest in finding habitable planets.
The look for habitable planets is not a SETI type thing at all but a gigantic space telescope that would be able to image earthsize planets around other stars directly.
If there's one place in the solar system where life exists, I'd imagine it would be on Europa.
I'd imagine it would be Earth. < /deadpan >
I'd imagine it would be Earth. < /deadpan >
What in God's name would lead you to such a ludicrous conclusion??
Um, "ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA...."
Good point!
Beware of the cat:)
"Who, me?"
If you think the budget cuts are bad now, just wait until the boomers start retiring and voting to maintain and increase their current benefits. Those selfish fools have run up $8 trillion in debt, to be paid by the grandchildren. So what's a few more trillion? So what if we lose the space race? The important thing is that gramps makes his tee-off time and gets his cocktail of drugs.
Maybe the chinese will give an American a token ride to Mars 50 years from now, if they can find one that isn't obese or dumb as a load of bricks. Probably not.
If the US would withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and open a land office for registration of property claims this country would take off so fast and go so far that the rest of the dumb world would wonder where we went.
As opposed to interest in Astronauts circling the earth in the Internation Space Station...doing what? Scratching themselves?
There is pretty much zero interest in space development aside from commsats and tourism, neither of which involve development of celestial resources. There is zero interest in NASA, and nobody is even aware that NASA was going to be looking for new habitable worlds, which doesn't matter anyway since the 1967 Treaty would prohibit development of new planets if found.
They gave up the dominion of the world; we have given up dominion of the Solar System. And for what? For an empire of debt.
"an investigation of the dark energy that seems to be ripping the universe apart"
"Dark energy" might not exist, scientists say
World Science | Feb. 14, 2006 | some geek who doesn't have a Valentine
Posted on 02/28/2006 1:17:49 PM EST by SunkenCiv
"efforts to look for habitable planets"
Optical Device Cancels Starlight So Astronomers Can See Distant Planets
University of Arizona | 02/28/06 | Lori Stiles
Posted on 03/01/2006 7:07:08 PM EST by KevinDavis
"bringing a sample of Mars back to Earth"
"NASA needs the money to keep the space shuttle fleet aloft"
Cancel US support for the ISS. Problem solved. Or, stop flying the STS, and use the money to develop (or redevelop) heavy lift capability to complete the ISS in a more economical manner (but hardly on schedule).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
Peralta won't play in Classic
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Joel Peralta confirmed on Sunday morning that he would not be participating for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, and noted he was disappointed about that fact.
"The main thing is, this is probably the only chance I have to play in the WBC and I'm not going to be able to," Peralta said. "I was hoping that I could. Years earlier, I was anxious for them to invite me to go and they didn't. Now, they invite me to go and I can't go. So it hurts a little bit."
Peralta pointed out that the silver lining of the situation could be found in the fact that he should be fresh to pitch deep into the season for the Rays.
"That was the whole goal, that was the point," Peralta said. "September, October when [we] make the playoffs, the World Series, [I'll] still be fresh. So I can help the team win. That was the main thing."
Peralta has been slowed by a stiff neck thus far in Spring Training.
"If I was practicing and pitching, I might change my mind," Peralta said.
Cust inks Minor League deal
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Tampa Bay announced early on Sunday morning it had signed veteran outfielder/designated hitter Jack Cust to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Major League camp.
Cust, 34, took part in Sunday's first full-squad workout. He has 10 years of Major League experience, but last played in the big leagues in 2011 for the Mariners. He has a career .242 batting average with 105 home runs and 323 RBIs in 670 Major League games. Cust is a left-handed hitter and has played right field, left field and DH in stints with the A's, Orioles, D-backs, Rockies, Padres and Mariners.
When asked about why he signed with the Rays, Cust noted that he had admired the Rays for years from the opposing dugout.
"Joe [Maddon] and his staff, what they do here is just amazing," Cust said. "You hear only great things about the organization. It's somewhere that I always thought to myself that, 'It would be cool to play over there.' Just an easy, free game that they play."
Cust split time between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) and Triple-A Las Vegas (Toronto) in 2012, hitting .243 with 20 home runs and 72 RBIs in 114 games. He noted that his swing had been in disarray last season, but he feels like he's gotten everything back in order.
"This offseason, I had a lot of time to work on it," Cust said. "I worked with my brother a lot. Just kind of fixed some mechanical things that were going on that weren't allowing me to do what I do. I feel like I've got my swing to the point where I can make adjustments on the fly from pitch to pitch, whereas that was kind of hard for me to do the last couple of years. Physically, I always feel pretty good."
Cust said he had not yet talked to the Rays regarding their plans for him.
"For me, this is something where I feel like I'm in a good spot and a good situation," Cust said. "Physically and mentally, I feel good. I've got nothing to lose. I've played the game a long time."
Maddon elaborated on what the Rays were thinking about when they signed Cust.
"It's primarily about his bat, power-wise," Maddon said. "This guy knows how to look over an at-bat. He's going to strike out a little bit. But he does a lot of other things that impact a team offensively in a positive way."
If Cust does not make the team, he will be a candidate for the Triple-A Durham roster.
Scott ready for action
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Luke Scott reported to camp on Sunday feeling good about his conditioning and his prospects for the season.
Scott was not in top form last season, due to his recovery from right-shoulder surgery. In deference to the previous offseason, Scott was able to take part in his normal workouts -- minus the precautionary measures. That has allowed him to add some quality weight, while injecting some enthusiasm into his feelings about the coming year.
Included in Scott's offseason regimen was wood chopping and bow shooting. Not only did the bow shooting allow him to add overall strength to different body parts, but there was an added benefit.
"There's definitely some meat in the freezer," Scott said. "I definitely put that bow to use and harvested some of God's furry little creatures."
Molina taking things in stride
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Jose Molina is slated to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, which means he'll be leaving the Rays at some point during the spring. Since the Rays have a lot of new arms in camp, Molina was asked if felt any pressure about not having the time to catch all of the team's pitchers so he can grow familiar with them.
"I don't have pressure," Molina said. "I'm good. You catch them and you learn. I need to catch them and talk to them one time to know what they like to do. It's an easy process. I don't put pressure on myself like that."
When asked if any of the new arms had caught his eye, Molina said now is not the time to really form any opinions -- since the pitchers are building up stamina and throwing mostly fastballs.
"Ask me that question again later in the spring," Molina said.
Bill Chastain 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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Land of the Midnight Sun
With stark differences between seasons, Finns are used to contrasts. Dark Arctic winters have their counterpart in one of the most iconic of Finnish natural phenomena, the Midnight Sun.
Many wonder how Finns survive with no sunlight in the winter, and nature replies with 24 hours of it in the summer. The intense contrast in light conditions has a profound effect on all walks of life in Finland.
For understandable reasons, public spaces come to life in the summer. After the harsh winter, endless daylight never arrives a day too early. Summer in Finland is a time spent outside the house enjoying the short but sweet season, and all worries are postponed until nights get dark again.
About Finland
Full of interesting contrasts, such as the four seasons, the Midnight Sun and winter darkness, urban and rural, East and West.
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Taking advantage of the magical midnight sun, each year tens of thousands of people join some of the world's largest, oldest and most well-known running and rowing events in Finland.Read More
With the midnight sun anything you can do during the day, you'll be able to do at night – with a special edge, mind you.Read More
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text:
Nationals reflect on MLK, March
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
WASHINGTON -- It was Aug. 28, 1963, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington, a demonstration to push for better jobs for all people and help pass better civil rights legislation.
Fifty years later, King's speech has an impact on Nationals first-base coach Tony Tarasco, who heard the stories of the civil rights struggle from his mother and grandparents. His father, Jack Tarasco, worked at a hotel in New York City that was converted into a dorm for black women who went to New York University.
"So he saw the changes from a different perspective," Tony Tarasco said. "So I got two very interesting stories told to me from two different sides."
Tarasco, who is biracial, said King's speech was motivating, and that it put things in perspective -- bringing home the struggles to all Americans.
"[Dr. King] did it in a manner that all people could express how they felt about the situation that was going on in the United States," Tarasco said. "That's why he was such a fantastic man. He was the person who was chosen to deliver that speech on that day. He was able to get across multiple cultures."
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was born 21 years after the March on Washington, but he has an idea about the racial tension that existed in '63. When he sees documentaries or movies about the civil rights era, he is saddened to learn that so much racial tension existed in the United States.
"Obviously, some of that [racial tension] still exists, and I don't think there will ever be anywhere where it doesn't exist," Zimmerman said. "I talk about this all the time. It's crazy to watch movies and look at documentaries and really think that the country was like that. It's hard for me to fathom because of the way I was brought up and the way I think things are now. For me, I never really thought about that stuff.
"[The March on Washington] is one of the biggest things to ever happen for civil rights in this country. To change something like that takes someone like Dr. King to ... do something that other people are too afraid to do."
Center fielder Denard Span wasn't born until 18 1/2 years after the March on Washington, but he is aware why the demonstration took place 50 years ago.
"[Dr. King] wanted social equality. That's all he wanted," Span said. "He wanted everybody to be equal. I remember the famous line about his children growing up and wanting them to do some of the things that white people are able to do. Dr. King was one of the guys, along with Jackie Robinson, that helped shape where we are today."
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the time. He also could be found on Twitter @WashingNats. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Compiled by Mary Kincy Benefield News Editor
David Gibbons, 5th Judicial District prosecuting attorney, filed felony criminal charges against the following individuals in Pope County Circuit Court March 28-April 4, 2008:
Cases assigned
to First Division:
Cases assigned to Fourth Division:
Justin Alan Hulslander, 27, East Fifth Street - two counts of hot check violation ($853.76, $693.56).
Valerie Lynn Perceful, 40, Chastain Road, Mulberry - hot check violation ($674.77).
Karen D. Schmidt, 46, Pisgah Road, Pottsville - three counts of hot check violations ($721.75, $886.57, $663.96).
Pauline E. Summerhill, 64, East Circle Drive - hot check violation ($213.91).
Pope County Clerk Laura McGuire issued marriage licenses to the following couples March 28-April 4, 2008:
Vicente Alvarado II, 28, and Amy Christina Camacho, 20, both of Clarksville.
Broderick T. Brunson, 51, and Arceli Econar Amora, 24, both of Russellville.
Joshua Trace Coffman, 20, and Whitney Dan'l Black, 20, both of Atkins.
Harold Cox Jr., 39, and Sherry Mitchell Litsey, 31, both of Russellville.
Johnny Ray Cunningham, 23, of Russellville and Cynthia Reyes Clemente, 25, of Tondo, Manila.
David Anthony Delsoto, 25, and Briana Lane Saylors, 22, both of Russellville.
Sergio Granados Garcia, 35, and Rosa M. Martinez Ayala, 40, both of Rover.
Ian Joseph George, 27, and Connie M. Wilson, 29, both of Russellville.
Buster Wayne Keeton, 32, and Kathleen Ann Bailey, 33, both of Dover.
Neil Christopher Leavell, 32, and Annie Laurie Dalton, 29, both of Dardanelle.
Lawrence Greg McGuire, 22, and Amanda Michelle Carlson, 19, both of Dover.
Kurtis Dale Orrick, 21, of Russellville and Traci Lea Roberts, 19, of Atkins.
Fred Arnold Petty, 48, and Linda Sue Petty, 50, both of Atkins.
Floyd James Rasha, 34, and Leia Dawn Rasha, 34, both of Dover.
Terry Len Reynolds, 43, and Vickie Robinson Triplett, 43, both of Russellville.
Seth William Smith, 24, and Valarie Lynn Bewley, 29, both of Russellville.
Ryan Michael Staggs, 25, and Ann Chere Donham, 23, both of Atkins.
Samuel Lee Taylor, 23, of Little Rock and Janis Leann King, 24, of Russellville.
Brandon Lee Ward, 27, and Lindsey M. Northrop, 24, both of Russellville.
Charles H. Webster, 40, and Amber Renay Smith, 20, both of Russellville.
Adam Robert Wood, 36, and Carolyn Bernice Ross, 42, both of Atkins.
Divorces granted in Pope County Circuit Court March 20-April 3, 2008.
Stephanie Bauer v. Corey Bauer.
Vera Baxley-Linker v. Thomas Baxley.
Jerry Brown v. Lunette Brown.
Jerry B. Canerday Sr. v. Marsha L. Canerday.
Keith R. Gamble v. Melissa A. Gamble.
Cristina Lee Higgs v. Mark Wesley Higgs.
Alisia Ann Jackson v. Tim Wayne Gist.
Heather Leane Maxwell v. Jason Don Maxwell.
James V. McCauley v. Jennifer K. McCauley.
Talli Minton v. Christopher Lee Minton.
Elizabeth Jane Moudy v. Brian Thomas Moudy.
Fredis Navarrete v. Jessica Navarrete.
Alison Peeler v. Devin Peeler.
Amber Sebastian v. Craig Sebastian.
Nancy Sparks v. Frank Sparks


text:
-Resubmitting Again
(Meiton: Kirudesuto)- Dark Release: Hungry Dragon
Type: Offensive/Attack
Rank: A-Rank
Range: Mid-Long Range
Chakra: 30 Chakra
Damage: 60 Damage
After having user convert the absorbed chakra from the Dark Release: Inhailing Maw from an A or lowered ranked Lightning/Fire technique or S rank and lower raw chakra, then releases a Dragon composed of Dark chakra with help of shape manipulation, from his left hand, the dragon if clashed against a B rank or lower Fire or lightning based technique it will "eat" the technique meaning it absorbs it and will simply grow bigger, faster and stronger meaning it becomes an S rank technique, however the user must keep the dragons tail attached to there left hand, meaning if he stops the chakra channeling the dragon will simply dissapear. It has enough strength to smash an opponent to the ground and break a few bones and whatnot.
- Can only be used 2 times per battle.
- Must wait 3 turns before using again.
- Must be a Dark user.
- Can only be taught by Kurotsuchi..
(Fuuton: Uindo Kuruma) - Wind Release: Wind Wheel
Type: Supplementary/Offensive
Rank: B rank
Range: Short - Long
Chakra: 20 Chakra
Damage: 40 Damage
The user releases a certain amount of wind through there mouth wich then is rapidly spun around the user and carries the person as inside a wheel. It is highly sharp on the outside, able to cut through solid objects such as C rank and lower earth techniques and slice through human flash with little to no trouble at all. Most comonly used for traveling.
- Can only be used by Kurotsuchi.
~Declined. You made this sound like a mode, so restrict the time you can use this technique move~
Summoning Animal: Dracos
Scroll Owner: Kurotsuchi..
Other Users who have signed contract: N/A
Summoning Boss if existing: To be Created.
Other Summoning Animals tied to contract: To be Created.
- Dracos Wikipedia Info Source.
- Permission from Riku.. to submitt a sub-species of Lizards.
±± Declined ±± at request of the user


text:
Renegades edge Thunder in BBL clash
Board from the Twenty20 clash between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades at ANZ Stadium today.
Sydney Thunder Innings
U KHAWAJA lbw Muralidaran 19 (26)
C GAYLE run out (Pattinson) 12 (13)
M COSGROVE b Muralidaran 12 (18)
C ROGERS st Nevill b O'Brien 4 (6)
A MAHMOOD b O'Brien 1 (3)
S ABBOTT c Rohrer b O'Brien 3 (4)
C BORGAS c O'Brien b Samuels 5 (8)
R CARTERS not out 18 (19)
C TREMAIN not out 37 (23)
Sundries (1b 3lb 1w) 5
Seven wickets for 116
Fall: 24 (Gayle), 41 (Khawaja), 47 (Rogers), 49 (Mahmood), 51 (Cosgrove), 57 (Abbott), 60 (Borgas).
Bowling: W Sheridan 2-0-14-0, D Pattinson 3-0-15-0 (1w), N Rimmington 3-0-17-0, M Samuels 4-0-28-1, M Muralidaran 4-0-16-2, A O'Brien 3-0-15-3, A Finch 1-0-7-0.
Batting time: 82 mins.
Overs: 20.
Melbourne Renegades Innings
D HARRIS c Carters b Mahmood 8 (14)
A FINCH c Carters b Abbott 31 (33)
M SAMUELS b Mahmood 4 (8)
B ROHRER run out (Gayle) 27 (20)
T COOPER c Carters b Nannes 11 (5)
P NEVILL not out 9 (14)
W SHERIDAN not out 12 (16)
Sundries (6lb 9w) 15
Five wickets for 117
Fall: 20 (Harris), 34 (Samuels), 67 (Finch), 80 (Cooper), 98 (Rohrer).
Bowling: D Nannes 4-0-20-1 (3w), C Tremain 4-0-24-0 (3w), A Mahmood 4-0-18-2, L Doran 2-0-12-0, S Abbott 3.2-0-28-1 (1w), C Gayle 1-0-9-0 (1w/2).
Batting time: 85 mins.
Overs: 18.2.
Result: Melbourne Renegades won by 5 wickets
Points: Renegades 2 Thunder 0
Sydney Thunder's ice-cool cavalry arrived on Friday night in the form of Chris Gayle, but the West Indies superstar was unable to save the Big Bash League franchise's blushes in a five-wicket loss to the Melbourne Renegades at ANZ Stadium.
Gayle was run out by Darren Pattinson for 12 in the fifth over when his sliding bat became stuck in the soft grass adjacent to the wicket, the dismissal starting a rapid rot as the Thunder were restricted to just 7-116.
It was never going to be enough and so it proved as a cautious 31 from Renegades captain Aaron Finch, who earlier sent the hosts in, laid the platform for the Thunder's seventh consecutive Twenty20 loss.
Finch, who hammered an unbeaten 111 in the season opener against the Melbourne Stars, took a risk-averse approach and left the visitors needing 50 off 52 balls when he was caught behind off Sean Abbott.
There threatened to be some late drama when Tom Cooper (11) and Ben Rohrer (27) fell in the space of 11 balls shortly after Finch's exit, but the Thunder simply didn't have enough runs to play with.
Will Sheridan brought up the winning runs with 10 deliveries remaining in front of 7413 fans.
Express paceman Dirk Nannes bowled with great venom, typified by speeds of almost 150km/h and a crunching collision with Renegades opener Daniel Harris, and was unlucky to only capture the wicket of Cooper.
Pakistan allrounder Azhar Mahmood, like Gayle playing his first game of the BBL season, had Harris out edging and clean bowled Marlon Samuels with a full toss to give the hosts hope in the fledgling stage of the Renegades' at-times unconvincing chase.
Earlier, Gayle launched a towering six over the head of mid-on from Sheridan's bowling, while Usman Khawaja was starting to look comfortable when the hosts reached 0-23 after four overs.
Gayle's departure was followed by a slew of wickets - the vast majority from poor shot selection while the run-rate dried up - as the Thunder crumbled to just 7-60 in the 14th over.
The lusty hitting of tailender Chris Tremain (37no from 23 balls) pushed the Thunder's total past 100, but the fact the No.9 was the only batsman to pass 20 encapsulated an innings that unravelled far too easily.
Aaron O'Brien claimed figures of 3-15 to be the Renegades' best bowler, while Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan deceived Khawaja (19) and Mark Cosgrove (12) to snare 2-16 from his four overs.
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text:
Big Appetites In Big Horses (Drafts)
- Sep 13, 2001
- Topics:
Nothing says sheer power like a draft horse. Nothing else exudes such strength with such a mild-mannered attitude. To watch these gentle giants in action is to get a sense of our own history and the invaluable role horses played, and continue to play. Today, far from fading away, the draft breeds--Clydesdales and Shires, Percherons and Belgians (not to mention all the other, more obscure varieties, like Brabants, Suffolk Punches, and American Creams)--are more popular than ever, and attracting more converts every year.
In most respects, very little about the management of draft horses has changed over the centuries. That's true not only of the harness they wear, and the vehicles they pull--essentially identical to those used at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution--but also in the diets we tend to offer the draft breeds. Tradition plays a larger role in the care and feeding of heavy horses than in most other realms of the equine industry, mostly because keeping and enjoying these breeds often is passed down through generations of family. "If it was good enough for great-great-grandpappy's horses, it's good enough for mine!" isn't an uncommon attitude among draft aficionados. While there's nothing wrong with that, it does mean many draft horses could be benefiting from more advanced (or at least more balanced) nutrition than they currently enjoy. Sturdy and stoic by nature, they'd be the last to complain of being fed inappropriately; but nonetheless, many a heavy horse's diet could be updated, particularly in light of some recent discoveries about carbohydrate utilization in these breeds.
Tradition, Tradition
Strength and power are the draft horse's forte, and his heavy bone and extensive muscling reflect those requirements, resulting in an animal which often tops the 2,000-pound mark. These days, the demands of the show ring have resulted in two distinct types of horses in many of the heavy breeds--a taller, flashier animal for the show hitches, and a less rangy, more rugged individual for "real" pulling work. Both types, however, have significant energy requirements for performing the work they're asked to do.
The easy-going temperament and laid-back metabolism of most heavy horses is largely responsible for the fact that they seem to require about 15% fewer calories, pound for pound, than a light horse breed. Studies have worked out the difference to be approximately 1.27 Mcal/100 pounds of body weight for a draft horse, versus 1.48 Mcal/100 pounds for a Thoroughbred or Arabian, for example. Still, that's a lot of feed, especially if you're used to feeding smaller horses. Many draft equines easily consume a bale of hay, or more, per day, and many also are fed large amounts of plain grains, such as oats and bran. (Even draft crosses, which are popular for foxhunting, eventing, light farm work, and many other uses, often range upwards of 1,600 pounds and can have prodigious appetites to match.)
In the past, bran was an extremely popular feed for draft horses; some owners still maintain an affection for feeding it today. Because bran has an extremely inverted calcium:phosphorus ratio, containing about 13 times as much phosphorus as calcium, it can, if fed in large quantities, contribute to calcium deficiency. For good bone growth and maintenance, the horse's system requires at least as much calcium as phosphorus in the overall diet (the ratio is more important than the actual quantities of each mineral). When faced with a phosphorus overload, the body actually will leach calcium from the bones in an attempt to rebalance the two minerals. The eventual result is porous, brittle bones throughout the body--and curiously, the bones of the head become visibly enlarged as their calcium is replaced with fibrous connective tissue, hence the name "big head disease" (also called "bran disease"). While big head disease is rare today, the draft horses of a century ago were quite likely to suffer from it. Its effects were usually irreversible, severely shortening the useful life of the animal.
Bran is a less-than-ideal feed for other reasons, too. It's not particularly energy-rich, it doesn't really produce the laxative effect it's fabled for, and as a fiber source, it's only fair. An occasional bran mash on a cold winter's night does no harm, and certainly might stimulate the appetite of a convalescing horse, but if you must feed bran on a regular basis, try to make it no more than 10% of the overall diet.
Energy Utilization
Most of the work done by the draft breeds is aerobic in nature--in other words, slow and steady, and of long duration. Horses used for pulling contests, and those employed in real farm work, sometimes have to employ anaerobic energy metabolism, too, for occasional short bursts of extreme effort. The snag is that heavily muscled horses (which pretty much describes all the draft breeds) are particularly prone to tying-up, also known as exertional rhabdomyolysis, azoturia, or "Monday morning disease." The latter name came about because, back in the days when all draft horses worked hard for a living, they often would be fed full grain rations through the weekend when they were idle. Then when they returned to heavy work on Monday morning, their hindquarter muscles would cramp and seize, and they'd become painfully rooted to the spot. (The condition also used to be called "blackwater," because a horse which had tied up later would expel urine that was so full of pigments from damaged muscle cells that it appeared bloody or coffee-colored--a condition called myoglobinuria.)
Although tying-up isn't exclusive to the draft breeds by any means, it's long been noted that heavy horses have a tendency to suffer from it. Reducing the amount of carbohydrate-rich grain fed on non-working days appears to help control the incidence of tying-up episodes--sometimes. Many suspect that exertional rhabdomyolysis has a genetic component, as is evidenced not only by its prevalence in draft horses, but also its prevalence in fillies and mares of other breeds.
Many draft horses suffer from other types of muscle disorders, ranging from barely perceptible to downright alarming. "Shivers," a condition in which the horse trembles or quivers and the tail is elevated abnormally, is one, as is a slightly "crampy" way of moving behind (this is widespread enough that many consider it "normal" for a draft horse). Stringhalt--a chronic syndrome in which the horse suddenly snatches up his hind legs (one or both might be affected)--often is seen in heavy horses and can progress to muscle wasting and general weakness.
Worst of all is the down horse--an animal which suddenly finds himself devastatingly weak and unable to stand. This syndrome particularly is common after foaling or following general anesthesia (draft horses are notorious in veterinary hospitals for having problems associated with general anesthesia), but it also can strike apparently healthy horses without warning; and it might necessitate euthanasia.
Loss of muscle mass in the shoulders and/or hindquarters, refusing to pick up the feet for shoeing, stumbling or a reluctance to back up, difficulty rising after recumbency, stiff or awkward hind limb movements or short-stridedness, episodic colic, back soreness, and a general lack of energy -- all of these can be indications of a lack of muscle energy, according to Beth Valentine, DVM, PhD, of Oregon State University. A veterinary pathologist, Valentine stumbled across some mysterious similarities in slides of muscle cells taken from draft horses brought in for necropsy while she was based at Cornell University about five years ago. Drawing comparisons from work in Quarter Horses suffering from tying-up and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), she began to gather data on the muscle disorders from which these horses suffered, and soon suspected not only that there was a common link, but that what she was witnessing was a cellular indication of the horses' poor utilization of carbohydrates for energy.
In essence, the body ended up "starving" the muscles, as it was unable to process grain as an energy source. She dubbed the syndrome equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM), and has been investigating it ever since.
"I started out thinking this is an oddball little condition," says Valentine, "but when I started looking, it was easy to find these horses (with EPSM). Often they didn't tie up -- we usually see full-blown tying-up only with draft horses used for heavy pulling. The symptoms would be fairly mild and easy to miss. They often were attributed to just Ôbeing a draft horse.' A draft horse, after all, doesn't tend to kick up his heels in the pasture the way a lighter horse might. But I started to think that perhaps this was because he was hurting! The horse who's a little stiff or short behind, the one who doesn't want to hold his feet up for the farrier, the one who doesn't like to be curried around his back legs -- all of these small signs started to point to muscle weakness and pain."
She started to do muscle biopsies on draft horses brought in to the university for necropsy, and was surprised to find that the muscle lesions she'd observed were apparent in at least half of the samples she examined. Its incidence ran the gamut from Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons, and Belgians, to Irish Draughts and draft ponies such as Haflingers and Fjords, several draft crosses, and even a draft mule.
While EPSM doesn't appear to be limited to the draft breeds, it seems to be disturbingly common in heavy horses, according to Valentine. She notes, "Even if the population I've sampled is somehow skewed, even if the incidence is only half of what I suspect it is, that's still one in four horses! I'm quite sure it's genetic, but with this many horses affected, breeding it out isn't the answer. In fact, we may have unintentionally selected for EPSM while we were selecting for other desirable traits. Interestingly, the majority of horses who have tested positive for the syndrome are otherwise exceptional athletes."
Why hasn't EPSM been identified until now? Valentine suspects that the symptoms have been obscure enough, and the horses stoic enough, that it has been difficult to put the pieces together. "These horses won't let you know when there's a problem as quickly as a light horse would. They'll work till they drop. Often you don't know there's anything going on until the horse suffers severe and rapid muscle wasting. He may look fine until he's 20 years old, then suddenly goes downhill. Or he may manifest problems from the time he's two. It's tremendously variable.
"EPSM is out there, and these horses are trying to deal with it. I thought that because Quarter Horses who tied up chronically seemed to respond to low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets, that a low-carb diet might also be of assistance (for EPSM horses)."
RX For EPSM horses
In consultation with equine nutritionists Arleigh Reynolds, Harold Hintz, and Kent Thompson, among others, Valentine came up with a proposed diet for EPSM horses that featured little or no carbohydrates from grains, and 20% to 25% fat, which served as a substitute energy source. Although fat is not a "natural" part of the equine diet, horses actually process it very well, and their bodies readily utilize it as an energy source, albeit exclusively for aerobic work (its components, called volatile fatty acids, or VFAs, won't fuel anaerobic, or "sprint" muscle firing).
"We don't have any true information yet on the level of carbohydrates these horses can tolerate," Valentine notes, "so we're trying to go for zero carbs. And 20% fat seems to be the minimum for good results, according to my observations."
Since EPSM horses don't seem to have any trouble processing fiber, Valentine's experimental diet still includes plenty of forage and/or hay.
For the average draft horse, providing the low-carb, high-fat diet is relatively simple. Valentine recommends replacing the horse's normal grain ration with alfalfa pellets and vegetable oil (gradually brought up to a level of three to four cups for a 1,600- to 2,000-pound horse). Any good-quality vegetable oil can be used, although she suggests avoiding linseed (flax) oil because some studies suggest it could contribute to colic when fed in large quantities. Corn, soy, or canola oil can be purchased in bulk from your feed store or from a restaurant supply, she says, and since you are feeding fairly large amounts, rancidity is rarely a problem -- the oil doesn't sit around long enough!
While owners might find this diet rather messy ("I've learned to designate one jacket for barn use," Valentine says wryly.), most horses adapt to it remarkably well. Valentine has noted more objections to the alfalfa pellets than to the oil itself; some horses do turn up their noses at the processed hay, and for those she suggests trying a low-carbohydrate, high-fiber feed such as Purina's Strategy or Nutrena Compete, or simply pouring the oil directly on the horse's flakes of hay. (Beet pulp might be another potential solution, although Valentine suspects its soluble carbohydrate content could be a little high.) If your horse objects to liquid oil, there are a couple of alternatives on the market -- rice bran, for example, and high-fat supplements such as Purina's Athlete. Since these products are only about 14% to 22% fat, considerably more must be fed in order to achieve the overall dietary balance of 20% to 25% fat. (For example, a 2,000-pound draft horse would need to consume 10 pounds of rice bran a day!) As a result, you might run into palatability problems.
Some owners have found that combining these products does the trick. There also is a powdered animal fat product called Fat Pak 100, which is primarily designed for pigs, but which can be fed safely to horses. (Avoid the rumen-protectant varieties of fat designed for ruminants like cattle and sheep; they can be toxic to horses.)
If the fat is added gradually to the diet, horses tend to adapt to it extremely well and rarely experience diarrhea or other signs of digestive difficulties, says Valentine. (An energy-starved EPSM horse will tend to absorb the fat very efficiently in the small intestine, so little or none of the fat ever reaches the large intestine to contribute to loose manure.) While a diet this high in fat probably will not be any cheaper than a normal, grain-based ration, it shouldn't cost you significantly more because fat actually is far more energy-dense than a comparable quantity of carbohydrates. Four cups of oil (approximately two pounds) provide about 8,000 calories, while two pounds of corn, oats, or commercial sweet feed provide only 2,400 to 2,800 calories. "Factor in the potential costs of veterinary care for an EPSM-affected horse, or even the loss of a horse," says Valentine, "and the cost of the new diet looks even better."
There are a couple of other minor dietary considerations for EPSM horses. First, because they are not receiving the benefit of the other nutrients that grains provide (primarily trace minerals and vitamin E), it might be beneficial to feed a good-quality vitamin/mineral supplement, and some added vitamin E and selenium. Second, because Valentine suspects these horses have to effect some muscle repair over and above the norm, she suggests a slightly higher level of protein in the diet than the average adult horse needs. (This requirement normally is adequately met by the alfalfa pellets, which might be up to 20% crude protein.) Exercise plays a role in the management of an EPSM horse. Daily turnout and regular work seem to help such an animal avoid muscle stiffness and maintain a baseline of fitness, which will stand him in good stead when his work requirements increase.
Results Of Diet Therapy
Valentine has noted dramatic improvements in almost all of 250 suspected EPSM horses placed on this low-carb, high-fat diet (67% of which were draft horses, Quarter Horses, or heavily muscled warmbloods). More than 90% of horses which previously exhibited tying-up, gait abnormalities, muscle atrophy, pelvic limb weaknesses, and episodic colics have responded positively to the diet therapy, she reports, with cases of stringhalt and/or shivers somewhat less successful (she notes 86% showed some improvement, but that there rarely was a complete cure).
One of the more difficult problems to correct, in Valentine's experience, is generating a correct canter. Many EPSM horses, because of their hind-end stiffness, canter awkwardly and might need time and patient schooling to improve.
As is the case with many diseases, EPSM seems to respond best to the therapy when symptoms are caught early. Severely affected horses do not always respond, Valentine says. Early on in her studies, six draft horses which already were in the advanced stages of the disease died despite dietary changes. In many cases, however, changing the diet of a draft horse from carbohydrate-based to high-fat, low-carbs might decrease, delay, or even prevent the symptoms of EPSM; for some, it has been life-saving.
Dietary therapy doesn't have instant results. Valentine has noted a period of three to four months in which the horse's body seems gradually to adapt to the availability of fat as an energy source. During that time, symptoms might get worse before they get better. Severely affected EPSM horses can go through a number of ups and downs, health-wise, in that time. "It's a real nightmare," she says. The important thing is to persevere and stick to the diet; reducing the amount of fat for your own convenience will result in no benefit for your horse.
Provided you ride out those potentially rocky first four months, the change in your horse might be remarkable, according to Valentine. "I have seen the difference in these horses. So many of them just didn't look happy -- and four months later they definitely look more content. They have more energy, they run and play in the pasture, they sometimes feel so good they're bouncing off the walls! I can't do any science on that, but I have videotape after videotape which demonstrates it." Some of the more traditional draft horse owners can be difficult to persuade at first, she adds, but, "when they start to see results, that's convincing!"
Diagnosing EPSM
At the moment, doing a muscle biopsy (taking a small sample of muscle tissue from the hindquarters, with the aid of a local anesthetic and sedation) is the best way to definitively diagnose EPSM. (Muscle enzyme levels in the blood might be slightly elevated in EPSM horses, but they also can show completely normal levels, so it's not an accurate diagnostic.)
Because the suspected incidence of the disease in draft horses is so high, many owners who notice symptoms prefer to forego this test and try the dietary therapy. If the horse responds positively within about six months, a diagnosis -- in essence -- has been made. In fact, the low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet will do no harm to a "normal" horse, and actually can be beneficial. For example, burning fats for energy is a more efficient process than burning carbohydrates, so the horse on a high-fat diet generates less excess body heat (an advantage which endurance riders and eventers are well aware and use to their benefit when competing in heat and humidity). The potential benefits of the diet are so convincing that Valentine comments, "I'm looking forward to the day that all horse feeds are high-fat and low-carbohydrate diets."
Because an EPSM horse's muscles are starved for energy, it's not sufficient just to provide him with forage (unless he is completely idle). He must not only avoid carbohydrates, but he must take in enough fat to provide his muscles with the fuel they need. Once on the diet and benefiting from its effects, he must remain on the ration for life; if you reduce the fat levels, symptoms will recur, says Valentine.
Although originally EPSM was suspected to be the result of a genetic defect, Valentine remarks that the evidence for that is now somewhat murkier. "Based on similar syndromes in other species, we expected to find a defect in a particular enzyme pathway, but it doesn't seem to be there. Now we're looking at glucose uptake rates, to see whether that has a bearing on why these horses don't seem to be able to utilize carbohydrates."
At some level, all horses are poorly adapted to digesting and using carbohydrates, she notes. It might be that EPSM horses just demonstrate that more dramatically than others.
Are All Cases Of Tying-Up The Result Of EPSM?
Equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM) can occur in up to 50% of the draft horse population, but it also can occur in other breeds. When it has been diagnosed in light horse breeds, it's very likely to be associated with horses which suffer from chronic episodes of tying-up.
Is EPSM at the root of all cases of tying-up? It's too soon to tell, although Valentine thinks it's possible. "The majority of horses who tie up do respond to a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, although it has to be that 20% to 25% level of fat." She also notes that every horse she has studied who has problems with tying-up has so far been biopsy-positive for EPSM.
About the Author
Karen Briggs
Karen Briggs is the author of six books, including the recently updated Understanding Equine Nutrition as well as Understanding The Pony, both published by Eclipse Press. She's written a few thousand articles on subjects ranging from guttural pouch infections to how to compost your manure. She is also a Canadian certified riding coach, an equine nutritionist, and works in media relations for the harness racing industry. She lives with her band of off-the-track Thoroughbreds on a farm near Guelph, Ontario, and dabbles in eventing.
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Toronto's rotation shuffle sends Redmond to 'pen
By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Blue Jays will skip right-hander Todd Redmond's next outing, because they are looking to take advantage of Monday's off-day.
Redmond was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday against the Angels, but that outing will instead go to Mark Buehrle. Toronto is attempting to keep Buehrle and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey on regular rest to maximize their number of starts before the end of the season.
That means Redmond will miss his next turn and briefly join an overcrowded bullpen, but the decision was based on the available arms and not anything health related.
"We'll just give Redmond a little bit of a blow," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
Dickey will follow Buehrle on Wednesday in Toronto, while left-hander J.A. Happ is scheduled to pitch in the series finale vs. Los Angeles. It's not immediately clear when Redmond will start again, as Toronto is also considering giving a start to Kyle Drabek, who was recently promoted from the Minor Leagues.
Redmond has a 4.40 ERA in 57 1/3 innings. He has surrendered three runs or less in all but one of his outings, but he hasn't been able to pitch more than six innings in a game.
Healthy Santos finally able to show his worth
MINNEAPOLIS -- Blue Jays right-hander Sergio Santos has started to make a case that he can once again be relied upon as a late-inning reliever.
Santos joined Toronto two years ago during an offseason trade with the White Sox, but wasn't able to make an impact at the big league level following a series of injuries.
Last season, it was a right shoulder injury that limited him to just six games, while his 2013 campaign was derailed until the All-Star Break because of bone spurs in his right elbow. That created plenty of doubt about whether Santos would be able to remain on the field, but a month of good health is starting to alter his outlook.
"My main thing is to be around and to stay healthy, and I feel like pitching the way I have the last month, it's kind of put me in a good position to build off for next year," Santos said. "Finishing off this year was really important to me just to prove to myself that I am healthy, I can stay healthy and I can repeat my delivery consistently."
Santos hasn't had much of an opportunity to showcase his skills in a Blue Jays' uniform, but since returning to the Major Leagues at the beginning of August, his powerful arm has been on full display. Entering Friday, he had posted a 2.13 ERA with just six hits and 10 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Santos' return to the mound has been his control. Even when he was a closer in Chicago, Santos walked more than four batters per nine innings, but since being activated from the 60-day disabled list, he has walked just three.
It's an encouraging sign for a pitcher who needed to silence the critics and also eliminate his internal doubts about being able to stay healthy. With Casey Janssen firmly entrenched as Toronto's closer, Santos will remain in middle relief for the immediate future, but could be ready for a greater role if there's an injury or trade before the start of next year.
"Just like everybody wants to be an ace of the staff, everybody wants to be a three-four hitter. When you're a reliever, you want to be the guy when the game's on the line to be on the mound," Santos said.
"Right now, my main goal is just to go pitch-by-pitch. I know it's cliche and old, but the more I focus on that, the more I feel like everything else will take care of itself. If I continue to put up zeroes, I feel like good things are in store for me."
Rasmus to rejoin Blue Jays, but only for rehab
MINNEAPOLIS -- Colby Rasmus is expected to rejoin the Blue Jays in the near future, but it's only to continue his rehab, as there's still no timetable for the center fielder's return to the lineup.
Rasmus, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle, has been working out at the club's Minor League complex in Florida for the past several weeks.
That activity in Florida will likely come to an end, because the Minor League season wrapped up last week, but Rasmus still has rehab work to do.
"He's making progress. I think the plan is he may join us pretty soon, because the season is over down there and there's not much going on at the complex," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "I don't know that for a fact, but he'll probably end up joining us at home."
The Blue Jays still haven't ruled out a return for Rasmus this season, but each passing day without a timetable makes getting back onto the field increasingly unlikely. Gibbons said he had "no idea" whether Rasmus could make it back, but with only 21 games remaining, there isn't much room for error.
The 27-year-old was originally supposed to resume baseball activities in late August, but he suffered a setback and has been closely monitored ever since. He has been out since Aug. 11 and is hitting .273 with 18 homers and 60 RBIs while posting an .812 OPS.
Gregor Chisholm is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, North of the Border, and follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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College Philosophy Department Slammed as Sexist, Philosophical
University philosophy departments, like the rest of our society, have a reputation for sexism. One university with a bad reputation is turning a harsh eye on itself. The findings are not very encouraging.
The University of Colorado has released an outside report (via Inside Higher Ed) that it commissioned on the state of its philosophy department, which finds that the department has an environment of "unacceptable sexual harassment, inappropriate sexualized unprofessional behavior, and divisive uncivil behavior." It finds, in other words, that the department has not been a very pleasant place for women. Female faculty members and grad students said they don't feel welcome fully participating in the department's activities. Female grad students tell of witnessing sexual harassment by male faculty members. The report also notes that Colorado's philosophy department "has a reputation in the international philosophical community for being extremely unfriendly to women."
It goes on to recommend that there be no booze served at department events, and "no evening socializing." It does not take a great deal of imagination to figure out why.
The most quietly hilarious portion of the report chastises the department for behaving like the worst sort of stereotypical academic philosophers, instead of, you know, doing something about the problem:
The Department uses pseudo philosophical analyses to avoid directly addressing the situation . Their faculty discussions revolve around the letter rather than the spirit of proposed regulations and standards . They spend too much time articulating (or trying to articulate ) the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior instead of instilling higher expectations for professional behavior. They spend significant time debating footnotes and "what if" scenarios instead of discussing what they want their department to look and feel like. In other words, they spend time figuring out how to get a round regulations rather than focusing on how to make the department supportive of women and family friendly.
That sounds all too familiar! Horny academic philosophers, awkwardly coming on to their grad students, then trying to cast their behavior as some sort of philosophical exercise. What would Nietzsche say about this?
Write your answer in the form of an essay, superimpose that essay on a nude selfie, and email it to one of your students.


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The Russellville West Whirlwinds edged Conway Blue 36-35 Monday night after scoring a late basket.
The Whirlwinds trailed 35-34 until Jared Williamson hit a basket with 1.4 seconds left to give the West the victory in the ninth-grade boys game.
A.J. Broadnax scored 11 points, and Nathan Cathcart had 10 to lead the Whirlwinds. Terrel Carter finished with eight points.
In the girls' game, the West fell 42-40 despite making a strong fourth-quarter run.
The Lady Whirlwinds trailed 34-23 after the third quarter before making a comeback that fell just short.
The West led 13-7 early, but the Lady Wampus Kittens went ahead 25-18 at halftime.
Janey Jacimore led the Lady 'Winds with 16 points and Christa Aylesworth had nine.
DOVER - After falling behind quickly, the Dover Pirates rallied back to force overtime and captured a 46-43 victory over Maylfower on Monday night.
The Eagles jumped out to a 15-1 early to open the game before the Pirates responded shortly there after for a 20-18 halftime lead.
Mayflower held a slim 31-29 lead after the third quarter before the teams were knotted at 49 after regulation.
Ryan Teer led Dover with 13 points, and Tanner Keeling added 11. Dustin Beck finished with nine points.
Trey Smith scored 11 for the Eagles, and Chris McCown finished with 10.
After trailing for most of the game, the Dover Lady Pirates notched a 30-27 overtime victory over Mayflower in girls action.
The Lady Pirates (11-7, 3-3) trailed 21-10 after the third quarter before rallying to tie the game 24-24 at the end of regulation to force the extra period.
Dover also trailed 7-3 after the first quarter and 12-7 at halftime before making a comeback.
Brittany French led the Lady Pirates with 11 points. Danille Smith finished with eight points, and Jessica Fillion added seven points and a key steal in overtime that helped Dover pull out the win.
ATKINS - The Atkins Red Devils jumped on Lamar early and went on for a 52-44 victory Monday night.
The Red Devils (13-5, 4-2) had a comfortable 17-3 lead after the first quarter before the Warriors made things closer by closing the halftime gap to 24-16.
However, Atkins came out firing again in the third quarter and led 46-25 heading into the final period of play.
Terrence Bobo led the Red Devils with 17 points, and D.J. Brinkley finished with 14.
Jon McCarley paced Lamar with nine points, and Hunter Strumbaugh had eight.
POTTSVILLE - After mounting a 10-4 run in the third quarter, the Dardanelle Lady Sand Lizards held off Pottsville 35-28 Monday night in junior girls action.
The Lady Sand Lizards led 17-14 at halftime before making their third-quarter run to lead 27-18 after three quarters and go on for the road victory.
The Lady Apaches kept things close in the fourth quarter as they only trailed 12-8.
Stacie Murders led the home team with 12 points and five rebounds. Britney Nealy added five points and five rebounds, and Danni Alexander finished with five points. Andrea Willingham chipped in with four points and five rebounds.
Pottsville entered Monday night's game coming off another close game as Clinton defeated the Lady Apaches 39-35 Thursday night.
Pottsville trailed 6-2 after the first quarter and 22-11 at halftime before making a strong comeback attempt in the second half to pull closer.
The Lady Apaches pulled the gap to single digits at the end of the third quarter when they trailed 29-21.
Brooka Simmons led Pottsville with nine points. Murders finished with eight points and grabbed six rebounds, and Alexander, Willingham and Nealy - who also chipped in with six assists - chipped in with seven, six and five points, respectively.


text:
Hi All,
My 83-year old Mom just got a phone call from a 409 area code wanting to confirm her name address and telephone number before sending her her Medicare card. I was in another room at the time when I heard her conversation. I asked for the phone and someone with a very thick accent spoke to me and wanted to verify her address and then wanted me to get her latest Social Security check to verify some more info. At that point I told him I didn't think he was from Medicare and hung up. My Mom was going to hang up before I got there anyway, which was good. Just wanted to let people know the scammers may be out there today.


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People who love the great outdoors will find plenty of things to do in Flagstaff, including a visit to Slide Rock State Park. The 43-acre park in Oak Creek Canyon is actually a historic apple farm and homestead. The park's name comes from a natural water chute called Slide Rock. Visitors can cool off by wading in the creek or sliding down the natural water slide. In addition to swimming, you can hike one of the trails, go fishing, or enjoy a picnic. Slipping down Slide Rock is one of the things to do in Flagstaff, AZ that locals love to do, too.
Go to http://azstateparks.com/Parks/SLRO/ or call 928-282-3034 for more information. For another great way to spend time in the outdoors, visit the Arboretum at Flagstaff.
Call the Holiday Inn Express Flagstaff at (928) 714-7130 to reserve a room near Slide Rock State Park or book online with the button below.


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"Evans is the quintessential bluegrass singer
. Oh what a voice it is! It is an instrument beyond compare
. In fact, he is such a strong vocalist that his banjo talents often get overlooked."Sing Out!
"Evans has devoted his entire life to perfecting the music he describes as 'my true love.'
Like Hank Williams, George Jones, and Merle Haggard, Evans puts his life into his music."Glenview Announcements, IL


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Online Class
Wire Weaving Bracelets: Basics & Beyond
with Sarah Thompson
The pattern to create this beautiful bangle is bilingual, Italian and English. Beading Tutorial Arena bangle is detailed, with clear beading instructions, step by step and with photos and graphics of each step. PDF: 28 pages All files, graphics, patterns, instructions are Patrizia Failla Designs. Purchase of a pattern entitles you to print one copy for yourself, not for others. Permissions: You are welcome to sell any items you make from my beading patterns you have purchased. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. BASIC SKILLS NECESSARY raw