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Baker looking to impress in final 2013 outing
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
MILWAUKEE -- Scott Baker will make his third and final start of the season on Friday, and is hoping he can convince a team, possibly the Cubs, that he's ready for 2014.
Baker has spent this year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, which he had in April 2012. He expected to be pitching for the Cubs sooner than September, but wasn't able to return as quickly as he'd hoped. In his first two starts for the Cubs, he's totaled 55 pitches and 75 pitches, respectively.
"Knowing it's my last start, I'd like it to go well," Baker said Thursday. "Of course, I'd like to progress from the last couple where it was 55 pitches, and then 75 or so. To kind of almost be back to a normal pitch count would be great."
His goal is to show that he's not only healthy, but reliable, and he can make every start.
"Just going out there in itself is important," he said. "It already is positive, the fact that I'm going out there."
It's been a long season, which has included eight Minor League starts. In his two big league outings, he's given up one run over 11 innings. Friday will be his first career start against the Braves, and his family will be present for the outing. Baker is pumped.
"I don't care what you do to prepare for a Major League start, whether it's Minor League games or simulated games, there's just no duplicating a Major League start," he said. "After that first start, it was only 55 pitches, but I had normal soreness [the day after]. I felt like that was a good sign.
"After the second one, it was a little better," he said. "I felt at this point in the season, as much as I'm ready to have a good, normal, productive offseason, I feel I'm getting stronger. I think that's a good sign. We'll just have to see where it lands me. I do feel like I'm not as much of a question mark as maybe I was going into this season. I feel better about going into next season."
Baker signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Cubs, and he does not have an option for 2014.
Castillo to be examined Friday for knee soreness
MILWAUKEE -- Cubs catcher Welington Castillo had to leave Thursday's 5-1 win over the Brewers in the sixth inning because of a sore right knee, and he isn't sure if he will be able to play in the team's final nine games.
Castillo led off the sixth inning with a groundout to Milwaukee shortstop Jeff Bianchi and grabbed his right hamstring as he ran down the line. Castillo then slowly walked back to the dugout. The team announced he was pulled because of right knee soreness.
"I felt some sharp pain," Castillo said. "I don't know what happened. I was running hard and tried to beat the throw and felt some sharp pain."
He will be examined on Friday in Chicago.
"I want to finish the season hard," Castillo said. "I feel my body this year is in really good shape, good health. Stuff happens, and you go and give 100 percent, and that kind of stuff can happen."
Was he a little worried?
"Yeah, because I want to finish strong," Castillo said. "The doctor will decide what to do [Friday]."
J.C. Boscan replaced Castillo in the lineup in the bottom of the inning.
Castillo, in his first season as the Cubs regular catcher, has done well lately, going 9-for-29 on the 11-game road trip, which ended Thursday, with four home runs, a double and seven RBIs.
Barney takes accountability for 2013 play
MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs lost 101 games in Dale Sveum's first season as manager and entered Thursday's game with 89 losses and 10 games to play. The front office has said it will not evaluate Sveum on the basis of wins and losses. But an evaluation is underway.
"In a season like this, it's hard to blame anybody," Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney said. "We're all accountable for our own actions and our play on the field.
"It is a business, and any time a team has this kind of a season, there's obviously going to be evaluations," he said. "That's not to say [Sveum] did a bad job or any of us think he did a bad job -- I stand behind Dale. It's just an evaluation, and we'll see how it goes."
Theo Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations, will meet with Sveum and the coaching staff on Sept. 30 in Chicago after the regular season ends.
"I think a lot of us stand behind Dale and think he's the right fit for this team," Barney said. "That's obviously not our call. Everybody's being evaluated now -- it's top to bottom. It's how can we make this better and turn this around."
It's been a difficult year for Barney at the plate. The second baseman could win his second straight Gold Glove Award, but was batting .208 on the season and 4-for-30 on the current road trip entering play Thursday.
"Offensively, I can't blame anyone but myself," Barney said. "People provide insight from when they played or the type of player they were. Unfortunately for me, I listen to a lot of people. The age-old saying in baseball is: No one knows himself better than you, and what got you here is what will keep you here."
"I think it just gets to the point where you can't blame anyone but yourself for [struggles]," he said. "I think everyone has done nothing more than cared."
Sveum aims to test Strop at closer in final stretch
MILWAUKEE -- Kevin Gregg has been invaluable to the Cubs in 2013, stepping in to notch his third career season with 30-plus saves. But Chicago has decided to look ahead and will use right-hander Pedro Strop in save situations in the final games.
Strop, acquired from the Orioles in the Scott Feldman trade, was 0-for-3 in save opportunities this season and has 15 holds.
"I'll try to get him an opportunity," manager Dale Sveum said Thursday of Strop.
The switch is not a reflection of Gregg's performance. But Gregg will be a free agent after this season. Strop will be entering his first arbitration year.
"Kevin's done far and above the call of duty," Sveum said. "He's done one heck of a job. It's going to be an opportunity [for Strop]. We want to see what he does in that role. Kevin has been one of the better closers in all of baseball. God knows where we'd be without him."
Gregg is 32-for-37 in save opportunities with a 2.95 ERA, and he began the season 12-for-12 in saves. He was released by the Dodgers after Spring Training and signed a Minor League contract with the Cubs on April 5. Carlos Marmol began the season as the Cubs' closer, but he was replaced after the first week by Kyuji Fujikawa, who was eventually sidelined because of elbow problems and needed Tommy John surgery. Marmol was dealt to the Dodgers in July.
Prospect Baez will sit out Fall League to rest
MILWAUKEE -- Cubs top prospect Javier Baez will not play in the Arizona Fall League so the shortstop can rest for the 2014 season, general manager Jed Hoyer said Thursday.
"He's emotionally and physically drained after the season," Hoyer said. "We have no problem with [him missing the AFL]."
Baez was one of four Cubs prospects headed to the Arizona Fall League, and he would have joined this year's first-round pick Kris Bryant, outfielder Albert Almora -- the Cubs' No. 1 selection in 2012 -- and Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler on the Mesa Solar Sox.
Almora and Soler both missed time in the Minor Leagues this year because of injury, while Baez started at Class A Daytona and moved up to Double-A Tennessee. The 20-year-old shortstop was named the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year after batting .282 with 37 home runs and 111 RBIs in 130 games in his second pro season. He will be honored on Saturday at Wrigley Field along with Kyle Hendricks, who was named Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
"The last thing we want him to do is go there and risk injury," Hoyer said. "He had a full season, he had a great season, and I feel we'll see him in Arizona working out."
The Cubs may add another player to the Mesa Solar Sox roster.
Chicago also announced Thursday that pitcher Arodys Vizcaino will not play in the Arizona Fall League, either. Vizcaino, acquired in July 2012 in the deal that sent Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson to the Braves, has yet to pitch for the Cubs because he has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander will participate in the Cubs' instructional league, which gets underway next week in Mesa, Ariz., instead of the AFL.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Prospect Watch: Top 10 second basemen
Mariners' Ackley leads a diverse group at the position
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
The term "natural second baseman" doesn't come up very often. It's not that it never happens, but it's more than common to see any list of second-base prospects consist of shortstops who slid over or very good bats and athletic players who are trying to find a defensive home. This Top 10 list is no different, with a variety of conversions and permanent experiments up and down the ranking.
1. Dustin Ackley, Mariners: The No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 Draft, Ackley started his pro career in Double-A and struggled mightily. But he dug out of that hole, made it to Triple-A and then went on to win MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League. Still working on his defense, he'll be just fine at second and could fill that position in Seattle very soon.
Catchers | Video
First basemen | Video
Second basemen | Video
Third basemen | Video
Shortstops | Video
Outfielders | Video
Right-handed pitchers | Video
Left-handed pitchers | Video
2. Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays: Toronto got the top Canadian prospect from the Brewers in the Shaun Marcum deal and he's another one still learning the position after being drafted No. 16 overall in 2008. Lawrie can flat-out hit and should have power and speed at the big league level. He may never win a Gold Glove, but a Jeff Kent-like evolution isn't out of the question.
3. Billy Hamilton, Reds: Any time a player steals 48 bases in a rookie-level, short-season league, it's time to sit up and take notice. He uses his plus-plus speed on both sides of the ball, and while he's got the range to play short, he's probably better suited for second base. He's not going to be a power guy, but with his strike-zone knowledge and speed, he should be a dangerous leadoff hitter in the future.
4. Jason Kipnis, Indians: An outfielder at Arizona State, Kipnis made the transition to second and played there during his first full season. While he's the first to admit he still has work to do there, it hasn't affected his ability to swing the bat. He hit .307/.386/.492 across two levels, then helped Triple-A Columbus win a title. He's knocking on the door now, without too much of a roadblock standing in his way in Cleveland.
Top 10 second base prospects
|Dustin Ackley
|Brett Lawrie
|Billy Hamilton
|Jason Kipnis
|Danny Espinosa
|Oscar Tejeda
|Cesar Hernandez
|Jemile Weeks
|Eduardo Nunez
|Johnny Giavotella
5. Danny Espinosa, Nationals: A shortstop for much of his pro career (and at the infielder factory that is Long Beach State), Espinosa played second every day in Washington last September. That could very well be his job to lose this spring, though he does have the defensive ability to play both middle-infield positions. Offensively, he's got some speed and power and was one of the few 20-20 guys in the Minors in 2010.
6. Oscar Tejeda, Red Sox: It's taken him a little while to get going, spending two seasons in the South Atlantic League, but he moved up to the Carolina League in 2010 and was an All-Star there, hitting for average (.307) some power (.455 slugging percentage) and even running a bit (17 steals). Last year was his first at second base and it seemed to suit him, though that Dustin Pedroia fellow isn't going anywhere in Boston.
7. Cesar Hernandez, Phillies: Hernandez made his United States debut in 2009 in the Gulf Coast League, but really jumped out with his All-Star performance in the short-season New York-Penn League last year. His 32 steals were good for second in the league and he was sixth in the batting race (.325). He should be a fun one to watch during his full-season debut with Lakewood in the South Atlantic League.
8. Jemile Weeks, A's: When Rickie's younger brother has been healthy, he's shown some pretty good tools on the field. Unfortunately for the 2008 first-round pick, he didn't play more than 80 games in either of his first two full professional seasons. If he can get past the injuries that have sidelined him, he could develop into a highly interesting leadoff type with good speed and even some pop.
9. Eduardo Nunez, Yankees: With another team, Nunez might be preparing for a full-time job. He's got all the tools to play a very good defensive shortstop and can also play third as well as second. But with Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez entrenched in New York, he'll have to be more of a utility guy to get in the lineup in 2011. Still, it's telling the Yankees didn't want to deal him to Seattle for Cliff Lee last July.
10. Johnny Giavotella, Royals: Giavotella doesn't get a lot of love prospect-wise, overshadowed by some of the elite Minor Leaguers in the Royals' system, but he can hit and get on base, as evidenced by his .322 average and .395 on-base percentage in 2010. He'll be in Triple-A, waiting for that first call to the big leagues.
To be eligible for the list, a player must have rookie eligibility. To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the 25-player limit period, excluding time on the disabled list or in military service.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com and writes a blog, B3. Follow @JonathanMayoB3 on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Parents' Efforts Key to Approval of Drug for Rare Kidney
A new drug to treat a rare and deadly inherited kidney disorder
has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the
efforts of one patient's parents may have played a key role.
The drug Procysbi is for nephropathic cystinosis. Left
untreated, the disease typically destroys the kidneys by age 10.
Even with a kidney transplant, the condition can lead to death by
early adulthood,
The New York Timesreported.
Procysbi is not a totally new drug, but rather a more convenient
and tolerable version of an existing drug for cystinosis called
Cystagon, from Mylan Inc. Cystagon has a strong rotten-egg smell
that causes bad breath and body odor, and also causes nausea,
vomiting and other abdominal problems. It must be taken every six
Procysbi, from Raptor Pharmaceutical Corporation, has the same
active ingredient as Cystagon but can be taken every 12 hours and
parents say it causes less severe body odor, bad breath and
abdominal problems,
The Timesreported.
There is a huge price difference between the older and newer
medicines: Cystagon costs about $8,000 a year while Procysbi will
cost about $250,000 a year.
Still, reductions in the noxious side effects, and the
twice-a-day dosing of Procysbi are huge advantages for children
with nephropathic cystinosis, said Nancy Stack, a mother from
Corona del Mar, Calif.
Her daughter Natalie, 22, has the illness, and parents Nancy and
Geoffrey formed the Cystinosis Research Foundation in 2003 to help
push for better treatments. Money raised by the foundation was
instrumental in the development of Procysbi,
The Timessaid.
Now the challenge is to get Procysbi, with its high price tag,
covered by insurers. "It does seem extreme to have [the price] that
high," Stack told
The Times. "But as a community, our bottom line is getting
better treatment for our children. And we know that this will
change our kids' lives."
Ground Turkey Contains Potentially Harmful Bacteria: Report
Potentially dangerous bacteria was found in most samples of
randomly tested ground turkey products sold at U.S. stores, and
some of the bacteria were antibiotic-resistant,
Consumer Reportshas found.
The group also discovered that turkey raised without antibiotics
had much less antibiotic-resistant bacteria than turkey raised with
CBS Newsreported.
"Our findings strongly suggest that there is a direct relationship between the routine use of antibiotics in animal production and increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria on ground turkey. It's very concerning that antibiotics fed to turkeys are creating resistance to antibiotics used in human medicine," Dr. Urvashi Rangan, director of the food safety and sustainability group at Consumer Reports, said in a news release. "Humans don't consume antibiotics every day to prevent disease and neither should healthy animals."
The group tested 257 kinds of raw ground turkey meat and patties
for five contaminants that can cause illness and be fatal in some
cases: enterococcus, E. coli, staphylococcus aureus, salmonella,
and campylobacter,
CBS Newsreported.
Ninety percent of the samples tested had at least one of the
Consumer Reportsfound.
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Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Information Services. All rights reserved.


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Donnie Wahlberg weds Jenny McCarthy
Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy have tied the knot.
The couple, who started dating last year, exchanged vows in a ceremony outside Chicago.
It is the second marriage for both 45-year-old Donnie and Jenny, 41.
Father-of-two Donnie still performs with his boy band New Kids On The Block and stars in the police drama Blue Bloods. He also appears in a reality show about a family restaurant called Wahlburgers, run by his brother Paul.
Actress and TV host Jenny now fronts a radio show on SiriusXM. She has a son from her first marriage.


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On a recent Sunday, visitors to the Great Park farmers' market filled an adjacent parking lot to capacity and a steady crowd of people had grocery bags slung on their arms as they browsed the handcrafted jams, organic produce and homemade goods.
The teeming number of market-goers hasn't translated into profits for the Great Park, though. Among a list of ways it can cut costs to pay for the U.S. Solar Decathlon in October, the park's staff said it would put the market's management contract out to bid in the hopes of saving some $50,000.
The market earns the Great Park about $10,000 in revenue, a portion of what the manager, the OC Farm Bureau, earns from the rent vendors pay to be there. Jeff Rowe, a consultant for the OC Farm Bureau, has grown the market since its inception a few years ago.
On top of what the Farm Bureau provides, the park expects to spend about $142,736 this year according to the most recent budget, or about $1.29 per person.
The park pays for a shuttle that every 10 to 15 minutes picks up and drops off market-goers who want to go to the balloon, carousel, farm and food lab and lawns across the street. It also pays for staff time and the cost of having portable restrooms at the market.
Park officials say the eventual request for proposals to manage the farmers' market would be open to Rowe and the Farm Bureau and said they have high hopes to get bids that would take on the services the park provides or cover the costs.
Rod Cooper, the park's director of operations, said the shuttle, in particular, is important considering the crowds of kids and shoppers crossing the streets on busy Sundays.
Great Park visitors have long been able to count on free amenities: balloon rides, carousel rides, events (not counting a $10 fee to park in some cases).
Mary Troop of Michigan held a slender beeswax candle on a recent Sunday after visiting the farmers' market, one of two she made with her grandchildren who visited the nearby farm and food lab at the park. The candles were free. This past Sunday, the park also sponsored a once a month free children's health clinic on Sunday which costs it an estimated $2.21 a person to provide.
Starting April 1, though, the rides will come with a price. Revenues are expected to be used to pay for the Solar Decathlon.
It was Jackie Dillon and nearly 3-year-old Mila's first visit to the park's farmers' market and second trip to the park overall. Waiting for crepes from a food truck last Sunday, Dillon said the two had gone to a birthday party at the park last summer to play on the playground, but there wasn't a shady spot.
"So we vowed never to go back," she said. But the farmers' market was a different story, she said.
Crystal Rey Melendez' bright blue travel trailer filled with vintage clothes has been parked at the farmers' market for three Sundays and even a windstorm the first weekend didn't damage sales and foot traffic.
The rent is on par with others, too, and well worth it, she said. A space for her Popsikle Shop costs her $20, plus $2 to cover the live band and a 60-cent fee.
"This is probably the most packed farmers' market I've been to," she said, crediting Rowe, the market's manager and a consultant hired by the farm bureau, for his work.
Wayne Longway with South Sauce Co., the Orange County makers of candied jalapeno sauce, has been selling jars of the mixture at the Great Park since October and also credited Rowe with promoting the market.
"If you didn't know this was here you'd drive right by," he said of the market's location at the park. But Rowe has made it a destination, particularly by landing several food trucks and adding entertainment, he said.
"People aren't going to drive three miles out of their way for a good cucumber," Rowe said in a phone interview.
Contact the writer: 949-864-6371 or email@example.com


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Hello everyone,
I am new to WCF and I want to learn,
- Basic samples for WCF and I want to deploy a WCF service which serves remote client request;
- How to use PrincipalPermission to control which user role could have permission execute which method.
Any samples to recommend (especially for the 2nd item)?
thanks in advance,


text:
A recent study by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that African-American leukemia patients have shorter survival times than Caucasians.
It was discovered that once the disease was discovered, a more advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) would develop in African-American patients within a shorter time span. Additionally, although African Americans began treatment at the same time as Caucasian patients, their disease would advance more aggressively.
According to the study, 84 African American patients and 1,571 non-Black patients were studied. Both groups received the same treatment and had access to similar health care facilities.
Prior research suggested that limited access to quality healthcare and economic factors were the cause of these results, however the individuals included in the study received equal healthcare.
"These findings suggest that while inducing similarly high response rates, standard treatments do not overcome racial differences in outcome among patients with CLL," said Dr. Alesandra Ferrajoli, associate professor at the University of Texas.
Until researchers conduct further studies, the cause of these discoveries remain unclear.


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Helen Sloan/HBO
Helen Sloan/HBO
Season three is coming.
We're less than one week away from the highly anticipated season premiere of Game of Thrones. Huzzah, we say! To celebrate the return of HBO's fantasy hit, we're rolling out interviews with the cast all week long. Yes, that's right. Every day this week we'll be sharing scoop from the Lannisters, the Starks, the Tyrells, etc. House E! Online, our words: Sharing is caring.
In today's Game of Thrones scoop-a-thon, we've got Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) teasing the political mind games and "strong women" fans will be seeing in King's Landing.
"She's pretty much a prisoner not knowing what to do, so this season she's all about wanting to escape and trying to escape, but I don't know if that's going to happen," Turner previews of Sansa's journey in the upcoming season. "She goes through super highs and super lows this season; it's going to be a tough one."
But Turner says fans can expect to see a more grown-up Sansa. "She has a lot of big events this season. She kind of becomes a woman in not only her life, but also the game. She's definitely grown up. She's an adult in the sense that she knows how to play the game."
At least she has the Tyrell family looking out for her (at least that's what they're saying). "The Tyrells have come in and they kind of want to adopt Sansa, they want to bring her onto their side for obvious reasons," Dormer explains. "I think Margaery really genuinely empathizes with her. Margaery genuinely thanks God that she's not in her position."
Diana Rigg joins the show as Lady Oleanna Tyrell aka the Queen of Thorns this season and Dormer says we can expect to see a lot of fun "battles" between the women of King's Landing, including the Tyrells and Cersei. "What's so interesting about a show with a lot of men with swords and horses fighting battles, the fun thing about King's Landing is it's all about the power play between the women," Dormer teases. "We've got our own kind of battlefield happening."
"The Tyrells are a family of strong women, so Diana Rigg which has been amazing to work with her and really give the Lannisters a run for their money," Dormer continues. "[To] give Cersei and Tyrion Lannister a run for their money. So the dynamics have shifted, it's not immediately obvious who is going to win the game."
As for Cersei, she's also dealing with the return of her father and the ongoing battle with her brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage). "Her father has kind of arrived back in a very big way and she's never enjoyed that," Headey says. There's kind of interesting relationships with Tyrion and Cersei, there are moments of allegiance. She does fall from a great height later."
Game of Thrones premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO.


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Waiting for Wind in France
The second day of the 2012 Gold Games provided no more wind than the day prior, forcing riders to conjure up alternative ways to spend the day. As competitors remained on wind hold throughout the morning and afternoon, many enjoyed the warm beach, caught up with old friends, or spent time tuning gear and adjusting bars and lines. With a comfortable grassy area to spend their downtime, some riders even pulled out some badminton, while others took advantage of the cool calm water – wakeboarding or swimming for a little entertainment and amusement.
Coming up in the following days, the Gold Games will also put on motocross and skate competitions. Regardless of what the wind allows, these other aspects of the Gold Games will surely provide ample entertainment and excitement for everyone who has made the journey to Hyeres, France.
Event sponsors Red Bull and NRG also represented themselves well on the beach, despite the unfavorable conditions, as they displayed flags, tents, and an encouraging presence at the event site. The city of Hyeres has also shown itself to be a welcoming destination for kite competitors. Numerous racers and freestyle riders took note of the friendly atmosphere, hospitable attitude, and overall pleasant ambience of this scenic city.
The forecast for the area has changed often over the past week, which has made planning difficult in such light conditions. Still, anticipation and expectations remain high, with light yet suitable conditions expected for the remainder of the week and through the weekend.


text:
Management of Security Risk in IT covered in the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Requirements
This white paper details how Centrify Suite and Active Directory can address a large portion of security controls and risk management requirements addressed in APRA- PPG234. In addition, requirements related to monitoring of IT security controls are discussed in the context of capabilities of Centrify DirectAudit. It further demonstrates how to address these requirements in a robust and cost-effective manner by leveraging existing Active Directory infrastructure to centrally manage non-Windows systems, applications and databases.
Please supply your email address to receive this whitepaper


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...eeerrrrrrrh....so...a wiiiiiiz guy...yuk,yuk,yuk.....only a teaspoon for this 2267.96 gram batch of dough? ...Ummmm... that's about 100% of 5 lbs.
I think that pie looks delicious!!!...except for pre-frying the sausage, what the heck is up with that??
Really! Pre-fried? For the love of.....
Even Pep browns his sausage before he rubs it on his pizza.
All kidding aside, this thread pretty much covered all aspects of using fresh sausage meat in making pizza:http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php?topic=4121.0
It covered the topic but didn't give any sort of definitive result/answer.I've been making pizza using raw sausage on top, underneath,big pieces, small pieces and everthing in between for over 40 years and have never heard of anyone getting sick from it....have you?
I've been using raw sausage for the last several years, and have never had it come out uncooked, nor have I ever gotten sick from it.using raw sausage is also common practice at pizza shops all over the midwest.... with the exception of the giant corporate chains, of course, where the pre-cooking probably has less to do with safety and more to do with consistency, and ease and speed of application.
And.... $MONEY$ 'lil rabbit doo-doos are cheap!
I'm cooking a Hawaiian and a pep & cheese tomorrow - it's Friday night and it's time to get wasted, so no cooking tonight! Actually, we're having salads. Boring-ass salads. With no meat. Gah, gah, and triple gah. Diets suck.
It seems that what we have here is a failure to communicate son....unless you haven't heard, Jack's now comes with a pop-up timer thangy....it is a no brainer my friend. Now git yer @$$ in that kitchen an toss that salad!!!


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Internal Medicine Residency Training Program
Home » Education & Training » Medical Students & Residents » Internal Medicine Residency
Excellence in medical education has been a tradition of Sisters of Charity Hospital for over 160 years.
The University at Buffalo Internal Medicine Training Program at Sisters Hospital combines hospital activities, outpatient experience, and an understanding of the realities of private practice. You'll gain practical experience in diverse clinical settings and work with ABIM-certified staff who strive to bring the best out in you, based on your personal strengths.
As our program is dual-accredited by the ACGME and the AOA, our residents are exposed to multiple fields of study and become well-rounded, knowledgeable physicians.
We offer a fully approved, three-year program designed to satisfy the requirement for certification of the American Board of Internal Medicine to practice as a board-eligible / board-certified internist or entry into fellowship.
We also offer a preliminary year program that provides intense exposure to internal medicine for residents planning to enter other residency training programs.
Submit Your Application
We accept applications through ERAS in September of each year. Click here to learn how to apply.
I chose to come to Catholic Health because I was impressed by both the academic strength of the program and also the feeling of community among the residents.
Since it's a smaller program, we all get to know each other and we get along really well. We get a lot of personalized attention here too.
I've been very happy with my decision to come to this program.
– Helen Nazareth, M.D.
Catholic Health Guide to Antimicrobials & Infection Prevention
Click here to download the 2016 Catholic Health Guide to Antimicrobials & Infection Prevention (PDF)


text:
RESIDENTS are urged to be vigilant of opportunistic crime after a string of brazen thefts from residential driveways in Emerald.
Nine unsecured vehicles were targeted in a matter of days last week, many of them parked on the street or in driveways and with valuables inside.The latest thefts come just weeks after an Emerald police blitz, which sought to reduce the incidence of opportunistic crime and make vehicle owners aware their property was at risk.
In a little under a month during the Lock it or Lose it campaign, officers identified 56 unlocked vehicles in the local area, 12 of which still had the keys in the ignition.
Last week, one Esmond St resident confronted two men sitting in his car parked in the driveway. Luckily, on this occasion the offenders fled with little more than the man's credit card from the vehicle, which was left unsecured.
A few blocks away in School Ln, another vehicle was targeted and a wallet taken from the glovebox.
Emerald police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Peter McFarlane said the high incidence of preventable crime was frustrating, especially considering it followed weeks of education designed to curb the growing problem.
"It really doesn't help us to do our job when people leave easy targets for thieves, with unsecured vehicles and valuables inside," he said.
"If it's worth it, and they like it, they'll take it.
"People need to take basic precautions and lock their vehicles and secure valuables, no matter where it is located."
RACQ research reveals car thefts occur closer to home than most people would think with a quarter of all stolen vehicles in Queensland taken from driveways or garages.
Queensland was also the top hot-spot for car thieves, as the only mainland state where the incidence of car thefts rose in the five years to 2011.
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text: The inevitable happened, drive did a good ol series of WHACKACKACKACKACKACKA against the track zero stop and now its misaligned and won't read squat. I've seen a few howtos on realigning the classic 1541, but nothing on the 1541-II drives. Any suggestions or help on how to realign the heads?


text:
COMMERCE CITY CO - Rapids fans it's your last chance to get the soccer fan in your family what they REALLY want this holiday season!
Give the gift of soccer this year! The Colorado Rapids are offering an unbeatable deal for the holidays with the Rapids Holiday Pack!
The Colorado Rapids Holiday Pack includes:
-2 tickets to the Rapids' 2009 Home Opener on Sat. March 28 vs. Kansas City
-2 tickets to the Rapids' 2009 second home game of the season date & opponent TBA
-a $50 gift card to any Dick's Sporting Goods store!
All of this is available starting at the unbelieveable price of only $99!
You can give not only all the passion and excitement of live Rapids matches but also give that special someone the chance to go outfit themself in official Rapids gear at their local Dick's Sporting Goods store!
Rapids Holiday Packs are on sale only for a limited time! They will only be on sale through 12:00pm MT on Friday December 19 in order to guarantee delivery in time for the holidays!
Hurry and order your Rapids Holiday Packs today and give the soccer fans in your life what they really want for the holidays this year!


text:
Santa's Land to reopen next month
PUTNEY -- Santa's Land is making a comeback.
Nearly 11 months after the owners of the popular holiday-themed park announced its closure, word surfaced Monday that Santa's Land will reopen this season after all.
While park administrators could not immediately be reached for comment, the announcement was made via the Santa's Land Facebook page.
"For 11 days only, you'll be able to experience the joy of Christmas at Santa's Land with your family," the online post said. "The park will open the Friday after Thanksgiving and will be open that Saturday and Sunday and every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 23."
Santa's Land hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Facebook post said additional details would be released "closer to Thanksgiving."
The park has been operating in Putney along Route 5 since 1957. But in December, owners Timothy and Leslie Wells announced that persistent financial issues would force them to close for good.
In an interview with the Reformer at the time, Timothy Wells cited rising costs and revenues that were "off by two-thirds." Lower ticket prices did not attract enough people to keep the park going, he said.
It was not clear on Monday what led to the park's expected reopening.
But it was good news nonetheless for Santa's Land enthusiasts. That includes Daniel Urban, a resident of Orange, Conn., who has been maintaining a "Save Santa's Land" Facebook page.
Urban said his mother-in-law recalls visiting the park as a child, and he has taken his children on a three-hour drive to experience Santa's Land several times.
"You're talking about 50 years of history there," he said.
Urban was visiting Santa's Land last year when he learned of the park's impending demise. Soon after, he started the Facebook group, which has attracted 141 members.
"I have a lot of friends here in Connecticut who have taken their kids there," he said.
"A lot of people are kind of in the same boat," he added. "It's a family thing. It's about tradition."
Urban termed the park's reopening "excellent." And he already was planning a trip to Vermont this holiday season, possibly right after Thanksgiving.
"We've been there three years in a row, and our kids really enjoyed it," he said.
Mike Faher can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 275.
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.


text:
De Hackmeeting
|Línea 75:
|Línea 75:
like to elucidate.
like to elucidate.
=== Hack the Media ===
* Self-managed networks
* Self-managed networks
* Practical media-activism
* Practical media-activism
|Línea 82:
|Línea 82:
* Security, networks.
* Security, networks.
=== NerdCore ===
* Cryptography, steganography
* Cryptography, steganography
* Phreak, Hack, Crack
* Phreak, Hack, Crack
|Línea 88:
|Línea 88:
* Electronics, free hardware, robotics.
* Electronics, free hardware, robotics.
=== HumanWare ===
* Free culture/software/hardware/society
* Free culture/software/hardware/society
* copyright
* copyright
|Línea 96:
|Línea 96:
* Reality hacking, DIY, self-management
* Reality hacking, DIY, self-management
=== Free-Software for all ===
* How to tell your uncle what free-software is
* How to tell your uncle what free-software is
* Free-software tools: debian, firefox, openoffice, etc.
* Free-software tools: debian, firefox, openoffice, etc.
== Ca la Fou special ==
* Towards an eco-industry
* Towards an eco-industry
* Organising post-capitalism
* Organising post-capitalism
Revisión de 00:37 24 sep 2012
((( share your experience !
Call for Participation
Hackafou, Hackmeeting 2012
..:: knowledge | technology | empowerment | sharing | creating | resistance ::..
FAQ about hackmeeting in general
What, when and where?
The hackmeeting is self-organised/-disorganised event where we socialise and exchange experiences of new technologies, their social implications, free circulation of knowledge and techniques, privacy, collective creation, telematic conflict... It is for all those curious people that wish to share theri sills and experiences and live the process of coordination in a participative way among the others. At the Hackmeeting all the activities are held by volunteers. Hey you! Participate!
This year, after 12 years, the Hackmeeting comes back to Barcelona - it will take place in eco-industrial post-capitalist colony Calafou (where?)===12, 13 and 14 October @ Calafou===
Again this year returns our deep desire to gather around what motivates us the most: hacktivism, cyberspace, culture of free software and hardware.
During this self-managed weekend we will exchange experiences and share technopolitical projects, despite the fact that there is no preconceived idea of what this hackmeeting will become.
It constructs itself in horisontal way by a series of autonomous yet interconnected nodes (talks, workshops, round tables, performances...). Everybody can propose or present a node.
You will find here hacking and hacktivism in the wide (and wild!) sense: machine and protocol hacking as well as hacking of social codes and different ways of understanding and using technology. This edition is specially dedicated to the subject of eco-industry and post-capitalism.
Come and bring your viral ideas, hacks, both IT or mantal ones. Let's copyfight, invent, share distributed networks, free software, music, debates...If you want to attend to a node at the Hackmeeting, you just need to ask for it or do it yourself!
The deadline
And the deadline is:
10 October
Get involved and propose something quickly, so the guys and chicks managing the programme will get less stress! And if you plan to attend the Meeting, don't forget to sign up.
Here you can find some of the topics treated during previous editions of the hackmeeting as well as some of the topics we would like to approach this year. But remember - even the sky isn't a limit! We always seek new points of view, constantly looking forward discovering whatever you would like to bring and share: your inventions, discussion panels you would like to coordinate and techniques you would like to elucidate.
Hack the Media
Free-Software for all
Ca la Fou special
Along your presence, you are also encouraged to submit any digital material to go online.
Check out what nodes are already proposed or a node's wishlist.
Other ways to participate
All the different ways of participating in the hackmeeting, other than organising nodes, are more than welcome: bring your own hardware to share it with others, take part it the meetings, coordinate activities, translating, radio-video streaming, cleaning, etc.
If you want to get more information or if you would like to get involved in the assembly: the Hackmeeting meets telematically via the mailing list hackmeeting @ sindominio.net. You are welcome to subscribe and join us: http://listas.sindominio.net/mailman/listinfo/hackmeeting
Ask 4 Nodes so others know what are your wishes for the Hackmeeting. Check out what has been requested or proposed so far.
Spread the word!
Help us to spread the information about the Hackmeeting (this Call4Nodes). Pass it through your own networks: blogs, mailing lists, social centers, friends...
Further information
The first hackmeeting took place in Florence in 1998 and since then it keeps happening in Italy every year (http://hackmeeting.org). Our Spanish hackmeeting for the first time happened in Barcelona in 2000and ever since we keep meeting every year.


text:
Sometimes a coach has to take one for his team. Maybe it is a way to fire them up, or maybe just a show of his ultimate support. That is just what Russellville East Whirlwind coach Don Keaster did Monday night as his team fell to the West Whirlwinds 44-29.
With his team trailing 11-4 in the first, Keaster voiced his displeasure of an apparent noncall by a referee and drew a technical foul. Continuing to make his point, Keaster drew his second technical and was ejected from the game, leaving assistant coach Barry Whittington to take over.
Things started off poorly for the East 'Winds as the West 'Winds opened the game with a 6-0 run. RJHS East finally got on the board with 3:01 to play in the first when Cole Smith drove to the basket for the layup. That was the only time the East 'Winds would score in the first period and they went into the second trailing 9-2.
Smith scored the first points in the second to close the gap to five, 9-4. With 5:12 remaining in the first half, RJHS West's Matt Lutz scored to give the West 'Winds a 11-4 lead.
With 4:15 to play, Keaster received two technicals and West 'Wind coach Bryan Jernigan elected to send Parnell Webb to the free-throw line for the four free shots. Webb was 3-of-4 from the stripe and gave RJHS West a14-4 lead.
During the remainder of the period, the West 'Winds outscored the East 'Winds 11-4 to take a 25-8 lead into the halftime locker room.
In the third, RJHS East came alive as it scored the first six points to open the second-half of play and cut the deficit to 11 points. The West 'Winds continued to score in the third but not at the explosive rate they had in the first half. RJHS East outscored the West 12-7 in the third to trail 32-20 entering the fourth.
The East 'Winds continued to fight in the fourth as they pulled as close as nine points with 3:02 to play. The arsenal of talent the West 'Winds had was to much to overcome.
"Everybody who played tonight played hard," Whittington said. "Coach Jernigan does a great job with the West team. Even though we couldn't get our shots to go in the first half, I am real pleased with the way we came back in the second half and never quit."
Smith led the East 'Winds with 13 points. Antonio Rivas had eight. Jacob Sparks had six, and Zach Hocker had two.
"I am really proud of the kids and the way they continued to play tonight," Jernigan said. "This is the first time since they were in the seventh grade that they have defeated the East. They are a totally different team, a better team since the Christmas break."
Neal and Averain Collins each had 10 points for the West 'Winds. Lutz had eight, Parnell Webb had five, and Bradford Webb had four. Cameron Coker and Barrett Hughes each had two.
RJHS East 22,
RJHS West 16
A grand total of four points were scored in the first quarter of a defensive struggle between the East Lady Whirlwinds and the West Lady Whirlwinds on Monday as the East claimed a 22-16 win.
Carissa Brackelsburg scored first for the Lady West 'Winds as she hit a short jumper with 2:30 to play in the opening period. Lady East 'Wind Cyia Oliver tied the game as she nailed two free throws with 7 seconds remaining in the period.
In the second, RJHS East outscored RJHS West 10-7 to lead 12-9 at the break. Oliver had 10 of the Lady East 'Winds second-period points, and Jaimie Long scored the other two. Brackelsburg scored five of the Lady West 'Winds points in the second including an old-fashioned 3-point play. Andrea Dixon added the other basket.
In the third, the Lady East 'Winds outscored the Lady West 'Winds 7-2 to lead 19-11 entering the fourth. RJHS West scored its only points of the period with 5:01 to play as Amy Campbell hit the layup. Three different RJHS East Lady Whirlwinds found the scoring column. Ashley Reiger had four points in the period, Long added one and Laura "Bull" Brown ended the third with a layup of her own.
In the fourth, the Lady West 'Winds made their move as they outscored the Lady East 'Winds 5-3. Dixon scored all five points in the fourth for RJHS West. Meaghan Peevey scored one point, and Teryn Laseter scored two.
"We started the game and we finished the game," RJHS East coach Nina Chiolino said. "We didn't do that the last time. Defensively we put some pressure on them and forced them to do some things they didn't like.
"Ashley Regier made some big shots on the inbounds for us in the third."
Oliver led the Lady East 'Winds with 10 points. Regier had four, and Long had three. Brown and Laseter each had two, and Peevey had one.
"I am very proud of the kids," RJHS West coach Jason Martin said. "They played hard but fatigue set in at the end of the game. We made a lot of mental mistakes."
Brackelsburg and Dixon each had seven points to lead the Lady West 'Winds. Campbell had two.


text:
OAKLAND — An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday to determine the cause of death of a man found Sunday wrapped in fabric in the back seat of a car parked near Arroyo Viejo Park in East Oakland, authorities said.
Police have yet to confirm the man's identity but believe he is from another East Bay city.
The body was found around 5 p.m. in a car in the 2400 block of Ritchie Street near Olive Street not far from the park.
Police on the scene could not see if there was any trauma to the body.
Investigators were also trying to determine how long the car had been parked in the area.
Anyone with information about the body is asked to call investigators at 510-238-3821.


text:
Legislation would harm small businesses; better options available
The Financial Planning Coalition today said in a prepared statement that the Investment Adviser Oversight Act of 2012 (H.R. 4624) would create a new regulatory structure that would lead to fewer investor choices for financial advice and impose a significant regulatory burden and higher costs on small advisory firms.
While the Coalition agrees that more frequent examinations of investment advisers by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are needed, it said that the proposed legislation "is the wrong solution for this problem," noting that should it become law the broker-dealer governed Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) – which has no experience overseeing investment advisers – would most likely become the SRO.
The Coalition — comprised of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., the Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and representing more than 75,000 stakeholders – urged Members of Congress to reject the SRO approach in the legislation and put in place a solution that will work to "truly protect investors."
"H.R. 4624 is not the right solution for the narrow problem of increasing investment adviser examinations, and it would create many more problems than it purports to resolve," the Coalition wrote. "It would single out small business owners by imposing fees and regulatory burdens on mid- and small-sized advisory firms that are not imposed on large firms. It would impose increased layers of regulation and cost on state registered investment advisers. Finally, it would discourage investment advisers from serving retail clients. In sum, H.R. 4624 would create significant investor protection issues in its efforts to resolve a simple resource gap at the SEC."
Citing a study by The Boston Consulting Group, the Coalition noted that a FINRA SRO would cost an estimated $550 to $610 million a year. This amount includes an estimated $90 to 100 million annually for SEC oversight, which is required by current law. The cost to the SEC of overseeing the SRO alone is comparable to providing the SEC with the incremental resources it needs to increase its examinations of all investment advisers an average of every four years.
Saying it "supports the obvious, simple and much less expensive alternative, which is to enhance the SEC's existing oversight program so that it can examine all SEC-registered investment advisers at least once every four years," the Coalition would support Congress granting the SEC the "authority to assess user fees on all SEC-registered investment advisers."
The Coalition also encouraged Members of Congress to consider solutions that:
While the legislation is supported in part to protect the public from future Bernard Madoff Ponzi schemes, the Coalition notes in its testimony that Mr. Madoff's firm would likely not have been affected by the legislation because his firm would likely have been exempted from the SRO.
"H.R. 4624 leaves the SEC with examination responsibility for the largest advisory firms without additional resources to examine these firms every four years and with the additional unfunded responsibility to oversee a new SRO," wrote the Coalition. "Such a result would be perverse from a public policy perspective. Under H.R. 4624, smaller investment advisers subject to the new SRO would be examined once every four years. But the larger SEC-only investment advisers, who manage far more assets and affect the lives of far more investors, would be examined at a far lower frequency."
About the Financial Planning Coalition The Financial Planning Coalition, a group representing nearly 75,000 financial planners, is a collaboration of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), the Financial Planning Association® (FPA® ), and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) formed to advise legislators and regulators on how to best protect consumers by ensuring financial planning services are delivered with fiduciary accountability and transparency. To learn more, please visit www.FinancialPlanningCoalition.com.
CONTACT: Kipp Hebert
E: firstname.lastname@example.com
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phone: 800-487-1497 (Toll-Free) / 202-379-2200 | fax: 202-379-2299 | firstname.lastname@example.com
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text:
Hey guys,
Ok first off I generally like win 8. That being said I had a few questions about the news app. It appears that I cannot... filter or parse news sources in anyway through that built in app. Sorta making it useless to me in a sad fashion as it basically feeds me things that I usually don't care about. I wish I could setup different Tiles with different content, one for ALL news is cool and usefull but not as useful as several that feed more focused news feeds. Is there a way I can do that in windows 8 or do I need to use a 3rd party app??? I sorta missed the whole RSS feed thing when it was going on but reading about it looks like it was a great trend for advanced consumers. I had considered trying a Twitter account to cater a specific news feed from subscribed accounts but that has some limiting factors to it too.
PS, I can't find tech report in the news app on win 8


text:
Romney, Obama debate observers call it a 'game-changer' or a 'shuck and jive'
While county Republican leaders cheered the presidential debate performance by Mitt Romney as a game-changer and a knockout punch, local Democrats conceded a weak outing for President Obama but held out hope for a turnaround in the month leading up to Election Day.
"In the eyes of many people, it was far and away one of Obama's weaker performances," conceded former North Adams Mayor John Barrett III, who has been campaigning for the president in battleground states along with other current or former city mayors.
"The president tried to talk issues, but because of the format, Romney was allowed to run roughshod with a lot of inaccuracies," Barrett contended. "This is a 15-round fight, with 10 more to go, so you'll see a different approach from both of them. I'm not discouraged at all."
For Jim Bronson, chairman of the Berkshire County Republican Association, Romney's appearance on Wednesday night was "Reaganesque, presidential, he had a clear command of the issues, it was a terrific night. The country is crying out for that kind of leadership, and he can and will give it."
According to Bronson, "Obama appeared bewildered, disgruntled and wouldn't look Romney in the eye, while Romney dazzled the president with the facts. It was a knockout performance and a game-changer."
But Peter Giftos, former executive director of the Republican association, took a more measured view.
"It's always hard to try to be fair and neutral when you're not," he said. "Trying to be objective, I thought Romney did exceptionally well, and I didn't expect him to do so. I was pleasantly surprised."
Asked whether Wednesday night's debate would improve the Republican candidate's chances to win the presidency, Giftos predicted that "if the next two debates are anything similar, it might just turn the corner for him. The important thing is that we need a change."
"I don't believe in party first, my country comes first, and I'm adamant about it," Giftos said. "If a Democrat or a Republican says something correctly, we should back them."
But he declared firmly that Obama doesn't deserve support for re-election.
Prominent Berkshire attorney and longtime Democratic activist Sherwood Guernsey voiced anger about the debate.
"I think Mitt's performance was shameful, awful, all about shuck and jive," he said. "He was deceptive and misled the American people. I hope they're going to see through it. The question is, will they?"
Conceding that "Obama could have been stronger," Guernsey maintained "that's not the issue. It's not a test of theater, it's a matter of telling the truth. I don't think the president had his best night, but he was dealing with a guy who was misleading everybody."
But, in his view, "it was not a game changer, there were no big gaffes. They both held their own. Romney used the oldest ruse in politics, saying he's got a plan, but there is no plan. That's shameful in a presidential candidate."
Lee Harrison, one of four county members of the Democratic state committee, state: "I'm sure Mitt Romney thinks he hit a home run, but he was using a loaded bat. It was a great performance, but an election is not about theater. Nearly everything he said was untrue."
While Obama was not on his game, Harrison added, "eventually the truth will win out. I would have loved to have seen a more contentious Obama, but that doesn't alter the facts."
As for the impact on voters, Harrison professed "great confidence" in an Obama victory. "I don't think it will move the needle very much, though it may have a little bit of resonance for a day or two."
But Bronson, terming Romney's showing a "grand slam," predicted that if all voting were completed today, the challenger would win by 5 or 6 percentage points. "But," he cautioned, "what looks great today might not look so great tomorrow."
"The biggest mistake anyone can make is underestimating Romney," Barrett said. "I believe we saw him at the top of his game, but in the next two debates, he'll fall absolutely flat."
Barrett remains confident of an Obama re-election victory, contending that "voters have a short memory and the next debates will bring everyone back to reality."
As Barrett saw it, "the president was too much of a gentleman putting forth his ideas. I don't believe he wanted to fire all his guns. But when your game isn't that strong, and the other guy's is, that's not the best formula for success."
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.


text:
I have Geico and had to file a claim for damage to my bumper soon after delivery. I have a $500 deductible so a claim was inevitable. Initially, the process was pretty painless. They set up an appointment with an adjuster at their local collision shop. Their normal mode of operation (at least in Flirida) is to push you towards letting their sponsored shop do the repair in return for a garuntee. But they did let me know that I could choose any repair shop I wanted. I got the impression they were compelled to tell me this by law. Again, this could be a Florida thing.
I chose to go to a specialized body shop recommended by Tesla. They were certified to work on the aluminum panels and had done several already. At the end, I was very pleased with the repair, but the game the body shops play with the insurance companies can be very frustrating.
I went to several comparable shops for quotes before my meet with the adjuster in an effort to see if I could work the system to have the repair covered 100% (no deductible). What I found is that the process makes that almost impossible. Without fail, they all took a quick look and, within 1 minute, started telling me about the supplemental claim they were sure to file.
Geico will do the initial estimate and low-ball the repair by about half, then write you a check on the spot for that amount. The body shop you go will immediately file a supplemental with Geico and negotiate for the difference. Typically, it seems, no work will begin on your car until this "negotiation" is complete. In my case, it took almost three weeks and was only completed thru intervention, phone calls, and complaining by me. The repair could have been completed in the first week but the game they played stretched it out unnecessarily.
I would use my experience to start asking questions about the requirements in your state.
"I chose to go to a specialized body shop recommended by Tesla. They were certified to work on the aluminum panels and had done several already."
I guess I don't know enough about auto construction. Are aluminum panels not commonly used? Do you really need a special body shop to work on a Tesla?
It could be a state by state thing, but im pretty sure you have to get a adjuster to look at the car and they can require you to come to them. But after that in every state i have been to you can get the car fixed by the shop of your choice.
I have comparable quotes from Geico, Progressive and Hartford (my insurance guy) which are all between $100-$150/mo. I believe Geico and Progressive offer windshield coverage. Given that Tesla windshields are almost $1,000 and probably have to be bought from them, will these companies ultimately honor their windshield replacement? Mercury Insurance (on my Prius) tried to push me off onto their windshield people, who were awful.
Also, Mercury quoted me $4,000 per year for the Tesla policy while Progressive quoted $1,200, Geico quoted $1,500 and Hartford quoted $1,800.
100/300/100No medicalUninsured motorist$500 deductibe$30/day rental reimbursementNo roadside
Progressive does not differentiate between Model S variants - they will insure an S60 at the same rate as a P85, I even had one of their agents input a P85 VIN and the rate did not change. Progressive was the lowest.
It definitely varies by location. I tried to get Progressive, since they do our boat and RV, and were awesome when our boat had to be repaired after hitting a sand bar. But, they couldn't come close to Geico. Salt Lake City, UT.
My driver side front fender was hit by a deer that ran into my stopped car. I went to Geico for an appraisal. The appraiser was located at a body shop and had no idea what the cost of the repair would be as the car was not in their database. The appraiser eventually estimated the repair at $902. All the cars at the shop there were Hondas, Toyotas, etc. I called Tesla and they told me to take it to a shop 50 miles away that was certified to work on the car.
Geico paid all the material costs but refused to pay the labor rate for the repair, saying it was greater than the amount they allow. It took 6 calls from me (going up the ladder at Geico) and threatening to file a lawsuit before they agreed to pay the labor fee.
I'm stuck with them for the moment because I had a 17 year old son that just got a license, and Geico was thousands of dollars less expensive than other companied. However, when he goes away to college this fall, I can remove him from the policy and I will then shop around for other companies. The body shop noted they alwatys have problems with Geico and recommended State Farm.
Aluminum body panels are selected for weight reduction in higher end cars like Jaguar or Aston Martin, but are more expensive than their sheet metal counterparts, so not as common. Aluminum requires a slightly different skill set and tools for welding or forming, thus the specific certification.
Heh. Aluminum is a sheet metal. It is not steel, of course.
Tesla stamps all of the body parts in-house. Not knowing anything about automotive manufacturing, I found that impressive - along with the size of the machine that does the stamping! Tesla's electric motors and a lot of the parts that make up the car are manufactured on-site as well.
"Heh. Aluminum is a sheet metal. It is not steel, of course."
Heh. While technically true, industry standard vernacular differentiates between the two. Sheet metal is always assumed to be steel by those that deal with it.
Geico was pretty insistent with me that "their" body shop could have repaired my car for their labor rate. I argued that the car is aluminum and they said the Tesla is no different from a Honda or a Prius. They took the position that any shop could have bolted on a new fender and then painted it.
Needless to say, I was not pleased with Geico. This was the first time in nearly 40 years of driving that I needed body work on my car, and I hope it will be another 40 years (should I live that long) before I need such work again.
@AmpedRealtor, I am really surprised at how high your quoted rates are (especially Mercury, wow!). I know it can vary a lot by location (I live in MN), but I am with State Farm and before I finalized my order, I asked my agent to quote it and she said it would be $1088/yr for an 85kwh and the 60kwh would be less. I have the highest liability limits they offer (everyone should, they are not expensive), but $1,000 deductible for comp & collision. I have a clean record and am in my upper 30's. looking forward to getting my car in about 2-3 weeks.
This is not Tesla related but it is Geico related. My wife and I had a mishap in the snow with our MB GL450. We were on a road trip at the time. I called Geico and told them what happened. They told me they would get moving on it as fast as possible considering we were on a round trip drive. I got a loaner from the Mercedes dealer and told him I would be back in 5 days and I needed the car by then. One air strut, a lower control arm and a new knuckle later, the dealer had met with the Geico adjuster and done all of the repairs in 5 days. The Geico guys were extremely helpful in getting the work done as quickly as possible. In fact, the dealer said the Geico adjuster he met was the best adjuster he had ever dealt with. The bill was $4,200 and Geico wrote a $3,200 check on the spot to the dealer. My deductible was $1,000. I have nothing but great things to say about Geico. Now, I don't know how things will go with my Tesla, but I am confident they will take care of me.
P.S. They did raise my rates on renewal, $170, which I find pretty reasonable considering the payout they made.
Personally, I find the "raising rates on renewal" to be a ripoff. What was the pool of shared premiums doing before the accident? Funding exec parties?
Coincidentally, just saw a TV blurb for the new 'esurance', pure internet dealings, backed by Allstate. Don't have any details tho'.
We have GEICO, and they have been VERY good about letting us take our cars where we want, though they "try" to suggest a connected repair shop. I have been hit by other vehicles while in both pou Leaf and Volt. We simply insisted on using the best body shop in Sacramento and GEICO was totally cooperative.
We have recently added out Model S to the coverage of the above cars and it is increasing our annual bill a bit under $800.
Working with aluminum DOES take very special welding if any of that would be required.
The Tesla certified shop did a great job. I do not think Geico's shop would have done the same quality job.
I have been a GEICO customer > 30 years. So I have had been through the claims department a few times. They have never required me to use there approved shop. They have only strongly encouraged me to do so. If I choose not use a GEICO shop they would be no guarantee of the repair. I live in VA... and some rules are state specific (don't know if this is one of them).
After many years (12+) of having Geico, I had to finally file a claim against Geico for hitting a falling derbies on the road.
Geico denied my claim suggesting that I haven't done enough to avoid the derbies.
Gievn that changing the lanes was not an option, I tried to convince him that if I had tried to avoid I would have it the other lanes and I would have been injured.
Thye Geico guy said, "well that's the only way we could have approved your claim"
Basically Geico was suggesting that I injure myself.
I basically said FU Geico on the same day and switched to AAA.
Geico is a scam.
Any idea who finally approved? Have a name and number, by chance? I have calls in to Geivo HQ in Atlanta, but no replies yet.
We are both in AZ. FYI, I am in the process of taking out an Assured Value policy for my Tesla with Encompass, the high-end product of Allstate. As it is assured value, they will pay Raintree's repair rates. $1400 per year, $1000 deductible. If you are interested, I'd be happy to give you the name of my broker, a neighbor who deals exclusively with HNW policies. He also drives a Tesla!
I'm surprised by all the geico horror stories on this thread. Just last week I was rear ended on my 4 month old tesla in New York. Maybe it's because I was at no fault but geico was super responsive and recommended I go to a tesla authorized shop, actually the geico rep told me that only authorized dealers can buy parts from tesla so I had no choice but to go to them. But the most surprising thing is that what I thought was a simple bumper repair is actually costing 35k!!! And 4 weeks of work.
If you are not at fault, your insurance company does not pay, correct? Is the at-fault party's insurance company paying? Are they paying the Tesla authorized shop rates without complaint? If so, are they GEICO?
If not, your post post is meaningless.
With regard to Tesla certified repair shops, while researching diminished value we have been asked whether the Tesla in question was repaired by a Tesla certified shop. In every case the answer has been yes but it leads me to believe that, come trade-in time, Tesla may offer less for cars that were repaired by non-Tesla certified shops. This may not be the case at all but definitely something to consider. We are always interested in hearing about Teslas and insurance claims so feel free to relate any of your experiences to firstname.lastname@example.com especially with regard to diminished value.
Gadfly, Geico is still on the hook if the other insurer doesn't pay for any reason, so if they weren't willing to pay for what they're recommending, they wouldn't suggest it.


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Wild deep-freeze warming techniques
With much of the northern hemisphere embedded in a deep freeze, one wonders how cold weather animals remain alive through frigid temperatures. Energy supplies are drained in the cold making it necessary to have a good solid cache of warming survival skills. Some animals have adaptive features and other animals have found adaptive techniques. Some of their creative adaptations are listed below:
Penguins: The penguin's outer surface of feathers drops to temperatures lower than the surrounding air creating an insulating buffer. Further, to reduce heat loss from their feet by 15%, penguins will gently lean back picking their toes off the ice.
Alpine Marmots: Beyond temperature, another added difficulty in the cold is the lack of food. As a result, many animals like Alpine Marmots simply go to sleep for a few months until food supply becomes abundant and temperatures tolerable.
Japanese macaques: This primates' habitat reaches the farthest north of any other besides human. Part of their habitat though, includes man-made hot springs, which has become part of their daily warming exercise.
Bison: In Yellowstone National Park the Bison take advantage of hot springs as well. But because temperatures of these springs are too hot for submersion, bison idle on the side to absorb radiating heat.
Humpback whale: Muscle movement is one way to stay warm but it also consumes much energy. Instead, the humpback whale stores extra fat in the form of blubber, to insulate it from chilly temperatures.
Polar Bear: The polar bear's trifecta of techniques include an underlying black hue on its skin to absorb sun, followed by a fluffy white fur coat for warmth and a coarser exterior fur made up of individual water repelling hollow hairs.
Many cold-blooded animals die in subzero temperatures because the water in their blood turns to ice requiring specialized adaptive techniques.
Icefish: The Antarctic Icefish evolved antifreeze proteins to flow through its blood and keep bodily tissues from freezing.
European common lizard: This lizard generates glucose and glycerol in its blood to prevent ice crystal development. Additionally for added energy, it creates specialized mitochondria for it cell membranes.
Burmese python: The mother python produces body heat by flexing muscles to warm her nest and keep her eggs warm.
Red-sided garter snakes: Taking the sleeping thing one step further, the red-sided garter does it with company by gathering a few dozen of its closest buddies for a cozy party. Once awake, they make use of the closeness by mating.
Read more at Discovery News.
Penguin Image via Shutterstock.


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Wordless Wednesday – Christine Williams Toddler Portrait
My mother, Christine Williams. Photo taken approx. 1955, in Ashland, Kentucky. My mother and I recently came across a box of pictures and old 8mm film reels. This picture was in the box, along with many others, that I'll be posting on here in the near future. I'm sending the 8mm film reels to Just8mm.com for conversion to DVD. Upon receipt, I'll be posting the old home movies on YouTube.
Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams)


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3x Archive
Fuji's FinePix Real 3D W1
October 18, 2009
The news is for all the photographers and photography lovers out there. Fuji has come out with FinePix Real 3D W1 which is the first ever Digital Camera that is applauded for bringing 3D still and video photography in your hands. It is an extremely innovative camera that provides its users the freedom to simply


text:
Trickle of runs not enough for Orioles
Baltimore can't find big inning to back efficient Cabrera
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
The Orioles followed a no-hitter with a nailbiter Sunday, when they never led but were never truly out of the game. Baltimore fell behind by three runs but steadily chipped away at the lead and had most of the late-game opportunities in a 3-2 loss to Boston.
The Orioles dropped to 30-36 under manager Dave Trembley and 1-11 since his status was confirmed for next season. It's been a wild two weeks for Baltimore, and the ride will continue with a three-game series in Florida against Tampa Bay starting Monday.
"I guess we're seeing history. I don't know if that's a positive," said Aubrey Huff. "It's just a game, but at the same time, you've got pride. You want to play well and you want to win. It's like everything we've got going right now is just working against us."
The Orioles got a relatively strong pitching performance from Daniel Cabrera on Sunday, but they couldn't support him with much offense against Boston starter Jon Lester. Baltimore stranded three runners in scoring position and had two runners cut down on the basepaths, including one that helped kill a rally in the top of the fourth inning.
The road team trailed by one run at that point and loaded the bases on two walks and a clean single. Lester (3-0) got one out on a line drive to second base and coaxed a fly ball to short right field from the next batter. The catch was made easily, and when Miguel Tejada tried to score from third base, he was cut down handily on a throw to the plate.
"We had the bases loaded and nobody out and didn't score," said Trembley after the game. "I thought that was the biggest opportunity that we had. We had a chance to knock Lester out of the ballgame and we didn't. He was walking a tightrope. He was walking people, giving us scoring opportunities. We got his pitch count up.
"We had everything going for us. We had the table set, and we got nothing with the bases loaded and nobody out. That came back to haunt us late in the game."
Boston scored the next two runs -- one on a home run and one on a sacrifice fly -- to open up a 3-0 lead against Cabrera. The hulking right-hander worked through the sixth inning and allowed five hits. He walked four batters and struck out seven, stranding two runners each in the first and fifth innings. When Cabrera left, it was a 3-1 game.
"It's difficult, because every time I go out there I'm trying to win the game for my team," he said. "This year, I've got a lot more losses than I've ever had [at this point of the season]. There's nothing I can do -- just pitch and pitch."
The Orioles made another baserunning blunder in the sixth that helped kill a rally. Just when Baltimore seemed to be gathering momentum against Lester again, Kevin Millar was cut down at second base on a cutoff play. Tejada scored on a single, but when Millar rounded second, he was caught off guard by a throw from third baseman Mike Lowell.
"It happened so fast," said Millar, Baltimore's first baseman. "You run the bases and you take one step off and they just fire it behind you. That's like going from first to second in Little League and standing on second. In that situation, they're just firing the ball home and it gets cut off, thrown to second and boom -- you're out. Bad baserunning play."
Baltimore (59-76) crept closer in the seventh on a solo homer by Ramon Hernandez and had a perfect opportunity in the eighth against Hideki Okajima. With shadows starting to cover the field, Okajima gave up a leadoff double and a ground ball that pushed the potential tying run to third base. After that, he struck out Millar and Huff in succession.
"I didn't do a very good job of making the ball get up in the zone," said Millar. "I swung at a bad pitch. ...I have to do the job there and get that runner in. That's a big at-bat at a big time of the game. I have to do a better job."
"I didn't really get anything to hit that whole at-bat," added Huff. "He worked me in with a fastball. I had curveball in the back of my mind the whole time and he never used it. He threw me a 3-2 splitty -- lefty-on-lefty splitty, I haven't seen that much. It was just a good pitch. It looked so good to hit and just dived off the table."
Boston (62-55) set Baltimore down in order in the ninth inning to take a 2-1 series win, but the road team could take pride in rebounding after Saturday night's no-hitter and 10-run outburst. The Orioles' first hit came in Sunday's second inning, and it allowed the players and the coaches in the dugout to breathe a sigh of relief.
"After you get no-hit, just going out there and getting a hit on the board helps," said Huff. "The last thing you want to do is go four or five innings with no hits, and then everybody's going to start pressing."
"This was a big game for us," Trembley said. "I don't care what the standings are and I don't care how many we lost. ...Today was an opportunity to win a series and do it in Fenway Park. We had the opportunity and didn't make the most of it."
Spencer Fordin 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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KEXP Reviews
|Browse by one of the following:
- (Back Porch/Manhattan)
The renowned Austin singer-songwriter takes stock of his life and career in music on his 9th album, which is not only the most direct and hardest-rocking of his solo career, but also one of his best. References to his early punk and rock bands (the Nuns, Rank & File and the True Believers) are scattered throughout the record, as are people and places that impacted him along the way. The album was co-written with fellow rock veteran Chuck Prophet (who also contributes guitar and backing vocals), and together they've done a wonderful job of encapsulating the many phases of Escovedo's storied career, from snarling garage-punk to elegiac chamber-folk. 5/26/2008 - Don Yates
Other Alejandro Escovedo album reviews:
A Man Under the Influence - 4/15/2001
Bourbonitis Blues - 4/15/1999
More Miles Than Money: Live 1994-96 - 3/15/1998
With These Hands - 4/15/1996


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Town Square
Bogus News Reports
Original post made by Jag Singh, Duveneck/St. Francis, on Nov 30, 2006
a resident of Midtown
on Dec 1, 2006 at 12:24 am
I bet a lot of these things get on the air because people at the stations aren't smart enough to know that they are fluff pieces from PR firms.
If you watch the news, and they report on a topic you know a lot about, you can usually hear plenty of mistakes, or hear things that are not really "news" but these positioned PR pieces.
Its a good point, but I doubt legislating it will help - just don't believe everything you hear on TV!
a resident of Stanford
on Dec 3, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Ignorance is the real threat to Democracy. Always read information yourself, don't trust anyone to filter information for you.
Often you learn more by what ISN'T reported, than by what is. These omissions reveal the bias more than anything. For example, have you noticed how we have only gotten reports that the Army missed its recruitment goal a couple times in the last few years? Ask yourself WHY we haven't gotten the news all the other months that the military is turning away recruits, that the military has a higher average level of education than the population of the rest of the US, and that it has the highest re-enlistment rate amongst troops who have been to Iraq. Could it be because the mainstream press doesn't want the public to wonder what one million military VOLUNTEERS know that the rest of us don't?
Or, what about the news that was released locally ( for those who don't read the Wall Street Journal) that the economy is the best it has been with the lowest unemployment in 30 years? But, amazingly enough, this was released AFTER the elections. Why was that news missing for the last 2 years? It didn't suddenly get great one week post election.
So, Mr. Singh is correct. Be careful what you believe without sources. Study reliable sources. Ignorance is the real threat to democracy.
a resident of Barron Park
on Dec 23, 2006 at 9:01 am
Jag, as usual you have fallen for the propaganda of the far left -- the group that did this report is as hard left as you can get. But their real failing in this case is that they simply got their facts wrong. See Web Link
If you want to slam TV news, slam it for being superficial. Slam it for failing to cover elections in any meaningful way. Slam it for emphasizing sex over substance. But these guys at this Democracy center simply missed the mark.
a resident of Stanford
on Dec 30, 2006 at 4:22 pm
I keep thinking this absurd number of 655,000 is going to disappear in the shame of the lie, but it hasn't, so I am going to come back on to it.
Put 2 plus 2 together. Supposedly in November there was the "worst day" for the number of Iraqis who died since we went into Iraq. The number was about 100 dead people..which, indeed is awful, but if you try to reconcile that number " of the worst day", and then think for just a moment about what the number would be if there were 100 killed people per day for 3 1/2 years, how many people do you come up with?
Nowhere near the 655,000 that is still floating around from the horrifically incompetent, shameful "research" from..who was it, Duke? correct me, please, because I dismissed it from my memory.
You come up with 3,000 per month for a total of about 130,000 dead people. So, just thinking for a moment, which is all we need to do when we read these "stories" to sniff out what is wrong, tells anyone that the 655,000 number is completely made up out of thin air. Then all you have to do is go google the story and follow the rebuttals by the peers, who completely debunked the "research". It was as if someone sampled Mission Street in San Francisco to determine the views and the number of murders in the United States by extrapolating out a few stories.
I mean, really, for the first time in history there is a totally free press in Iraq..does anyone really think that somehow all these reporters MISSED all these dead people? Especially in a journalistic world determined to undermine the effort to bring democracy to Iraq?
CNN and every other "news" agency that was housed in Iraq BEFORE we went in managed to overlook the hundreds of thousands of REAL dead by Saddam, thank God he is gone, but that won't happen anymore. Democracy with its freedom of speech is well rooted in Iraq now. Fascism is dying.
a resident of Stanford
on Dec 31, 2006 at 2:20 pm
655,000 War Dead?
By STEVEN E. MOORE
October 18, 2006; Page A20 ( Wall Street Journal)
After doing survey research in Iraq for nearly two years, I was surprised to read that a study by a group from Johns Hopkins University claims that 655,000 Iraqis have died as a result of the war. Don't get me wrong, there have been far too many deaths in Iraq by anyone's measure; some of them have been friends of mine. But the Johns Hopkins tally is wildly at odds with any numbers I have seen in that country. Survey results frequently have a margin of error of plus or minus 3% or 5% -- not 1200%.
The group -- associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health -- employed cluster sampling for in-person interviews, which is the methodology that I and most researchers use in developing countries. Here, in the U.S., opinion surveys often use telephone polls, selecting individuals at random. But for a country lacking in telephone penetration, door-to-door interviews are required: Neighborhoods are selected at random, and then individuals are selected at random in "clusters" within each neighborhood for door-to-door interviews. Without cluster sampling, the expense and time associated with travel would make in-person interviewing virtually impossible.
However, the key to the validity of cluster sampling is to use enough cluster points. In their 2006 report, "Mortality after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a cross-sectional sample survey," the Johns Hopkins team says it used 47 cluster points for their sample of 1,849 interviews. This is astonishing: I wouldn't survey a junior high school, no less an entire country, using only 47 cluster points.
Neither would anyone else. For its 2004 survey of Iraq, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) used 2,200 cluster points of 10 interviews each for a total sample of 21,688. True, interviews are expensive and not everyone has the U.N.'s bank account. However, even for a similarly sized sample, that is an extraordinarily small number of cluster points. A 2005 survey conducted by ABC News, Time magazine, the BBC, NHK and Der Spiegel used 135 cluster points with a sample size of 1,711 -- almost three times that of the Johns Hopkins team for 93% of the sample size.
What happens when you don't use enough cluster points in a survey? You get crazy results when compared to a known quantity, or a survey with more cluster points. There was a perfect example of this two years ago. The UNDP's survey, in April and May 2004, estimated between 18,000 and 29,000 Iraqi civilian deaths due to the war. This survey was conducted four months prior to another, earlier study by the Johns Hopkins team, which used 33 cluster points and estimated between 69,000 and 155,000 civilian deaths -- four to five times as high as the UNDP survey, which used 66 times the cluster points.
The 2004 survey by the Johns Hopkins group was itself methodologically suspect -- and the one they just published even more so.
Curious about the kind of people who would have the chutzpah to claim to a national audience that this kind of research was methodologically sound, I contacted Johns Hopkins University and was referred to Les Roberts, one of the primary authors of the study. Dr. Roberts defended his 47 cluster points, saying that this was standard. I'm not sure whose standards these are.
Appendix A of the Johns Hopkins survey, for example, cites several other studies of mortality in war zones, and uses the citations to validate the group's use of cluster sampling. One study is by the International Rescue Committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which used 750 cluster points. Harvard's School of Public Health, in a 1992 survey of Iraq, used 271 cluster points. Another study in Kosovo cites the use of 50 cluster points, but this was for a population of just 1.6 million, compared to Iraq's 27 million.
When I pointed out these numbers to Dr. Roberts, he said that the appendices were written by a student and should be ignored. Which led me to wonder what other sections of the survey should be ignored.
With so few cluster points, it is highly unlikely the Johns Hopkins survey is representative of the population in Iraq. However, there is a definitive method of establishing if it is. Recording the gender, age, education and other demographic characteristics of the respondents allows a researcher to compare his survey results to a known demographic instrument, such as a census.
Dr. Roberts said that his team's surveyors did not ask demographic questions. I was so surprised to hear this that I emailed him later in the day to ask a second time if his team asked demographic questions and compared the results to the 1997 Iraqi census. Dr. Roberts replied that he had not even looked at the Iraqi census.
And so, while the gender and the age of the deceased were recorded in the 2006 Johns Hopkins study, nobody, according to Dr. Roberts, recorded demographic information for the living survey respondents. This would be the first survey I have looked at in my 15 years of looking that did not ask demographic questions of its respondents. But don't take my word for it -- try using Google to find a survey that does not ask demographic questions.
Without demographic information to assure a representative sample, there is no way anyone can prove -- or disprove -- that the Johns Hopkins estimate of Iraqi civilian deaths is accurate.
Public-policy decisions based on this survey will impact millions of Iraqis and hundreds of thousands of Americans. It's important that voters and policy makers have accurate information. When the question matters this much, it is worth taking the time to get the answer right.
Mr. Moore, a political consultant with Gorton Moore International, trained Iraqi researchers for the International Republican Institute from 2003 to 2004 and conducted survey research for the Coalition Forces from 2005 to 2006.


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Study Suggests Younger Adults Better With Cards
A new study finds that cardholders between the ages of 40 and 44 are 12% more likely to go seriously delinquent on a credit card than a cardholder age 19.
Serious card delinquency is defined as being more than 90 days late on a card account payment.
Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and Arizona State University analyzed data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank's Consumer Credit Panel and Equifax to conduct what they said is the first serious study of the relationship of age and card default.
The researchers acknowledged that the data showed younger card account holders had higher rates of 30-60 day delinquency, but that "the magnitude of the differences in minor delinquency across ages is much smaller than those we find for serious delinquency."
The study also did not attribute the better card behavior among younger borrowers to the Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility Act. Researchers deliberately looked at data coming from both before and after the Act was implemented to evaluate cardholder behavior.
The CARD Act made opening a credit card account for someone under 21 years of age illegal, unless the young adult had a cosigning co-applicant or could otherwise prove they had a means of repaying debt incurred on the card.
"Using the passage of the Act to identify the selection effect we find that individuals who would have chosen to enter the credit card market early in the absence of the Act are less likely to experience serious delinquency or default than the individuals who enter the credit card market later," the researchers wrote.
"Furthermore, these individuals are more likely to be homeowners early in life. We interpret these results as indicating that some young individuals choose to enter the credit card market to establish a credit record and thus facilitate the transition to home ownership. Our findings contrast with the view that young individuals get credit cards early primarily as a response to aggressive advertising to this demographic group," the researchers wrote.


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JERUSALEM (AP) — An aide to Israel's culture minister says Italy will loan a Botticelli masterpiece to Israel as scheduled, after delaying the loan over worries about Syria.
Italy's culture ministry said this month it would not send the 15th-century "The Annunciation of San Martino alla Scala" to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem due to geopolitical and logistical considerations.
But Meir Bardugo, aide to Culture Minister Limor Livnat, said Sunday that the minister worked "behind the scenes intensively" to convince Italy the work would be safe.
The head of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Antonio Natali, told the ANSA news agency on Saturday that the work had left Italy a few days ago bound for Jerusalem.
Israel Museum Director James Snyder said Sunday that the four-month exhibit will open Tuesday.


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Fine Arts
Army Band Instructs Students
"Top Brass," a six member brass ensemble from The United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own," performed at Southwestern University in November. The music performed spanned four centuries and showcased the talents of the individual members. With a combined military service of over 100 years, the members of the "Top Brass" have performed at the White House and around the world for events of national and international significance.
In addition to the concert, all six members of "Top Brass" held a master class for Southwestern University music majors. These students received a unique opportunity to interact with the band members, as they received invaluable instructions, techniques, and feedback on their performances.


text: Some TW play testers have switched to the new Steam 99S rackets - Jason, Mark, Spencer (?). The question is - Are these guys winning significantly more games, sets, matches, against all of you who play often with them. It seems they hit with more spin, but do they play a level higher with the racket (4.0 to 4.5, say) or about the same?