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Let's run away and don't ever look back
From the 2010 season.
Andy LaRoche popped out in the top of the 9th to conclude one of the worst seasons in the Bucs storied 124 year history.
It's hard to say there was much promise to be held in 2010, but no one expected it to be this bad.
General Manager Neil Huntington told Jennifer Langosch that "We are moving forward. And 2010 will be a much better year," back in January.
In fact it was a gargantuan step back, six more losses than in 2009. I can't help but feel cheated and lied to, but as sad as it is, I'm used to it.
There were dissapointments.
Aki Iwamura was expected to be a solid advancement as an everyday second baseman. That was an experiment gone wrong as Iwamura failed to sniff the Mendoza Line forcing a demotion to AAA eventually leading to an outright release.
The pitching was horrible, to say the least.
Losing 84 games the starting pitchers failed to put the team in a position to win a game. But its not like the offense was much better either.
Garret Jones led the team with 21 homers and 86 RBI, still very much lacking in the power department. The BUcs scored 587 runs and had a .242 batting average and .304 on-base percentage, 2nd lowest in the majors across those catergories.
Fingers can be pointed in many directions but I say it starts at the top.
John Russell is a disgrace as a manger. Tabulating a 186-299 record over three seasons he honest to goodness ranks in the top-ten worst managers of all time. Statistical evidence was provided by sports writer Joe Starkey. The face you see on the right side is indicative to his mood throughout the year. He is stone cold and provides little if any backbone to an already defalted team.
Rumors have circulated throughout the weekend that this is the end of Russell's tenure in Pittsburgh.
The sooner the better.
Now Russell has not had much to work with in his three years as manager including a lineup that was never set in stone. Also with an influx of youngsters and an always changing roster it was hard to find stability. Actually, it wasn't. Under Russell's watch the only stability founded was in the L column.
There were so many negatives in 2010 but believe it or not there were positives.
Here are teh top three.
1. The calvary.
Established by post game show host Rocco DeMaro, the calvary describes the young Pirates that made their way into the big league lineup in 2010. The core includes Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker and Jose Tabata. This trio really has been something to give Pirate fans some sort of hope. All three are crowd favorites and for right reasons.
Alvarez has had a series of ups and downs. He has a potent bat, but also a high strikeout tendency. He did smack 16 homers but the real kicker is his astronomical OPS. He has a strong glove and striking arm. Fellas, he's just 23.
Walker and Tabata are carbon copies of each other. Each with speed and a strong bat they have staying power. Flirting with a .300 batting average throughout the course of their half-a-big league season the kids have a knack for getting on base. Walker is easily the new "Jack Wilson" of the team. Clubhouse leader and good guy. He is actually from Pittsburgh making the hometown hero legend a reality.
2. James McDonald
In a rotation strapped for pretty much everything nothing was more welcomed than the trade deadline acquisition of James McDonald.
Consider the fact that no Pirate starter had double digit wins but McDonald provided a little spark, even with his 4-6 record. McDonald went deep into games and actually put the offense in charge of coming through with something. He really was in charge and control of the mound. Barring an offseason addition to the rotation McDonald really does have ace potential.
3. The Fans


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'Love Your Library Month' at Mark Skinner
Feb. 2: Super Saturday Valentine Craft and Story with Miss Page Turner at 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 6: First Wednesdays presents "An Evening of George Gershwin" at 7 p.m. Venue: First Congregational Church. This is a Vermont Humanities Council program hosted by Mark Skinner Library. Library Sponsors: The Perfect Wife Restaurant and Tavern, the Spiral Press Café, VT Renewable Fuels.
Feb. 13: In honor of Black History Month, MSL presents the Academy Award winning documentary: "Mighty Times: The Children's March" at 6:30 p.m. The film is appropriate for school age through adult.
Feb. 16: Super Saturday at 10:30 a.m. - "Star Journey", a program designed to foster imagination and creativity in children, ages 7 - 9. This program is led by Debbie Post.
Feb. 17: Dollar Skate at Riley Rink to benefit MSL, from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m.
Feb. 19: Family Film: "Annie" at 1 p.m.
Feb. 20: "Vermont and the Civil War" with Civil War Historian and Author Howard Coffin at 7 p.m. Venue: First Congregational Church. A Vermont Humanities Council program hosted by Mark Skinner Library.
Feb. 21: Author Lana Hauben reads her original children's book, "Iceland" at 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 24: Bestselling romance novelist Anne Stuart will discuss writing romance novels at 2 p.m. Join us for fun, giveaways, and refreshments.
All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at 802-362-2607 or www.markskinnerlibrary.org. Mark Skinner Library is located at 48 West Road in Manchester Village.
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.

subset: commoncrawl


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We are proud to introduce these traditional, handmade, artisan, Cowboy style Cinchas! And especially the PINK CANCER AWARENESS RIBBON CINCHA! "Cinch up for the Cure" A $20 donation for every Pink Cincha sold will be donated to "SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE, BOISE AFFILIATE" WE Can also do custom colors with the PINK CANCER AWARENESS RIBBON, just call 530-545-0139
Choice of Solid Brass or Stainless steel buckles and a traditional Shufly hair tassel. Cowboy billet keeper strap to hold your billet down. 19 strands wide. Traditional Honey base with Black/Burgundy. What are the benefits of using mohair in cinch weaving? Mohair, is a long natural animal fiber that is the silky hair of the Angora goat which has been carded, spun and corded. Not only does mohair wick sweat and moisture away from your horse, it is breathable, soft, resilient and durable. Mohair cinches are a good choice for horses who chafe or are allergic to synthetic or non-breathing materials commonly used in today's cinches. Mohair's durability and breathability make it an ideal material for comfortable, sturdy and long lasting cinches with proper care. Simply brush off the dried and caked mud and dirt. In addition, there is no need to brush off the horse hair as, over time, it will felt with the mohair cincha resulting in even more comfort for you horse. If necessary, we recommend hand washing and rising in cold water. Hang and let it air dry. If there is any shrinkage, your cinch will stretch back to its original length with use. When you receive your cinch, it will be about one inch shorter than ordered. This is to compensate for the natural stretch within the fiber. All cinches are 100% mohair unless otherwise noted. Due to market demands, we may occasionally need to use a 96% mohair, 4% wool blend. In such cases, you will be notified. These are made by hand one at a time so give 2-3 weeks for delivery and custom colors are available so just ask.


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A-list families filled their weekends with sports, fancy lunches, and cute costumes. The Garner-Afflecks got in the competitive spirit while cheering on Seraphina Affleck at her Sunday track meet in LA, while Blue Ivy Carter made an appearance in Paris to lunch with Beyoncé Knowles. Orlando Bloom carried his little cowboy, Flynn Bloom, to brunch in LA, while Kourtney Kardashian saw the sights in Santorini with her sailor Mason Disick. Click through to see how other celebrities spent time with their kids over the past few days!
Image Sources: FameFlynet, INFphoto.com and Bauer-Griffin Online


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[2]Thomson Gale Legal Forms [2] is a database that you may never need to use. But, if you need a legal form, don't want to buy it, don't know where to get it, than this is the database for you. Legals forms are specialized forms that are not easy to find. If you need a form as simple as a lease, or a living will, do you need to consult an attorney? You can get them at some mom and pop stationery stores, or large stores like Staples, but the selection is limited. They are available on-line for a fee from Blumberg Forms, but who wants to pay? Thomson Gale Legal Forms leases the content from a well known producer of legal forms called US Legal Forms. These forms are categorized by topic, and easy to find and use. They can be printed out in various formats, such as Adobe, Microsoft Word and Rich Text. Some forms can be typed in when you view them for a neat and professional look. Samples of filled out forms are provided for your assistance.
Some other nice features are a legal question and answer, a law digest, definitions, and names of attorneys and firms that practice in specific areas of law. All of this information is provided for educational purposes only, it is not to be taken as legal advice. The database emphatically states, and I echo this, that this database is not a substitute for a licensed attorney. Another caveat is that some courts may not accept the forms provided, and there is no way to be sure. The database also advises that the user consult with an attorney before filing any forms with the court. So, this database, good as it is, should not keep you from seeking a professional to assist you in a court case. What it can do, is educate you, give you a form (that may or not be accepted by the court), and the names of attorneys who practice in specific areas of law. Keep these limits in mind, and you can still find the database useful. Despite these warnings, is it better than google? I would say so.


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Contact l Sitemap
United Technologies
For the latest company profile on United Technologies, visit our corporate malfeasance wiki, Crocodyl.org.
One of the last remaining powerful U.S. conglomerates, United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, one of the most famous names in jet engines; Sikorsky, a leader in helicopter production, including the famous (or infamous) Black Hawks; Carrier Corp., the largest supplier of heating and air conditioning systems; Otis, the worlds largest elevator company; and Hamilton Sundstrand, a leading producer of aerospace products. UTC also has a large fire-safety products business based on its acquisition of British firms Chubb PLC and Kidde PLC.
UTC, which began with the amalgamation of various aviation companies during the 1920s, has had severe ups and downs over the years, especially at Pratt & Whitney. The engine maker once ruled the industry, then suffered a series of technical mishaps and fell behind competitors like General Electric. Since the early 1990s, UTC has remade itself, putting more emphasis on selling non-military products in foreign markets, where it has also shifted a substantial portion of its production and employment.
The companys restructuring and overseas shift have worsened relations with its unions and with communitiesespecially in Connecticutwhere it has cut back or shut down longstanding operations. Over the past two decades, UTC and its subsidiaries have paid tens of millions of dollars in fines and penalties in environmental cases.
In March 2008 UTC made an unsolicited $2.6 billion offer to acquire Diebold Inc., the controversial producer of electronic voting machines as well as ATMs and security systems.
other major U.S. military contractors, United Technologies has at times
been accused of cheating the federal government. In 1992 the company
pleaded guilty to four felony charges and agreed to pay $6 million in
penalties in connection with an admitted conspiracy by Pratt &
Whitney to defraud the Pentagon by using insider information when
bidding on contracts.
In 1994 UTC was forced to pay $150 million to settle claims that
Sikorsky had submitted inflated bills in connection with its production
of helicopters for the Pentagon. The amount was then the largest amount
ever in a federal whistleblower suit.
In 1997 Pratt & Whitney agreed to pay $14.8 million to settle
charges that it took part in a scheme to divert $10 million in U.S.
military aid to a slush fund under the control of an officer of the
Israeli Air Force. In 2005 the Presbyterian Church USA called on UTC to
stop providing military equipment and technology to Israel for use in
the occupation of the Palestinian territories.
For the past decade, other religious groups have been filing
shareholder resolutions at each of the companys annual meetings
raising questions about UTCs foreign military sales.
In 2006 Norways government pension fund announced that UTC was one
of the companies it was banning from its investment portfolio because
of its assumed involvement in nuclear weapons.
domestic workforce has traditionally been heavily unionized, though
about two-thirds of the companys 215,000 employees are now based
outside the United States. The remaining domestic workforce is
represented by more than 20 different collective bargaining agreements.
Labor relations have grown more contentious in recent years in the face
of large-scale layoffs and restructuring. The majority of workers at
Pratt & Whitney have long been represented by the International
Association of Machinists (IAM). Relations between the union and
management traditionally were adversarial but peaceful. A major
exception came in 1985, when thousands of workers struck the company to
demand improved job security provisions and a better wage package than
the company was offering. The two-week walkout ended with an agreement
that improved worker protections regarding subcontracting and other job
security issues.
In 1993 there was upheaval at Pratts plants in Connecticut in
response to announced layoffs affecting a large portion of the
workforce. The company threatened even more layoffs unless it got
work-rule concessions from the IAM and tax concessions from the state.
Both the union and the state gave in, the latter providing a package of
tax breaks worth about $32 million.
Pratt kept on trying to cut employment, and the IAM did what it
could to limit the loss of jobs. In 1998 IAM members approved a
38-month contract that committed the company to keeping its Connecticut
plants open for the duration of the agreement. The following year Pratt
tried to relocate 550 aircraft engine repair jobs from Connecticut to
three southern states, but the move was blocked by a federal appeals
court ruling that the move violated the union contract.
In 2001 IAM members walked off the job at four Pratt plants in
Connecticut in a dispute over job security and pensions. The 11-day
strike ended after workers ratified a new contract in which the company
had agreed to strengthen job security language. During the next
contract negotiations in 2004, workers rejected the companys final
offer but voted against striking, thus causing the companys terms to
take effect. In 2007 Pratt workers approved a contract that provided
some additional job security but increased out-of-pocket health costs.
As a result of a decertification of the Machinists and the United
Auto Workers in the wake of a 1960 strike, most workers at Sikorsky
Aircraft are represented by the Teamsters. In 2006 Sikorsky workers in
Connecticut and Florida struck the company for six weeks. The walkout
ended after the workers reluctantly approved a company offer that
reportedly was little different from the one they had rejected before
deciding to strike.
Nearly 800 Hamilton Sundstrand workers represented by the United
Auto workers were locked out of their jobs in Rockford, Illinois in
2003 after they rejected what the company called its final offer in
contract renegotiations. The workers were allowed to return to the job
a month later after they approved a new contract that was reportedly
identical to the companys previous offer. In the late 1980s and early
1990s the Sheet Metal Workers union used a variety of in-plant tactics
in lieu of striking in support of contract demands at Carrier Corp. The
union attributed the success of their 1988 negotiations to the
campaign. Contract negotiations went more smoothly in the 1990s, with
the union winning substantial wage and benefit improvements. Since
2003, however, Carrier has eliminated several thousand U.S. jobs and
moved more of its production overseas.
and its subsidiaries have paid tens of millions of dollars in fines and
other penalties in environment cases in the United States over the past
two decades.
During the 1980s, UTC came under federal scrutiny for its handling
of polychlorinated biphenyls, which are suspected carcinogens. In late
1989 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed a complaint against
the company alleging various violations of PCB regulations; two years
later the company agreed to pay $730,000 to settle the charges.
In 1991 UTC was the target of the largest criminal fine ever levied
to date for a hazardous waste violation. In response to charges brought
by the EPA, the company agreed to plead guilty to six felony violations
and pay a fine of $3 million in connection with illegal dumping of
toxic wastes at the Sikorsky Aircraft operation in Stratford,
Connecticut. The EPA's complaint included the charge that the in-house
environmental officer called attention to the dumpingwhich involved
oil, transmission fluid, and industrial solventsin 1982, but the
company did nothing to correct the situation.
In 1993 the EPA and the Department of Justice fined UTC $5.3 million
for a series of abuses and handling and discharging hazardous wastes.
The company also agreed to undergo extensive environmental audits
through the end of the decade.
In 2005 the EPA reached a settlement with Carrier Corp. and UTC
under which the companies promised to spend $27.8 million to help clean
up groundwater contamination at the San Gabriel Valley Superfund site
in Southern California.
In 2007 Hamilton Sundstrand pleaded guilty to two felony violations
of the federal Clean Water Act and to pay $12 million in penalties for
dumping contaminated wastewater into the Farmington River in
2006 Control Armsa campaign launched by Amnesty International, the
International Action Network on Small Arms and Oxfam
Internationalpublished a report
which noted (p.16) that engines produced by Pratt & Whitney were
being used in Chinese Z-10 attack helicopters that were being sent to
Sudan and could be used in attacks against civilians. The report also
noted (p.13) that Pratt engines were used by the Brazilian company
Embraer in its Super Tucano aircraft that were being sold to Colombia,
where they could also be used against civilians.
United Technologies is one of a small group of U.S. companies
seeking permission to sell electronic surveillance equipment to the
Chinese government. The equipment is mainly designed to boost security
during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but critics note that it will remain
in place after the games and could easily be use to monitor domestic
February 2007 the European Commission levied fines against several
companies, including Otis, for operating a cartel for the installation
and maintenance of elevators in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands. Otis was forced to pay a civil fine of about 225 million
euros, then worth about $295 million.
was able to achieve his goal with the help of Edward Deeds, a business
friend of his father, and George Mead, chief of engineering at Wright.
Deeds was chairman of machine tool company Niles Bement Pond, which
owned a Connecticut gun company called Pratt & Whitney. Established
in 1860, P&W had prospered making arms for the Union Army during
the Civil War. The two founders, Francis Pratt and Amos Whitney (a
cousin of Eli Whitney), went on to become international arms merchants,
but by 1901 they were getting old and decided to sell out to Niles.
The new owner pushed P&W to focus on making machine tools for
manufacturing weapons rather than the weapons themselves. This strategy
paid off, and by the First World War P&W was an important military
contractor. After the armistice, however, the company lost most of its
business and was looking for new ventures. Deeds persuaded his fellow
Niles board members (who included Rentschler's brother Gordon, the
president of the company) that Rentschler's engine plan made perfect
sense for P&W.
Everyone agreed, and in 1925 Pratt & Whitney Aircraft was
formed, half owned by P&W, which put up $250,000 for development
and turned over its idle machine tool plant in Hartford to Rentschler.
After only six months Pratt & Whitney turned out the first Wasp
engine for the navy. The admirals were pleased and, encouraged by the
recent recommendation of the presidentially-appointed Morrow Board that
the military make long-term procurement commitments, they ordered 200
of the engines.
Having established Pratt & Whitney with the military, Rentschler
turned to the civilian sector. The aircraft makers and carriers were
starting to grow as a result of federal incentives provided by air mail
contracts. Rentschler formed an alliance with William Boeing, the son
of a timberman who had started building planes in 1916. The result was
the Boeing 40A, which started out as a fighter but was adapted and
became a popular air mail carrier. During this period Rentschler, who
made extensive use of subcontractors to keep up with demand, also began
to export engines.
Pratt & Whitney was a thriving operation, making a profit of
some $2 million on the sale of nearly 1,000 engines. Also prospering
were Boeing's operations, which included both building planes (with
Pratt Wasp engines) and flying them on various air mail routes. Their
mutual success encouraged Rentschler and Boeing to join forces and make
even more money. In line with the financial consolidation that was
spreading throughout American business at the time, they formed a
holding company in 1928, which, under the name United Aircraft and
Transport Corp., soon became the largest aviation company in the world.
It was also one of the most profitable companies in the world, at
least for Rentschler and Boeing. They and the principals of the other
firms that were brought under the umbrella, including Sikorsky Aviation
and the Hamilton propeller company, exchanged stock in their own firms
for the rapidly appreciating shares of the holding company and enjoyed
massive gains.
United Aircraft, which in 1930 bought some additional carriers and
formed United Air Lines, became an increasingly dominant force in U.S.
aviation, especially after Boeing introduced its 247 in 1933. That
lead, however, evaporated after Donald Douglas came out with his
remarkable DC-2.
The industry was turned upside down in 1934, when the consolidation
that had been encouraged by Postmaster Walter Folger Brown came under
attack after the Roosevelt administration took office. The result was
the passage of the Air Mail Act of 1934, which mandated both a ban
(that turned out to be short lived) on private transport of airmail and
a more permanent requirement that aircraft producers and air transport
companies be separated from one another.
This meant that the United Aircraft behemoth had to be partially
dismantled. United Air Lines and Boeing's manufacturing operation were
spun off, and the United Aircraft Co. name was used as the parent firm
for what remained, which included Pratt & Whitney,
Hamilton-Standard, Sikorsky Aviation, and Chance Vought.
the United States President Roosevelt made a bold call in May 1940 for
the construction of 50,000 airplanes a year--at a time when the
military's total fleet was under 3,000. United's divisions, like the
rest of the aircraft industry, were jolted into high gear (and high
profitability). Pratt & Whitney was chosen as the primary engine
maker for the navy, Hamilton-Standard had a near monopoly on
propellers, and a huge contract for observation planes was granted to
Vought and Sikorsky. The company was excluded from early work on jet
engines, but Sikorsky was given military funding to develop helicopters.
& Whitney was, however, slow in making the conversion to jets in
its civilian business. One problem was that some of its customers were
uncomfortable dealing with a company that was tied to a competing
airframe maker, namely Chance-Vought. So in 1954 Vought was spun off
(and later became part of LTV). Pratt & Whitney shot ahead when the
J-57 engine it originally built for the military was enthusiastically
accepted by the aircraft makers and the airlines that were entering the
age of civilian jet travel. In 1958 United branched into avionics with
the purchase of Norden-Ketay Corp., producer of sophisticated
components for most of the Pentagon's missiles.
While continuing to expand its military activities, United also
maintained its lead in the civilian engine area largely through a close
association with Boeing. In the early 1960s the Seattle company
introduced its 727 jet, which was powered almost exclusively by Pratt
& Whitney, and later in the decade, when Boeing was prompted by Pan
American to build huge planes that would become known as jumbo jets, it
looked to Pratt to supply the power plants (as engines are called in
the industry).
The final design of the planes turned out to be considerably heavier
than Boeing originally intended, and this put much greater demands on
the engine Pratt & Whitney was developing. When the 747 began
flying it experienced frequent problems with engine overheating, and
the jumbos often had to be taken out of service. The repair costs that
had to be borne by United ran to several hundred million dollars. This,
along with problems relating to work on the F-111 fighter, caused the
company in 1971 to report its first net loss since 1934.
Gray was out shopping, Pratt & Whitney was losing ground in the
commercial as well as military arena. Part of the problem was the
success of Airbus in taking business away from the leading U.S.
airframe makers Boeing and Douglas. Airbus, a European consortium,
initially decided to get its power plants from General Electric. In
1984 the company suffered another blow when both the air force and the
navy turned to GE for major fighter plane engine contracts.
Pratt & Whitney sought to stabilize itself by joining the trend
toward international cooperation among engine makers. In 1974 General
Electric had created a joint venture with Frances SNECMA. By the
mid-1980s such partnerships were the only way new engines were being
developed. The biggest combination was International Aero Engines,
formed in 1983 by Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and companies from
Japan, Italy, and West Germany.
International Aero stumbled in its development of engines for the
Airbus A340, allowing GE-SNECMA (later known as CMF International) to
fill the void. GE also shot ahead of Pratt & Whitney in their
individual efforts. Starting in the mid-1980s Pratt lost its 30-year
lead in the engine business as a result of poor planning and a
deteriorating reputation for quality and service.
Robert Daniell, who took over United Technologies after Harry Gray
reluctantly retired, set out to revive the company by cutting costs,
including the elimination of thousands of jobs. He also sought to
change the corporate culture from the autocratic atmosphere that
prevailed under Gray to one that was said to encourage team building,
"worker empowerment," and closer relationships with customers. He also
got Pratt into some joint ventures with its rival GE.
Daniells measures could not prevent Pratts business from taking a
nosedive in the early 1990s when its customersthe major airlinesfell
into a slump themselves. Compounding the problem for the company were
cutbacks in military aircraft spending by the Pentagon. On the other
hand, Pratts losses were being counterbalanced by strong results from
UTCs other major businesses.
Daniell and his successor as chief executive, George David, dealt
with Pratts turbulence by seeking to restructure the entire
conglomerate through some 15,000 layoffs, relocation of jobs overseas,
revamping manufacturing techniques and entering more joint ventures.
More emphasis was also put on selling non-military products in foreign
markets such as China, where Otis soon controlled 25 percent of the
booming elevator market.
Although David and Daniell (who continued as chairman) ended Grays
nonstop acquisitions binge, they did purchase Sundstrand Aerospace for
about $4 billion in 1999 and merged it with Hamilton Standard. That
same year UTC sold off its $2 billion automotive business. Plans for a
merger with Honeywell International collapsed in 2001 when that company
accepted a last-minute offer from GE (but that deal later collapsed).
In two separate deals in 2005, UTC agreed to acquire Boeings
Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power subsidiary and British fire-protection
company Kidde PLC (which was combined with a similar firm, Chubb PLC
acquired two years earlier). In 2007 Sikorsky received its single
largest contract evera $7.4 billion commitment from the Pentagon to
purchase 537 Black Hawk helicopters for the Army and the Navy.
Pratt & Whitney
(22 percent of 2007 revenues). Pratt is among the worlds leading
suppliers of commercial, general aviation and military aircraft
engines, though over the past two decades it has fallen far behind
rival General Electric. Its Rocketdyne business (bought from Boeing) is
a leader in the design and production of advanced aerospace propulsion
system for military and commercial applications, including the space
shuttle. Pratt is involved in various collaborations with other
companies, including International Aero Engines. One of the companys
current military projects is the development of the F135 engine.
Military sales account for about one third of Pratts revenues. Its
major commercial customers are Airbus and Boeing.
Sikorsky (9 percent of 2007 revenues), Sikorsky, a
legendary name in helicopters, sells in both commercial and military
markets. Its current military programs include the MH-60S and MH-60R
Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Navy.
Hamilton Sundstrand (10 percent of 2007 revenues).
This business is a leading supplier of sophisticated aerospace
components such as flight systems, engine control systems and
environmental control systems. Hamilton has been engaged in development
programs relating to the F-35 Lightning II and A400M military aircraft
as well as the Boeing 787 and Airbus 380 airliners.
Carrier Corp. (27 percent of 2007 revenues).
Carrier, which has rebounded in recent years after slumping in the
early 2000s, is the worlds largest manufacturer and distributor of
heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Carriers international operations, including U.S. export sales, now
account for more than half of its revenues.
Otis (22 percent of 2007 revenues). Otis, the world
leader in elevators, has been another big growth area for UTC,
especially in its international operations, which account for 80
percent of the segments revenues.
UTC Fire & Security (10 percent of 2007
revenues). This segment was created in 2005 after UTC acquired Kidde
PLC, a leading producer of industrial and commercial fire-safety
products. The segment also includes UTCs former Chubb segment as well
as its electronic security business.


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It was the first win in program history for Russellville (1-0), the 6A state runner-up, over Bryant, the defending 7A state champion.
The Lady Cyclones scored both their runs off RBI singles in the first inning, then sophomore pitcher Andrea Kindrick and the RHS defense did the rest.
Senior Kayla Sisco's RBI single brought in Courtney Norman, then Zoey Adkins' RBI single scored Victoria Teague for a 2-0 lead.
Kindrick pitched a one-hit shutout and struck out a career 17 batters.
Not a bad way to start the season, Lady Cyclones head coach Harley Sisson said.
"Just unbelievable," the coach said. "She started 3-0 on her last batter, then she struck her out. She has a never-say-die attitude and never gives up on a batter. And Courtney Norman did a great job behind the plate catching for Andrea.
"They (Bryant) made some great defensive plays, but we had some bright spots in our hitting. Defensively, we didn't have one fielding error, of course 17 strikeouts helps that a lot. This is why you play these guys, to see what you're capable of doing. We're very pleased with our first game."
Russellville will host Cabot on Monday, then Bentonville on Tuesday.
Basketball State Tournaments
PINE BLUFF — The Clarksville Panthers took the first step in their quest for a third consecutive state championship Thursday with a 58-40 win over Mills University Studies in the 5A state tournament at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
Clarksville, which never lost a 5A-West Conference game this season, will play either Forrest City or Magnolia at 8:30 p.m. today.
Clarksville SG 58, LR Christian 48
PINE BLUFF — The Clarksville Lady Panthers grabbed their first win in the 5A state tournament with a victory over Little Rock Christian on Wednesday.
Ciara Graham led the Lady Panthers in scoring with 28 points, followed by Audrey Schucker with 10, Lauren Krissman with eight, Savannah Chenault with six, Hallie Banning with three, Madison Talley with two and Carolin Ward with one.
Clarksville will play again at 1 p.m. today against Watson Chapel.
Scores 2A Boys
at Marmaduke HS Junction City 68, Western Yell County 44 Gurdon 61, Hector 47
Today's Games at Cave City HS
4A Boys
Pottsville vs. Monticello, 8:30 p.m.
at PB Convention Center
5A Girls
Clarksville vs. Watson Chapel, 1 p.m.
5A Boys
Clarksville vs. Forrest City-Magnolia, 8:30 p.m.


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this is my final and concrete theory on this
the scroll that Suigetsu found is edo tensei. this why he tells Suigetsu that he still needs Orochimaru around, probably to show him how to use it or for Orochimaru to use it.
and when Orochimaru tells Sasuke that its a place he knows well, he seems to have this sinister look on his face, leaving me to believe that its probably Orochimaru's lair or the Uchiha burial grounds. and wishes to revive some people. perhaps to find out the truth about to coup or the reason why the Uchiha were a shunned clan. maybe he doesnt know what to believe because he's heard so many versions of it and wishes to find out the truth
and if at Orochimaru's lair, possibly a trump card for Orochimaru. bodies he kept hidden away for when the time came for their use
and finally screws over Jugo and Suigetsu to revive said people. if it indeed is two people or could possibly be more than two, but for my theory's sake its 2
when the time comes for this i believe there might be another flash back
seems to simple and obvious right, just remember Obito being Tobi, how simple and obvious it was
(off topic) was Kushina also sealed with Minato, if not then why not bring her back to mind F*** with Naruto, that could have been an emotional twist to the series, being forced to fight his mom and sealing her, if she isnt sealed away of course
anyways have a good night
(EDIT) - when he's speaking with Orochimaru he says "what Itachi was...."OUR" clan" the person or people he might revive is an or are Uchiha.
might be his parents because who else would you speak to about being who you should be and which actions to take.
and to argue against people who say how did Orochimaruo know who he was talking about. Orochimaru was able to hear everything from Anko's cursed sea.


text: Yeah. I yelled at mine the other day for having a huge fight in my hallway as I was trying to go to sleep, repeatedly banging each other against my door! Then I felt bad because they have no idea why us humans spend so much time in bed when they are up and about all night.


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Neal records RBI double in big league debut
By Steve Herrick and AJ Cassavell / MLB.com
The outfielder learned Friday night that he had been called up from Double-A Akron. The Aeros had just clinched the Western Division title in the Eastern League. After the players celebrated on the field, Neal was pulled aside by manager Chris Tremie and coach Rouglas Odor. The message was short and simple: Pack your bags, kid, you're going to Cleveland."It was phenomenal," Neal said. "It couldn't get any better."
The news did get better on Sunday when Neal made his Major League debut against Texas in Sunday's 8-3 loss. He batted fifth and played right field against left-hander Derek Holland. And if that wasn't enough, he got his first hit, an RBI double off Tyler Scheppers in the eighth inning.
Neal overcame a distraction most hitters never have to face in their careers. An airshow was held this weekend at nearby Burke Lakefront Airport, featuring the Blue Angels jets, which were buzzing Progressive Field just as Neal was batting in the eighth.
"That was pretty crazy to have those jets flying over as I'm swinging," he said. "I was telling [Michael] Brantley I couldn't remember what pitch he threw."
Neal struck out in the second and again in the third. He was robbed of a hit in the sixth when shortstop Elvis Andrus made a diving stop of his hard grounder in the hole and made a strong throw to first.
"I tried to approach it like it was the same game [as in the Minors], but it took me about six innings to calm down and get my feet under me a little bit," Neal said.
Neal said he got three baseballs from the game as souvenirs, including the one from his first hit. He plans on giving all three to his parents.
"Without them, I wouldn't be in this situation," he said. "I want to make sure I share some of this with them."
Neal hit .314 with 12 homers, 24 doubles and 51 RBIs in 117 games for Akron. He thought something was up when he wasn't in the lineup for the Aeros on Thursday or Friday. Neal briefly considered he'd been traded, but wasn't sure what to think.
"I wasn't expecting this," he said. "I kind of got the idea that on Thursday when I was in the lineup, but all of a sudden, I got taken out right before the game. We're trying to clinch the division. The following day, I wasn't in the lineup. My teammates started heckling me a little bit about it for a couple of days. So I just waited to see what was going to happen."
Neal, 25, was acquired from the Giants for infielder Orlando Cabrera on July 30, 2011. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster at the end of Spring Training and rejoined the organization after clearing waivers.
"I think it was something that was truly a blessing," Neal said. "I could have either sat there and pouted about it, but they made a business decision and I chose to take care of the business I could control, and that was go out and play the game the way I could play."
Manger Manny Acta said Neal will get at-bats against left-handers. Neal can also play left field.
High pitch counts paramount in Ubaldo's struggles
CLEVELAND -- The Indians are still trying to figure out how to get the best out of Ubaldo Jimenez.
The right-hander is 9-14 with a 5.61 ERA in 27 starts this season. He allowed four runs, eight hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings and got the loss on Friday night against Texas.
As has been the case many times, a high pitch count hindered Jimenez's effectiveness. He threw a season-high 117 pitches and had baserunners in every inning except the fourth on Friday.
"He was very inconsistent early in the game," Acta said. "It really piled up his pitch count."
Acta would like to see Jimenez be more economical with his pitches, but so far, that hasn't happened. Jimenez has issued 84 walks in 154 innings.
"That's a goal with everybody who takes the mound, but, unfortunately, some guys don't have the same command of a fastball that others do like [Josh] Tomlin did when he was healthy," Acta said. "Ubaldo's not that type of guy. That's ideally what you want. You want a guy that when they're hitting 100 pitches to be in the seventh inning, not just getting out of the fifth."
Acta thinks Jimenez understands he needs to throw fewer pitches, but it hasn't shown up in the results.
"I don't think he's doing that on purpose," Acta said. "I think he wants to get out of the fifth with 50 pitches. The pitching coaches have worked with him. He understands he should be going deeper into the game to help his bullpen and to help us win. Believe me, no one wants to lose, and he doesn't want to go out there and have 100 pitches in the fifth."
Sunday's lineup missing several regulars
CLEVELAND -- The Indians' lineup had a decidedly different look on Sunday.
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was out of the lineup for the second straight day with a sore right wrist. Manager Manny Acta said following Saturday's game that Cabrera wouldn't start on Sunday, but expected him back in the lineup Monday against Detroit.
Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo and center fielder Michael Brantley were also out of the lineup against Texas left-hander Derek Holland. Both players have been in slumps during Cleveland's homestand. Choo is 6-for-30, even though he has hit safely in the last three games. Brantley is in a 6-for-33 skid.
Neither player has had much success against Holland. Choo is hitless in three career at-bats, while Brantley has three hits in eight at-bats.
Russ Canzler and Thomas Neal, both called up from the Minors on Friday, were batting in the fourth and fifth spots and playing left and right field, respectively. Jason Donald batted leadoff and played third base, while Ezequiel Carrera played center field and hit ninth.
Cabrera has also been struggling at the plate. He's in a 4-for-39 slump in his past 12 games. Cabrera was a defensive replacement in the ninth inning of Saturday night's 4-3 win.
Indians recall righty reliever Herrmann
The Indians recalled right-handed reliever Frank Herrmann on Sunday morning, bringing the current big league roster to 29 players.
Herrmann spent the majority of the 2012 season with Triple-A Columbus, going 2-2 with a 4.78 ERA in 42 relief appearances. He was called up to the Indians on Aug. 7, and allowed three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings before he was sent back to Columbus on Aug. 22.
The 28-year-old Herrmann has spent parts of three seasons in the Majors, posting a 4-1 mark with a 4.64 career ERA.
Herrmann is the fourth Indians player to be called up since rosters expanded. Outfielders Russ Canzler and Thomas Neal and reliever Scott Barnes joined the club Saturday.
Quote to note
"I don't treat the ninth inning any differently than the eighth inning. You need to focus, concentrate on the hitter, and get outs."
-- Reliever Vinnie Pestano, who got the save in Saturday's 4-3 win over Texas.
Smoke signals
• Manager Manny Acta said closer Chris Perez would rejoin the team on Tuesday in Detroit. Perez's wife Melanie gave birth to a daughter, Madelyn, on Saturday. Perez has recorded 33 of the Indians' 36 saves this season. Vinnie Pestano saved Saturday night's game by recording the final four outs. Tony Sipp and Nick Hagadone, who is out for the season with a broken hand, have one apiece.
• The Indians begin a three-game series in Detroit on Monday afternoon. They won't face Tigers ace Justin Verlander, whom they have beaten twice this season. The second win over Verlander came on July 26 when Cleveland rallied for four runs in the seventh inning. That victory was followed by an 11-game losing streak.
• Cleveland's 4-3 win over Texas on Saturday broke a six-game losing streak and was its first victory since beating the Yankees, 3-2, on Aug. 24. The Indians scored all their runs in the first inning in both games.
Steve Herrick is a contributor to MLB.com. AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Does size matter (for lemur smarts, that is)?
Does size matter? When referring to primate brain size and its relation to social intelligence, scientists at Duke University do not think the answer is a simple yes or no.
In the past, scientists have correlated large brain size to large group size. However, in a new study published in PLoS ONE, scientists at Duke University provide evidence that large social networks, rather than large brains, contribute to social cognition, favoring the evolution of social intelligence.
Social intelligence is the ability to use cognitive skills to gain access to food and mates while maintaining social relationships in large, stable social groups. If this social intelligence theory is correct, we would expect primates who live in larger groups to have greater cognitive abilities when preforming tests that rely on social intelligence.
This is exactly what the authors found.
To test the social intelligence theory, experimenters chose six lemur species as their primary subjects due to their genetic similarity but variance in group size and social habits. Then a team of undergraduate researchers tested 60 individual lemurs from these six species to see if they were more likely to steal food when humans were present.
The experiment consisted of three separate tests. The first involved a pair of human testers, who sat on each side of a block, with one plate of food in front of each of them. One human tester faced the plate that was also facing the entrance where the lemur would emerge from, the other had his or her back turned.
In the second test, human testers sat in profile to the plate of food, facing toward or away from the plate; and in the third test, testers wore a black band either over their eyes or mouth while facing the plate of food.
Under the social intelligence theory, those species from larger groups should be more perceptive to social cues than those species who from smaller groups. In this particular case, the social intelligence theory was correct: the size of the lemur group, in this case, ring-tailed lemurs (Lemus catta), the largest species in the sample, positively correlated with performance. In other words, the ring-tailed lemurs were more effective at stealing food undetected because they were sensitive to social cues and the orientation of the human tester.
In terms of brain size, when the lemurs were studied, scientists found that "relative brain size did not predict performance in the social-cognitive task."
Continue reading at ENN affiliate, MONGABAY.COM.
Lemur image via Shutterstock.


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Struggles continue with runners in scoring position
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
WASHINGTON -- The Cubs lead the National League in extra-base hits, yet they are last in the Major Leagues with runners in scoring position. Friday's game against the Nationals was a perfect example of their struggles at the plate. The Cubs collected a season-high seven doubles, yet went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position in a 7-3 loss.
"It's hard to score only three runs with seven doubles," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Saturday.
"That's nearly impossible," general manager Jed Hoyer said.
The approach that batters must have, Sveum said, is to remember that the pitcher is the one on the ropes, not the batter.
"So much of our struggle scoring runs is attributed to two things," Hoyer said. "We don't get on base enough, and we don't drive guys in when they're in scoring position. You keep waiting for that to turn around."
The Cubs rank 12th in the National League in on-base percentage and are 11th in runs scored.
How do they fix it?
"A lot of times, it's a cycle-type stat," Sveum said. "The Angels, as great a lineup as they have, have struggled in that situation. It's a little bit contagious, and hopefully, by the end of the year, [the Cubs numbers] get to be respectable."
Valbuena exits game with jammed pinky
WASHINGTON -- X-rays were negative of Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena's right little finger, injured when he slid into third base, and he was not expected to have to go on the disabled list.
Valbuena had to leave Saturday's game against the Nationals after jamming his hand sliding into third base. With one out in the fifth against the Nationals, Valbuena doubled to right but was tagged sliding into third trying to stretch his hit. Cody Ransom took over at third base in the sixth.
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said there was no fracture and Valbuena most likely can't play in the field, but would be available to pinch-hit. Valbuena was not scheduled to start Sunday against Nationals lefty Gio Gonzalez anyway.
Valbuena was batting .272 with five home runs and 13 RBIs.
Cubs pitchers struggling with fielding their position
WASHINGTON -- Cubs pitchers took plenty of grounders in Spring Training, and they have also done some early work during the regular season. But they headed into Saturday's game having committed eight errors, which is as many as the entire Diamondbacks team.
"Half of our [total] errors are from our catchers and pitchers," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Saturday. "It's incredibly strange."
There isn't a pattern either.
"Every error has been a different kind of error, too, whether it's throwing to first, throwing to second, a little dribbler to the mound," Sveum said. "We've thrown some balls into center field. Between the errors by pitchers and [being] second in the National League in walks and hit batters, that just adds up to way too many people on base. And the bottom line, like I keep saying, is when we make that mistake, we cannot seem to make a pitch after that."
That happened on Friday, as Jeff Samardzija's fielding error led to two runs by the Nationals in a 7-3 loss.
So, if the Cubs do the drills, why are they making the mistakes?
"It's hard [to explain], because we have really good athletes who are pitching," Sveum said. "We're not dealing with guys struggling with their athleticism. Hopefully, it's over with and that's the last we're going to see.
"Sometimes, the players just have to be able to perform in these situations. If you're a big league player, you have to be able to perform on the stage. It's like taking [batting practice] and ground balls; you can do that all day long and never make an error, but you have to be able to do it in games."
Garza to be evaluated after one more rehab start
WASHINGTON -- Cubs pitcher Matt Garza gave up three hits and walked two over 3 1/3 innings Saturday for Double-A Tennessee in his third Minor League rehab start.
Garza threw 66 pitches, 40 for strikes, and struck out two.
Manager Dale Sveum said the right-hander will make at least one more rehab start for Triple-A Iowa in five days, and then be re-evaluated. Garza is coming back from a strained left lat suffered in mid-February during live batting practice.
The plan Saturday was to have Garza throw 65 to 75 pitches. He needed 30 pitches to get through the first inning.
The Cubs are not going to go with a six-man rotation when Garza returns, which means someone will get bumped. Sveum said it won't be Edwin Jackson, despite his early season struggles.
Jackson entered Saturday's game against the Nationals with an 0-5 record and a 6.39 ERA, while the other four starters rank among the top 15 pitchers in the National League in opponents batting average against. The right-hander fared better against the Nats, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings to lower his ERA to 6.02.
Carlos Villanueva has done well as a starter this season and has never had the chance to make 32 starts. His single-season innings high is 125 1/3, set last year.
Cubs hope Stewart has a future with organization
WASHINGTON -- The Cubs may have taken Ian Stewart off the 40-man roster, but they are hoping the third baseman can get back on track and contribute.
Stewart missed all of Spring Training because of a strained left quad suffered in the first intrasquad game on Feb. 21. After his Minor League rehab time ended, Stewart was activated from the disabled list and then optioned to Triple-A Iowa. In 15 games, he was 4-for-46, while Luis Valbuena has done well playing third for the big league team.
"We've been really patient with him," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Saturday. "Early in the rehab, you take numbers with a grain of salt, but I think later on, I think you've got to perform, especially with Valbuena doing what he's doing. We'd be jumping up and down to get that kind of performance out of a third baseman. Valbuena has earned that job."
Stewart now seems to be behind Josh Vitters on the depth chart at third base at Iowa. Hoyer said it would be a "disservice" to not play Vitters, who was the team's No. 1 Draft pick in 2007.
Is there a future for Stewart in the Cubs organization?
"I'm not sure," Hoyer said. "I hope there is. I do think there's a lot of talent there. It's been an unfortunate run with the injuries. He's a left-handed hitter with power who plays good defense. I hope there's a future here, but at this point, it's going to be about performance. We want him to perform."
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.