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By Ben Golliver
Who wants to swap underwhelming, overpaid power forwards?
ESPN.com reported that Bulls and Raptors are potentially discussing a Carlos Boozer for Andrea Bargnani swap.
The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors have engaged in exploratory trade discussions on a deal that would swap the Bulls' Carlos Boozer for the Raptors' Andrea Bargnani, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Other players with smaller contracts would have to be added to the deal to make the salary-cap math work, should talks indeed progress to a more serious level, but sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that both teams have given consideration to the move.
The Chicago Tribune reported that the Bulls initiated the trade talks but that a deal between the teams is "unlikely" to come to fruition.
Boozer, 31, is in the middle of a five-year, $75 million contract that pays him $15 million this season, $15.3 million next season and $16.8 million in 2014-15. He is averaging 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and shooting 47.2 percent this season.
Bargnani, 27, is in the middle of a five-year, $50 million contract that pays him $10 million this season, $10.8 million next season and $11.5 million in 2014-15. The final year is a player option, which he's likely to opt into unless he manages a remarkable and unexpected career revival. This season, Bargnani is averaging 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists while shooting just 40.1 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from deep. He missed roughly two months with an elbow injury before returning to action this week.
Let's not beat around the bush. This proposed trade would be laughed off the court for basketball reasons. For all of Boozer's annoyances and faults, he was a fringe All-Star candidate this season and is a key reason why the Bulls have been neck-and-neck with the Pacers at the top of the Central Division despite the absence of Derrick Rose. He's helped Chicago to a No. 7 ranking in rebound rate and he hasn't stood in the way of the Bulls' No. 3 ranking in defensive efficiency. More than half his shot attempts come from the paint and he's got a solid mid-range shot to keep teams honest.
Bargnani, on the other hand, has been about as unwatchable as it gets. Take your pick from these words -- lethargic, unproductive, inefficient -- or take them all. The Raptors were 4-17 with him in the starting lineup to open the season and they went 13-14 before he returned to action on Wednesday. What more do you need to know? He's an unmotivated defender not known for his toughness who hasn't been in the postseason since 2008; more than two-thirds of his shot attempts have come from outside the paint over the last two seasons. How or where or why he would fit into Chicago's plans as anything other than a bridge to clear out Boozer's contract is a mystery.
Chicago's rationale behind this trade proposal, of course, would be all financial. The Bulls sit roughly $5 million over the luxury tax line and are headed into luxury tax territory again next season unless they start trimming. The fundamental issue they face is essentially the same one that broke up the Thunder and Grizzlies: it's difficult to commit eight-figure (or close) salaries to four different players without incurring more punitive luxury tax penalties under the new collective bargaining agreement. The Thunder elected to downsize out of James Harden, who wanted a max contract, and the Grizzlies shipped off a max guy in Rudy Gay. Boozer, like Gay, is paid as a max player while being one or two steps below a max-quality player. There's no question that he's the odd man out if Chicago is choosing between him and Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. The Bulls also committed above mid-level money to power forward Taj Gibson, whose new deal goes two years longer than Boozer's. That all suggests the Bulls are headed towards a post-Boozer reality fairly quickly.
The question, though, is when. Dumping Boozer now would be a bigger blow than the Harden or Gay trades because of the timing and because they can claim to be legitimate title contenders whereas the Grizzlies are not. The East simply presents an easier route than the West and the Bulls' current core proved it can advance as far as the East finals in 2011. Chicago, already set to reincorporate Rose into the mix after a season-long rehabilitation from knee surgery, would be stuck dealing with two major moving parts and less than two months of regular season games to get things right if the traded Boozer before the Feb. 21 deadline. Moving Boozer now wouldn't necessarily be blowing up the season but it would have a major, major impact for a team that is arguably the East's second best when fully healthy.
There are a few other advantages to waiting until the offseason. For starters, there's the amnesty clause, which could be used to clear out Boozer without taking back the $22+ million of future salary owed to Bargnani. If Chicago's notoriously stingy ownership balks at writing the amnesty check without getting a player back, the summer presents another alternative: trading Boozer into a team's cap space and taking back smaller salary commitments in an uneven trade. That route could prove to be preferable, as it would keep Chicago's core intact this season and potentially provide greater cost savings if the right buyer can be found for the final two years of Boozer's deal.
As for Toronto, this would amount to another trip on the Bryan Colangelo Express, as Rob Mahoney brilliantly dubbed it. The allure of trading Bargnani is serious, as the team and player are clearly ready for a split, but Toronto needs to be shedding dollars wherever possible, not stockpiling yet another major, multi-year commitment. If this proposal did go through, the Raptors would be looking at a financial commitment of more than $55 million (almost the entire salary cap) to just five players: Gay, Boozer, DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and Landry Fields. That would be a funny thought if it wasn't so incredibly painful. That core, plus Kyle Lowry, still wouldn't be a major threat in the East playoffs and their only consolation prize would be finishing second to the Lakers in the "most expensive mediocre team" conversation. Not exactly a place you want to be without the benefits of the Lakers' television deal.


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Velocity Micro, the premier independent builder of custom, high performance desktop computers and notebooks, announces the availability of two professional workstations powered by the NVIDIA Quadro CX and fully optimized for Adobe Creative Suite 4—the ProMagix™ W260 and ProMagix™ W160. With the Quadro CX and the 64-bit optimization of CS4, Velocity Micro's ultra performance workstations now offer the serious designer or content creation professional the perfect system for superior productivity.
"We've always made it our goal to build the very best in ultra performance systems for a variety of different users, whether they be for gaming, home and office use, or graphics and video manipulation," said Randy Copeland, President and CEO of Velocity Micro. "With the Quadro CX, we now have the definitive hardware solution for Adobe Creative Suite users, allowing them to take their software's performance to new heights."
Thanks to major innovations by Adobe and NVIDIA, CS4 users can now utilize the bleeding-edge hardware found in Velocity Micro's powerful workstations, making them the clear system of choice for graphics professionals. The newly launched NVIDIA Quadro CX accelerates high-quality video and creative visual effects, allowing for real time previews and faster rendering of even the most complex video projects. Additionally, exclusive lightening-fast H.264 NVIDIA® CUDA™ enabled video encoding plug-in for Premier Pro saves both time and money by integrating the GPU and video encoder. For 2D image artists, the Quadro CX provides flawless image rotation, zooming, and panning without stuttering, preview lags, or jagged edges. Also new to CS4 is 64-bit processor support, which allows Velocity Micro customers to utilize more than four gigs of memory on their digital media creations. Adobe support for 64-bit processors is not and will not be available for Mac.
The ProMagix W260 and ProMagix W160 join a full line of ultra performance workstations, desktops, and notebooks available at VelocityMicro.com and various retailers. Systems featuring the Quadro CX start at $4,385.

subset: commoncrawl


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Its time to put behind us the would-be winter, the no-show, sub-zero temperatures and the easier-than-anticipated winter-driving conditions.
What drives us now is a connection between a dimpled ball and an oversized metallic wood as our shot sails straight down the fairway. Yes, it is golf season again, and its in full bloom judging by the early season turnout on the area links; this season promises to be a good one.
Our area courses seemed to come out of the winter in very good shape, and the posted tournament schedules give us reason, and no excuses, to get out and rev up those competitive juices.
For yours truly, it is reason to celebrate, not only because this is my fourth decade of area golf coverage on the Clubhouse Porch but also to actually pick up a set of clubs after a series of medical pitfalls in the last 12 months.
Dalton Ranch Golf Club
And so we begin with Dalton Ranch Golf Clubs season opener: the Hopin Were Open tournament April 14.
1. Roger Hayes and Brad Caskey, 59.4.
2. Dave Ganevsky and Mark Hill, 62.3.
3. John Mower and Dave Lafferty, 63.1
4. Andy Roach and Jaime Heirtzler, 64.2.
5. John Thrasher and Neil Johnson, 64.4.
6. Tom Gorton and Jim Hollingsworth, 64.7.
7. Russ Smith and John Folk, 65.2.
8. Jim Foltz and Matt Mohi, 65.3.
Looking down the road, the first official Ladies Day and Spring Meeting at DRGC is May 16, and the Spring Four Ball will be contested May 19-20.
Hillcrest Golf Club
There are 18 main tournaments on the 2012 Hillcrest Golf Club calendar, and the first event the Oxford Asset Management A-B-C-D Blind Draw Scramble was played April 21.
T1. Charlie Laudermilk, Ken Wolke, Glen Murray and Michele Peterson.
T1. Clark Riedberger, Richard White, Bill Hendrix and Dave Stroud.
T3. Lucas Laudick, Jim Rodefer, John Ball and Jim Casey.
T3. Justin Lyons, Bret Jameson, David Peterson and Kevin Devine.
T3. Steve Pease, Jim Cross, Scot McDonald and Jack Duran.
T3. Andy Harris, Louis Steele, Jo Warfield and Tim Sparks.
Four other teams tied for seventh place and won prizes at the A-B-C-D.
With the new season, Durangos golfing community welcomed the newest member of the PGA pro staff at Hillcrest as Ted Hopkins joins an already solid base of golf instructors.
There still are amateur spots open for the 2012 Coca-Cola of Durango Navajo Trail Open. Proceeds will go to the Hillcrest Junior Golf Foundation. Call Hillcrest at 247-1499 for sign-up information.
The Hillcrest Womens Golf Association Open Night dinner will be held May 7. The cost of the dinner is $9, and 2012 membership dues to the HWGA are just $35. Reservations for the opening night dinner must be submitted to the Hillcrest Pro Shop no later than May 4.
Bring a friend and introduce them to the game of golf; this would be a good year to start.
Dave Bray has been covering the local golf scene for 31 years. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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SkyMarks offers high density plastic moulded models in a large variety of scales and airlines. Many airlines available as SkyMarks models are not available from any other manufacturer. All models come with a display stand and while most models come with no landing gear to be properly displayed 'in-flight', some come with real rubber tires for added realism. In addition to the included stand, SkyMarks offers the Swivel Stand allowing you to position the aircraft at any angle, and the Action Display Stand which is a motorized display stand that allows your model to take-off and land, complete with engine sounds and pilot announcements.
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Impressions from the 30th European Film Awards in Berlin
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Pleasanton police say a Friday afternoon robbery attempt at Baskin-Robbins at 4001 Santa Rita Road was likely the work of the same man in two other recent robberies.
A man entered the ice cream shop around 12:05 p.m. and handed a demand note to store employees, police said. The workers refused and the suspect ran away.
Pleasanton police Sgt. Kurt Schlehuber said the man's physical description and method of operation match those of the man involved in a Dec. 17 strong-arm robbery at Behind the Door Beauty Boutique on Hopyard Avenue and a Dec. 23 robbery at the UPS Store on Pimlico Drive.
In both those cases, the man presented a note, a clerk complied, and he left with cash.
The man in Friday's robbery attempt was described as white, mid-30s, about 6 feet tall and 200 to 220 pounds. He had facial stubble and was last seen wearing a gray beanie, short dark gray pea coat, blue acid-wash jeans and gray sunglasses with oval frames.
In the two other holdups, the man was described as roughly similar in height and weight. In those cases, he was said to have been wearing a leather-like jacket and an Oakland Raiders beanie-style cap. In the two prior robberies, the man also wore dark black sunglasses, black leather jacket and gloves.
Schlehuber said police will review video surveillance to determine if the same man was involved in the latest holdup.
While some are dubbing the suspect in the local robberies the Beanie Bandit, he's not the only California robber to get that nickname.
A similar beanie-wearing holdup man was arrested in October in connection with a string of South Bay bank robberies, and another beanie bandit was sentenced in November to 321 years to life on Tuesday for a string of robberies in Ontario, Fontana, Redlands and Montclair, Calif.
Coincidentally, both men were similar in age and physical description to the local strong-arm robber.
Anyone with information about any of the Pleasanton robberies is asked to call the Pleasanton Police Department at 931-5100.


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On the Kuffner route, just...
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On the Kuffner route, just below the Androsace point. August
25th, 2001.
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Earnings per share topped Wall Street analyst estimates of 40 cents. Shares of CSX were down slightly just after noon Wednesday in New York Stock Exchange trading, though up 18.55% year-to-date.
The company also noted a record operating income of $875 million in the quarter, and achieved an operating ratio of 70.4%, all while adhering to what it called "industry-leading safety levels." CSX said that it now expects to achieve an operating ratio in the high 60s by 2015, while remaining focused on attaining a mid-60s operating ratio longer-term.
"CSX continues to create value by supporting its customers with high levels of service in an economy that is still gradually recovering," said Chairman, President, and CEO Michael J. Ward. "At the same time, we are prepared for the economy to accelerate and have great confidence in the long-term outlook for the business."
Gains in merchandise, intermodal, and other revenue offset continued declines in the railroad's coal traffic, an industry-wide trend.
CSX also noted its Board of Directors has approved a 7% increase in the quarterly dividend on the company's common stock, and has also instituted a new $1.0 billion share buyback program.
"These actions reflect the strength of CSX's core earning power and its confidence in the future," said Ward. "They build upon the $2.3 billion of investment CSX is making this year to meet the nation's future transportation needs and drive long-term shareholder value."


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The Pearl EXX Export Series is the best selling drumset of all time and a name every drummer knows. The value and quality of the Export series has inspired thousands of musicians by providing solid shells, highly sophisticated hardware, lugs and mounting systems, all of which combine to deliver an amazing sound with fantastic build quality at an affordable price.
The EXX Export Series now incorporates Pearl's Superior Shell Technology - SST, taking cues from the award-winning Reference Series, the new Export puts sound first by blending premium Poplar and rich Asian Mahogany for an incredibly lush and full-bodied tone. A sonically advanced recipe of strategically arranged piles of premium wood, chosen for their unique acoustic attributes, maximises the frequency response of every component. Formed using extreme heat, precision-cut scarf joints for a perfect air-tight fit, proprietary Acoustiglue and over 1000lbs of hydraulic pressure to create the ultimate acoustic air chamber.
The Export Series features specifically designed, sound enhancing lugs that further emphasises Pearl's ''sound first'' philosophy. Designed for minimal shell interaction, they have a small footprint and low-mass for maximum resonance and sustain. Their bold look is modern but with a nod to lugs from Pearl's past.
The Export Series rack toms are equipped with Pearl's new Opti-Loc Mounting System that features a triangular design with two tension rod attachment points and another through one of the drum's two air vents. Rubber isolators at all connection points allow the drums to vibrate freely for maximum sustain and resonance while providing absolute and wobble-free performance.
A set of 830 Series hardware is included with the EXX Export Series, without a doubt some of the most sophisticated hardware ever to be offered on a drum kit at this price. The BC-830 Boom stand, C-830 Cymbal stand, and S-830 Snare Drum stand all feature infinitely adjustable Uni-Lock Tilters for pinpoint positioning. Robust 1'' diameter base tubes and 7/8'' diameter center tubes with sturdy double-braced tripods provide exceptional rigidity and stability. The H-830 Hi-Hat stand features swivel legs that accommodate double pedals. A P-930 drum pedal is included which combines the styling and performance of the Demon Drive pedal with the Eliminator interchangeable cam technology for the ultimate in power, speed, and control.
Image for illustration only, actual kit may vary.
The product price includes 6 years' warranty and 180 day money back guarantee.
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No deal: Giles remains with Padres
Red Sox can't land veteran outfielder as deadline passes
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
Giles was a little perturbed that his waiver claim -- usually an anonymous process that the media isn't privy to -- was leaked publicly this week.
"I didn't know everybody was supposed to know, especially when it wasn't a done deal and it wouldn't go down," Giles said.
The deadline for the Padres and Red Sox to make a deal passed quietly Friday with Giles opting not to waive his limited no-trade clause, which included the Red Sox. He also had the Orioles, Tigers, Nationals, Rays, Brewers, Marlins and Pirates on the no-trade list.
The Red Sox claimed Giles earlier in the week and the teams had hoped to swing a trade that would have sent the veteran right fielder to the American League. He refused.
Giles wouldn't go into details about what went into his decision to remain in San Diego, though family factors -- he has two young daughters -- were a consideration.
"It's kind of between myself and my agent, and Boston and the Padres," Giles said. "I don't think really anything needs to be said other than I made a commitment to play for this team for three or four years, and at the end, that's where I still stand."
By trading Giles to the Red Sox, the Padres could have saved between $2.75 million and $6 million on his contact.
So the 37-year-old Giles, who joined the Padres in a trade from Pittsburgh in 2003, will remain a Padre, which is perfectly fine with him.
"I signed a three-, possibly four-year deal here. I'm committed to fulfill that contract. If next year doesn't work out with the option, I'll be a free agent and I can choose where I go," said Giles, who grew up in the San Diego suburb of El Cajon.
Giles, who is making $9 million this season, has a $9 million club option for 2009. General manager Kevin Towers has said that he would like to keep Giles next season.
Giles, who is hitting .295 this season with six home runs with a .390 on-base percentage, was in the starting lineup Friday for the Padres' tilt vs. the Rockies at Coors Field. Giles sounded like he would like to finish his career in San Diego.
"I don't know how many years I have left," Giles said. "I've had a good time here in San Diego. Like I've preached before, the same games we've been the last couple of years that we've won we haven't won any of those this year. Given our division and how young it is, it's going to be inconsistent for the next two or three years, so I feel there's an opportunity here.
"I've had a couple of dings this year, but I've been able to take some days off. I know I have a few years left; hopefully it is with San Diego."
Corey Brock 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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For the 3 Tomoe, we'll have to go through 3 training sessions, well at least that was before, but as there's a session that says you have to find me in different locations i'm gonna ignore it, because it's pretty much what you did in the second tomoe first session, now we'll move to the second session directly, learning how to break through up to B-rank genjutsu techniques, so let's proceed.
I cast a genjutsu onto you making you see a giant fireball descending onto you from above.
(Genjutsu: Jigoku Gouka) - Illusion Technique: Hell Fire
Rank: C
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short-Mid
Chakra Cost: 15
Damage Points:N/A
Description: The user casts an illusion where the opponent sees a huge ball of fire descending from the sky and enveloping its target.
Exactly like how you broke out of D-rank genjutsu and below in the second tomoe training, this only needs more chakra, and ofcourse the aspect that connects it all, knowing how you are inside a genjutsu with your Sharingan.
Something however i wanna make clear if i wasn't clearer about it before, while Sharingan is only able to break through "visual" B-rank and below genjutsu techniques in case of the 3 Tomoe, that doesn't mean it can only identify only B-rank genjutsu and below, the Sharingan generally lets you know that you are under a genjutsu by being able to see your own chakra's irregularity, that's a basic ability which isn't bound by the rank of genjutsu or it being visual or not, however knowing that you are under a genjutsu doesn't mean that you are able to break it if it was A-rank or above for example, only letting you know that you are under a genjutsu then you search for ways to break through it.


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Chemical Derived from Naturally-Occurring Mold May Slow Growth of Metastatic Kidney Cancer by Inhibiting Growth of Tumor Blood Supply
Anti-angiogenesis agents are showing promise in inhibiting tumor growth by attacking the tumor's blood supply. In this Phase II study of 33 patients, researchers used an anti-angiogenesis agent called TNP-470, a synthetic form of a chemical secreted by the aspergillus fumigatus mold, to slow the growth of metastatic kidney cancer, which claims the lives or approximately 11,500 people in the US each year. The agent inhibits the growth of endothelial cells, which build blood vessels, and is intended to prevent further tumor growth, rather than act as a cure.
Of the 20 patients in this early phase study, five have experienced no spread of the cancer for at least sixteen weeks. Major toxicities included two patients with central nervous system toxicity (confusion and cerebellar signs), one patient with fatigue, and one death from massive GI hemorrhage in a patient with a prior history of hemoptysis. However, the researchers conclude that the side effects are mild overall and the high incidence of apparently prolonged progression-free survival is encouraging.
The chemical was discovered accidentally by Harvard researchers in the early 1990's when the mold contaminated an experiment. The researchers observed that it had a powerful effect on blood vessel growth, and the agent was pursued for further research.


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I know the Mahayana ideas that get twisted, but I don't know what there is in foundational Buddhism that can be used this way.
Burmese Monk Stokes Hatred of Muslims http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world ... ty.html?hp
This situation, like the active part of Tendai in creating the notion of "Japan as the Land of the Superior Family of Bodhisattvas"* and Zen in the pre-WW2 rationalization of Japanese Militarism responsible for Nanking and the Kamikaze, shows that Buddhism isn't immune to co-option to National Tribalism and the justification of group persecution and murder.TAUNGGYI, Myanmar — After a ritual prayer atoning for past sins, Ashin Wirathu, a Buddhist monk with a rock-star following in Myanmar, sat before an overflowing crowd of thousands of followers and launched into a rant against what he called "the enemy" — the country's Muslim minority.
Unfortunately the Lotus Sutra and yogacara presupposition of the notion of gotra, or Bodhisattva karmic lineage makes a "join" for tribal elevation. It is bewildering to me that the Theravada sects can also join into this activity without that hook for the noose so to speak.
What "fracture points" are there in our Buddhism that lay like traps for mis-step?
* The same rational that segregated the Mahayanist from the Hinayana also, I believe, elevates the Japanese over all the other peoples of Earth, allowing a "Skillful means" killing of others to preemptively stop their earning Hell Karma. I quote: "Japan was a nation of people whose religious capabilities were perfectly matured, and so it was appropriate to dispense with taking the Hīnayāna monastic vows, taking the *Bodhisattva precepts in their stead as a more efficient path to liberation, or in Saichō's terminology, the 'direct path'." Keown, Damien (2003-03-27). A Dictionary of Buddhism (p. 244). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.


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A Review of Fatal Fetlock Injuries in California Racehorses
One of the most common sites of catastrophic injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses is the fetlock and its surrounding structures.
Photo: Photos.com
When a racehorse breaks down on the track, you're not only faced with the devastating loss of a horse, but also economic loss and, potentially, an injured jockey. One of the most common sites of catastrophic injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses is the fetlock and its surrounding structures.
To try to prevent more of these injuries from happening, four veterinarians involved with the California Horse Racing Board and University of California (UC), Davis, Racing Injury Prevention Program recently studied past breakdowns and their causes. Erin McKerney, DVM, a veterinarian at the UC Davis J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, presented the team's findings at the 2013 American Association of Equine Practitioners' convention, held Dec. 7-11 in Nashville, Tenn.
"Fetlock injuries comprise over half of fatal musculoskeletal injuries among California racehorses," McKerney said. "Repetitive loading and fetlock hyperextension associated with training and racing subject fetlock-supporting musculoskeletal structures to degenerative and adaptive changes. These changes can weaken key structures, thus predisposing the fetlock region to catastrophic fracture."
This is fairly common knowledge among sport- and racehorse practitioners. The problem is pinpointing which pre-existing lesions put these horses as most risk for breakdown and how to detect them before the worst happens.
In their retrospective study, McKerney and her team analyzed post-mortem examination records of 358 California racehorses (Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, and one Arabian) that sustained catastrophic injuries between July 2011 and July 2013. Of these, she said 185 (52%) incurred fatal fetlock injuries. The team then categorized the 185 cases according to injury site, fracture configuration, and pre-existing lesions and compared horses' age, breed, gender, limb injured, and the track surface the animals raced on.
"Proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fracture was the most common cause of fetlock injury, followed by cannon bone (MC3) fracture, soft tissue injury, and long pastern bone (P1) fracture," McKerney said. "Eighty-eight percent of fetlock injuries included visible evidence of a pre-existing lesion, with visibly discrete lesions observed in 65% of fractured PSBs. The most common lesion was subchondral bone discoloration and porosity at the abaxial (outward facing) aspect of the medial (inner) PSB."
She said the identification of this pre-existing lesion in the bone beneath the joint surface is a new finding that, with further investigation, could lead to ways to detect affected horses before catastrophic fetlock injury occurs.
McKerney listed other findings of note, including:
- Horses older than 5 years were more likely to sustain soft tissue injuries;
- Most fatal fetlock injuries, particularly sesamoid and cannon bone fractures, had evidence of pre-existing lesions;
- Both sesamoid bones in the fetlock are usually fractured;
- Cannon bone fractures most commonly affected the lateral (outside) condyle;
- Rupture of the ligaments that connect the sesamoid bones to the pastern was the most common soft tissue injury;
- Sesamoid bone fracture was also the most common Quarter Horse injury;
- Ligament injuries were more common in Thoroughbreds than Quarter Horses;
- Fetlock injuries usually occurred in the front limbs;
- Injuries did not differ among track surfaces; and
- Most pastern bone fractures occurred during training while most soft tissue injuries occurred during racing.
In conclusion, McKerney said, veterinarians and researchers can use these observations about fracture configuration and pre-existing lesions associated with fetlock breakdown injuries to identify patterns that could help them detect and prevent more breakdowns from happening.
About the Author
Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor
Alexandra Beckstett, Managing Editor of The Horse and a native of Houston, Texas, is a lifelong horse owner who has shown successfully on the national hunter/jumper circuit and dabbled in hunter breeding. After graduating from Duke University, she joined Blood-Horse Publications as Assistant Editor of its book division, Eclipse Press, before joining The Horse.
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Kentucky Derby: On Call Vets' Familiarity With Contenders
Medications in Horse Racing
AAEP On Call Program at the Kentucky Derby
Shoeing Racehorses
Lameness (AAEP Convention 2012)
Bone Fragility Syndrome


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Beltran haunts Cards again
Center fielder's bat carries Mets in NLCS opener at Shea
By Mark Newman / MLB.com
In Thursday's opener of the National League Championship Series, he accounted for the game's only runs with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and even managed to double up Albert Pujols at first base on a key play to end the fourth.
After the game, the Mets' center fielder answered the question that was on everyone's mind: Did he remind himself of October 2004? Was it a flashback of those days in an Astros uniform when he smashed one postseason record after another for Houston and would have been NLCS MVP if not for that Game 7 comeback victory by St. Louis?
"Yeah, in the postseason that I had with the Astros against St. Louis, that was a great postseason, and just hitting the home run today, of course, brings memories," he said. "But I cannot be thinking about what I did in 2004. This is 2006, and I just need to continue to do it, you know, to do the right things for the team and try to help the team any way I can offensively or defensively."
That he did, and it's all Tom Glavine needed. As long as we're flashing back through postseason history, you might as well go back to the 1995 World Series clincher, when it was a Glavine shutout and a Dave Justice homer that provided all the scoring for Atlanta against Cleveland. This time, you could substitute Beltran for Justice, and one gets the feeling that it won't be the last time anyone hears from Señor Octubre.
"Carlos? Well, he's a big-game guy," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "He's shown what he can do throughout the season. We're not looking for him to duplicate that, but he seems to have a flare for coming through in a big spot. [That was a] huge home run for us. Everyone is getting out a little bit sluggish and you make a mistake to him, you're going to pay for it. [It was an] outstanding job to get us on the board."
Beltran's homer was one of the few mistakes made by Cardinals starter Jeff Weaver, who pitched an otherwise brilliant outing. It followed a two-out single by Paul Lo Duca, and on a 2-2 pitch, Beltran belted it 430 feet into the night.
"Weaver is a guy that has a good sinker and also has a good cutter," Beltran said. "Today, he didn't use the cutter. We went out there thinking about that pitch, and he basically was getting outs with fastballs outside, inside. When I got to the 2 2 count, I was trying to see the ball, hit the ball. I mean, I wasn't looking for any pitch, and he threw me a fastball right in the middle of the plate. I think the catcher was sitting outside and he left it in the middle. When I hit it, I knew it was going to be out of the ballpark."
There was a lot of that going on back in that magical run of 2004. The 2004 NLCS was as close as a team sport can come to an individual battle of superstars, with Beltran and Pujols performing at spectacular levels of wonder. Pujols was named the MVP of that series as the Cardinals won it in seven, and it almost certainly would have swung in Beltran's favor had St. Louis not found a way to beat Roger Clemens in that clincher.
For Beltran, that series marked a continuation of a monster postseason that had begun for him in the 2004 NL Division Series against Atlanta. He matched Barry Bonds' 2002 record with eight homers in a postseason. He set a Major League postseason record with a homer in five consecutive games, stretching from Game 5 of the NLDS through Game 4 of the NLCS. He set a record with 21 runs scored in a single postseason, and had an extra-base hit in seven consecutive playoff games to tie the record.
Beltran's eighth homer of that postseason was especially memorable. It came off Cardinals reliever Julian Tavarez to break a 5-5 tie, allowing Houston to tie that series at 2-2. And there was that spectacular diving catch during the series portion at Minute Maid Park, as well as the time he went all the way back and up onto Tal's Hill in dead center to rob the Cardinals defensively.
Outstanding in October
Mets outfielder Shawn Green has seen Beltran do these kinds of things defensively before.
"I've only been here five or six weeks and I've seen Beltran do that to a few teams now," he said of the double-play catch-and-throw on the run in shallow center. "He's so smooth in the outfield, he's just gliding right to it and he comes through with the big play."
Just like in 2004. Beltran was everywhere then. Pujols (the 2004 NLCS MVP), Jim Edmonds and the Cardinals were just a little bit better back then.
"Put it this way: I think my Lord let me come through in situations like this one," Beltran said. "My first postseason, I just went out and tried to have fun, tried to enjoy the time, because as a player you never know when it's going to be your next opportunity to be in a situation like that one.
"I didn't try to do too much. I just let things happen and not try to make things happen. I'm approaching this one the same -- I'm not trying to hit the home runs, hit the base hit and hit the double. I'm trying to help the team and keep it simple. Sometimes as a hitter you try to do so much and things don't go the way you want it. When you go into the batter's box and just see the ball and hit the ball, a lot of good things happen."
Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado said no one should feel like Beltran has to dominate for them to advance.
"It seems like a different guy every night for us," Delgado said. "Tonight, it was Tom's turn and Carlos' turn."
Still, one had to remember. Beltran was asked if he knows much about the career of one Reginald Martinez Jackson, known in this rather large and postseason-savvy metropolis as "Mr. October." Jackson played for five World Series winners during the 1970s, three with the A's and two with the Yankees, and is most remembered for three homers in one 1977 World Series game. So, Beltran, what do you know about that?
"I'm Carlos Beltran," he said in the interview room, amid laughter. "Reggie Jackson is Reggie Jackson. It's a great comparison. But in postseason, this is a blessing; for me, it's a blessing. Every time you make it to the postseason, it means your team plays well and you contribute to help the team win. It makes me feel happy that, you know, I was able to come through today."
That's nine homers in his last 16 postseason games. Pretty Reggie-like. It's something the Cardinals and their fans remember all too well, and now the question is whether it is the start of another Beltran showcase and whether St. Louis will have an answer again.
Mark Newman is enterprise editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Written on: 13/11/2007 by dismayed2 (2 reviews written)
Good Points
Cheap online deal seemed good value for money
Bad Points
Laptop failed 3 times in less than 12 months. Comet attitude stinks.
General Comments
I bought my Acer laptop from Comet online in November 2006. On delivery, I unpacked it and plugged it in and quickly discovered that the card drive didn't work. I took it to a local Comet store who told me I'd have to deal with Acer directly. I argued my consumer rights and after a lot of hassle they suddenly agreed to replace it and I took home a new laptop.
At the beginning of October this year, still within the 12 month warranty, I left the room for 10 minutes and returned to find that the laptop had failed. There was a black screen full of 'fatal error' messages and the top left surface of the case in front of the keyboard [Fn Alt] keys had actually melted and caved in. I touched it and burned my finger and realised that it was a catastrophic failure and also a fire risk. This time, I took it back to a Comet store in Leeds area. They again tried to fob me off by asking me to ring Acer. I said I'd bought it from Comet and that I only wanted to deal with Comet. I pointed out the two failures, said I'd lost faith in the product and wanted a replacement of a different make. They were extremely hard-nosed and said that after the first 28 days all they would ever do is return faulty items to the manufacturers. So back to Acer it went.
My laptop was returned to the store for me to pick up a week later. I took it home and switched it on. It booted up OK but then failed again within about 4 minutes. The keyboard, mouse and USB ports were all dead and there was a plain blue screen with only faint vertical bars showing. I phoned Comet head office in Hull and spoke to a character called Mark Lambert. He told me that it would have to be returned to Acer yet again and that nothing else would be done in terms of a refund or replacement. When I tried to argue my case he simply held his ground. I sat and thought the situation over carefully and felt dismayed by their attitude. I actually rang him back to plead my case further. His actual words: "Oh ... I thought we'd finished our little conversation", in a sickening and patronising tone that dismissed any notion I had that I was dealing with a decent company with any concern whatsoever for its customers. I took it back in, it was sent off to Acer once more and I have not heard any more for the last 4 weeks. I have been without a working laptop for around 7 weeks now.
My overall impression is that Comet's attitute stinks, their customer service is abysmal and that their only interest is to take our money and then we can just sod off. I contacted consumerdirect.gov.uk who advised me to write to the credit card firm I bought it through, since they are jointly liable. I've done that and the original transaction is now in dispute. It has also been passed up to Trading Standards who called me back today. They say that the whole business of 'reasonable period' and proved 'unfit for purpose' are grey areas and that ultimately I may have to take it to the small claims court. They said I might expect a reduced refund value since I've 'enjoyed some use of it' over the 10 month period. I fully accept that and had already told Comet I'd be quite happy to pay extra and buy a better make and model if they would at least offer some form of store credit. But no; they don't want to part with a single penny it seems.
I do not want it back, regardless of Comet's sales patter and arrogance as I simply don't have any faith in the product's safety, (especially left unattended), nor in its reliability.
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Written by Raymondo54
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Mobility Matters: T-Mobile Wants to Eat Your Lunch
New mobile competitors are calling, and they want your lunch.
How many nibbles can a credit union absorb before its sustenance is devoured by hungry competitors? That's the question financial tech guru Jim Marous, senior vice president, business development at New Control, asks.
"You can't sit there and do nothing. The marketplace is changing completely. You need to take action to defend yourself," Marous said.
That is why Marous pointedly asks: Does T-Mobile want to steal 30% of your customers?
Mobile Money, introduced by T-Mobile in late January, is the immediate threat. A mobile app coupled with a prepaid Visa card, the product does not presently involve paper checks but, beyond that, it can do much of what a conventional share draft account can do.
The carrier's slogan is compelling: "Bring your money to T-Mobile, and free yourself from checking fees at the bank."
For starters, T-Mobile said it is going after what it claims are 70 million Americans who are unbanked or underbanked. There are competitors in the niche, such as American Express's BlueBird, but some in this group are credit union members.
And, Marous said, their continued loyalty cannot be taken for granted.
Note: In a Miami trial, T-Mobile said it was surprised that some 40% of the Mobile Money users were credit-worthy, so-called post-paid accountholders (as opposed to prepaid). These are individuals who well could be credit union members with share draft accounts, Marous said.
Why would they leave? For one thing, basically no fees.
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The other allure is that Mobile Money enters the market as a robust, mobile first product. Built in alliance with Delaware-based The Bancorp Bank, which provides private label banking services for numerous partners, and Blackhawk Network, a leading prepaid card, T-Mobile's Mobile Money is feature rich.
Customers get fee-free withdrawals from 42,000 Allpoint ATM locations, $0 reload fees at T-Mobile stores, $0 monthly maintenance fees and $0 purchase fees. And, because the backbone is a Visa prepaid card, merchant acceptance is broad.
Deposits will be FDIC insured, via Bancorp.
For Mobile Money customers, the 3,000 T-Mobile stores will function as a kind of branch. Safeway, with around 1,300 stores mainly in the central and western U.S., has said it will come aboard to support the T-Mobile financial services product.
T-Mobile, incidentally, is on record saying it has no interest in making a profit from this product. What it hopes to gain instead is tighter customer loyalty, which is no small thing in an industry where "churn" - customer loss - is a plague on profits.
The other T-Mobile win with Mobile Money: it is loudly portraying itself as the consumer's friend.
"Millions of Americans pay outrageous fees to check cashers, payday lenders and other predatory businesses – just for the right to use their own money. Mobile Money shifts the balance of power for T-Mobile customers and keeps more money in their pockets," John Legere, president and chief executive officer of T-Mobile, said in a prepared statement.
Isn't T-Mobile an also-ran in wireless? Yes, it is the fourth biggest carrier in the U.S. (with 45 million subscribers, compared to Verizon's leadership position with 118 million), but Wall Street rumors are plentiful that a merger of T-Mobile with No. 3 carrier Sprint (55 million customers) is in the works.
Even if that comes to nothing, T-Mobile is majority owned by Deutsche Telekom, Germany's leading telephone company, with annual revenues in the vicinity of 58 billion Euros (roughly $80 billion).
The big question is will Verizon and AT&T pile on and offer financial services to their consumers? Both, along with T-Mobile, already are involved with Isis, the NFC-based tap and pay technology.
Experts are hanging back on offering predictions about what the two biggest carriers will do.
As for Sprint, it has had a financial services product very similar to T-Mobile's for some months. Called Boost Mobile Wallet, it had pilots in Los Angeles and New Jersey early in 2013, and by year end, it had rolled out nationally. It is offered to customers of Boost, a Sprint prepaid brand.
But Sprint is beginning to make this Mobile Wallet (dubbed Sprint Money Express) available to Sprint postpaid customers, said Kevin McGinnis, vice president of development & technology at Pinsight Media+, a mobile media company associated with Sprint.
McGinnis also said the company was looking at rolling out a version of the wallet to its Virgin Mobile customers, another prepaid offering. However, no timetable has been set for that.
Like T-Mobile's Mobile Money, the Boost offering is built around a Visa prepaid card and a mobile app. Add the T-Mobile and Sprint offerings together and in the vicinity of 100 million consumers have possible access to a mobile wallet via their wireless carriers.
Should that cause indigestion for credit union executives?
McGinnis is noncommittal on this score, saying Sprint did not enter the Mobile Wallet space to disrupt traditional financial institutions, but rather to make its customers' lives easier.
"Our Mobile Wallet customers are used to standing in line," he said, pointing to check cashing stores and also to businesses that handle foreign money transfers.
"We are giving them an improved experience with mobile," he added.
For instance, he indicated that mobile remote deposit capture lets the customer deposit a check with a few taps on a phone screen, no lines involved.
As for whether Sprint is looking for profits from its Wallet, McGinnis said "it's early to say we will accrue financial benefits. It may improve [customer] retention in a no contract world. We don't need to look at this as a profit stream. This will generate greater loyalties, and it will unlock future revenue streams."
So, now should credit union executives be scared? Marous, for one, thinks so.
"Credit unions just aren't keeping up with new technology, that's the problem," said Marous.
And he made it plain that to stay in the race, "you have to keep pace, you need to keep innovating. Most credit unions aren't."


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Oil rises as cold snap hits US
Oil prices nudged above $US96 a barrel on Friday after new reports showed better-than-expected trade data in China and the US trade deficit shrank in December to the lowest point in three years.
Both pointed to a stronger global economy and more demand for oil.
At midday benchmark crude for March delivery was up 48 cents to $US96.31 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
In the US, drivers still can't catch a break at the pump. The average price for a gallon of gas rose a penny to $US3.57. That's up 27 cents from a month ago and 8 cents more than last year at this time.
Drivers in Massachusetts who are filling up ahead of a massive blizzard that could dump up to 3 feet of snow are paying an average of $US3.69. Connecticut drivers are paying around $US3.90, while the average pump price in New York is $US3.92 a gallon.
Local television coverage showed lines of cars at gas stations reminiscent of those seen after Superstorm Sandy.
Once they fill up and stock up on groceries, many people in the Northeast might not drive again for a day or more. Demand for gasoline should drop, supplies should rise and prices in the region should drop a bit, says Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for Oil Price Information Service.
''The simple impact (these storms) have is that they destroy demand for a period of time,'' Kloza says.
The brunt of the storm is not expected to hit refineries around New York and Philadelphia the way that Superstorm Sandy did, so no supply disruptions are expected. If New England ports get snowed in for a few days, it could delay shipments of gasoline by barge, which could lead to reduced supplies, Kloza says.
The storm could bring a break in gasoline prices after a steady march upward in recent weeks. Kloza thinks that later in February and in March prices will rise as they do most years, but perhaps not as fast, because prices have already climbed so high.
''We were in an uptrend but clearly it was too brisk,'' he said. ''The market borrowed some of the increases that usually come in February and March.''
Meanwhile oil traders reacted to a report showing that China's trade growth surged in January. Exports soared 25 percent from a year earlier and import growth rocketed to 28 percent.
Analysts said the year-on-year data could be distorted because the Lunar New Year holidays fell in January in 2012. This year, companies picked up pace in January to fill orders before shutting down for the holiday, which this year falls in February.
And the Commerce Department said Friday that the US trade deficit fell nearly 21 per cent in December from November, as oil imports plummeted. That's the smallest trade deficit in nearly three years. The smaller trade gap means the economy probably performed better in the fourth quarter than first estimated last week.
In London, Brent crude, used to price international varieties of oil, rose $US1.71 to $US118.95 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
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Get certified - Transform your world of work today
6/19/2017 by Marcello Rossi
I have seen this important meeting change in interesting ways, along with the transformations of our team.
6/16/2017 by Shane Billings
Anyone who tells you that Agile magically solves all problems is selling empty promises. Here's what it does do, instead.
6/15/2017 by Verena Frey
A Scrum Team is a self-organizing learning community, and that learning is best done based on positive feedback. How do we implement this in retrospectives?
6/14/2017 by Aaron Tooth
I've seen a pattern of questions emerge nearly every time a new Scrum team forms. Here are five of the most difficult, along with effective answers.
6/13/2017 by Amit Ramesh Kulkarni
What makes a Scrum Team truly a team?
6/12/2017 by Priyanjana Deb,Abhik Datta
It is a struggle for companies that have followed the clearly defined structure of Waterfall to suddenly become pro-change and embrace a new work culture and mindset.
6/9/2017 by Simone Rastelli
I would like to explain and discuss Storyleading, a team game to improve story effectiveness.
6/8/2017 by Horia Balog
Little did I know that embracing curiosity would make such a big difference to me, not only in my work with others but also in my own mindset and attitude.
6/7/2017 by Garren Heye
When a team rejects mid-iteration changes, the stakeholder will often say something to the effect of, "As an Agile Team, shouldn't you be flexible to changes?"
6/7/2017 by Daniel Dojcinovski
In this article, I talk about what makes a great product owner, along with tricks and techniques for empowering your product owner to be the greatest product owner he or she can be.


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We got an excellent question from a fan in Perth, Australia, enough that I wanted to share my answer online.
A friend of mine regaled me with a tale a while back, about a theist spouting a well worn apologetic to a prominent atheist. Rather than shoot it down with a just as well worn counter, he simply replied with "did you really think that would work?" Now, I don't know the whole story, but apparently said atheist went on to berate said theist about stupid they were for thinking that of all the things that this atheist had heard and read, it was this one guy spouting this one thing that he probably got of some website that would change his mind. While I'm not a fan of berating people, It does strike me as a valid idea, the whole "do you really think that'll stump me" response.
However, following a lively debate with some fellow atheist friends a while back, I was on the receiving end of a sudden rush of perspective. You see, they were just saying the same old stuff as well. The usual cookies about the christian god being immoral, how many different religions there are all over the world, the nonsense of disregarding science just because it can't explain EVERYTHING… same old crap you hear from people with an education. It got me thinking, what if the shoe was on the other foot? My girlfriend's mother is an Anglican priest and I know for a fact that if I just spouted one of the usual chestnuts to her, she'd have an answer pretty quickly, probably one that'd get me off the script, if there is such a thing as an atheist script.
I suppose my question is, shouldn't a skeptic be trying to come up with new responses all the time, forever? I hate to go us vs them, but the idea of stock responses to stock questions and insular self congratulation seems very, very, well… dumb. In Perth, we don't have many fundies at all, but a lot of people are so vaguely middle class white spiritual, anti-science. The usual crap, "can't prove everything" what the bleep do we know pseudo-spiritual nonsense, and when I try to have honest discourse with them, it just descends into stock responses and I give up. It's very disheartening.
To condense it, my question is: As people who reject claims on the basis of logic and reason, is it enough just to have stock responses? Shouldn't we be trying to come up with new, better and always unexpected ways to exercise our skepticism? Hope you can shed some light on my ramblings.
And my answer is: Yes and no.
It is a mistake to completely dismiss the value of having an arsenal of sound bites. The thing is, you use your stock responses exactly as long as they work well. At the point where they stop working, you either enhance them or abandon them for something that works better.
For example. My stock response to "God must have created the universe because it couldn't have created itself" is probably always going to be some variant of asking, or leading into, the question "What created God?"
Theists don't like this. They ridicule it. They say it's like a question that a little child would ask. They come up with variants like the Kalam argument, in which instead of saying "Everything that exists has a cause" they say instead, "Everything that begins to exist has a cause" — thereby creating a special pleading loophole. If you're attentive enough, then you can see where the sleight of hand occurs, much as you can look at a "proof" that your high school buddy used to produce showing that 1=2, and identify the fallacious step where he divided by zero or something.
The thing is, the fact that someone will ridicule and dismiss an argument is not, in itself, a demonstration that the argument is not working. I could enter a history class and loudly scoff: "What's that?! You expect me to believe that Henry VIII became the King of England in 1509??? You're so ignorant!" I don't doubt that if I tried this against a bunch of teachers, at least a few of them would be so insecure that they wouldn't argue with you, lapsing into embarrassed silence or changing the subject. This seems to be the disposition of many biology teachers today who would otherwise be teaching evolution.
Your atheist friend who says "Did you really think THAT would work?" is using a tactic. It is neither inherently good nor bad; it's just potentially effective or not effective in a particular situation. The tactic is a combination of poisoning the well and psychological intimidation. He wants to give the opponent and/or the audience the emotional feeling that the opponent is ignorant and the atheist knows more. That feeling may or may not be justified, and the intimidation may or may not work.
Like any tactic, this one has its strengths and weaknesses. If you pull this trick, and your opponent stammers out some apologies and tries to talk about something else, you've just gained a point of data saying that it is a good tactic for you. You pulled it off. On the other hand, do this in an inappropriate way, and you look like an arrogant prick. For an example where this approach bombed, check out the historical Bush/Gore debate, where voters came away with a lasting impression of Gore loudly sighing, rolling his eyes, and getting in Bush's personal space — which was perceived as needlessly condescending, irrespective of whether Gore's impatience was warranted or not.
Scorning your opponent this way is like throwing a lot of money into the pot in poker. It may be that you are putting all that money in because you genuinely have a good hand — i.e., you are armed with better facts, your opponent really is ignorant, and you can prove it handily when it's time to show your cards. On the other hand, it may be a bluff, and you're secretly hoping that your opponent will fold under your withering gaze so that you can collect the money without a prolonged fight that you stand to lose.
And yes, religious people apply this tactic all the time. Let me throw a few book titles at you:
- You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can't Make Him Think (Ray Comfort)
- I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist (Norman Geisler)
- Evolution, A Fairy Tale for Grownups! (Ray again — sorry, but that guy is a walking textbook on this technique)
So as you noticed, it happens on both sides. What, then, do you do when somebody attacks you with that "I've already heard that argument" line while showing obvious contempt?
I think the most important rule here is to keep your cool, don't flinch, and find a way to do a quick end-run around the brush off. The best way to do this, I think, is to highlight the person's arrogance as their weakness rather than their strength.
This is a place where the "reductio ad absurdum" technique often comes in handy. Ask yourself: "Okay, so this guy is acting as if my argument isn't even worthy of consideration. What implications also follow from his dismissal?" Highlighting obvious contradictions is useful, and so is the question "How do you know…?"
Here's a sample dialogue.
Theist: "Everything has a cause. Since the chain can't go back infinitely, there must be a God." (Note: oversimplified, in some cases.)
Atheist: "What created God?"
Theist: "That's a ridiculous question. It's something a child would ask."
Atheist: "Oh, so you don't think everything had a cause."
(Reversal. Instead of demanding that the theist acknowledge your point, you accept his dismissal and calmly look for
a contradiction.)
Theist: "Well I don't mean that everything has a cause. Everything which begins to exist has a cause. But God is eternal."
Atheist: "How do you know that?"
(The theist just tried to inject an assertion, again counting on the assumption that it's so obvious that only a fool would challenge it. Don't be intimidated by this.)
The conversation may go in any number of directions at this point — my money's on "science vs. faith as a means for knowing things." The important thing, though, is that you find a way around the theist baldly asserting a certainty that he has not earned.
As with any argument, it's a game. If you fold, then it doesn't matter how unsupported your opponent was in reality; you still lose. On the flip side, if your opponent calls you on your claim and you can't back it up, you may well lose worse, because then your opponent has condescended to you and then proven that the condescension was justified. That's the gamble you take when you are arrogant.
As you probably noticed, you very much should have an arsenal of "opening moves" that, by and large, don't have to vary much. If you trot out a move and you see your opponent driven before you (and, of course, hear the lamentation of the women!) then you keep doing that. To someone who doesn't argue on a regular basis, this can look easy, even lazy, and perhaps very risky.
The critical point here is that the opening is not the whole game. Good for you if you can occasionally checkmate your opponent in three moves and that's all it takes. (Fear Edward Current!) But if your opponent doesn't cave right away, then what is going to determine your success is your ability to defend the sound bite, to think on the fly and justify your reasoning, not just to quote it.
Developing opening moves does not necessarily have to be a solo, creative process. You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you talk to a new person. You should by all means watch other people's debates, see what works and what doesn't, and shamelessly steal the stuff you like. That doesn't make you a mindless parrot, it makes you a smart shopper. But if you use these arguments and then you lose, you should always be willing to take a step back. Ask yourself: Did his response win because it really is actually logically superior? Has he actually made a point? Has he uncovered a genuine flaw in my thought process?
If that turns out to be true, it may well be that you have to dump that argument from your arsenal. The unfit do not survive, it's evolution in action. (And please note that this is intellectual Darwinism, not social Darwinism. I'm advocating the death and abandonment of ideas, not people.)
But that's not the only outcome. You can look for other cases where people have had to deal with that same argument, and find a response that will get you a step further in your next conversation. And in that case, you will become more confident and your response will be stronger each time you face that argument.


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Not all phone-hacking, all the time:
Paper, scissors, stone – Heresy Corner collects George Michael's tweets on his relationship with the News Of The World, and notices that they point towards some very dodgy-sounding behaviour from the Metropolitan Police. (via)
Don't pity Gordon – he supped from the devil's hands – "At its core, it is an issue of the abuse of political power not by Murdoch, but by Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, David Cameron and every other elected quisling who supped with the devil not with a long spoon but from the devil's own satanic hands."
Dominic Grieve is a bigger scandal than Andy Coulson – How The Sun vetoed David Cameron's choice of Shadow Home Secretary.
Test Your Vocab – Interesting test to see how many different words people are aware of, and by taking part in it, you're helping out with some research. (36,100 for me, if you're interested) (via)
An Eye-Opening Adventure in Socialized Medicine – An American visitor discovers the NHS (via)


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If you're an ETF fiend, and also easily bored, August hasn't been your month.
Just one exchange-traded fund has been launched this past month. The lone newbie? The AdvisorShares QAM Equity Hedge (NYSE:QEH), brought to life last week.
QEH is an actively managed fund that uses a long/short strategy and aims to exceed the risk-adjusted performance of approximately 50% of the long/short equity hedge fund universe as defined by the constituents of the HFRI Equity Hedge (Total) Index. The goal is to give investors a way to earn better risk-adjusted returns versus the S&P 500 Index over time without having to make individual hedge-fund investments themselves.
Kurt Voldeng, chief operating officer of CAM and co-portfolio manager of QEH, said in a press release: "We believe with our benchmark's underlying constituents measuring approximately 1,000 hedge fund managers, places QEH at an advantage over our competition to generate alpha." Voldeng also touted the liquidity and transparency (daily holdings will be available) of QEH — benefits not afforded by traditional hedge funds.
At launch, QEH had an enormous long weighting (35%) in the iShares Barclays Short Treasury Bond Fund (NYSE:SHV) as well as a 10% weighting in the SPDR Barclays Capital 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (NYSE:BIL). Its top shorts were fractional weightings against the Currency Shares Japanese Yen Trust (NYSE:FXY), Euro Stoxx Large Net Return Swap and iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index (NYSE:IWO). QEH's expenses are expectedly high, because it's an actively managed fund, at 1.64%.
Though the launches have been light, at least some action is on the horizon. Also last week, iShares filed with the SEC a proposed list of currency ETFs. The currencies involved would include the Australian dollar, British pound, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi, euro, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, New Zealand dollar, Norwegian krone, Singapore dollar, Swedish krona, Swiss franc, Thai baht and Turkish lira.
In all, 135 new funds have come out so far in 2012, according to XTF.com.
Kyle Woodley is the assistant editor of InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Follow him on Twitter at @KyleWoodley.


text:
Hi guys,
I was wondering if you could help me identify this wasp at all. I'm not sure if they're any experts on American species but it would be great if I could get some help on working it out. I think its a Megarhyssa macrurus but thats an uneducated guess...
Any help you could give would be much appreciated.
Megarhyssa macrurus
Megarhyssa macrurus
According to The Ecology, Behavior, and Biological Control Potential of Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Woodwasps (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in North America by David R Coyle and Kamal J K Gandhi (pdf here) the only Megarhyssa species in Alaska is Megarhyssa nortoni nortoni. In On Some Genera of Pimpline Ichneoumonidae J H Merrill (text here) writes on pages 132-133 (M lunator = M macrurus):
In M. nortonii the yellow spots on the sides of the abdomen
are rounded-oval, while in the closely related M. lunator and
M. greenei they form angled bands. In M. nortonii there is a
dark stripe extending from the vertex to and including the man-
dibles, in M. lunator there are two dark lines running from the
antennae to the mandibles, and in M. greenei these lines are
absent. M. nortonii can be distinguished from M. mexicana
in that the latter has a pale-yellow ground color, with black
markings on the abdomen. The wings of the latter are clouded
at the tips, and possess no areolet, neither are there any dark
markings on the face. M. nortonii may be distinguished from
M. atrata, humida, canadensis and nitida by the fact that in these
latter forms the greater part of the surface of the body is black,
with white, yellow, or fuscous body markings.
And as your photo shows rounded spots on the side of the abdomen and not angled bands, everything fits!
And also (page 133):
Megarhyssa nortonii is widely distributed throughout the
United States, Canada, and Alaska. Specimens taken from the
Pacific coast ranging from Alaska down through California,
exhibit in general much darker color markings than those taken
east of the Rocky Mountains.
That explains why your individual is quite dark.
There is also a species of Rhyssa in Alaska: Rhyssa alaskensis/persuasoria, but it hasn't the round spots of Megarhyssa nortonii nortonii on the sides.
Thanks much, great insight!
Out of curiousity is this a rare / endangered species?
It is widespread and not rare. Most species are endangered, but rats and cochroaches will probably survive man.


text: Just curious what your thoughts are about that extra 0.5 inches on a tennis racket and whether it makes a noticeable and improved difference to your game, specifically in terms of maneuverability and timing. I mean 0.5 inches is just 1.27 cms right? All the extra long rackets back in the day came in at 28 inches, a full inch longer. So half an inch isn't that big a deal now, right? Or is it?? I'm referring mainly to the AeroPro Drive + and Pure Drive + models. I can live with the regular versions but it would be nice if they were slightly more headlight. If I don't wanna bother with lead mods, should I simply migrate to the Plusses?


text:
Voters sent a mixed message in the hotly contested election for three seats on the board of the Animas Fire Protection District, one of three funding partners that makes up Durango Fire & Rescue Authority.
Unofficial results show the top two vote-getters out of nine candidates as Matt Leeder and Kathleen Morris, who are opposed to Animas Fire separating from DFRA. The third seat will be filled by incumbent Claude Bud Deering Jr., who voted in favor of sending a notice of intent to separate in November 2011.
Incumbent Greg Drover, who voted against separation, did not win re-election, and Jim Barrett, who sided with Drover in a 3-2 vote split in November, recently had to step down because he was term-limited and has to wait to run for re-election. That means the board will have four members two for separation, Deering and Bill Warren, and two against, Leeder and Morris. The four members must appoint a fifth member to fill Barretts seat.
Incumbent Tony Whittle, who voted in favor of the letter of intent in November, also failed to win re-election.
I do think the public has spoken, said Leeder, who received a commanding 1,207 votes. I hope this means well have some backing to try to hold this whole thing together, keep DFRA together and stop Animas from splitting off.
The three funding partners, the city of Durango, and Animas and Hermosa Cliff fire protection districts, have been in mediation to resolve one of the Animas boards biggest complaints, inequitable funding. Residents in the Animas district currently provide about 60 percent of DFRAs funding.
Deering, who has said he would like to see faster response times in the Animas district as well as some manned fire stations there, would not comment Tuesday on what the election results might mean because he had not been officially notified of his re-election. He said in March he thought the new board might vote to overturn the intent to separate if the board is happy with how the issues are resolved.
I think the first things on the agenda should be to rescind the letter of intent and get Barretts seat filled, Leeder said. One good thing about this is that the public has been really educated about stuff they needed to know.
The new board members will take their seats on May 22.


text:
Mortal Kombat (BLU)
Lord Rayden (Christopher Lambert) has rescued them, but he cannot fight for them. They - a martial artist, an action film star, a soldier - are the chosen three. And while the world's fate rests on their shoulders, the rest of us can enjoy the thrills as they compete to save us all in the body-slamming, mystical-tinged, full-tilt spectacle of creatures and conflict that is Mortal Kombat. Paul Anderson (Resident Evil: Afterlife) directs this astonishing and trendsetting experience that showed how to turn a smash-hit video game into a movie smash. Cheer these intrepid three Kombatants - they're fighting for you!
Product Details
- Starring: Linden Ashby, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Bridgette Wilson, Robin Shou, Christopher Lambert
- Format: Color, Dolby, Widescreen
- Language: English, French, Spanish
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: PG-13
- Label: New Line Home Video
- Release Date: 04/19/2011
- Run Time: 101 minutes
- Catalogue #: 3000034545
Special Features
- Mortal Kombat The Video Game Trailer
- Tie-In Animated Adventure Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins


text:
But your boss probably isn't interested in the details of your content marketing campaign—she just wants to know whether it positively affects the bottom
[RELATED: Learn why you need a content marketing plan at our content marketing boot camp.]
If you're thinking about launching a content marketing campaign, or are already in the midst of one, this infographic from BrandPoint can help you ensure
your content makes the company money.
It illustrates the three steps of turning prospects into paying customers: building awareness, ensuring people consider your brand for their needs, and
converting them into customers.
Here's how to measure your efforts each step of the way:
1. Awareness
You want potential customers to easily find your brand online. Ask these questions to determine whether they can:
2. Consideration
Once potential customers know you exist, you want them to engage with your content. Your answers to these questions will tell you if they do:
3. Conversion
You did it! Your content encouraged someone to become a customer. Your answers to these questions will interest your boss the most:
Check out the graphic for more:
Kristin Piombino is the associate editor of Ragan.com.
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text:
I get this message alert nearly every single time I log on to my Laptop, and it's really really annoying, to say the least.
I run Vista Business, SP1.
Does anyone have any idea why this keeps recurring even though I check the box to 'Remember this setting' (I allow the process)?
And does anyone know how to remedy this before I do something stupid like remove ZA?
Operating System:Windows Vista Business
Software Version:8.0
Product Name:ZoneAlarm Antivirus