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FSL notes: Nicolino enjoying Jupiter
Orlando native hasn't missed a beat since trade to Marlins
By Guy Curtright / Special to MLB.com | April 24, 2013 6:00 AM
Justin Nicolino's parents got to see him pitch just a few times in his first two seasons. After all, it's a long trip to Vancouver or Lansing from his hometown of Orlando.
Now that the 21-year-old left-hander is in the Florida State League, though, the travel situation has greatly changed for the better.
"They're trying to get to almost all my games," said Nicolino, the Miami Marlins' No. 4-ranked prospect.
So far, the Jupiter Hammerheads pitcher has put on a good showing for his family cheering section, especially in his past two outings.
Nicolino, one of the top prospects brought back in Miami's controversial trade of Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to Toronto, allowed no runs and seven hits over 10 innings in those outings, although he didn't get a decision in either game.
The second-round pick in the 2010 Draft by the Blue Jays allowed just one base runner -- on a second-inning single -- in a home start against Bradenton on April 16, then blanked the Marauders on six hits over another five innings at Bradenton on Sunday.
Nicolino is on a strict five-inning limit, but he has made the most of his time on the mound. After taking the loss in Jupiter's opener, he has felt more comfortable with each start since.
The graduate of University High School in Orlando has just seven strikeouts to five walks over 20 innings in his four starts, but opposing hitters haven't been able to do much damage against him.
"I wasn't very good that first game, but pitching is all about making adjustments," he said. "I've been attacking the strike zone and trying to keep batters off-balance. I want them to hit my pitch, not theirs."
Nicolino's best pitch may be his changeup and the strikeouts will come. He fanned 119 in 124 innings last season for Lansing and led the Class A Midwest League with a 2.46 ERA while going 10-4 and walking just 21.
Nicolino, who has a 2.70 ERA, was destined for the Class A Advanced Florida State League this season even before the trade. In fact, he had just worked out at Toronto's facility in Dunedin when news of the deal broke.
"I was shopping for some pants at the mall in Tampa for a trip to Las Vegas," he said. "It was a shock and humbling to be a part of such a big trade like that.
"I enjoyed my time with the Blue Jays. It was great. But it's really exciting to be a part of a chance like this and hopefully get an opportunity to pitch in the big leagues near home in Florida.
"I don't feel any extra pressure. I just have to be myself."
Nicolino has a bit of a comfort zone with the Marlins. Miami skipper Mike Redmond was his manager at the end of the 2011 season in Lansing.
Eager to see what Nicolino could do against Major League hitters, Redmond sent the youngster to the mound to face St. Louis in a Grapefruit League game on March 28.
Nicolino didn't disappoint, allowing one run and six hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked none.
"It was surreal," Nicolino said. "What an experience. It is still hard to believe."
There to share the moment with him were his parents, Dale and Cheri.
"I think they were more nervous than I was," he said.
Nicolino's starts in the Florida State League won't be as nerve-racking for parents or son, but they will get to share them together.
In brief
Cold return: Daytona right fielder Jorge Soler, hitting .435 with two homers and five RBIs in five games when suspended, was just 4-for-19 in his first five games back. The 21-year-old Cuban drew a five-game ban from the Florida State League for brandishing a bat toward the Clearwater dugout after an on-field altercation April 10. In addition to the suspension, he missed two other games before getting back in the lineup last Thursday. Soler is ranked as the Chicago Cubs' No. 3 prospect and is No. 42 overall on MLB.com's Top 100 list.
Heating up: Bradenton shortstop Alen Hanson finally got going after a slow start, following up a four-hit game against Jupiter with a two-hit outing against the Hammerheads on Monday. The six hits in nine at-bats matched his total for his first 33 at-bats. Hanson, ranked as Pittsburgh's No. 3 prospect, was batting .258 with five extra-base hits and five stolen bases in 15 games. The 20-year-old native of the Dominican Republic hit .309 with 62 extra-base hits and 35 steals for West Virginia in the Class A South Atlantic League last year.
Sanchez shines: Dunedin right-hander Aaron Sanchez, Toronto's No. 1 prospect, won after three no-decisions, going a season-high 6 2/3 innings against Daytona on Sunday. He allowed two hits and one run while striking out five and issuing one walk. Sanchez, 20, had pitched five hitless innings against Tampa on April 11 but didn't figure in the decision. He has a 3.05 ERA and 15 strikeouts to seven walks in 20 2/3 innings.
Guy Curtright is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


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Editor's note: This story was corrected to note that Obamacare insurance costs may not add to federal deficit.
President Obama's health-care overhaul will put roughly 25 million people into public health exchanges by 2018, ring up more than $1 trillion in insurance costs over the next decade and could well create a small contingent of workers unwilling to work for fear of losing federal medical aid.
Those are the findings from a Congressional Budget Office report released Tuesday, which also said the number of those receiving subsidies through exchanges will total 20 million in that time.
The report may give ammunition to Republicans and other foes of the Affordable Care Act, who have repeatedly warned of Obamacare's shortcomings and are trying to repeal it.
The CBO projects that insurance subsidies and related spending will account for increasing chunks of deficit spending, starting at $20 billion this year and steadily increasing to $159 billion in 2024, for a collective cost of just under $1.2 trillion. The cumulative total from the ACA for the next decade could reach $1.35 trillion.
In several charts in its report, the CBO calls these "effects on the cumulative federal deficit." But in footnotes and other portions of the 175-page report, the CBO points out there are other sources of revenue generated under the ACA that are expected to make it deficit neutral. CBO officials said in 2012 they saw the ACA as deficit neutral in its entirety and have yet to re-examine that issue, a spokeswoman said. This report just examines costs.
Not only does the report on the federal budget take an in-depth look at the ACA and its effects on the budget, but also on the work force in general. Most of these effects won't hit until after the next few years, once Obamacare has had a chance to gain momentum and get going.
One of the CBO's most intriguing estimates is that by 2017 there will be 2 million fewer full-time jobs on the market than there would have been without Obamacare, and that figure could climb to 2.5 million by 2024. But the reason isn't that employers will be reluctant to hire; it's that workers won't want to rise to income levels that would cut into their health subsidies, the CBO says. The higher a person's income, the lower the subsidy under Obamacare.
"The estimated reduction stems almost entirely from a net decline in the amount of labor that workers choose to supply, rather than from a net drop in businesses' demand for labor, so it will appear almost entirely as a reduction in labor force participation and in hours worked relative to what would have occurred otherwise rather than as an increase in unemployment (that is, more workers seeking but not finding jobs) or underemployment (such as part-time workers who would prefer to work more hours per week)," the report says.
The report says the effect on employers won't be as pronounced as some believe. The CBO says it has seen "no compelling evidence" that companies are increasing part-time employment in order to avoid facing mandatory coverage of employees.
Follow Russ Britt on Twitter @russbrittmktw
Follow Health Exchange on Twitter @MWHealthBlog
More health-care news from MarketWatch:
NFL players tout Obamacare for president
Obama vs. O'Reilly on health care

subset: commoncrawl


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There's only one direction to go from here and that's further down. Read on to see exactly what Harry styles. (Hint: it's puke.)
Here's a ditty NOT from my juiced-box, dedicated to Harry and his Exes: One Direction – Up All Night
[Click on the link to find out why Harry was Up All Night. Hint: He was puking.]
Hairy Styles Cannot Hold His Liquor
The proof is, he keeps throwing it up all over the place.
There's this English kid called Hairy Styles which sounds more like a fashion statement than a name but that's how they roll in jolly olde England. If you've never heard of this guy don't worry, i haven't either. My ignorance isn't all that surprising, though, when you realize i know everything there is to know about good music.
The reason i'm babbling on about this kid is because this photo was splattered all over the front page of the Internet a while back. Seems Hairy had to pull over and stomach sneeze.
At first i thought he'd been innocently listening to the radio when all of a sudden one of his own songs came on and, before he could change the station, he heard enough of it to make him hurl. Turns out there was a contributing factor. In addition to getting sick on his own tunes, he also had a hangover from drinking the night before with Lily Allen at the Nice Guy Bar in LA.
My assumption that his music was to blame is understandable, though, when you realize the effect One Direction's "songs" (and i use the term as loosely as a whore's vagina after giving birth at a donkey show) have on humanity at large. For example, check out these poor, impressionable young things that accidentally heard One Direction…
Which is not to say all girls hate the band, but One Direction fans are a special breed.
And collectively, these fan girls have formed the Nutsy party with the intention of eliminating all traces of good music from the planet with an ordered and systematic final solution. They've even given an old salute a modern twist to hail their leader.
But if you're a One Direction fan and would like to date one of the members of this boys bandwagon, look at the following photographs of Hairy Styles' exes and ask yourself: 1) Am I that hot? 2) Do I drink that much? If the answer to either is "No", then send me an email with a naked picture of yourself (or at least topless) and then we'll see which direction we go.
Cara Delevingne
Taylor Swift
Kendall Jenner
Caggie Dunlop
Emily Atack
Emily Ostilly
Felicity Skinner
Kara Rose Marshall
Caroline Flack
Bar None Dregs
Let me take a moment now to raise a glass of Pepsi Max and and drink a dry toast to Saint Pauly over at WTF!? (Watch the Film). A few years ago he started his little blog where he imitated my writing style (the sick bastard), and after a few emails, i encouraged him to be his gay self and press on. Well, last week was the first week that WTF!? (Watch the Film) surpassed this blog in total readers, so i want to congratulate him on well deserved success. And to take some credit for it. And to tell him now he has to start promoting the shit out of this blog, for a change.
His latest review is…
As for me, go here for a complete list of all my websites on one page so you don't miss out on any of my shit.
Bar None Drawers
Prints to share with your friends and Facebook page
What lies beyond is even more NSFW than the shit you just saw.
Cara Delevingne
Kendall Jenner
Kimberly Stewart
Emily Atack
Caggie Dunlop
Emma Ostilly
Didn't get your fill of the dregs? i keep them on tap right here.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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Congenital torticollis means that a baby is born with an odd position of the neck. The odd position is because of a tight, short neck muscle. It affects the right side more often than the left side. It may range from mild to severe. The condition is sometimes called wryneck.
Healthcare providers don't know what causes the condition. It may be from the baby's position in the womb. Or it may be from an injury to the neck muscle before birth.
Congenital muscular torticollis may be seen at birth. Or you may not notice it until your baby is at least a few weeks old. Each child may have slightly different symptoms. Symptoms may include:
In severe muscular torticollis, a baby may also have:
The symptoms of congenital muscular torticollis may look like other conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Your baby's healthcare provider will usually find the abnormality when examining your baby. Your child may need these tests for diagnosis:
Treatment will depend on your child's symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.
Treatment may include:
If the problem is not fixed, the baby will be unable to move his or her head normally. It will lead to permanent muscle tightening. It will cause the neck and face to develop unevenly.
You can help your baby loosen and stretch the muscle by:
Talk with your baby's healthcare provider about seeing a physical therapist. He or she can help you with exercises and positioning. And your baby may also receive therapy.
Your baby's healthcare provider will recheck your baby regularly to make sure the torticollis is getting better.
Call your baby's healthcare provider if you notice symptoms of muscular torticollis. And if your baby has the condition, call the healthcare provider if it is not getting better.
Congenital muscular torticollis is a condition in which a baby's neck muscle is tight and short. This causes the neck to twist.
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child's healthcare provider:
Article Last Updated: August 20, 2019
© 2000-2019 StayWell, 780 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.


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Cosmetic advertisements are everywhere " YouTube tutorials, Instagram posts, traditional print media " making them hard to avoid and even harder to resist. But if you bought every colored mascara
Cosmetic advertisements are everywhere " YouTube tutorials, Instagram posts, traditional print media " making them hard to avoid and even harder to resist. But if you bought every colored mascara and glitter eyeliner you saw, your wallet would �surely suffer.
So how can you afford to keep up with the latest beauty trends? Here are seven ways to look the part without paying nearly as much.1. Sample it first
Try out a sample before you buy the full product, recommends Liz Kennedy, a beauty expert. 'Brands are willing to send out test samples if you want to reach out,' she says.
You can also go to a department store in person and ask for a sample. Kennedy says �the staff would be willing to accommodate you because they want you to become a repeat customer.
Samples are especially helpful if you're interested in something you haven't worn before. After all, you won't know how you look with that bright orange lip until you try it, says Marie Watkinson, a massage therapist and owner of Spa Chicks On The Go, a mobile spa event company in New York City.2. Know when to splurge " and skimp
You don't have to buy the top-of-the-line brand for every item in your makeup regimen. In fact, more expensive isn't always better.
'I have a team of pro makeup artists and if you look in their makeup bag, they're going to have e.l.f. in their bag, they're going to have Chanel in their bag, and they're going to have everything in between,' Watkinson says. 'Because the truth is, a good product is a good product.'
One money-saving strategy is to spend a little more on a few important items and consider budget brands for the rest.
Kennedy recommends splurging on a good foundation that protects your skin. But when it comes to eyeshadow, eyeliner or mascara, you can go cheaper. That's especially true if you want a pop of color. 'How often are you wearing a green or purple eyeliner?' Kennedy says. 'It's very rare.'3. Research before you buy
If you do want to test out a bold trend, know the store's return policy. Glitz and glamour can sometimes look better in the picture than it does out of the box and on your skin.
'Another reason why people spend so much money on makeup is they're making these impulse purchases and then they have buyer's remorse,' Watkinson says. 'Maybe they didn't try it on, or maybe they didn't think about it, or maybe they thought they were going to rock this trend, but they're not.'
Of course, don't buy a product with the intention of returning it, but know your options in case you regret your purchase. Some stores will allow you to return the product, even if you already opened it.4. Learn sales cycles
There are certain times of the year when makeup goes on sale. If you're interested in a product that's a little out of your budget, try to time your purchase around these discount periods.
For instance, many beauty retailers offer Black Friday deals on the day after Thanksgiving. Other stores host recurring sales. Ulta, for example, holds a semiannual sale called the 21 Days of Beauty in spring and fall.
Online, search for a coupon or coupon code before you check out. And try to buy everything you need at once so you can meet the free shipping minimum.5. Look beyond the department store
You can also save money based on where you shop. Watkinson recommends �looking for makeup at stores like Target, Kohl's, T.J. Maxx and even your local drugstore. Don't feel limited by the department store, which often carries expensive brands.6. Find dual-purpose products
Choose products strategically, Watkinson advises. One purchase could serve multiple purposes. She gives the example of a blush or bronzing brick that can be used on your cheeks as well as your eyes.
And look around your kitchen. Watkinson says she's used olive oil to remove her eye makeup. Not every �item will work for every skin type, but trying something you already have around the house is much more affordable than purchasing expensive versions.7. Get rewards
If you're going to buy beauty products regularly, consider signing up for a loyalty program. Brands like Urban Decay and MAC Cosmetics have rewards programs that give repeat customers perks, such as special offers or faster shipping.
You'll usually rack up rewards based on how much you spend, but don't overbuy to get more points.
More From NerdWalletFree Budget Worksheet Do's and Don'ts When Using Shopping Apps When Is the Best Time to Buy a TV?
The article How to Get More Bang for Your Beauty Buck originally appeared on NerdWallet.


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Childcare is a necessity for people who work or attend school and have children who need to be cared for during the day. A new daycare facility has opened at 403 9th Street in New Bern to help meet that need.
Childcare is a necessity for people who work or attend school and have children who need to be cared for during the day. A new daycare facility has opened at 403 9th Street in New Bern to help meet that need.
3 C�s Cox Childcare received its operating license last week and is currently accepting applications for children who need daycare.
The building, located off Trent Road, is equipped with a kitchen, an office, a staff break room, four classrooms filled with books, toys and various learning tools for kids and an outside playground area. The childcare currently employs four teachers, a cook and the director, Cathy Cox.
Cathy Cox said the facility can serve up to 39 children. It is currently accepting applications for children who are 6 months -12 years old. The hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The facility will offer a program that encourages the growth of the whole child by strengthening each area of development through nurture, love and respect for each individual, said Cathy Cox.
Owner Rosetta Cox was an in-home daycare provider prior to her current employment at Craven Correctional Facility in Vanceboro. She intends to remain employed at the prison, while Cathy Cox, who is Rosetta�s sister, will run the day-to-day operations at the facility.
�I understand how important a quality childcare experience is and would like to offer a quality childcare center to the families of our community� said Rosetta Cox.
The sisters started work on the building in April and did most of the work themselves with help from family and friends. They were thrilled when Lana Neal, lead childcare consultant with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services-Division of Child Development and Early Education, granted them their license upon her first visit, said Cathy Cox.
�We were told that it is rare that a childcare receives their license on the first inspection and we were humbled by that,� she said. �We put a lot of work into the facility and are very pleased with the outcome.�
The license enables 3 C�s Cox Childcare to be placed on the list with other providers who are eligible to participate in the Childcare Subsidy program. The program aids families who cannot afford childcare cost.
According to Betty Hamby, Childcare Subsidy services supervisor at the Craven County Department of Social Services, there were currently 243 children on their program�s waiting list as of July 31. Names on the list move up as children are removed from the subsidy program, she said.
It is not necessarily free childcare. Often there is a payment required from the parent. If subsidy services were not available, it likely would have a direct domino effect in the community because there would be people without jobs and employers without workers because families would not be able to afford the cost of daycare, said Hamby.
She has dealt with people from all situations, not only those with low income. She said the agency services grandparents, military families, teen parents and others who fulfill the requirements for assistance, but there is not enough money to provide help to all who need the subsidy.
Hamby, who has been employed with DSS for 27 years, said she has had applicants who have had to make the decision whether to pay rent or pay their daycare costs in order to keep their jobs.
For more information on 3 C�s Cox Childcare, call Cathy Cox at 288-5809 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
For more information on the Childcare Subsidy program, daycare services or providers, visit ncchildcare.net, visit the local Department of Social Services, 2818 Neuse Blvd., or call 636-4900.
Tina Adkins can be reached at 252-635-5681 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow Tina on Twitter @tinaladkins.


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These studies have been commissioned as background material for a comparative report on housing conditions of Roma and Travellers in EU Member States by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in these studies do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA. These studies are made publicly available for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.


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Obama to Israel: Immediate cease-fire in Gaza 'imperative'
As attempts to extend a pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip collapsed on Sunday, President Barack Obama pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an immediate ceasefire, calling it a "strategic imperative," the White House said.
The intervention by Obama came after the United Nations failed to get Israel and Hamas to extend a "humanitarian pause" in combat, and Israeli forces resumed their bombardments in response to renewed rocket and mortar fire from Gaza.
In a phone call with Netanyahu, Obama "made clear the strategic imperative of instituting an immediate, unconditional humanitarian ceasefire that ends hostilities now and leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the November 2012 ceasefire agreement," according to a White House statement.
The 2012 agreement ended a previous round of conflict between Israel and the militant Islamist group Hamas.
Israel had declared a 24-hour suspension of its strikes at midnight Saturday, but said it resumed attacks because of violations by Hamas. The Islamist group declared its own 24-hour pause at 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, citing the hardships of Palestinian civilians and the approaching Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, but Israel rejected it, as militant rocket fire and Israeli shelling continued.
The renewed suspension of hostilities between Israel and Hamas had been requested by Robert Serry, the UN's envoy in the Middle East. The dueling pause declarations and accompanying fighting reflected a test of wills between Israel and Hamas over who would dictate the terms of another lull, after both sides held fire during an agreed pause on Saturday.
Diplomatic contacts to arrange a broader seven-day cease-fire leading to negotiations on a durable truce appeared to be mired in disagreements over the terms, amid signs of dissatisfaction in Israel over the mediation efforts of Secretary of State John Kerry.
Israeli officials said Kerry's most recent ceasefire proposal, rejected by Israel, tilted toward Hamas and failed to take into account Israeli demands to demilitarize the Gaza Strip by ridding it of Hamas rockets and attack tunnels.
The diplomatic deadlock has led to the prolongation of fighting that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 6,000, according to Gaza health officials. The United Nations says that three-quarters of the dead in Gaza are civilians, including more than 200 children. Some 200,000 Palestinians have been displaced by the fighting, and most are sheltering in UN schools.
Two Israeli civilians and a Thai laborer have been killed in rocket strikes on Israel, and 43 Israeli soldiers have been killed in ground combat.
The absence of a trusted mediator has hobbled diplomatic efforts to halt the Israeli offensive, which began July 8 with bombardments from land, sea and air, followed 10 days later by a ground push into Gaza.
The diplomacy has also been complicated by regional tensions between Egypt and the Palestinian Authority on the one side, and Hamas and its allies, Turkey and Qatar, on the other. Hamas rejected an initial cease-fire proposal put forward by Egypt, reflecting its distrust of of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is hostile to the Islamist group and its parent organization, the Muslim Brotherhood.
Kerry's attempts to broker a deal have foundered over Israeli dissatisfaction with the terms of his latest proposal for a seven-day cease-fire. Israel's security cabinet unanimously rejected the plan on Friday, which officials described as heavily weighted in favor of Hamas demands, without taking adequate account of Israeli security concerns.
A leaked text of the draft proposal was published Sunday by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The plan calls for a seven-day "humanitarian ceasefire" followed by negotiations in Cairo within 48 hours to reach "a sustainable cease-fire and enduring solution to the crisis in Gaza."
Topics to be discussed would include opening Gaza border crossings kept shut by Egypt and Israel for the passage of people and goods, transferring funds for salaries of Hamas government employees who have gone unpaid since the formation in June of a Palestinian unity government with the mainstream Fatah faction, and "all security issues."
Implementation of the cease-fire would be supported internationally, including by Turkey and Qatar, which would join a "major humanitarian assistance initiative" for Gaza. The United States has used Turkey and Qatar as intermediaries with Hamas because it does not talk to the group, which it considers a terrorist organization.
Israeli officials said the plan failed to spell out Israel's demand for "demilitarization" of the Gaza Strip, ridding it of Hamas's rocket arsenal and network of tunnels, some of which have been dug toward Israel to carry out cross-border attacks.
Destruction of the tunnels has been a main focus of Israel's ground operations in Gaza. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, a member of the Israeli security cabinet, said Kerry's plan promoted Hamas and its allies, Qatar and Turkey, at the expense of "pragmatic" regional players like Egypt and the Palestinian Authority.
The cease-fire proposal contained elements that "strengthen the extremist axis in the region," Livni told Israel Radio.
"There are identical interests and understanding between the pragmatic, moderate elements in the region _ Israel, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and other Arab states _who don't want to see the extremists making gains and profiting from their aggression and terrorism," she said. "We're all on the same side, and our decisions will be made accordingly."
Interviewed on the NBC program "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Netanyahu said that the Egyptian cease-fire proposal initially turned down by Hamas was the "only game in town."
In a lengthy interview last week with the BBC, Khaled Mashal, the Qatar-based political leader of Hamas, spelled out the group's main demand, to lift border closures on the Gaza Strip that have created a stranglehold on the local economy.
"Gaza is part of the Palestinian land," he said. "We have 1.8 million people. They need to live without a blockade. We want an airport and a port. We want to open up to the world. We don't want to be controlled by a group of crossings that make Gaza the biggest prison in history."
In other developments Sunday, the Israeli army published the results of its investigation into an incident last Thursday in which 16 Palestinians were reported killed in an apparent strike on a UN school in the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, where people who had fled their homes were taking shelter.
The inquiry found that during exchanges of fire with militants, who launched anti-tank missiles at troops from areas near the school, Israeli forces responded with mortar fire. An errant shell hit the school courtyard, but it was empty at the time. The army circulated video footage taken from a drone showing a shell impact in an empty yard of a compound said to be the school.
"It is extremely unlikely that anybody was killed as a result of this mortar," said Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an army spokesman.
Lerner said that the casualties may have been brought to the school compound after they were either caught in crossfire nearby or hit by rockets and mortar rounds launched towards Israel that the army identified as falling short. The army findings contradict accounts by witnesses and people wounded in the incident, who said that shells had landed in the school courtyard as people were gathered there for possible evacuation.
Images from the scene showed a least one crater in the courtyard and blood on the ground and on desks.
In Khan Younis in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, an angry crowd attacked the local Red Cross office, protesting what participants called a lack of effective action by the relief organization. Many people in the mob had lost relatives in Israeli bombardments, witnesses said. A Red Cross spokeswoman said there were no injuries.
Lesley Clark contributed.


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Mine self landed fine on every session. I land and run over to it. Now the spot I am landing has a bit of a windshade so it is not a nuking windy beach. I am quite sure the kite would work fine with an anchor landing too as it sits fine on the wingtip.cleepa wrote:I have an 8m strutless kite. I got it for riding in the surf and have been pretty amazed at it's performance for that. It is more powerful than a conventional kite at the same time as turning faster for the same size. It also has improved drift due to the light weight. It has other interesting characteristics that I am still learning to use. So far, relaunch has not been much different to anything else. The one downside as far as I'm concerned is that the lack of struts makes self landing by pulling on a front line a bad option. The kite can easily blow away if not held down, so self landing that way is not an option. I can't comment on jumping because I haven't tried it.
At any rate, I think it's worth approaching this kind of thing with an open mind. I ended up buying my strutless kite because I found the big thread on here about them very interesting reading. I used to be a skeptic, but that thread made me rethink. I have been really pleased with what I have found.


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Wednesday, August 8, 2012
July 2012 federal polling averages
This being the summer, it is no surprise that only three federal polls were released during the month of July. For that reason, the monthly polling averages have far less to tell us than they usually do. Accordingly, I will not spend too much time analyzing these numbers. I post them more for the sake of continuity.
The Greens were up 0.8 points to 6.7% and the Bloc Québécois was down 0.9 points to 5.1%.
The Liberals had their best results in Atlantic Canada (31.6%), the Prairies (23.4%), and Ontario (26.4%).
In terms of seats, the Conservatives would win 127 on these support levels, with the New Democrats taking 119, the Liberals 59, the Bloc Québécois two, and the Greens one. Compared to June, that is a loss of six seats for the Tories, three for the Bloc, and two for the New Democrats. The Liberals are up 11 seats.
A rough estimate puts the Conservatives at 143 seats, the New Democrats at 128, and the Liberals at 64 in the expanded 338-seat House.
If they were so inclined, the New Democrats and Liberals could come together to govern with a majority, which is a dangerous situation for the Conservatives. It will be a majority or bust for the Tories in 2015 after nine years in power. That is, of course, unless the New Democrats and Liberals rule out any sort of cooperation. The identity of the next leader of the Liberal Party may play a role in how that plays out.
38 comments:
I guess this aggregate of July polling is largely those two Ekos polls earlier in July?ReplyDeleteReplies
No, the first of those polls was done at the end of June. So, the two polls are by EKOS and Nanos (as pointed-out in the graphic).Delete
If June was only EKOS and Nanos too, what would those numbers would have been?Delete
I'm curious as to how much of the changes are from house effects and how much are actual changes in the opinions of the electorate.
Didn't Forum also have a poll out in the National post this weekend that was fielded in July that had NDP 35%, CPC 31% and Libs 22%?ReplyDeleteReplies
I did not see that poll, there is nothing about it on Forum's website.Delete
It turns up in a graph on the Post's article on gun crime, though. I'll see if Forum can send me the details and update if they do.
- Anonymous08 August, 2012 15:53
The full report has *just* been made available on Forum's website. Gee, Éric, that's like twice in the last 3 months that your monthly polling averages have been thwarted by these laggard pollsters! Don't they have any regard for your pivotal, momentous, impactful work here??? ;)Delete
Perhaps due to my requests today. I am about to update.Delete
- Anonymous08 August, 2012 12:44
Eric, Did you see that Forum conducted a poll of 1639 Canadians from July 25th to 26th. It was mostly about crime but they did ask party preference. It showed 33% Conservative, 22% Liberal, 35% NDP, 5% Green, 6% Bloc.ReplyDelete
The results are on the botom of this article, but I'm not having much luck finding anything more detailed:
See above, thanks.Delete
FYI, it put Conservative support at 31%, not 33%.Delete
Opps, that was a typo. Nice catch chimurenga.Delete
Also, thank you Eric for requesting this data. I'm glad they shared the crosstabs for party preference in the other polls. I'm sure many of the results are meaningless but it is interesting to know that Liberals are more likely than the NDP to underestimate the value of items brought abroad to Customs Officials (the result is significant too). (See the Canada-wide - Customs report for these results)
Nanos is one-half of the month's polls ... no wonder the NDP got whacked and the LPC took a jump.ReplyDelete
Amazing how the NDP are leading in BC and the Atlantic and yet come 2nd and 3rd respectively in seats in those regions. They've got to get more efficient with the vote or it's going to cripple their efforts to go any higher.Replies
A lot of it has to be riding size. Urban ridings have more people than suburban and (esp.) rural ridings.Delete
That will, to some extent be corrected with redistribution. The new seat distribution in BC looks to be at least somewhat good news for the NDP, and the seat redistribution in Saskatchewan is VERY good for the NDP, considering that it creates five entirely urban ridings, of which the NDP ought to win four (the Liberals will hold Wascana).Delete
- Anonymous08 August, 2012 13:00
Canada will never allow a coalition of losers. That is not what happens here. The winner forms government. Period. If the losers tried to form government, against the democratic will of the Canadian people, the writ would immediately be dropped again and there would be blood in the water.ReplyDelete
So don't say things like it's majority or bust for the Conservatives. It's absurd. It has never happened and never will.Replies
Where was your crystal ball when Alberta went to the polls?Delete
History disagrees with you Anon 13:00.Delete
- Anonymous08 August, 2012 14:11
Gee Anonymous 13:00, partisan much? As much as *you* may not like the idea, it only makes sense, *especially* if fewer than one third of Canadians vote for the party that squeaks out a plurality of seats and the 2nd place party finishes a mere 0.3% points behind. What do you mean "Canada" will never allow it? The 31.7% will take up arms to prevent it from happening? Harper will prorogue parliament indefinitely? The 68.3% that wished for a different government will humbly refrain from supporting the legitimate right of the parliamentary majority to unite? This happened before in Ontario, you do realize? 1985; go read up about it. The world didn't come to an end. Sheesh...Delete
- Anonymous08 August, 2012 18:39
Ah, so then you would have disapproved of the Liberal-Conservative coalition that held power in BC from the Second World War right on through to the rise of Social Credit? That too was a coalition of the second and third place parties, but I suspect your complaining won't encompass it for strictly partisan reasons.Delete
Anonymous 13:00, educate yourself on the constitution, and on the history of Canada, and then come back. A government by the second place party supported by the third was formed in Ontario after the 1985 election.Delete
In a situation such as this one, the Conservatives would also have been the second place party in terms of percentage of the vote. Losing the popular vote deprives a Conservative attempt to cling to the reigns of power of a lot of its legitimacy.
What if fewer than a third of the people vote for the party that wins a majority? That's how Alberta's election went in 1921 - the UFA won a majority with 29% of the vote (the Liberals won 34% of the vote, but lost power).Delete
The popular vote doesn't matter. Only the seat distribution matters. And I agree that the 2nd and 3rd parties are well within their rights to defeat the throne speech and try to form a government themselves.
We don't elect parties. We elect representatives.
- Anonymous09 August, 2012 00:56
It will be a majority or bust for the Conservatives in 2015.Delete
A "coalition of losers" could have occurred in 2008 and be publicly accepted, if the Liberals and NDP executed it properly. The biggest mistake was having Gilles Duceppe present during the signing, which gave the impression that the separatists were involved in the coalition government. Moreover, the Liberal Party had internal divisions with Ignatieff and co. believing they can win the next election outright and not rely on NDP support. This made the proposed coalition seem very flimsy.
The Conservatives were very clever in demonizing the coalition, and even used the coalition boogeyman in the 2011 election. Any attempt of the Conservatives demonizing a coalition in 2015 would backfire as moderate voters may be more comfortable with a NDP government propped up the Liberals, rather than an outright NDP majority.
While the popular vote is not the controlling or primary consideration, it goes to the public perception of legitimacy. The FPTP system produces absurd results like the UFA result, which is one of its primary problems. As the 2008 coalition crisis proved, it isn't enough for an arrangement to be formally legitimate. It has to be seen by the public to be legitimate.Delete
And while we technically elect representatives, not parties, I think you'd be hard pressed to find more than about 10% of the electorate who are voting for their local candidate as opposed to the party whose banner the candidate happens to carry.
- Anonymous09 August, 2012 01:40
I presume the OP listen a little too closely when the opposition was talking to form a coalition, in 2010 I think. The conservative quickly got in a propaganda too denounce such thing as anti democratic, and add a little bit of Quebec bashing as the Bloc Québécois would had been part of such coalition.Delete
The presence of a separatist party can bring questions up, but still it fail to see that the BQ are there too defend the interest (or what they think is the interest) of the Québécois 'till Quebec get independence or is satisfy with the federation. Québec's independance would never be solve at the Canada's parliament, but by a referendum in Quebec.
Plus it completely miss the point that the government is form by holding the trust of a majority of the deputy. A conservative government could theoretically lose such trust if some of it's deputy were to stop voting with it. And deputy of different party could be assign a ministry. Tradition are not law, nor habit. The actual constitution only require that whoever form the government hold the trust of 50%+1 of the member of the parliament.
We could have seen an NDP government (back when they were the third party) support by Liberals and Conservative, if they would have been so incline. The legitimacy of such government would have been as strong as the one we have actually, or any other we saw in Canada's history. As long as the rule are respected anything can be done.
The fallacious thinking that elector elect the first party to lead and the others to be the opposition is nonsense. Elector vote for the party or candidate they think will better serve their interest and the interest of the society.
Coalition government is the norm in many European country, and most of those have a better and more satisfying democracy. They might not manage as effectively their economy, but that beside the point as bad politician are bad, whatever the system. Also, it does happen in such place with an history of coalition government that the third party take the role of the government as the two bigger party can't agree on what to do. Rare, but it surprisingly work well for a time.
I would also add that actually a majority of Canadian would be in favour of a coalition government, a few polls are conduct time to time and I fail to remember when their was less that 50%+1 of support for such idea. Not when a separatist party would be necessary, but that a misunderstanding of the role and power of the federal parliament. Liberals and NDP certainly do not qualify as separatist party anyways.
So yea, their are still some Canadian that do not know how our political system really work.
- Anonymous09 August, 2012 11:20
A "Coalition of Losers" happened federally too. In the 1925 election, the Conservatives won 115 seats, the Liberals 100, and the Progressive Party got 22. But the Liberals continue to govern with the support of some Progressives in order to outnumber the Tories.Delete
You realize that point that we elect representatives, not parties, actually supports the principle of coalition governments, right?
If a majority of the representatives say that person X is prime minister, that's what happens.
I don't think Ira was challenging that point. He seemed to be responding to my point about the popular vote and the loss of legitimacy of Conservative attempts to cling to power.Delete
- Derek Andrew09 August, 2012 22:40
Governments are not formed by the House of Commons. That power lies exclusively with the Crown. In this way a vote of confidence is a vote to determine what party should enjoy the confidence of the Crown legitimised and affirmed by the elected Commons.
No doubt exists that the Monarch or Governor may choose whomever he sees fit but, convention has developed that the Government must maintain the confidence of the House and the ability to pass supply in order to stay in office as you point out.
Sir Allan Lascelles, private secretary to George VI best explains these conventions in a letter to The Times on the power of dissolution:
To the Editor of The Times
Sir,—It is surely indisputable (and common sense) that a Prime Minister may ask—not demand—that his Sovereign will grant him a dissolution of Parliament; and that the Sovereign, if he so chooses, may refuse to grant this request. The problem of such a choice is entirely personal to the Sovereign, though he is, of course, free to seek informal advice from anybody whom he thinks fit to consult.
In so far as this matter can be publicly discussed, it can be properly assumed that no wise Sovereign—that is, one who has at heart the true interest of the country, the constitution, and the Monarchy—would deny a dissolution to his Prime Minister unless he were satisfied that: (1) the existing Parliament was still vital, viable, and capable of doing its job; (2) a General Election would be detrimental to the national economy; (3) he could rely on finding another Prime Minister who could carry on his Government, for a reasonable period, with a working majority in the House of Commons. When Sir Patrick Duncan refused a dissolution to his Prime Minister in South Africa in 1939, all these conditions were satisfied: when Lord Byng did the same in Canada in 1926, they appeared to be, but in the event the third proved illusory.
I am, &c.,
April 29.
Since, Prime Ministers have the right to test the confidendce of the House the basic rules laid out in the letter can be applied to Government formation even though the letter is concerned with the power of dissolution.
Arguably a coalition containing the Bloc Quebecois would be unable to guarantee points 1,2 and 3. A Coalition with the BQ could not guarantee an effective Parliament whatever agreements. Their loyalty does not lie with Canada and it would be unwise to think their MPs have the interests of the country, constitution and Monarchy at heart. A coaltion government dependent upon the BQ may be detrimental to the national economy (pt2) and that any such Government could guarantee to continue for a "reasonable amount of time" is debateable. The BQ has little interst to maintain the first and third point and presumably since their loyalty is toward Quebec any action that increased or brought forth independence would trump any coalition agreement as well as pts 1 and 3.
This is not to say a coalition with the BQ is impossible the Crown has absolute discretion to appoint whomever but, a coalition of federalist parties appears far more probable and palatable to the Crown.
- Derek Andrew09 August, 2012 22:55
Anon 18:39,Delete
The BC election of 1941 had the Liberals with a plurality with the conservatives as the third party. They subsequently formed a coalition after Patullo resigned.
In the elections of 1945, 1949 members ran as coalition candidates, although generally speaking voters knew what side of the coalition candidates supported. It is incorrect to state the BC coalition was made up of the second and third place parties since mathematically such a result would be impossible.
We have no way of know how efficient or "ineffecient" the NDP vote actually is in those places until we see the new riding boundaries and we see what happens in the 2015 election. We are in uncharted territory right nowReplyDeleteReplies
The new riding boundaries are out for all the Maritime provinces except PEI. The long and short of it is not much changed.Delete
I think the proposed boundaries are out for every Province except Manitoba, Ontario and PEI actually.
- Anonymous09 August, 2012 11:32
The proposed boundaries for Manitoba and PEI are now out.Delete
- Anonymous08 August, 2012 14:55
mr 308 could you do polls in the upcoming byelections vaughan and KW? I enjoy reading your polls.ReplyDeleteReplies
I appreciate that, but I don't conduct my own polls. If any new polls are done for these ridings, I will report on them!Delete
New polls were reported on in the Star today but they are not yet up on the Forum Website though.Delete
Éric, are there regional breakdowns for the Forum poll?ReplyDeleteReplies
If you visit here you can see the regional break down:Delete
It's currently the sixth from the top.
But while you are there if you take a look at this one:
Jul 27, 2012 Canada-wide - Baseball (10th from the top currently). You can see that Green party supporters oppose the DH rule in baseball more than anyone else.
Well that's an easy coalition (agreement)Govt for the NDP-LiberalsReplyDelete
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All may not be at ease in Toyobaru-land, with Subaru brand chief Yasuyuki Yoshinaga dismissing the notion of a drop-top Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S in an interview with Automotive News. The discussion took place at the 2013 Tokyo auto show, at which Toyota displayed yet another FR-S/GT86 convertible concept following the initial debut of the FT-86 Open concept (pictured above) at the 2013 Geneva auto show.
"I understand well that Toyota is receiving strong requests from the American market for the car," Yoshinaga told Automotive News. "But the biggest challenge is meeting our internal safety standards. There are big technical difficulties."
Recent reports from Subaru and Toyota have said about as much, citing various engineering obstacles that make the development of a convertible BRZ/FR-S too costly. Subaru, which builds both versions of the vehicle at its Gumma, Japan factory, has indicated that a convertible variant would require stretching the wheelbase to provide enough back-seat room; Toyota previously specified hurdles such as extra bracing would be needed to maintain rigidity and tautness.
"We make the car, so if we don't make it, it can't happen," Yoshinaga told AN, rejecting the idea of the project for either automaker. "Our engineering department told me that losing the entire roof requires a complete redesign of the structure. It would need a big change."
Such an adamant refusal thickens this back-and-forth plot, and it could potentially signify creative discord between the two Japanese automakers.
If recent rumors prove true, it would mean Toyota is not completely averse to an engineering overhaul, after all — in addition to reports that Toyota is considering more powerful engine options to replace the 200-hp boxer, our colleagues at Motor Trend report that a Scion FR-S sedan has been green-lit and could arrive as soon as 2015. The car could make its initial debut as early as the 2014 Geneva auto show in March.
A sedan variant of the Scion FR-S would reportedly require engineering a 3.9-inch longer wheelbase to accommodate a hybrid powertrain, which is inconsistent with Subaru's claims that it wouldn't manufacture another version of the sports coupe. Stay tuned for more news on the status of future FR-S/BRZ variants, and we'll be sure to update as the story continues to develop.


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Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat 'easier said than done'
Capcom Producer Yoshinori Ono discusses why a Street Fighter versus Mortal Kombat game probably wouldn't work.
One of Capcom's showcase items at the recent Evolution Champion Series 2011 (EVO) was its upcoming crossover fighter with Namco Bandai, Street Fighter X Tekken. Though the crossover seems years in the making, some gamers are eager to see Street Fighter characters face off against another group of brawlers.
Despite getting "a lot of requests" for a title that pits the Street Fighter franchise against the Mortal Kombat series, Capcom Producer Yoshinori Ono said the idea is "easier said than done."
Speaking with the PlayStation Blog at EVO 2011, Ono said that the violence of NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat franchise may not mesh with Street Fighter. "Having Chun Li getting her spine ripped out, or Ryu's head bouncing off the floor...it doesn't necessarily match."
But Mortal Kombat has learned how to play nice in the past. When the franchise was paired with the DC Universe in 2008, the fighting game franchise's standard level of violence was tamer, resulting in a Teen rating for the final product.
Ono said that he does have a number of "dream projects," once of which being the upcoming Street Fighter X Tekken title, while another would be to get Marvel and DC Universe characters to face off for the first time in a video game. According to Ono (and probably everyone, everywhere) that game "would be pretty damned cool if we could ever pull it off."
Though he's become the new face of the Street Fighter franchise at Capcom, Ono isn't shy about giving accolades to the competition. "I've been playing a lot of Mortal Kombat, enjoying their Story mode. And they did such a good job with their Story mode and some of the other features that I feel like they kind of beat me in that sense," he said.
Xav de Matos posted a new article, Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat 'easier said than done'.
Capcom Producer Yoshinori Ono discusses why a Street Fighter versus Mortal Kombat game probably wouldn't work.


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February 23, 2009
By Paul Feinberg
Dr. Jerry Nickelsburg is a senior economist with the UCLA Anderson Forecast. Among his responsibilities are the economic forecast for California and authorship of the associated quarterly California Report.
Last week, the state of California ended a months-long stalemate with the passage of a new budget. While the next UCLA Anderson Forecast for California is not scheduled for release until March, Nickelsburg had some immediate reaction to the newly-passed budget.
Q: What is your immediate reaction to the passage of the California budget and what is its impact on the California economy?
A: The problem California had was an imbalance between revenues and expenditures. And because California borrowing capability is limited, the legislature and the governor really had no choice but to cut expenditures and raise revenues to eliminate the deficit. The only question was how they would raise revenue and how much expenditures would be cut. However those choices were made, the deficit (estimated at $40 billion by the governor's office) gets eliminated.
Q: And the impact?
A: The impact of these choices, whatever the specifics are, is a drag on the California economy. It's a drag on the economy in two ways. When expenditures are cut, you have less spending and more unemployment. When taxes are raised, it creates a disincentive for private economic activity and that leads to more unemployment.
California has two problems: for this fiscal year there was not enough revenue to cover the planned spending. This budget solves that. But it does not solve the underlying structural problem. The underlying structural problem is that California has a very progressive income tax. California relies heavily on the state's highest income earners for funding state government.
But the income of those in the highest income bracket is highly volatile and this variable source of revenue leads to recurrent deficits.
Q. Does the passed budget impact the California Forecast, will it make a difference in the upcoming California Report?
A: No, the budget agreement per se will not impact the forecast. The critical thing was the amount of the deficit and we assumed one way or another that it would be addressed.
Q: What does impact the forecast?
A: The national stimulus package has some impact. It alleviates some of the inevitable unemployment from the budget agreement, particularly in health and education. But there is actually very little stimulus in the stimulus package for California. A third of the stimulus, for example, is for infrastructure which will not impact California until 2010 or later.
There are some tax decreases on the federal level, but they'll be offset by tax increases in the state, so Californians will pay less federal taxes but more state taxes. The bottom line of the stimulus plan is that it helps California solve its current problem, but it does nothing to help California solve the inherent systemic problems that plague Sacramento.


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Commerce Committee on Monday gave strong bipartisan backing to President Barack Obama's nominees to head the Departments of Transportation and Commerce, sending them to the Senate floor for approval.
The committee voted unanimously for Charlotte, North Carolina Mayor Anthony Foxx to be U.S. Transportation secretary and billionaire Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker to be Commerce secretary, filling two more spots on Obama's second-term economic team.
It was not clear how soon the full Senate would vote on the nominations. That could depend on whether Republicans agree to work with Democrats to move them speedily.
"There has been strong bipartisan support for these nominees, and it was evident again today," Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, said in a statement. "I urge my colleagues to act quickly now to schedule votes on their nominations."
The votes came as Obama nominated his longtime economic adviser Jason Furman to be chief White House economist and there were signs of progress on other pending nominations.
The Senate Finance Committee will vote on Tuesday on the nomination of White House international economic affairs adviser Mike Froman to be U.S. Trade Representative.
The Senate Banking Committee voted last week to support U.S. Export-Import Bank President Fred Hochberg for another four-term at the government-run export finance institution, also sending that nomination to the full Senate for approval.
Foxx, whose city hosted the 2012 Democratic party convention where Obama was nominated to run for a second term as president, is considered a rising star in the Democratic party.
He has limited experience in transportation issues outside his work in Charlotte on streetcar and light rail projects as well as airport improvements.
At his hearing, Foxx promised to work with Congress to find a way to fund huge U.S. infrastructure needs at a time of tight budgets and Republican opposition to raising taxes.
Pritzker, an heiress to the Hyatt hotel fortune and one of the wealthiest Americans, was national finance chair of Obama's 2008 campaign and co-chair of his 2012 re-election bid.
A 184-page financial disclosure form released by the White House provided a detailed view of her wealth, including $54 million in consulting fees she received from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Trust Co, which manages an offshore trust for the Pritzker family in the Bahamas.
During last year's presidential campaign, Obama criticized his Republican rival Mitt Romney for using similar offshore accounts to avoid paying U.S. income taxes.
That has prompted some Republicans to accuse Obama of hypocrisy for nominating Pritzker to his Cabinet, as well as Froman and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, who also used offshore tax havens.
Senator John Thune, the ranking Republican on the commerce panel, referred to the issue in a statement explaining his reasons for voting for both Pritzker and Foxx.
"While the president has had strong words for others who have benefited from offshore tax havens, we should not let his double-standard on this issue stand in the way of a qualified nominee," Thune said.
Pritzker pledged during her confirmation hearing to be a voice for business within the administration and to push for policies to increase U.S. competitiveness.
Reporting by Doug Palmer; editing by Christopher Wilson


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The Reverend Horton Heat not only performs a brand of turbo-charged rockabilly that infuses the music with sizzling elements of blues, country, surf rock, and spaghetti Western themes, but he also tends to go out on tour with a smorgasbord of like-minded purveyors of American roots music.
Sunday night the Reverend Horton Heat's Holiday Hayride Tour touches down at The Sinclair in Cambridge, with a lineup that includes roots-rock legends The Blasters, twangy guitar ace Junior Brown, and Western swing/rockabilly star Big Sandy. The show begins at 8 p.m., and the Sinclair is located at 1 Church St., close by Harvard Square, with advance tickets $32, and day of sale tickets $35.
We caught up with the Revthis week as the tour, was kicking off near Pittsburgh. The Rev, aka Jim Heath, is a Dallas native who grew up loving rock, country, blues and pretty much any other music he heard. He played in a high school rock band, and eventually left the University of Texas to play full time with a rock cover band called Sweetbriar. When his young family required him to be home with a steadier income, he spent several years working as a soundman, using the old Sweetbriar public address system to work in local clubs.
But eventually Heath ran into a couple of life-changing events, when he saw a concert by The Cramps, who famously injected their rockabilly with punk rock, and then a bit later when he caught The Blasters, wherein Dave and Phil Alvin and their guys took traditional forms like folk, blues, and country and delivered it at rock tempos. Heath was inspired to go back to rock 'n' roll.
A couple of Heath's guitar solos when he'd been sitting in with touring bands had friends egging him on by saying stuff like "Preach it, reverend!" so that became part of the new band name. The singer's tribute to the late Johnny Horton supplied the first name, and then a slight altering of his last name gave the world the Reverend Horton Heat.
From the start in 1985 the core group has been a trio, and the current lineup includes longtime member Jimbo Wallace on upright bass, with R.J. Contreras on drums. Through the years Heat's profile has been enhanced with some nifty cross-promotion, such as having one of his songs used in "Beavis and Butt-head," or having skateboarding video games like Tony Hawk's Proving Ground use his tunes, or having his song "Big Red Rocket of Love" adapted for a Mazda Miata TV ad in 1999. Heat's most recent album is 2014's "REV," and the next one is in the planning stages.
"We do like to tour with different acts like this, and we've been doing that a long time," said Heath. "I can't take credit for it, but I am lucky to have Scott Wise, who's been my manager for 23 years, and works all that stuff out. He knows what I like, and how to put these package tours together. This particular one is really a heartfelt experience – The Blasters really changed my life when I heard them. Junior Brown is a giant influence on me. And Big Sandy was a real revelation when I first saw him, and realized what was happening on the West Coast rockabilly scene."
Phil Alvin is still leading the Blasters as singer/guitarist, while brother Dave Alvin is devoted to his own solo career, but their impact on Heath was substantial, at a time when he was wondering if a musical career was worth it.
"It's awesome to be touring with the Blasters, and I will be trying to get out and see as much of their sets as I can," said Heath, 58. "After Sweetbriar, seeing them was definitely life-changing for me. Even then, it all seemed to be leading me back to the blues, but with that 1950's type of rock they played. Right around the same time, when I saw The Cramps, The Blasters, and then the Stray Cats, it was like getting the green light for rockabilly."
Heath's playing also has some tasty dollops of surf rock, and we noted that "Pride of San Jacinto," from his 1998 album "Space Heater" could easily be mistaken for a surf rocker, from someone like Quincy's favorite son, Dick Dale.
"Well, I grew up in Corpus Christi, right on the ocean," said Heath. "I tried to surf and I was just no good at it. But the waves there are small and slow, so that makes it difficult. But surfing is part of the culture there, so surf guitar was kind of a big deal when I was growing up. The Ventures, "(theme from) Hawaii 5-0," and Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys were all over the radio. Later I got into it even more and discovered some of the greats like Dick Dale, Davey Allen and the Arrowheads, and of course Link Wray. Link was not necessarily surf rock, but he kind of bridged the gap between surf rock, country, and heavy metal; I consider Link Wray to be the godfather of heavy metal. I was also influenced a lot by spaghetti Westerns, Ennio Morricone and all those great movie themes."
Touring relentlessly, Heath said he is always looking for song ideas, although he tends to do the final writing in one sustained burst prior to recording. Heath's songs are packed with humor, clever word play, and witty parodies of common lyrical tropes, but they're also all framed by his wizardry on the six strings, and whatever the predominant style at any given time, the term "psychobilly" aptly describes his adrenalin-fueled music.
"I am always open to ideas for songs, and I'll put them on my phone," said Heath. "I'll use my little notes section for lyric fragments, song titles, or ideas. Then, all at once, I'll spend two or three weeks and just focus on writing – turning those ideas into something more. Then it's a case of figuring out which ones are the best, and turning them into songs. I may be collecting ideas over a couple years or so, a long time, before I buckle down and finish 'em off."
One big advantage to the Reverend's records is that they all sound live, exciting and red-hot performances that leap off the vinyl (or CD or whatever).
"We basically go for the live sound, recording with the band all together, as much as possible," Heath explained. "But we don't always do it like that. I go back and re-do vocals, for instance. Some aspects are difficult to record, like vocal intonations are hard to do with a really loud drummer. And we knew one band that used to put their bass on a scaffolding 20 feet up in the air to get the best sound. So, we will re-do some parts. But in general we kind of mimic that 1950s process of recording, because we want to be true to what we sound like in concert."
"Of course, since about the 1970s, people are not used to hearing what a three-piece band sounds like," Heath added. "Led Zeppelin was essentially a three-piece like us, but their records would have five guitar parts. These days, we might add an acoustic guitar to the mix to fill out the sound, and we'll often add piano these days too. But usually when we do that, it is to underline the guitar and vocals, so it's not on top of the mix."
With a three-decade career and 11 albums, Heath has a pretty thick songbook to choose his setlists from, but this tour is especially challenging.
"This trip is different because this is a Christmas tour, so we had to get all our stage sets ready, and then work up our Christmas songs," Heath noted. "Then, we had to get up to speed with Big Sandy, because he comes out and sits in with us, and we back him up, so we had to practice those songs so we'd be ready with all the music. So the preparation has been hectic, but today it is all falling into place. Songs come and go in our setlists, and we will occasionally go way back and add one in we haven't done for a while. We stick to the same basic list for a tour, however, since we have support people, lights and sound and so on, who need to know what we're doing. But I'll still throw them a curve ball once in a while."
Music preview HORTON'S HOLIDAY HAYRIDE 8 p.m. Sunday at the Sinclair, 52 Church St., Cambridge. $32 in advance, $35 day-of show. 617-547-5200, sinclaircambridge.com


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the relevant bit:
Following three sold-out nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo last summer, May also disclosed plans to do another Queen show with Adam Lambert as their frontman.
"We are talking about doing something with Adam, probably for TV," he revealed to us.
"He's an amazing artist and a very nice guy. We keep in touch and have a good friendship.
"We're not talking about touring yet, but we are talking about doing an event."
not touring *yet* but at least discussing a show for TV broadcast. just vague enough to mean anything really, something for an awards show, talk show or music program or, yes, a full concert for network broadcast. would love to see them use my suggestion and use HBO here in the US, they always promote concerts as major events.


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Photographed leaving the Bowery Hotel in New York yesterday, Ke$ha debuted hair in bright rainbow hues — lime green, yellow/orange, teal, pink and more. This is either the result of some fun times at the salon… or the aftermath of a long, Lucky Charm-filled bender. And with Ms. Sebert, either option is a viable possibility.
Of note, however: every hue in the dye job matches another part of her outfit just so. And with that many colors at hand, that's hard work.
Photo: SplashNews


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COLUMBUS: Engineers, lawyers, executives and two state lawmakers are among contenders to become Ohio�s next utilities regulator.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio received 26 applications for the seat Commissioner Cheryl Roberto is set to vacate Monday. Applicants include Sen. Shirley Smith and Rep. Sandra Williams, both Cleveland Democrats.
Outgoing Congressman Dennis Kucinich�s long-time senior counsel, PUCO staffers, an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency environmental lawyer, and those listing experience in energy, telecommunications, transportation and fossil fuels also applied.
Roberto was appointed by former Gov. Ted Strickland and specialized in energy efficiency and the environment. Her seat can�t go to a Republican because the party already controls three of five seats.
The panel charged with sending four finalists to Gov. John Kasich meets Jan. 17. Kasich makes the final selection.


text:
|Have you seen this?
|Feb 2014
|Comic Book Resources Preview Page...
|Feb 2014
|Tales of Honor Press Release
|Jan 2014
|For those who are asking about the next Honorverse title...
|Jan 2014
|Baen Announcement
|Dec 2013
|Treecat Wars Reflections
|Aug 2013
|July 2013 Honor Harrington Movie Update
|Jul 2013
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|Jul 2013
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|May 2013
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|Apr 2013
We can't compete with 24-hour cable news, but we'll do our best to keep you updated on all things Weber.
David's latest work, in collaboration with Jacob Holo, is now available!


text: Just before the Third Times a Charm event LE contacted me and told me some Boy Scouts need some help with geocaching in NWA and ask if I would help. I have contacted the Scout in charge and arranged everything for next weekend May 6 which is Sat in Ion,AR. If anyone is interested please contact me and let me know. They are needing people to help the scouts learn about geocaching. OMG and myself are getting some caches made up to hide so the scouts can find. We would love to get a couple of more people together to help with scouts. I'll contact NF about maybe making it a Meet and greet event.


text:
The hospitality industry is looking forward to a boom summer to shake off last year's washout and the gloom of a sluggish economy.
A new survey by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) shows nearly half of New Zealanders will travel over the Christmas-New Year break.
Forty-nine per cent plan to travel over the break, and will spend an average of 7.9 nights away - up from 7.4 nights in each of the last two Christmas-New Year periods. Five per cent of those going away are heading overseas, while 13 per cent of those surveyed had not decided if they would leave home.
TIA chief executive Martin Snedden said the latest "AA Mood of the New Zealand Traveller" report matched a cautious industry optimism about the summer ahead.
"There does seem to be a reasonable level of optimism about the summer.
"Everyone is crossing their fingers and hoping the weather is going to behave better than it did last year."
Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson agreed.
"There's a bit of an expectation that New Zealanders have had enough of that doom and gloom and are looking forward to a summer break and enjoying themselves.
"The weather forecasts look reasonably positive.
"There's a positive expectation out there that this summer will be better than last."
The report, based on a Colmar Brunton survey of 1016 New Zealanders, showed Auckland was the most popular holiday destination this summer.
Traditional holiday spots like Lake Taupo, Tauranga/Mt Maunganui and the Coromandel were also popular choices. In the South Island, Christchurch, Queenstown and Nelson were most popular.
Mr Snedden said that while the urban centres were popular with people visiting families, the holiday traffic would likely be spread around the country.
Despite falling domestic airfares, 87 per cent of people planned to travel by private vehicle over the holidays.
Just over 70 per cent of people surveyed will holiday with relatives, with 40 per cent heading away with their partner, and 23 per cent spending the break with friends.
Motels and holiday parks each attract 16 per cent of holidaymakers, with 70 per cent of those leaving home staying in a private home or bach.
Mr Snedden said it was notable that 62 per cent of those that needed to book accommodation had not yet done so.
"That's a consistent pattern with the way people operate now ... years ago most bookings would be made well in advance."


text:
The RSPB is asking you to take a look at your garden this weekend, January 30-31.
People taking part in this year's Big Garden Birdwatch will be providing conservation scientists with valuable data about the changes in numbers of birds using our gardens in winter, enabling them to help protect our wildlife for future generations.
More than half a million people are expected to watch and count their garden birds this weekend in what is the world's largest garden wildlife survey.
For almost 40 years, the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch has helped raise awareness of those species in decline like starlings and song thrushes, whose numbers have dropped by an alarming 80 and 70 per cent respectively since the Birdwatch began in 1979.
There is slightly better news for the house sparrow, as its long term decline appears to have continued to slow and it remains the most commonly spotted bird in our gardens. However, its numbers have dropped by 58% since 1979.
Dr Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist, said: "Last year's survey was another great year for participation. More than half a million people took part and more than 8.5 million birds were spotted in gardens across the country.
"With so many people now taking part, the results we get from gardens are very valuable. And as the format of the survey has always been the same, this data can be compared year-on-year. The results help us create an annual 'snapshot' of bird numbers across the UK, which, combined with over 30 years' worth of data, allows us to monitor trends and understand how birds are doing."
With the last month of 2015 being reported as the wettest and warmest December on record but with temperatures set to plummet, the results from Big Garden Birdwatch will also help the charity understand how recent unusual weather conditions have affected birds visiting gardens this winter.
Ben Andrew, RSPB Wildlife Advisor, said: "If the UK experiences a continuation of these milder temperatures, those taking part in Big Garden Birdwatch may notice their gardens quieter than in other years.
"The milder weather means that there is more food available in the wider countryside, with birds being less reliant on garden feeders. However, winter is a hard time for our garden wildlife so it's still vital that people keep their feeders stocked up with a variety of energy-rich food so birds can find food whatever the weather. Either way, mild or cold, it will be fascinating to see how the birds respond this weekend."
For the third year running, the RSPB is also asking participants to log some of the other wildlife they see in their gardens throughout the year such as hedgehogs, foxes, stoats and squirrels, to help build an overall picture of how important gardens are for giving nature a home. The RSPB will share the results with Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ARC), People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The Mammal Society to add to their species databases. Results will help all the organisations involved build their understanding about the threats facing garden wildlife.
Dr Fiona Mathews, Chair of The Mammal Society, said: "Gardens can offer fantastic habitat for wild mammals, simply leave things a bit untidy and watch what happens. For example, a bramble patch and a pile of fallen leaves can provide a good nesting site for hedgehogs, whilst bats will feed on night flying-insects attracted to blackberry flowers."
To take part, simply request a free pack from the RSPB website or register your details to save time on the weekend.
The RSPB will be live blogging throughout the weekend and offering downloadable bird song on their website as a soundtrack for the bird watch.


text:
Ithaca College Degree Students Returning Next
Continuing Ithaca College students should register online for their summer courses using HomerConnect prior to making payment. Continuing IC students will be billed by student financial services for summer charges. Students will not receive grades for courses until tuition and fees are paid in full.
Students can view their student account information online. Any credit balance from the spring semester may, upon request, be applied toward summer courses. Summer sessions tuition is not included in the standard fall/spring semester tuition, room & board payments.
All scholarships or aid programs must be approved by the financial aid office.
Extramural Students (students not enrolled in a formal
degree program)
Extramural students must register through the Office of Extended Studies by completing the Registration Form for Extramural Students. For non-local students, payment may be mailed prior to the session start date, or paid online via credit card after registration. See below under Payment Options.
Tuition Payment Options
Tuition payments can be made by check, money order, electronic checking, or credit card. Make your check or money order payable to Ithaca College. Visit the Tuition Payment Options page for complete information.
Refunds are not given after the first day of the May session or a workshop, or the second day of courses offered in summer session I or II.
Students who register for an independent study, internship, online course, or performance study are eligible for a refund if the request is received in writing by the Office of Extended Studies before the end of the add/drop period.
No refund is given for a Withdrawal.


text:
This information has been filed in civil division of Marion County District Court.
Bank of Whitewater vs. Michael Eugene Bright; mortgage on 435 Circle Drive, Florence, foreclosed May 7; judgment of $130,551.31 made in favor of plaintiff; property ordered sold if judgment not satisfied in 14 days.
Deutsche Bank National Trust Company vs. James O'Brien, et al.; order confirming sheriff's sale issued May 7; property in Goessel sold to plaintiff for $53,200.14; certificate of purchase issued; sheriff's deed will be issued in three months.
Department for Children and Families vs. Adam B. Collett; Brian Bina appointed as guardian ad litem of one child and ordered to conduct an investigation to determine if genetic testing is in the child's best interest; respondent admits being parent of another child; ordered to pay $500 monthly child support until permanent child support amount is determined.
Cynthia R. Morton vs. Steven D. Morton; decree of divorce issued May 6 on grounds of incompatibility; respondent ordered to pay $350 monthly spousal support for 100 months; petitioner granted two residences and land, all in Lost Springs, a boat, and a vehicle; respondent granted a vehicle; both parties responsible for personal debt; respondent responsible for home equity loan on one of the residences granted to petitioner.
Hillsboro Ford-Mercury Inc. vs. Johnathan Ramirez, 218 S. Tennessee, Iola; judgment of $931.21 made April 22 in favor of plaintiff.
Midland Funding LLC vs. Patrick Fowler, 1987 Nighthawk Road, Marion; judgment of $1,378.24 made April 22 in favor of plaintiff.
Newton Healthcare Corporation vs. Erminio M. Guerrero, 305 B Road, Goessel; judgment of $100 made April 24 in favor of plaintiff.
Newton Healthcare Corporation vs. Kendra J. Henry, 861 220th Road, Hillsboro; judgment of $200.37 made April 22 in favor of plaintiff.
Newton Medical Center vs. John L. Chizek, 2856 U.S. 77, Lincolnville, et al.; judgment of $300 made April 22 in favor of plaintiff.
Ransom Memorial Hospital vs. Ally D. Barnette, 405 Grant St., Marion; judgment of $8,689.47 made April 10 in favor of plaintiff.
Estate of Bradford Dean Swisher; decree of descent issued May 6; heirs are parents Dean E. and Nancy E. Swisher.


text:
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Open Forum, which is hosted by Kotaku's reader-run blog, TAY. This is a place to talk about life, video games, or anything else, so feel free to hop in and join in the topic discussion, or comment about anything. Then, when you're done, feel free to peruse the articles on TAY and TAYClassic. Is this your first time on TAY or the Open Forum? Then check out this handy TAYTorial! Also, don't forget the new IRC Chatroom.
My husband and I have been contemplating something for the last few weeks. Last night, rather emotionally, we went through with our plan. We deleted The Walking Dead from our DVR. ThereIsaidit. Now I feel better.
In truth, it was bittersweet. It is a show so many people love, but I just couldn't make it through the second season. GET AWAY FROM THE FARM PEOPLE! See, I get emotional about it. Ultimately, the show just sat there taking up 23% (!!!) of my DVR, and thus was cut last night. It's some comfort that I saw it on Netflix the other day, so if I try and trudge through there is that option.
How about you guys? Any show you had to give up even though it was supposed to be "the best thing ever"?
If you don't want to talk about this, feel free to talk about anything!
And Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have good weekends!


text:
With her deadline looming, a romance author escapes to Eastern Europe with the hope that a trip to Transylvania can provide the inspiration she needs to rewrite her latest book. But soon her discovery of a Victorian-era love triangle provides much more than a new storyline: it provides an entire novel's worth! Reunite the long lost lovers in the afterlife in The Stroke of Midnight, a fun Hidden Object game.
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Rock Star
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Joined: 09 Sep 2001
Posts: 2
Location: U.S.
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:24 am
Post subject: Is it just me?
Or did this movie hit home with anyone else?
I'm 28 years old and from the time I was 13 I decided I was going to be a rock star. I used to worship groups like Vixen, Phantom Blue and Lita Ford. It brought back a lot of memories for me. Now I look at my life and what I have become. I mean being a Network Admin. isn't that bad but DAMN I thought by the time I was 28 (back then) that I would be a rock star. Funny how interests change. Now, I couldn't imagine myself being one. >:[
By the way, I think Mark Wahlberg did a great job, I felt all of his anxiety and paranoia that Chris "Izzy" Cole had when he first started with Steel Dragon.
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Joined: 09 Sep 2001
Posts: 21
Location: New York, NY USA
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2001 1:52 pm
Post subject:
It hit home to me just because back when metal was huge it was my life. I know how it feels to be totally submersed in it. I couldn't imagine liking anything else. Yes, very interesting how things change.
I absolutely loved the movie. I thought he was excellent in it.
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Terri Fentress
Joined: 09 Sep 2001
Posts: 12
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2001 7:03 pm
Post subject:
I don't even like heavy metal music but some of the songs were pretty cool. I really liked the movie alot. I saw on ET that it came in third this weekend at the box office. I hope more people go to see it. It is really good. I loved the way it ended especially hooking up with that band member that threw him out of the tribute band. I actually shed a few tears in the end. Did anyone else or am I just a sap?
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Terri Fentress
Joined: 09 Sep 2001
Posts: 12
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2001 7:04 pm
Post subject:
Oops! I am sorry that I shared that tidbit about the end of the movie for those of you who haven't seen it yet. I didn't think. Please forgive me...but there is much more to the ending. I will stop now.
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Joined: 01 Oct 2001
Posts: 9
Location: Bound Brook, NJ-USA
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2001 10:54 am
Post subject:
I just can't seem to get enough of this movie. I feel like a little kid who wants to go back on the rollercoaster after seeing it even after the second viewing. It is very ironic, but the dodge dart in the movie also did it for me. That was all my knockout long haired boyfriend drove back then...lol I think this movie well represented the metal scene. Seeing it flashed before my eyes made me very proud and grateful..."FINALLY" I thought to myself.(27/NJ)
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Joined: 07 Sep 2001
Posts: 552
Location: Canada
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2001 12:09 pm
Post subject:
Oh, I love that "barstoolpsychologist" what a great name! When my friend broke her ankle she used to have to sit at the bar all night while we danced and she used to call herself that. We even bought her this little sign that daid "the doctor is in" boy, does that bring back memories. This movie brought back memories too and I can't get enough of it. I was always attracted to guys that looked like Chris unfortunately they weren't all as decent as him. My friend had a Dodge Dart but the floor was gone on the one side in the back so we called it the "Flinstone mobile" or the "Cadillac" it wasn't quite as cool as the one in Rockstar.
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Joined: 17 Sep 2001
Posts: 24
Location: CA.
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2001 10:40 am
Post subject:
Rock Star is excellent and they cound't have
chosen a better man than mark for this role.
I just loved his sensitivity through the whole
movie. It also brought back memories from my wanna be rocker girl high school days. I was definitely like the role jennifer played. A girl who just wanted to love her boyfriend no
matter where his decisions take him. I also decided to go my own way and get out of the party scene,cause i just could'nt stand it anymore. My guy didn't change for the better so i lost him and chose a better path for myself.
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Jo kindly commented on my last post and provided a report on a serious incident in the South West of the UK.
These incidents seem to be escalating in their numbers and in their violence.
From BBC 24 Monday, 17 September 2007, 17:06 GMT 18:06 UK
999 crew was attacked at incident
Members of an ambulance crew who attended a fatal stabbing in Bristol were abused and attacked by an angry crowd of about 100 people.
Sarah Hodierne and Wayne Evans were the first emergency services on the scene at the Criterion pub on Sunday morning.
When the ambulance arrived Ms Hodierne said she was pulled out by her hair as people shouted and swore.
Ms Hodierne then tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Mohamoud Muse Hassan, who had been stabbed in the neck.
Vehicle attacked
Ms Hodierne said: "I was just doing my job but I was really frightened.
"The crowd opened the ambulance door and pulled me out by my hair – shouting, swearing and threatening me – there were just so many of them. It was very, very stressful."
Mr Evans added: "Mr Hassan was in cardiac arrest and even as we got him in the ambulance they were kicking the vehicle and tried to put in the window."
Chris Hewett, of Great Western Ambulance Service, said: "It was a very difficult and volatile situation. The crowd were jostling them and even pulling Sarah's hair. Despite this they kept calm and did what they could for the patient."
Sergeant Lee George, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The ambulance crew were surrounded as they tried to administer first aid and many of the bystanders were intimidating them and trying to obstruct them.
"They were very brave to carry on in such extreme circumstances. It was the worst job I have been to in 14 years of police service."
A 22-year-old man and 16-year-old girl have been arrested following the fatal stabbing.
And I bet that the Ambulance Crew were not issued with stab proof vests either. With all the safe guards in place that we try to adhere to in making our selves safe, sometimes we will find ourselves in a frightening situation. Even with Police on scene it can still be quite daunting and obviously dangerous.
My sympathies go out to the family and friends of the deceased man. But I also hope that the crew were given support for their actions and received recognition for their bravery.
And another report from Uphilldowndale
BBC 24 Monday, 18 June 2007, 12:11 GMT 13:11 UK
Ambulance is attacked in call out
|An ambulance has been attacked outside a nightclub while paramedics tried to treat a man with a serious head injury.
As the crew tended to the man in the ambulance, in Greater Manchester, a crowd of men who had been beating him broke a window and rocked the van.
The victim, a 20-year-old man, had been punched in the face in the Bamboo nightclub in Hazel Grove, in the early hours of Sunday.
He punched the attacker back and was then set upon by about 15 others.
As the man left the club he was followed by a gang who continued to kick and punch him about the body and face outside on Commercial Road.
Stable condition
He was lying in the road when the ambulance from Buxton, Derbyshire arrived, and paramedics began treating him inside the van when they came under fire from the mob.
The man was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital with a serious head injury, where he remains in a stable condition.
Det Insp Terry Sweeney from Stockport CID said: "This was an extremely violent attack by a group of men who clearly out numbered their victim.
"The fact that these men then continued to try and attack the victim when paramedics were trying to treat him is unacceptable.
"Paramedics are here to save lives and it is unbelievable that people would put them under attack when they are simply trying to do their job."
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about 0150 BST.
These are some of the incidents that get reported. I just hope that it does not become the norm for society to think that this is acceptable.