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Do more than just cross destinations off your bucket list with this action-packed 11-day tour through some of South America's most iconic destinations. You'll experience Machu Picchu in the early morning light, led by a local guide that'll share stories about the ancient Incan culture, and visit the famed Uyuni Salt Flats including a stay in a community-run salt-brick lodge with salt floors and furniture. Sure, you'll be snapping pics to prove you went to the sites, but better yet, you'll have stories to tell and genuine experiences that you'll value even more.
What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de Agencha. Mountain Biking (Malaga High Pass). Santa Teresa hike. Ziplining. Train to Aguas Calientes. Rainbow Mountain hike. 4×4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Embark on a mountain bike ride at Malaga Pass, Explore Machu Picchu in the early morning light, Snap incredible shots of Rainbow Mountain, Visit the spectacular Uyuni Salt Flats, Stay overnight in a G Adventures-supported community lodge
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Important Notes
Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.
Group Leader Description
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, a G Adventures representative, or an expedition team. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12
Meals Included
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
Eating is a big part of traveling. G Adventures understands the importance of breakfast to start your day, we strive to include a basic breakfast wherever possible. A typical breakfast may include toast, coffee and tea, however this may vary depending on the city. Should breakfast not be included, your CEO can suggest some local options.
Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. While trekking in remote regions etc. food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients.
For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Public bus, train, 4×4 vehicle, plane.
Solo Travellers
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Simple hotels (twin-share) (7 nts), G Adventures-supported lodge/basic hotels on Uyuni Salt Flats excursion (2 nts, multi-share), Overnight bus (1 nt).
About Accommodation
Please note that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru and Bolivia (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
Joining Hotel
For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.
Joining Instructions
Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, is approximately a 15-minute drive from the centre of the city, where our joining hotel is located. The easiest way to get there is via taxi. After retrieving your luggage you will see tourist information kiosks. You can arrange for an official taxi at one of these kiosks. The rates are set and will not need to worry about sorting out a ride outside the airport facilities, where the situation tends to get more chaotic, with many drivers vying for few clients.
If you have paid in advance for an arrival transfer, a G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you. If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the joining point hotel via taxi.
Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned for that day other then your welcome meeting in the evening, so you can arrive at any time.
A G Adventures Representative will organize a short meeting soon after arrival, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip. A welcome note will be left for you in the hotel so you have all the necessary information regarding the meeting time. If you arrive late, s/he will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning.
Arrival Complications
We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, as soon as possible please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your CEO (if you are not on a group tour please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier). If you are unable to get in touch with your leader, please refer to our emergency contact details. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during an emergency situation, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Operator (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:
Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel.
G Adventures Local Office Cusco, Peru.
During Office hours (Weekdays, 9am-6pm Local Time): + 51 84 22 62 18.
G Adventures Office Lima, Peru.
During office hours (Weekdays, 9-6pm Local Time): +51 1 241 1650 or 01 241 1650 (from mobile within Peru) or 241 1650 (from payphone within Peru)
After hours Emergency number: +51 99 758 2712,
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
What to Take
Most people automatically assume that the weather is hot in South America, but because of the higher altitude in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night.
We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage.
Packing List
Cold Weather:
• Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
• Scarf
• Warm gloves
• Warm hat
• Warm layers
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Note: Hiking equipment is available to rent locally if desired (prices subject to change):
-Walking pole 15 soles each (30 per pair)
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Visas and Entry Requirements
All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Money Exchange
Debit and credit cards are very useful for cash advances, but you must remember to bring your PIN number (be aware that many ATM machines only accept 4-digit PINs.). Both Cirrus and Plus system cards are the most widely accepted debit cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will work in all of the ATMs in Latin America due to their affiliation with certain card systems. Credit cards can be used in major cities and towns ONLY but please do not rely on them as a method of payment because they are generally not widely accepted. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies.
Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US dollar cash and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE TIP: Please be advised that slightly torn notes, notes that have been heavily marked or are faded may be difficult to exchange. It is best to bring notes in fairly good condition, in denominations lower than 100USD (or equivalent).
As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.
Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $5-$10 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.
If at the end of your trek you felt your trekking guide and support team did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group.
Head guide: 10-25 USD
Assistant guide: 5-12 USD
Your trekking crew: 50 USD
Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $20-25 USD per person, per week can be used.
Optional Activities
- Cusco Tourist Ticket (130PEN per person)
- Inka Museum (10PEN per person)
- Cusco City Tour (45PEN per person)
- Optional Welcome Meeting for Travellers on Combos
- Whitewater Rafting Urubamba (165PEN per person)
Machu Picchu
- Inca Bridge Visit (Free)
La Paz
- Witches' Market Visit
- Valley of the Moon Tour (150BOB per person)
- La Paz City Tour (90BOB per person)
- Death Road Biking Adventure
- Chacaltaya Visit
Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical ratings for trip specific information. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Please note your Adventure travels to high altitude. This is medically defined as anything over 8,000 feet (2,440 meters). Most people can travel to 8,000 feet with minimal effects. However, everyone reacts to altitude differently and altitude sickness can on set with some people irrespective of fitness and age. For details on how to best prepare and what to do in the unlikely event you are effected on your Adventure, please consult your physician.
Safety and Security
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your CEO has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
Protests and Demonstrations- Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately.
Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards) have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).
Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk.
We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling, please visit:
Trip Specific Safety
Care should be taken when wandering around on your own in central Lima, as some areas can be dangerous and pickpockets are daring.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at email@example.com and we will send it on to you.
Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at www.gadventures.com/newsletters/
Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation – Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra's monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit.
Minimum Age
Minimum age of 18 years for this trip.
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Max Pax
Group Leader
G Representative in Cusco, specialist Inca Trail CEO on hike.
Day 1: Cusco
Arrive early and spend some time exploring the city. Meet the group at the welcome meeting, check for the start time on the welcome note at the hotel.
Additional Notes:
Please note: hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
Included Activities:
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting with G Representative
Day 2: Malaga Pass (1B, 1L)
Pump up the excitement today on an epic mountain biking adventure. Start the exhilarating ride way up at Malaga Pass. Enjoy stunning Andean views, Incan archaeological sites, and rushing rivers on the way down to the jungle below.
Included Activities:
Malaga Pass Mountain Biking
Private Vehicle (2.50-3.00 hours)
Day 3: Santa Teresa (1L)
Start early today on a 16km (9.9 mi) hike, trek along the Urubamba river on the way to Santa Teresa. Opt to soak those aching muscles in the hot springs nearby.
Included Activities:
Santa Teresa Valley Hike
Day 4: Santa Teresa/Aguas Calientes (1B)
Soar through the air on a zipline high above the jungle below. Head to Aguas Calientes and opt to visit the local hot springs.
Included Activities:
Santa Teresa Ziplining
Local train (11km)
Day 5: Machu Picchu/Cusco (1B)
Tick majestic Machu Picchu off your bucket list today. Explore the ruins with a local guide and opt to visit the Inca Bridge before returning to Cusco.
Included Activities:
Machu Picchu Guided Tour
Local train (1.50-2.00 hours, 118km)
Day 6: Rainbow Mountain (1B, 1L)
Get a very early start to drive to one of the most instagrammable locations of the region, Rainbow Mountain. Today is a challenging hike, but well worth the reward.
Included Activities:
Rainbow Mountain Hike – Full-day Trip
Private Vehicle (3.50 hour(s))
Day 7: Cusco/La Paz (1B)
Catch a flight to one of the loftiest cities in the world, La Paz, Bolivia. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city, opt to check out the witches market or the valley of the moon.
Plane (1.00 hour(s))
Day 8: La Paz/Salt Flats (1B, 1D)
Fly from La Paz to the town of Uyuni. Despite its isolation and challenging climate (cold and blustery most of the year), the town of Uyuni has earned the nickname of Hija Predilecta de Bolivia (Bolivia's Favourite Daughter).
It is also the starting point for our 2-night excursion through the spectacular Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) in 4×4 vehicles.
Settle into your G Adventures-supported community salt-brick bungalow, complete with salt floors and furniture, after a guided walking tour up to the sacred Jukil mountaintop for sweeping valley views and a dinner of local ingredients prepared by ladies from the community.
Additional Notes:
During the rainy season the locations visited may change due to some routes being covered by water.
Included Activities:
Jukil Community Experience & Lodge
Day 9: Salt Flats (1B, 1L, 1D)
Continue to discover the Uyuni Salt Flats on a 4×4 excursion.
Day 10: Salt Flats/Uyuni (1B, 1L)
Enjoy a final day of exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats before boarding an overnight bus back to La Paz.
Overnight bus
Day 11: La Paz
Depart at any time upon arrival to La Paz by overnight bus.
Additional Notes:
The tour ends upon arrival in La Paz, to enjoy time exploring the city we recommend booking a post hotel night.


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When Push Comes To Shove
It's the summer of '83; heat waves dance across the track in front of me like waves of pure energy flowing across the blacktop. It has been a long couple of hours for the whole team. An errant shoelace from another team's Airwalks had wrapped around our right rear axle and the time in the pits for repair had chewed up all of the early lead we worked so hard to build. I've been in the hot seat for far too long, but I'm double stinting it to the checkered flag. There are only two of us on the lead lap, me on the Transformers Big Wheel and the big redheaded kid on the more high-tech Green Machine. The team knee-riding the plastic skateboard looked strong in the opening laps, but a crash involving the Krazy Kar and a neighbor's collie sent their ride into the sewer drain and its recovery had taken them out of contention. In the closing laps the Green Machine had made up a lot of ground with a fresh rider. He just got on, and topped up with Tang and Smarties he's clearly in better shape for the last few laps. I just have to hang on and not make a mistake.
There are only a few minutes left in the 2.4 Heures du Cul-de-Sac, but those last few laps were all that counted. I had gotten a good run off Dog Dish and coming into Broken Vacuum Cleaner I was carrying more speed than usual. The back end of the Big Wheel steps out violently mid-corner; frantic counter-steer, scraping plastic, and I gather it back up just at the curb, but I've lost precious speed. The Green Machine is now right on my three-position-adjustable seat back. The sound of his hollow plastic front wheel thunders behind my head in a deafening roar. I have to hold him off for just a few more turns. Going into Garden Chair, the Green Machine misses his braking marker. A hollow thud echoes across the cul-de-sac as he plows into my Big Wheel and we both run wide. Struggling to gather it up, my big rear racing slicks scream across the bright gray concrete of the gutter with him on my inside. We glare at each other, side by side for what will come down to a drag race. I kick at the pedals, hunting for forward progress. My sudden charge of adrenaline overpowers the front wheel, leaving me waiting for the momentum of the wheel to bring the other pedal back up into the wheelhouse of my powerstroke. It comes around and with the pedal near top dead center I hit it again. The front wheel breaks loose again. I just can't get the torque to the ground smoothly. The Green Machine edges ahead of me at the line. He gets to spray the bottle of Orange Crush, to hoist the scavenged bowling trophy skyward. I let my aggression get away from me, but it was a learning experience.
The engineers at Yamaha have obviously felt the same sort of pain. Their motorcycle GP program has been experimenting with engines that can put out power in a more linear fashion. Reciprocating piston engines have a problem with smooth power delivery. It may feel smooth to the average driver, but if we were to look at the frequencies involved in power delivery they would tell a different story. It's most easily demonstrated on a typical inline four-cylinder. The pistons travel in pairs of twos. Engineers do this to keep the rotating masses balanced. If you always have two pistons going up and two pistons going down at the same time, everything stays balanced, rotationally at least. But when it comes to power delivery, just talking about the torque being delivered from the combustion events isn't the whole picture. We must also look at the inertial torque from the mass of the pistons and rods. At the top and bottom of the stroke, the piston and rod inertia has very little torque input on the crank; however, at the two sides, 90 degrees and 270 degrees, the torque is maximized being maximum distance from the axis or rotation (the center of the crank). This causes waves of torque to be transmitted into the driveline, like my legs only being able to push on the pedals at certain angles on the Big Wheel
What Yamaha has done is create what's called a cross plane crank. A traditional four banger has what's called a flat crank. It has two rod journals at zero degrees and two rod journals at 180 degrees. The new Yamaha Crank has one at zero, 90, 180, and 270 degrees. This crank constantly has a piston producing torque on the crank. It not only solves problems with inertial torque, but also allows the engine to produce torque in a more consistent manner from combustion events.
So what's the downside of a cross-plane crank? Well, they tend to produce some wicked second-order vibrations. These can be cured with balance shafts or even isolated with cleverly designed engine mounts. However, right now they are only being employed on high-performance engines where it doesn't really matter. But if you've ever wondered why a Ferrari sounds like a like Ferrari, it's because they are using this technology in their V8s-but that's a whole different column.


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Canton is a town, incorporated in 1806, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,840 at the 2000 census and 10,292 as of the 2010 census. It is bordered by Granby on the north, Simsbury on the east, Avon and Burlington on the south, New Hartford on the west, and Barkhamsted on the northwest. Running through it is the Farmington River. The town includes the villages of North Canton, Canton Center, Canton (Canton Valley), and Collinsville. In September 2007, Collinsville was ranked in Budget Travel magazine as one of the "Ten Coolest Small Towns In America".[citation needed]
* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .


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Arbjan Mazniku is one of MJAFT's founders and was in charge at its policy department until September 2007.
"I believe MJAFT has been very successful in redefining the concept of protesting in Albanian society. Protest in Albania was closely associated with requesting either a change of regime, or of government, and as such, was often violent. Protesting was also quite 'totalitarian' as people usually went out only in extremely large numbers, requesting holistic solutions to their problems."
Arbjan recalls the fall of the regime in 1991:
"At the time I was 12. I remember people from the regime talking about 'dark forces' at work to destroy the system. I had these mixed feelings of awe and admiration for these 'dark forces'. Sometimes I pictured them in hoods as thieves that would break into our houses, then as glorious fighters that would change Albania into something similar to the world I saw on Italian television.
The day the statue of Hoxha was toppled, we did not go to school. My dad returned early from work, which was unusual. We learned what was happening from people in the neighbourhood, as TV and radio gave no news of the events.
I sneaked out of the house and went to the rally in the centre of town. There were tens of thousands of people and a sense of liberation gripped the crowd. I ran after the statue that was dragged to the student city.
I was in real trouble when I returned home. I have never seen my father angrier and more scared than on that day."
The year 1997 was another turning point.
"It was a period that seemed like a miracle. Everyone had plenty of money in their hands. People were selling their cars, businesses, houses, or anything they could, to invest the money in "the firms" in the hope that this would allow them to buy better ones latter. The 'firms' turned out to be pyramids and collapsed, taking down with them everything people had. There was no public order and for a few weeks we were in a total state of anarchy. Millions of weapons were in people's hands and I remember with grief the nights where the sky would light up from millions of bullets shot into the sky. It was as if we were at war only without an enemy."
"The '97 crises not only hurt the economy and the state it hurt the Albanian's self-esteem. When the Kosovar exodus began, Albanians went out of their way to help their fellows. I remember talking to some of the relief agencies staffers who were saying that the refugee camps they were building were remaining half empty. All over the country, families of four turned overnight into families of seventeen. People were helping with everything from food, clothing and shelter to blood for the wounded. The public reaction to the crisis not only helped the Kosovars, it helped Albanians believe that good things could come out of their common effort."
Arbi studied at the University of Tirana's School of Journalism. He ran the National Debate Association, together with Marinela Lika (another of MJAFT's founders). Arbjen and Marinela (Ina) Lika later became husband and wife.
When the idea for a MJAFT campaign was born, Arbjan and his fellow founders approached the Dutch embassy which had just funded a small tournament within his debate program. They were stunned when they heard their new much more ambitious proposal had been approved.
Arbjan describes the motivation behind MJAFT:
"After you travel a bit around the world and you return to Albania your perspective on things at home changes. People can get used to a lack of electricity, water, pot holes, and even what they expect from doctors and police. We knew that if we wanted to build a future in Albania we had to change that. We needed a way to somehow change what people expected from their everyday life.
Even in our wildest dreams at that time we did not think we were starting a movement. We thought we would just run a campaign, send a strong message, give people a pill or reality check. We picked a quote from Amartya Sen:
'The insecure sharecropper, the exploited landless laborer, the overworked domestic servant, the subordinate housewife, may all come to terms with their predicament in such a way that grievance and discontent are submerged in cheerful endurance by the necessity of uneventful survival. The hopeless underdog loses the courage to desire a better deal and learns to take pleasure in small mercies. '"
Like MJAFT's other founders, Arbjan stepped down in 2007. He is confident about Albania's future:
"Albanians are energetic and creative people. The country has gone through a series of misfortunes that have left it lagging in comparison to our neighbours. In the last ten years, Albanian society has been changing and has made colossal steps towards Europeanization. MJAFT would not have been able to exist had it not found a receptive and supportive environment all across Albania."
- Carlos Elbirt, "Albania under the Shadow of the Pyramids"
- Christopher Jarvis, "The Rise and Fall of Albania's Pyramid Schemes", Finance & Development March 2000, Volume 37, Number 1
May 2008


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Braves, Floyd come to terms on one-year deal
Right-hander, 30, made five starts in '13 before undergoing Tommy John surgery
ATLANTA -- The Braves believe that if right-hander Gavin Floyd makes a successful recovery from elbow reconstruction surgery, he could provide the depth and experience they have been seeking for their rotation.
After evaluating the cost of the options available via trade or free agency, the Braves opted to take a chance on Floyd, 30, signing him to a one-year, $4 million contract that provides an opportunity for him to earn another $4.5 million through incentives.
"As we developed our offseason wish list, he was one of the pitchers we wanted," general manager Frank Wren said. "We moved up those conversations prior to the Winter Meetings. Then we had some really good conversations with his representatives at the Meetings to the point where we knew we could get a deal done."
After passing a physical on Monday, Floyd went to Turner Field, where he met manager Fredi Gonzalez and spoke to a small group of reporters about his hope to be ready to pitch at some point in May.
"It just seemed a lot of arrows were pointing to Atlanta," Floyd said. "It felt good for the family, and it felt good for me. I like the fact they are always a competitive team and always in the hunt. They have a good pitching coach and a good ballpark [for pitchers]."
Wren said that the Floyd signing likely ends his pursuit in regard to starting pitching; the Braves will likely begin the season with Kris Medlen, Mike Minor, Julio Teheran, Brandon Beachy and Alex Wood in their rotation.
The Braves initially showed interest in Jeff Samardzija, but quickly eliminated him as an option once it was apparent the Cubs were asking for much more than they envisioned. This led Wren and his staff to begin looking at Chris Capuano, Bruce Chen, Edison Volquez and Floyd.
With uncertainty surrounding Beachy, who was limited to five starts this past season after returning from Tommy John surgery, and Wood, who will be on an innings limit during his first full Major League season, Floyd will be able to provide insurance once he is cleared.
"I don't think we'll be actively pursuing starters at this point," Wren said. "You never stop trying to get better, but we do feel we have filled a major need and added depth to our rotation.
"You're always looking to improve. In [Floyd's] case, he gives us that solid starter that has been around and understands what needs to be done. We are very young in our rotation. We like our rotation. But I'll use the line [top Braves scout] Jim Fregosi always says: 'When you've got six [starters], you've really got four or five.' So this gives us that depth to get through a season."
Floyd made just five starts for the White Sox before undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 6. During the procedure, Dr. David Altchek reconstructed the right elbow by repairing a torn ulnar collateral ligament and torn flexor tendon.
Because both the tendon and ligament were repaired, there is a chance Floyd could need more than the 12-month rehab schedule starting pitchers often do after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but Wren is confident that Floyd will be ready to pitch during the first half of May.
Although Floyd did not dispute that projection, he acknowledged that he still has a number of hurdles to clear before gaining an indication of when he will join the rotation.
"I have no idea," Floyd said. "The way I've been going, if I had to say, I'd say I'd be ready tomorrow. But obviously, that is unrealistic. I have to realize I have never been through this. I have to realize this is all new to me. The Atlanta Braves have experience with [pitchers who have had Tommy John surgery] and know different guys heal differently. I don't know if there is going to be any setbacks."
After spending the past few weeks encountering no discomfort during his long-toss exercises, Floyd now finds himself with the sense of encouragement that has been expressed by many pitchers when they are seven months removed from Tommy John surgery.
Within the next week, Floyd will begin throwing off a "half mound," which is designed to lessen strain on the elbow.
"If everything goes well, he should leave Spring Training ready to go out on injury rehab to start the buildup," Wren said. "So his Spring Training will really be in April."
Floyd has gone 70-70 with a 4.48 ERA in the 199 Major League starts he has made since the Phillies selected him with the fourth overall selection in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.
After producing a 5.89 ERA in 29 starts from 2004-07, Floyd showed promise, going 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA in 33 starts in 2008, but he compiled a 4.22 ERA in the 125 starts over the five seasons that followed.
"We've been involved in a lot of different conversations," Wren said, "but he was a pitcher we liked a lot. We not only like his stuff, we like his makeup and everything about him. We feel like he's really grown over the past few years, especially pitching in a tough park in Chicago."


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Road users are advised to anticipate traffic delays in Belfast city centre on Sunday (February 25) between 11.30am and 3.00pm.
Police say this is due to a number of parades and a rally taking place during this time, which may cause some traffic disruption.
The public are asked to plan their journeys in advance and follow the directions of police officers.


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Following Him
Following Him is a non-profit ministry devoted to helping real women, with real lives, follow a real Savior. This ministry is dedicated to helping you know God's Word, understand God's Word and apply God's Word to your life, through a variety of tools offered on this website, as well as my speaking ministry.
Statement of Faith
Through our relationship with Christ, we are healed, renewed, redeemed, forgiven, transformed, loved. It's our passion to share this faith and hope with the world.
If you have any questions about my statement of faith, please don't hesitate to ask.
Knowing Him
Most women I've met have expressed their longing to meet "Prince Charming" and to live happily ever after. I too spent most of my life looking for the Fairy Tale only to have ended up with two failed marriages and still no prince. Why have so few women experienced the Fairy Tale? Because it's a story about fairies, not women!!


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Coffee Maker Supplies
Choose from a variety of coffee and beverage supplies for your food service establishment when you shop at Mission Restaurant Supply! We stock coffee filters, coffee warmers, plastic funnels for coffee makers, coffee scoops and much more! Invest in coffee supplies and beverage supplies at Mission Restaurant Supply and get the best price and selection all in one place!


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Keep an eye on No. 15 Luke Wiles flipping the ball to No. 11 John Tavares at the start of this clip, from Friday's NLL game between Buffalo and Philadelphia. As the two separate after a stoppage in play, Wiles immediately cradles as if he's still got possession. It fools the referee, and it fools the Philadelphia defense as they focus on Wiles while Tavares sneaks in at the top of your screen for an easy goal.
It also fools the hell out of the announcer, who even on the replay is convinced there was a pass in there somewhere. "Nice movement by Buffalo!"


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Seattle has been getting a few sunny days here and there, and even though they've been cold sunny days, they've got me daydreaming about summer anyway. When summer does come, and when we get one of those sticky, drowsy days where cooking sounds unbearable, this is the recipe I'm going to turn to.
I love fresh spring rolls because they're refreshing, healthy, and pretty easy to make. Oh, and don't forget the peanut dipping sauce. Fresh spring rolls love dipping sauce, and they are very sad to be eaten without it.
Fresh Tofu Spring Rolls*
rice paper wrappers (some info on these here)
extra firm tofu
vermicelli noodles (see photo above for the kind I have)
thai basil and/or mint
1. Soften the vermicelli noodles by placing them in a small bowl and pouring hot water over the noodles. Try a noodle after about 5 minutes; once they're soft, drain over the sink.
2. Slice the tofu and vegetables into thin strips. Remove basil and mint leaves from stems. Set fillings aside.
3. Fill a large, shallow dish with hot water. Dunk a rice paper wrapper into the hot water, pressing down if it starts to float up. It won't take very long for the wrapper to soften, and the hotter the water, the faster it goes. (Don't stack the softened wrappers; they'll stick together. I make these spring rolls one at a time.)
4. Lay a wrapper onto a plate and dab off any excess water with a paper towel. Start adding your fillings on the lower third of the wrapper. Don't overfill, or the wrapper will tear.
5. Start rolling the wrapper, holding in the fillings with your hand if needed. About half-way up, fold in the left and right sides of the wrapper, then finish rolling. The wrapper should be sticky enough to "self-seal".
6. Slice your roll in half and enjoy with the peanut dipping sauce.
Peanut Dipping Sauce
adapted from Iowa Girl Eats
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tsp chili garlic sauce (I have this little bottle)
2 tbsp chopped peanuts
Mix all of the dipping sauce ingredients except for the chopped peanuts. Once the peanut butter has fully mixed into the rest of the sauce, add the chopped peanuts and stir again.
*I'm not including specific amounts for each ingredient because it can really vary based on how big the veggies are, what your ratio preferences are, and how tightly you pack the rolls. But for reference, I made about 5 spring rolls with the amounts shown in the video (with 1/4 pack tofu and 1.5 ounces of dry vermicelli noodles).


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NEWINGTON — The cold and a thick fog haven't stopped shoppers from hitting the Black Friday sales in New Hampshire. Malls and outlet stores have seen a lot of occupied parking spots. Some stores opened Thanksgiving night, ahead of the usual midnight start.
NEWINGTON (AP) — The cold and a thick fog haven't stopped shoppers from hitting the Black Friday sales in New Hampshire.
Malls and outlet stores have seen a lot of occupied parking spots. Some stores opened Thanksgiving night, ahead of the usual midnight start.
One couple had set up camp at a Best Buy store in Newington on Wednesday night so they could be set to go in at midnight for electronics.
Hundreds of people have converged on the Merrimack Premium Outlets, where there are 100 stores. Some opened at 9 p.m. Thursday.
The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire in Bedford opened its doors Friday morning to offer free small animals and special pricing on cats and dogs. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., all animals are being offered at half price.
This year's Black Friday shoppers were split into two distinct groups: those who wanted to fall into a turkey-induced slumber and those who'd rather shop instead.
Stores typically open in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving that's named Black Friday because of retail folklore that it's when merchants turn a profit for the year. But after testing how shoppers would respond to earlier hours last year, stores such as Target and Toys R Us this year opened as early as Thanksgiving evening. That created two separate waves of shoppers.
The earlier hours are an effort by stores to make shopping as convenient as possible for Americans, who they fear won't spend freely during the two-month holiday season in November and December because of economic uncertainty. Many shoppers are worried about high unemployment and a package of tax increases and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff" that will take effect in January unless Congress passes a budget deal by then.
At the same time, Americans have grown more comfortable shopping on websites that offer cheap prices and the convenience of being able to buy something from smartphones, laptops and tablet computers from just about anywhere. That puts added pressure on brick-and-mortar stores, which can make up to 40 percent of their annual revenue during the holiday shopping season, to give consumers a compelling reason to leave their homes.
That's becoming more difficult: the National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, estimates that overall sales in November and December will rise 4.1 percent this year to $586.1 billion, or about flat with last year's growth. But the online part of that is expected to rise 15 percent to $68.4 billion, according to Forrester Research.
As a result, brick-and-mortar retailers have been trying everything they can to lure consumers into stores. Some stores tested the earlier hours last year, but this year more retailers opened their doors late on Thanksgiving or at midnight on Black Friday. In addition to expanding their hours, many also are offering free layaways and shipping, matching the cheaper prices of online rivals and updating their mobile shopping apps with more information.
"Every retailer wants to beat everyone else," said C. Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group, a research firm based in Charleston, S.C. "Shoppers love it."


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Sushi Belushi is as tall as she is wide and her nose has whiskers on either side.
Izzy von Rizzi is elegant and slim with soft silky fur from her tail to her chin.
Coco Magliocco loves to smile and go for walks every once in a while.
Lilly de Silly has ears that flip and flop and a wiggly tail that bounces and bops.
Hooligan Magooligan has four lovely pets and she loves them all no matter how big or small. Meet Hooligan Magooligan and her pets in this wonderful rhyming adventure that conveys a lovely message about embracing individuality.


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When former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams signed a sworn statement on September 14, months after the bounty investigation had ended and days after the first wave of player suspensions had been scuttled, obvious questions arose regarding whether Williams had gotten anything in return for his cooperation.
Now, he's possibly looking for something in return for his cooperation.
Before Thursday's Texans-Lions game, Jason La Canfora of CBS reported that Williams has asked to have his reinstatement hearing moved from February to December. Not coincidentally, the request comes at a time when the NFL must, as a practical matter, produce Williams to testify or risk having his sworn statement excluded from the proceedings.
So, basically, Williams is making a power play. If the league wants him to show up and testify, the league will have to accelerate the reinstatement process.
The shift from February to December would, if Williams is reinstated, give him a chance to look for a new job in the event the Rams opt not to keep him. If he's not reinstated until February, most of the jobs likely would be taken.
Then again, it's unlikely any NFL will hire Williams to coach players. Apart from his cartoonish "kill the head" antics and his ongoing use of a pay-for-performance system at a time when Williams knew the NFL had investigated the situation, plenty of players believe Williams "snitched" on Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, which will make it difficult if not impossible for Williams to ever have credibility again in an NFL locker room.
Still, if the NFL wants Williams to show up and testify, the NFL would be wise to do what Williams wants. Otherwise, the NFL will have to make its case against Vilma with the testimony of former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo, whose testimony could collapse under aggressive cross examination.


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Does anyone out there know who makes the reeds for Miguel Mosquera Gaita ? I have a set made by him in 1998 and I am having a hard time getting them to play well.
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Reeds for Miguel Mosquera Gaita?
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Re: Reeds for Miguel Mosquera Gaita?
I can't say I know the answer to this, but you might consider going to tununtunumba.com, they have a variety of reeds from different makers, you could buy a few and experiment to see if any work best wit your set.
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Anyone heard any news on Black Frog or the When Still.. campaign? Really looking forward to those two. I know that Black Frog is (hopefully) still being worked on and When Still... entered beta testing a while back - it'd be nice if mission authors kept their fans updated
We're excited about the work you are doing so let us know more often!


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For the best experience after a hysterectomy, it's important to discuss with your Ob/Gyn all your options for the type of surgery you will have. Physicians at Baptist Medical Center offer a complete range of procedures, and the best one for you will depend on a number of factors, including the reason for your surgery. All OB/Gyns on staff at Baptist are board certified, skilled physicians, experienced in surgical procedures for women.
For a good overview of hysterectomy, it's helpful to think about two aspects of the surgery:
In general, a hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. A "total" or "complete" hysterectomy includes the uterus and cervix. A "partial" hysterectomy, also called a supracervical hysterectomy, leaves the cervix intact.
While not all women choose to do so, the fallopian tubes and ovaries may also be removed at the time the hysterectomy is performed. This procedure, called a bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy, will trigger immediate menopause in women who are still having periods at the time of surgery. Before surgery, your physician may discuss with you options for hormone replacement therapy to manage symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats.
In an abdominal or open hysterectomy, the surgeon makes an incision averaging 6 to 7 inches long. This allows the physician to view the internal organs directly. Physicians may recommend open surgery for patients who have some type of gynecological cancer because it allows them to check adjacent tissue for the presence of cancer. Open surgery may also be recommended for large fibroid tumors. Surgery time varies depending on the individual, but on average it takes one to two hours.
In a laparoscopic hysterectomy, physicians use specialized equipment that requires only four or five incision about half an inch long. Through these small incisions, they insert instruments that allow them to perform the surgery. Physicians view the surgical area on a monitor using images from a tiny camera that's inserted into the abdomen. This type of surgery may be a good option for women with benign conditions such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Again, the surgical time varies, but the average laparoscopic procedure lasts one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours.
During a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, surgeons remove the uterus through the vagina as opposed through an incision in the abdomen.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy may be the best option for women with benign conditions that require more complex procedures. For example, women with fibroids too large to be removed with traditional laparoscopy, or with endometriosis and adhesions, may be candidates for robot-assisted laparoscopy. Learn more about this surgery on our Robotic Hysterectomy page
How long you'll stay in the hospital depends on the type of surgery you have. Most women who have an abdominal hysterectomy can expect to spend two to three nights in the hospital. The average recovery time is six to eight weeks for a full return to work and normal activities.
Most women who have a laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic procedure can expect to spend one night in the hospital and go home the following day. Average recovery time is about four weeks for a full return to work and normal activities.
While you are in the hospital, your physician will typically manage your pain initially with IV pain medication, and move you to oral medications as soon as your pain level permits. If your ovaries were removed, your physician may also begin hormone replacement therapy right away.
Normally, after surgery your physician will want you to get up and start walking as soon as possible to increase circulation and decrease your risk of blood clots. Some patients may go home with a catheter. After surgery, bowel activity usually resumes with passing gas. A bowel movement is typical two to three days after surgery. Your physician may prescribe a stool softener to aid in bowel recovery. You should keep the surgical incision clean and dry.
Your physician will discuss with you what symptoms of possible complications to watch for during recovery at home. Generally, call your physician if you experience:
Post hysterectomy bleeding can be unpredictable. It can last up to six weeks after surgery, but should taper off over time.
As you recover, keep in mind that you will still need to see your physician for an annual physical, including a Pap smear if you still have your cervix.
Most hysterectomies at Baptist are performed in the Center for Surgery at Baptist for Women. This state-of-the art facility is located on the ground floor of Baptist for Women with immediately available parking and patient pick up at the door. Learn more about the Center for Surgery
If you don't have an Ob/Gyn, professionals at the Baptist Health Line can provide you with a referral to a physician on staff at Baptist. This is a free service. To request a referral, use our online form. Or if you need to speak to someone, call 601-948-6262 or 1-800-948-6262.Request a physician referral online
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Everything you never wanted to know about the world of temporary attorneys. And maybe more.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Time to realize what you voted for. Update: Instalanche!
It's been hashed out in the comments on this blog before -- contract attorneys in Washington are, by and large, liberals. Usually, very liberal. By this of course, we mean the old-school, early 1900s Progressives, not the classic, Thomas Jefferson liberals. We're talking about the far leftists who changed their label from Progressive to Liberal when Progressive became a pejorative, then back to Progressive when Liberal became a pejorative and people had forgotten that Progressive used to be a pejorative.
Philosophy aside, it is important to realize that elections have consequences. One of the consequences of this election is that Obamacare is here to stay, at least for a while. It is too inherently unworkable to stay for long, but it isn't going away in the next few years. Live with it.
Liberal contract attorneys might want to consider what "live with it" means. Under Obamacare, companies with 50 or more full-time employees either have to provide them with government-approved health insurance policies, or pay a per-employee fine. Further, the fine kicks in at the 31st employee, not the 51st, and it starts at $2,000 per year per employee. It goes up later. Companies, therefore, are discouraged from having full-time employees, or at least 50 or more of them. Hello, part-time employment. Think I'm fucking with you? Think again.
While you're thinking again, start thinking about the industry in which you work. Obamacare, unlike other government regulations, defines a full-time employee as one working 30 hours a week. Every temp agency in town worth a shit has 50 people working "full-time" in any given year under that definition. If you think that temp agencies will give you employer-funded health insurance that meets Obamacare standards (hint: lots of mandates make insurance less affordable), you are delusional. They already didn't offer comprehensive insurance, which was cheaper before Obamacare started affecting rates, so they won't start now. They also are not going to pay the penalty. Margins are too thin. What will the agencies do?
There are only two choices. First, nobody works 30 hours a week for an agency ever again. That probably is an unworkable solution, but it is not unthinkable, given the trend in the industry toward a 40-hour cap on projects. A 30-hour cap would mean more bodies, staggered, but would not be a dramatic departure from the no-OT policy that already governs so many projects. Given the staggering costs of forced health coverage (or penalties), agencies won't consider this option unworkable. They'll think about it, and you'll have to start finding two projects at a time to make a living wage. Assuming, of course, that agencies and the firms that hire them stop enforcing their concurrent employment policies that ban working two projects at a time.
The second choice is, your taxes just got harder. Agencies could deem contract attorneys to be independent contractors and start issuing 1099s instead of W-2s. That means you'll have to make quarterly estimated tax payments for withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. Oh, and by the way, it also means you'll be responsible for the employer's half of those Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, as you will now be self employed. Of course agencies will raise your rates to make up for the fact that your share of the payroll taxes doubled while their share disappeared. Don't doubt it for a second. Yeah, you're fucked.
One way or another, you're fucked. Temporary employment as we know it is unlikely to survive Obamacare, at least as it is currently structured. That's not my opinion, that's what temp agency heads said to Congress. I suggest you read the entire transcript. These guys have a pretty good idea of how Obamacare will fuck their industry and, by extension, you.
But don't worry about them. Maybe they're full of shit. Maybe you'll be fine. Or maybe you're fucked. but hey, that's what you voted for.
36 comments:
Great Article! I hope you don't mind, I re-posted it on my site: redinknews.org
Check out my blog. In between posting news articles, I tend to go off on a vile rant or two.
- November 9, 2012 at 6:56 PM
- Unknown said...
So liberal lawyers are going to get screwed by Obamacare. Where's the downside?
- November 9, 2012 at 7:01 PM
- autothreads said...
We should do everything that we can do to make sure that America gets what they voted for, good and hard, as Mencken put it. The only way that we can prove, with no doubt, to Americans that Democrats policies will fail, is to let them fail. It won't be fun if the dollar collapses but maybe that's the only way to clean out Washington. I think the Republican leadership should publicly state that against their best judgement they will support any and all Democratic legislation. Make sure that the Democrats get their way and make sure that the American people know exactly who is driving the fiscal buss off of the cliff.
- November 9, 2012 at 7:05 PM
- Sam L. said...
Downside? Everybody gets f***ed!
- November 9, 2012 at 7:14 PM
- Inkling said...
Lawyers working contracts aren't the only ones who'll be hurting. Others making far less will too.
I sometimes do contract work at a major art museum. There, many of the staff are kept below 35 hours a week so the museum doesn't have to provide the pricey benefits of full-time employees. Most are young, healthy, and working there because they love art, so it's been no great hardship for them, apart from the smaller paycheck those less-than-35 hours brings in.
Now with Obamacare coming online those less-than-35 hour weeks will become less-than-30 hours. Since some are only making $10/hour before taxes, that $350/week paycheck drops to less than $300 or a mere $1200/month.
Where I live, that'll cover a hole-in-the-wall apartment and Ramen noodles but not much else.
- November 9, 2012 at 7:25 PM
Is okay, they will qualify for Food Stamps. That way they can afford something in between those noodles.
- November 9, 2012 at 7:43 PM
- Ernst Stavro Blofeld said...
My brother runs a small business with 55 employees. Looks like his headcount is going to go down by five.
- November 9, 2012 at 7:43 PM
- Unknown said...
Ernst, it better go down by six...no more than 49 employees, 50 is the magic number. Does the owner count as well as they are getting the same coverage?
Autothreads, been arguing your point with someone today. I hope the Republicans put up their bills so they say they have done something but let the Dem bills pass by voting present. Obama should respect them, that's how he voted in the Illinois senate most of the time.
- November 9, 2012 at 7:54 PM
- Orrin said...
Republicans in the House will author a teensy, tiny little change in some minor regulation on page 89,546 of Obamacare. That will be their "giveback" for massive tax hikes. Then in 2014 and beyond, people will hate how the Republicans COMPLETELY FUCKED UP HEALTH CARE IN THIS COUNTRY!!!!
Dollars to donuts Nancy already has that little poison pill/magic bean ready to sell to Boehner...
- November 9, 2012 at 8:16 PM
- David said...
We have become a people of the Government, by the Government, and for the Government.
- November 9, 2012 at 8:37 PM
- Chaz said...
The downside is that Liberal Lawyers are fairly close to the top of the screwing order... and you tend to start at the bottom and go up.
By the way... you're more likely pretty close to the bottom.
- November 9, 2012 at 8:55 PM
- TravelinPilgrim said...
Quoting autothreads: "I think the Republican leadership should publicly state that against their best judgement they will support any and all Democratic legislation"
I disagree with you. If the Republicans go with anything the Dims want, they'll get the blame for the failures and NONE of the credit for the successes. The fact that most Dims' solutions are basically more regulatory control and tax increases, their attempts at fixing problems are going to fail anyway. Republicans should fight tooth and nail on EVERYTHING, I say.
- November 9, 2012 at 9:05 PM
- The Sanity Inspector said...
At first I thought the "think I'm f^$#@ing with you?" was going to go to the Alec Baldwin scene of Glengarry Glen Ross
- November 9, 2012 at 9:26 PM
- Raised.by.wolves said...
Wish I had thought of that.
- November 9, 2012 at 9:36 PM
- Raised.by.wolves said...
Don't mind at all. Thank you very much!
- November 9, 2012 at 9:39 PM
- Jonathan said...
In IT there's the Microsoft rule. Microsoft used to pay a lot of its employees by 1099 rather than W2. The employees got pissed ... seems they did all their work for Microsoft on-site at Microsoft. They thought they were employees. The courts agreed. So no, I don't think placement agencies will have the option of going the 1099 route, unless they take steps to meet the guidelines that the courts defined ... No single clients, no working on-site, etc.
So now what?
- November 9, 2012 at 9:54 PM
- Eric said...
"The only way that we can prove, with no doubt, to Americans that Democrats policies will fail, is to let them fail. "
That's what's been happening in California for a decade now, and it doesn't seem to phase Democratic voters at all. Once the tax eaters outnumber the tax payers, there's no going back. They don't care - either they work for the state and have great benefits or they don't have jobs.
- November 9, 2012 at 10:09 PM
- htom said...
I thought it was 120 hours a month, which is not 30 hours a week. More like 25 hours a week. (23 business days some months.)
- November 9, 2012 at 11:36 PM
- Thucydides said...
So now what?
You will be unemployed, plain and simple. I do hope agencies and corporations will make it very clear that your termination is due to the costs of Obamacare
- November 9, 2012 at 11:38 PM
- Jean Lotus said...
Maybe if we had insurance covered we wouldn't be working 40 hours a week anyway? Ever thought of that? Or be working one money job and one avocation job. Or be home with our kids more? Most 40 hour a week jobs are shitty and could be easily done in 30 or 20 hours.
- November 9, 2012 at 11:46 PM
- Raised.by.wolves said...
The compliance costs alone in figuring out who is full time will make agencies (and other companies, not just temp firms) look for ways to make sure they have no full-time employees (or at least not 50 of them).
- November 9, 2012 at 11:46 PM
- Atlas1156 said...
Jean, you need to eat before you need health care. Perhaps we should have food covered too. And a place to sleep, perhaps we should have that covered. By the time we get done covering our needs, nobody will need a paying job. Right?
- November 10, 2012 at 12:06 AM
- jvermeer51 said...
As Glen Reynolds might say, being unworkable is not a flaw of Obamacare, it a feature. The more we hate it, the more every election is a bidding contest about how to fix it. The public, like a drug addict, knows it doesn't have to live like this but will lack the will because it just feels so good.
- November 10, 2012 at 12:35 AM
- Hawk said...
Isn't the purpose of the law to force everyone into National Health Care anyway? If its just a $2000 a year penalty watch how fast every company dumps their health insurance and just pays the fine. That is what the Govt WANTS employers to do anyway. To further encourage that result they will manipulate the private health industry into higher rates to accelerate the transition.
- November 10, 2012 at 7:19 AM
- Bandit said...
Actually $2000/per is a lot less than what it costs companies to provide health insurance. And don't think companies are going to give you the differenece in compensation. Welcome to the jungle.
- November 10, 2012 at 9:38 AM
Eric, not ALL tax-leaches have the California mindset, though I'll admit a fair number do.
The fact is, while a sizeable chunk of the electorate will still vote for the hand that feeds, another chunk will recognize the source of the policies that are failing them. That only works, though, if Republicans get out of the way and let it happen, as even among those who may be persuaded, there are far too many that are eager to swallow any excuse Dems give them. While it's true that for many on the left and "in the middle" (I'd even say most), logic won't play a factor, there ARE those who will see that there's no way to blame Republicans for the results of policies which they had nothing to do with.
As it is, Republicans under Boehner haven't done a whole lot, and Boehner seems almost to enjoy caving on the big issues. What little resistance they show, though, is all the ammo Dems need to convince the weak minded that all their woes are caused by Republican obstructionism.
- November 10, 2012 at 11:17 AM
- Dave said...
Fast-food and retail tend to cluster together, so there's a simple solution. After the lunchtime rush subsides, all McD, BK, and KFC employees slip into the restrooms, switch uniforms, and finish the day at different jobs.
- November 10, 2012 at 12:19 PM
- Rich Vail said...
The problem is that most "Prossives"/Liberals just don't understand economics. It's "right" to provide health insurance to those that don't have it...but when that mandated insurance begins to cost more and more (already the case. Mine has gone up 50% every year since this obamanation--pun intended--was passed), then those "part-timers" will be forced to buy their own...which will cost even more than if they had been able to get employer based insurance. That's the kicker of this.
The entire bill was intended to fuel the push for "single-payer", government provided health insurance. That intrudes upon the 10th Amendment. The only state that hasen't screwed the Consitution is massachusetts. The State, not the federal government, has the power to require you to purchase insurance, wehther auto or health.
- November 10, 2012 at 12:53 PM
- Dave said...
Those 1099ers were very happy to be paid by the hour, working 80 hours a week. Then their salaried W2 coworkers started cashing out stock options, and the 1099ers screamed "We wuz robbed!" i.o.w. my horse lost, so I want to change my bet.
- November 10, 2012 at 12:59 PM
- Jonah Kyle said...
Re: Atlas Shrugged
Directive 10-289
In the name of the general welfare, to protect the people's security, to achieve full equality and total stability, it is decreed for the duration of the national emergency that:
Point One. All workers, wage earners and employees of any kind whatsoever shall henceforth be attached to their jobs and shall not leave nor be dismissed nor change employment, under penalty of a term in jail. The penalty shall be determined by the Unification Board, such Board to be appointed by the Bureau of Economic Planning and National Resources. All persons reaching the age of twenty-one shall report to the Unification Board, which shall assign them to where, in its opinion, their services will best serve the interests of the nation.
Point Two. All industrial, commercial, manufacturing and business establishments of any nature whatsoever shall henceforth remain in operation, and the owners of such establishments shall not quit nor leave nor retire, nor close, sell or transfer their business, under penalty of the nationalization of their establishment and of any and all of their property.
Point Three. All patents and copyrights, pertaining to any devices, inventions, formulas, processes and works of any nature whatsoever, shall be turned over to the nation as a patriotic emergency gift by means of Gift Certificates to be signed voluntarily by the owners of all such patents and copyrights. The Unification Board shall then license the use of such patents and copyrights to all applicants, equally and without discrimination, for the purpose of eliminating monopolistic practices, discarding obsolete products and making the best available to the whole nation. No trademarks, brand names or copyrighted titles shall be used. Every formerly patented product shall be known by a new name and sold by all manufacturers under the same name, such name to be selected by the Unification Board. All private trademarks and brand names are hereby abolished.
Point Four. No new devices, inventions, products, or goods of any nature whatsoever, not now on the market, shall be produced, invented, manufactured or sold after the date of this directive. The Office of Patents and Copyrights is hereby suspended.
Point Five. Every establishment, concern, corporation or person engaged in production of any nature whatsoever shall henceforth produce the same amount of goods per year as it, they or he produced during the Basic Year, no more and no less. The year to be known as the Basic or Yardstick Year is to be the year ending on the date of this directive. Over or under production shall be fined, such fines to be determined by the Unification Board.
Point Six. Every person of any age, sex, class or income, shall henceforth spend the same amount of money on the purchase of goods per year as he or she spent during the Basic Year, no more and no less. Over or under purchasing shall be fined, such fines to be determined by the Unification Board.
Point Seven. All wages, prices, salaries, dividends, profits, interest rates and forms of income of any nature whatsoever, shall be frozen at their present figures, as of the date of this directive.
Point Eight. All cases arising from and rules not specifically provided for in this directive, shall be settled and determined by the Unification Board, whose decisions will be final.
- November 10, 2012 at 11:51 PM
- Andrew_M_Garland said...
The major problem in writing the healtcare bills has been how to hide the massive tax increases by making them taxes on business and insurers, or merely claiming savings that will pay for the bills. All of these "business taxes" will and must be passed on to the employees, in all income categories.
This (fake but true) memo has surfaced [excerpt]:
Memo - Health Plan Deficit Reduction
The estimated deficit for our health reorganization plan is causing us trouble in the press. President Obama has promised not to raise taxes on the middle class, and not to increase the deficit. Unfortunately, we have to live with this until the plan passes Congress.
After passage, we will spend what it takes, just like the last times.
Now, this is how we will "pay for it". Assign whatever fees (not taxes!) you want against insurance companies, big businesses, and "private" doctors. Make the fees big enough to cover the entire added cost of the plan. Yes, even if you think we can't raise that much money from those fees.
So, we will have a plan that does not increase the deficit, and there are no taxes on the middle class, only fees on evil companies and rich doctors.
To Fred: Yes, the fees will be passed through, and effectively would be a tax on employees and patients. I appreciate your insight. Forget about it. We will be rearranging everything in any event, after the bill is in effect for a while.
The Real Tax Burden
The real tax burden is government spending. Government borrowing and delayed taxes are merely finance.
- November 11, 2012 at 5:56 PM
My brother is a big shot attorney in NY. Nothing worse than a liberal that has a fucking rebuttal to every fact you state.
- November 12, 2012 at 8:42 AM
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- January 16, 2014 at 9:59 PM


text:
Spiced chicken balti
Nutrition and extra info
- Easily halved
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal527
- fat19g
- saturates3g
- carbs45g
- sugars14g
- fibre5g
- protein47g
- salt1.83g
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is made from pressing sunflower seeds and extracting the oil. It's usually…
- 2 large onions, thickly sliced
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 4 skinless chicken breasts
- 4 tbsp balti curry paste
- 200g quinoa
Tiny, bead-shaped, with a slightly bitter flavour and firm texture, quinoa may not be a…
- 400g can chopped tomato
- 1l chicken stock
- 50g roasted salted cashew
The seeds from the 'Cashew Apple' - a tree which bears bright orange fruit and is native…
- small bunch coriander, leaves chopped
Heat the oil in a large pan, fry the onions for 5 mins until golden and softened, then tip onto a plate. Add the chicken breasts, browning for a few mins on each side, then stir in the balti paste, quinoa and onions. Sizzle for a few mins, then pour in the tomatoes and stock and give everything a good mix. Bubble for 25 mins until the quinoa is tender and saucy.
Stir in the cashews and most of the coriander with some seasoning, then pile into bowls and scatter over the rest of the coriander to serve.
Recipe Tip
Quinoa(pronounced keen-wah) comes from the South American Andes and was regarded as the 'mother grain' by the native Incas. Unlike wheat or rice, it is a complete protein, containing all of the essential amino acids. Use it like rice in pilafs and stuffings, or even as porridge. When cooked, it swells to four times its original size, becoming almost transparent as the 'germ' separates from the seed.


text:
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts cut tight end Weslye Saunders on Thursday, one week after he was suspended by the NFL for eight games for violating the performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Saunders signed with the Colts last October and played in 11 games (four starts), making two receptions for 15 yards. He served a four-game suspension for violating the same policy earlier in 2012 while with the Steelers, who subsequently released him.
While at South Carolina, he was questioned by NCAA investigators about possible contact with an agent and was later suspended by Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier for violations the coach said were not related to the NCAA probe. Less than a month after first announcing the suspension, in August 2010, Spurrier kicked Saunders off the team.
Instead of transferring, Saunders wound up forgoing his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. Saunders went undrafted and signed with the Steelers as a free agent.
Indianapolis also signed outside linebacker Daniel Adongo on Thursday.
Adongo is a 6-foot-5, 257-pound Kenyan rugby player who has played for national youth teams.
"We are excited as an organization with the acquisition of Daniel Adongo," said general manager Ryan Grigson. "He is not only an elite athlete and rising international rugby player, but he is an exceptional competitor and human being that has the right makeup for our sport. We all look forward to watching his growth and development in the ensuing weeks."


text:
Since the Cubs are set to rebuild we may as well start taking a look at some of the players the Cubs might try to move in the next several weeks. Obviously Matt Garza has a lot of value. Sean Marshall was probably next on the list, but his value was limited. Off the top of my head I don't think the Cubs really have anybody else that would bring much in a return.
However, it's better to look at some numbers and see if they back that opinion up. The fans project 1.4 WAR, Bill James projects a 3.75 FIP over 75 innings. If we calculate his WAR using a 4.2 league average FIP he's worth about 1 WAR. CAIRO projects .9 WAR and Oliver projects 1.5 WAR. That's an average of 1.2 WAR. If we use $5 million per win he's worth $6 million in 2012. Even if we use a modest decline in his age 30 season (2013) that's 1 WAR and $5.25 million.
Over the next two years he's due $16.7 million and is expected to produce $11.25 million in value. As you can see, if the Cubs wanted to trade Marmol they'd have to kick in about $5.5 million and would still get nothing in return. You think that's too low? Ok, let's try this.
A little over a year ago I took a look at Heath Bell, Brian Wilson and Carlos Marmol. This is what I wrote at the time.
Marmol will be eligible for arbitration for the second time and has nailed down the closer's role. If we guess that he'll have an average FIP projection of around 3.3, it makes him worth about the same as Wilson was worth last season ($6.5 million). However, arbitration is based on how much similar players have gotten so the roughly $4 million contracts each got is comparable to what Marmol is likely to get.
For what it's worth, if the Cubs aren't planning to contend next season as it appears they are not, they should be trying to trade Marmol this offseason. They won't. They'll keep him for two more seasons, not win, and then not even offer him arbitration when he is eligible to file for free agency after 2012. It's a way of life!
The Cubs did one better than a two-year deal. They gave him a 3-year deal for about $21 million. Last January I took another look at these three players.
There's a reason Barry Praver is looking to get a multi-year deal done for his client, Carlos Marmol. That reason is because the Brian Wilson contract becomes the most comparable deal and therefore Marmol is going to be looking for $15 million or more over his final two years of arbitration. What Praver doesn't want is for Marmol to be signed to just one year becuase Heath Bell is then the most comparable player. Bell got $4 mllion in his second year of arbitration.
If we consider ballpark to some extend here, Marmol has posted the more sparkling ERA than Bell, but not nearly as good as Wilson. Bell and Marmol are probably about equal after ballpark adjustments in FIP, but Wilson leads by a large margin again. Wilson has the better xFIP and Bell is a bit behind him, but both are significantly better than Marmol. As for WAR, Marmol is a bit better than Bell, but both are well behind Brian Wilson. So it makes perfect sense that Wilson is getting paid more. The question is how much should Carlos Marmol get?
If the Cubs want to buy out his final two years of arbitration, then the Brian Wilson contract is what we look at. If instead they decide to only sign him for one year, they can get a much better deal. My guess is that Marmol wants more money over two years than the Cubs are willing to spend, or at least I hope so. I'm hoping they end up at around $4 million for one year becuase two years and $15 million is retarded.
The reason I'm bringing this up is that Heath Bell was a free agent this offseason and signed a 3-year deal with the Marlins for $27 million. Over the last four years Bell has been worth 4.9 fWAR and 6.2 rWAR. Marmol has been worth 4.4 fWAR and 5.4 rWAR. Bell has basically been half a win better per season over the last three years. Bell is older, but both are past their prime.
If Marmol was a free agent he could expect a bit less than the 3-years, $27 million that Bell got. I'd guess about 3-years, $24 million or $8 million per season. Marmol is making $8.4 million per year over the next two seasons.
Even if we compare Marmol to a player he is similar to, we find he still has no surplus value. Trading Marmol will be a salary dump. The Cubs could throw in some money to get a prospect back, which is probably what they'd do. Who would take over his role if the Cubs traded him?
Prior to a couple days ago the obvious answer was Sean Marshall. He's gone and the Cubs are currently without a setup man. It's highly likely the Cubs will re-sign Kerry Wood. He could easily take over the closer's role. He's no longer a great pitcher, but he still can provide some value. Signing Wood for one year would allow Andrew Cashner or another young player to grow into the role.
If I had to guess, I'd guess the Cubs don't trade Marmol. I doubt their confident enough in the rest of their bullpen. They probably went into this offseason with the intention to trade Marmol or Marshall and realized quickly that Marshall had a lot more value than Marmol. If Marmol gets off to a great start he could improve his value and closers are always in demand around the trade deadline.
Trading Carlos Marmol for something would have been a great idea last offseason, but once the Cubs signed him to that 3-year contract he had no trade value.


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|Mobile Site
|eMail Author
|Caption Comp
|Monthly Poll
|Sudden Death
|Colour Key
|Cookie Usage
|Series :
|Rating :
|Disc No :
|Episode :
|First Aired :
|5 Nov 2004
|Stardate :
|Director :
|Mike Vejar
|Year :
|Writers :
|Michael Bryant
|Season :
|Guest Cast :
|When Persis is beating up the guards to get into CS-12, the first punch she throws is an uppercut that actually lifts the guy off the floor and flips him completely 360 degrees. A punch like that would almost certainly kill you. At the very least, it would shatter your jaw. Yet this guy stands up within seconds and comes back at her again!
It was nice of Archer to tell Soong that Enterprise was going to initiate the station's self destruct sequence. It gave the Augments that extra few vital seconds to shut the thing down and foil his plan. Always good to see somebody show such consideration to their enemies that way.
|Great Moment :
|The torture scene. Not that I'm into torture, but I love the way this was played out. Soong was so clearly not liking what was going on, but willing to go through with it anyway; Malik just itching to kill anybody who got in his way; Lucas just desperate to hold out despite the horrors going on around him. It's a highly effective scene that ratchets up the tension brilliantly.
|Body Count :
|A doctor on CS-12 is murdered by Malik. Archer says the Augments have killed "over 25 people" so far - this would mostly be the crew of the Bird of Prey killed in the previous episode. In fact if we took "over 25" to mean 26, then since one person had been killed in this episode so far we would have a number of 25 for the crew of a Bird of Prey. Smike is subsequently murdered by Malik as well.
|Factoid :
|Soong took 19 embryos from cold station 12. With Smike left on the planet, that means there were 18 who left on the Bird of Prey - and 17 left once Malik killed Raakin.
At some point, Phlox spent a few months working at Cold Station 12.
A 47! When Soong tries to get into Cold Station 12, the screen comes up with "Initiate Protocol 047".
This is the first episode in which we see Dr. Lucas, who has several times been mentioned as Phlox's pen pal.
The diseases listed on Malik's screen as being stored on CS-12 have all been referenced in previous Trek episodes :
Xenopolycythemia - McCoy had this in TOS : "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky"
Archer's father died when he was 12.
The BoP has a small hangar between its nacelles.
I would like to have seen the issue of Earth's reaction to the Augments gone into a little more deeply. For instance, Archer tells Smike that the Augments are not going to be punished by being put in jail. Okay... but what would happen to them? Assume that Archer was able to capture them all alive. Presumably the Augments on the Bird of Prey would be handed over to the Klingons for the murder of the Bird of Prey crew, which is a death sentence in itself given the Klingon justice system. But even if they stayed on Earth... would they really have just been freed to mix in with the general population? It's hard to imagine that that would be allowed, but on the other hand just how severe are Earth's laws against genetic engineering? We know from Bashir and others that even two hundred plus years after this, augments can't serve in Starfleet, and that even minor character 'defects' like promiscuity are enough to get an augment locked up forever. Would Earth lock people up just for being augmented, let them roam free, or come up with a half-way solution like some form of monitored probation? I'd like to have seen the episode go into ideas like this a little more.
|Copyright Graham Kennedy
|Page views : 21,527
|Last updated : 24 Nov 2014


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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Junior Danny Biega of the Harvard men's hockey team has been named one of two finalists for the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year award, the league office has announced.
It is the second ECAC postseason award nomination for Biega, who is also up for Best Defensive Defenseman. The other finalist for Player of the Year is Colgate forward Austin Smith. The winner will be announced at the league's awards banquet Thursday in Atlantic City, N.J. The finalists and winner were selected by voting by the 12 ECAC Hockey head coaches.
With 34 points on 10 goals and 24 assists in 32 games, Biega is the nation's second-leading scorer among defensemen with 1.06 points per game. The Montreal native and Carolina Hurricanes draft pick helped Harvard hold 15 of its final 16 league opponents to three goals or fewer, limit eight of the final 13 to two goals or fewer and rank fourth in ECAC Hockey in scoring defense.
In addition to leading ECAC Hockey defensemen in league scoring with 23 points, Biega has provided shutdown defense as half of the Crimson's top blue-line pair. He led Harvard with a +10 rating in ECAC games and, despite seeing more ice time than any other Harvard player, was on the ice for only nine even-strength goals against in 22 league games. He logged a plus or even rating in 17 ECAC games and is a team-high +12 overall.
The Crimson (12-9-11, 8-5-9 ECAC Hockey), ranked 19th nationally and seeded third in the ECAC Hockey Championship, will meet 13th-ranked, second-seeded Cornell in Saturday's league semifinals. The winner will advance to Saturday's final. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.