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Perfect opening for Jamaica at Pan-American Champs
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — It was a perfect opening session for Jamaica as all 11 athletes who competed, advanced to their respective finals on this evening's second session of the 20th Pan-American championships at the national stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Led by sprinters Oblique Seville and IAAF World Under-20 double sprint champion Briana Williams, the Jamaicans are looking forward to start winning medals as of this afternoon when they will feature in nine finals.
Quarter-miler Bovel McPherson ran a personal best 46.16 seconds for second place in his semi-final heat.
In addition to the finals of the men's and women's 100 metre, men's and women's 400m, men's 110m hurdles and women's 100m hurdles which had their semi-finals this morning, Jamaicans will also take part in the men's and women's long jump and men's discus throw as well as the semi-finals of the men's 800m.
"We had a very good morning," head coach Michael McIntosh told OBSERVER ONLINE after the first session, "Obviously all 11 athletes advanced to the finals, and that was the aim."
McIntosh had high praises for McPherson who went under his previous best of 46.28 seconds set at the JAAA National Trials last month.
"Tonight we intend to push harder," McIntosh said, "we have to let it all go as we hope to get some medals and set the stage for more success this weekend."
The men's 100m is set to be one of the main events and both Seville and Michael Stephens won their semi-final heats this morning.
Seville had a wind aided 10.21 seconds (3.5m/s), the fastest, and Michael Stephens ran 10.43 seconds (1.4m/s) while the USA's Matthew Boling, favourite for gold to many here, ran 10.23 seconds (0.9m/s) to win his semis.
Williams, the first Jamaican on the track today, ran 11.52 (1.7m/s) seconds for second in her semi-final, to Brazil's Lorraine Barbosa Martines -- 11.42 seconds -- before Kemba Nelson took third in her semis in a wind-aided 11.58 (4.9m/s) to qualify on time.
American Brandee Presley was the fastest in the semis with 11.24 seconds (4.9m/s).
Despite not having a 'clean' race, Akeem Cargill was the fastest in the semis of the men's 110m hurdles, winning in 13.40 seconds (1.4m/s) and said he was not pleased with his race, hitting some hurdles late.
Ackera Nugent — 13.33 seconds — (0.9m/s) and NACAC Under-18 champion Crystal Morrison --13.49 seconds — (1.1m/s) were both second in their respective semi-finals and are through to the medal round.
Nugent who was second at the NACAC Under-18, was the second fastest in the event, behind American Jasmin Jones in 13.27 (0.9m/s).
Anthony Cox won his 400m semis in 45.98 seconds, second best of the morning behind the USA's Justin Robinson 45.96 seconds while McPherson was second in his semis.
Shaqueena Foote third in her women's 400m heat in 52.94 seconds and Anna-Kay Allen ran 54.35 seconds for fifth in her heat but still made it to the finals with the slowest qualifying time.
Paul A Reid
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Saturday's scores
Liverpool 2-3 Swansea City
Bournemouth 2-2 Watford
Crystal Palace 0-1 Everton
Middlesbrough 1-3 West Ham United
Stoke City 1-1 Manchester United
West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Sunderland
Manchester City 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday's scores
Southampton 3-0 Leicester City
Arsenal 2-1 Burnley
Chelsea 2-0 Hull City
4 Up
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney scored his 250th career goal for Manchester United, breaking the club scoring record, with his 94th-minute free kick against Stoke City on Saturday.
The 31-year-old player surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton on the United Top scorers list with only 546 appearances, 212 less than the 758 it took Charlton to score 249.Nike responded to the achievement with a billboard outside Old Trafford.
Nike responded to the achievement with a billboard outside Old Trafford.
ChelseaEmbed from Getty Images
Diego Costa celebrates his goal to make it 1-0 against Hull Sunday night, Chelsea went on to win 2-0.
With their win over Hull City Sunday, Chelsea extended their lead in the Premier League to 8 points. At this point, it is looking doubtful that anyone will mount a serious challenge to the Blues. That's not to say it will be easy. The blues travel to Anfield next week to face Liverpool and then five days later play Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. If they are able to emerge from these fixtures with six points however it is difficult to imagine any serious challenges to the current league leaders.
Diego Costa's return from injury further bolsters a Chelsea team that looks to be stronger than any other this season.
Tom DaviesEmbed from Getty Images
Tom Davies celebrates with Ross Barkley during Everton's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The Everton teenager made another superb appearance bagging an assist in Everton's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. The academy product carefully measured his passes and neat touches were abundant in his game. This was the third game in a row that Davies has been involved in a goal.
Read more here.
Gabriel JesusEmbed from Getty Images
Gabriel Jesus celebrates a goal that was disallowed in Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Tottenham
The 19 year old Brazilian forward made his debut for Manchester City this weekend against Tottenham. Brought on by Guardiola in the 82nd minute to try to break the deadlock and almost succeeded. Just moments after he was brought on, Jesus sent a header just wide of the post before having an apparent game-winner disallowed just a minute later. The striker said "I'm happy for this opportunity to debut at City's home, I'm not very glad about the draw. We had the match in our hands." The promising Brazilian will need to make a real mark in the second half of this Premier League season for the Citizens.
Read more here.
4 Down
Arsene Wenger
In the closing minutes of Arsenal's nailbiting 2-1 win over Burnley Arsene Wenger was sent off for some choice words aimed at referee John Moss. However, he did not go as far as the officials though necessary and fought the fourth official in the tunnel, a steward was able to get between Wenger and the fourth official but not before Wenger was able to push the official.
Of the incident, Wenger said immediately after the game: "I regret everything. I should have shut up, gone in and gone home, basically. I apologize for that."
The FA has charged the Arsenal manager with misconduct.
Ryan MasonEmbed from Getty Images
Ryan Mason collides with Chelsea center back Gary Cahill.
The Hull City midfielder suffered a skull fracture in the first half of the game against Chelsea. The 25-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur collided with Chelsea center back Gary Cahill in the 14th minute and after 6 minutes of attention on the pitch, he was stretchered off with oxygen and taken directly to St. Mary's Hospital. According to an official statement on the club's webpage, "Ryan is in a stable condition and is expected to remain in hospital for the next few days." After the match, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte offered his condolences, "It was very bad this accident. Everyone at Chelsea, we hope to see him very soon on the pitch and to recover very soon." On Monday the club offered the following update:
"Ryan has been speaking of the incident yesterday and will continue to be monitored at the hospital over the coming days where the Club will remain in close contact with Ryan, his family and the staff at St Mary's. Ryan and his family have also been extremely touched by the overwhelming support they have received and would very much like to thank all of those who have posted such positive comments both on social media and in the press over the last 24 hours."
LiverpoolEmbed from Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool's 3-2 loss to Swansea City
Liverpool's title challenge was severely hampered by their 3-2 loss to Swansea dropping them to fourth place, 10 points behind Chelsea who are on 55 points. The loss to a team that was bottom of the table before kick off is a big loss for a Klopp team that had drawn the two games previous and has three important games lined up. The results in these games, in three different competitions, will determine the direction of the reds season.
Klopp's team has looked tired recently and the combination of Emre Can and Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park lacks dynamism and creativity. Liverpool needs to build a stronger midfield as these two are not doing enough to disrupt opponents.
Liverpool's season goals now need to switch from a championship to a top-four finish in order to earn a Champions League spot and finish in the top four in order to earn a Champions League spot. This would make recruiting top talents easier and allow Klopp to build a strong team over the summer.
Leicester CityEmbed from Getty Images
With Leicester City looking to be headed towards a relegation battle could Claudio Ranieri be sacked in the near future?
The defending league champions are 15th in the league and after a 3-0 loss to a mediocre Southampton you have to ask: should Claudio Ranieri be sacked? The Foxes have only won five games this season and are hovering just five points above relegation. Averaging just .95 points per match this season they are on course to score 36 points this season, a mark that would have seen them relegated last season. Could this be the first time since the 1937-1938 season that the English top flight champion is relegated?

subset: commoncrawl


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The 5k will begin and end at the Ole Barn • 74 Limekiln Road, Inlet, NY
Course Description: From the Ole Barn the course will follow Inlet snowmobile trails to Gilbert Road. There will be a water station on Gilbert Road. The course then turns right on South Shore Road and right again on Route 28. There will be a water station at the Inlet School, on Route 28. The course continues on Route 28, turns right on Limekiln Road and ends at the Ole Barn.


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The first of what will hopefully be a recurring series showcasing the awesomeness that can be found in discount bins. This is what I've stumbled upon recently.
Incredible Hercules #122 – I don't know if I can describe this book any better than Chris Sims did, but I can certainly make it wordier and more boring.
Clayton Henry's artwork is top-notch. It expresses the action (and facial expressions) without excessive linework. Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente write a story with healthy does of action and humor. Hercules is exuberant and boisterous, and Namor is powerful and pompus. Namora ties them both together quite nicely, in a pleasant guest appearance outside of Agents of Atlas. And speaking of AoA, this issue of Hercules has the greatest first-page recap outside of that book, a modified version of a Sappho poem. I will definitely be looking for more.
The Thing #1 –Matt hasn't been pushing this on me, but he has been talking about the virtues of this title for quite a while. He was definitely right. Ben Grimm has never been better represented as an everyman and idol to millions (at the same time) than he is right here. The story is fun, accessible, well-drawn, and I will snap up any others I can find.
Marvel Team-Up #104 – It's a comic with a cover where The Hulk and Ka-Zar are fighting an army of M.O.D.O.K.-controlled dinosaurs. Does it even matter what happens on the inside? It's a sign of how messed-up the comic industry is that it costs me $4 to get 1/6 of a new story every Wednesday, but I can pick up this piece of deliciousness for 25 cents.
Hercules: Prince of Power TPB – Sure, there are 2 Hercules books here, but it's just a coincidence. To be honest, I've never really gotten the character until recently, when Sims made me want to check out the ongoing (thanks!). However, this one is something I've always wanted to read, what with the concept of Hercules in space with Galactus. Still, even as I bought it, I was worried I was making a mistake. I wasn't.
In order to teach Hercules humility, Zeus banishes him from Olympus…into space! Taking Apollo's sun-chariot, Hercules encounters strange new worlds and civilizations. And yes, Galactus. Writer/artist Bob Layton does stop us from seeing what would have been the greatest plot point ever in a comic book, but he makes up for it by showing us Galactus without his helmet on.
Wasn't Helios the sun god? Why doesn't the chariot burn up everything it touches? How can Hercules and his space horses survive in the cold vacuum of space? You're obviously taking this too seriously (though the answer to the last one is "because it is the will of Zeus," obviously).
Kudos to Mr. Layton for creating a modern classic.
Dark Reign: The Hood #1 – I'm intrigued by the concept of Dark Reign, but not enough to spend cover price on the books, so I jumped at the chance to spend a quarter for a Parker book following up an excellent Brian K. Vaughn mini. I did really enjoy the original Hood series, but now that he's such a big player in the Marvel U., I thought it would have changed his personal life. No, he's still the Peter Parker of villainy, competent in costume but not master of his domain. This was a great start to the series.
I had a really strong week in the discount bins and found some quality books. It's a shame that the state of comics books is such that a $4 comic becomes quarter bin fodder in 6 months, but hat's another post…


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You Know Twilight Isn't Really About Vampires, Right?
Eclipse comes out on DVD tomorrow and I have a confession to make: I've read the Twilight series. More than once. And I am not ashamed. Stephenie Meyer may not be much of a writer, but her books (as the book jackets point out) have "entranced millions." I think I know why. Hint: sexy vampires and werewolves are only part of the appeal.
So why are these books so popular? It isn't just the vampires, despite our current cultural obsession with them. Critics of the books and movies often point to abstinence as a central theme of the books and I agree. Abstinence and its weird, sexually charged appeal (we always want what we can't have) are an important part of the Twilight universe, but they aren't the reason people finish these books.
Here's the crux of my theory about Twilight. Despite the bad prose, overuse of the word "chagrin," and poorly drawn characters, Twilight books are a pleasure to read because they completely eschew complexity. The rhetoric of Twilight paves over those gray areas that make our universe such a pain to live in. I'll give you two examples. The first is from Edward's explanation of "vegetarian" vampires. Bella has asked him about why he hunts animals instead of people:
He paused. "I can't be sure, of course, but I'd compare it to living on tofu and soy milk; we call ourselves vegetarians, our little inside joke. It doesn't completely satiate the hunger—or rather thirst. But it keeps us strong enough to resist. Most of the time." His tone turned ominous. "Sometimes it's more difficult than others."
It seems obvious that Edward should resist his impulse to suck blood because giving in would mean murder. In the Twilight-verse we don't need to question which impulses we should be resisting and why: vampires should resist biting humans, werewolves should resist their impulse to violence, and gays should resist… never mind. My point is that in Meyer's universe there is no ambiguity about what is right and what is wrong; the choice is always clear.
In our universe, however, we don't know which parts of ourselves we should resist and which parts we should accept. Adolescents in particular struggle with this question. If sucking blood is indeed Meyer's way of talking about premarital sex—as many critics argue—the simplicity of Edward's decision does a great disservice to a very real dilemma faced by its target audience.
My second example is taken from the fourth book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. Edward and Bella have just married and are on their honeymoon. As Bella prepares to "go all the way," she considers commitment and its role in alleviating her own insecurities:
How did people do this—swallow all their fears and trust someone else so implicitly with every imperfection and fear they had—with less than the absolute commitment Edward had given me? If it weren't Edward out there, if I didn't know in every cell of my body that he loved me as much as I loved him—unconditionally and irrevocably and, to be honest, irrationally—I'd never be able to get up off this floor.
Can you hear Stephenie Meyer's voice there? It's hard to miss. Bella is able to face the prospect of having sex and making herself vulnerable to another person only because she knows in "every cell" of her body that he loves her. In the Twilight-verse, love alters us so permanently and visibly that we can be sure it will endure forever.
In our universe, we are always vulnerable in a relationship, no matter how committed our partner may be to us on paper. Love changes people in our universe, too, but not with the permanence that Bella ascribes to Edward's feelings. Relationships endure because we grow with them, not because they were perfect from the beginning.
The simplicity of Meyer's universe makes it a soothing place to inhabit. In her universe, you always know what the right thing to do is. But of course we don't. In her universe, you can always be sure of love.
But of course we can't.
If you want to know more:
- Just in case you were wondering: Team Jacob, hands down.
- I linked to an article from Bitchmagazine by Christine Seifert above. I love this article, with one exception. Seifert claims that Meyer has created a new genre of literature: abstinence porn. Abstinence porn is not new; in fact, it's one of the original genres of modern literature. If you don't believe me, go read Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded.
- I should probably explain why I'm covering vampire lit on a rhetoric blog. I realized halfway through reading the series that I was paying more attention to the argument the books were making than the story they were telling. I do this often with literature and it irritates my friends endlessly. It's just a book, they say, why must you read into everything? Because fiction argues, that's why! When I try to make this point, I always think of Wayne Booth and The Rhetoric of Fiction. Booth looked at non-didactic fiction (stories that aren't about "making a point") and even there he saw arguments. Even fun and light literature, like Twilight, is rhetorical because it requires an author to create an entire universe and then convince us, the reader, to inhabit and accept that universe. Even if we don't usually think of fiction as argumentative, we certainly act as though it is. When books are banned, the justification is usually that those books promote witchcraft or encourage swearing. We recognize instinctively that to read and enjoy a story, we must identify with it. Fear of that identification is what leads parents to want to protect their children from Harry Potter. If they identify with Harry, they'll like magic and, for some reason, Satan. Sorry for the long footnote.
- If you're hungry for more Twilight crit, I recommend this blog. Thanks to Hilary Franklin for sending this to me.
Brian permalinkDecember 3, 2010 10:13 am
Good post. Would read again.
Candi permalinkDecember 3, 2010 12:44 pm
And this, doug, is why you're awesome. :o)
Emily permalinkDecember 10, 2010 3:57 pm
Great post, Doug! I'm so glad you brought up Pamela and the fact that abstinence porn has a long literary history. For the record, I'm still undecided about Team Jacob vs. Team Edward.
Jeanne permalinkFebruary 3, 2011 9:45 pm
Derrick, you are right on! I can't find the thesis either and the essay is so scattered, I just don't know what the point is.
Cody permalinkFebruary 4, 2011 11:17 pm
the thesis is "Despite the bad prose, overuse of the word "chagrin," and poorly drawn characters, Twilight books are a pleasure to read because they completely eschew complexity. The rhetoric of Twilight paves over those gray areas that make our universe such a pain to live in."
Kyle permalinkSeptember 16, 2011 3:08 pm
Lol, Identify with Harry, and for some reason…Satan. definitley my favorite part.
Robio permalinkSeptember 18, 2011 10:14 pm
Thumbs up if ENGL 1301-043 sent you here!!!
Sam permalinkSeptember 22, 2011 6:27 pm
I really dont understand the point you are trying to make. This is a very scattered article, and one should not criticize Stephaine Meyer if you can't clearly write a short rhetorical analysis yourself. But you did make an interesting point about the deeper meaning of twilight.
Rosco permalinkNovember 6, 2014 5:42 pm
Seriously you all? Doug is amazing. If you can't spot the thesis, why are you here? Go back to college. I'm sure Doug would be happy to teach you about thesis statements.


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"When God's children pass under the shadow of the cross of Calvary, they know that through that shadow lies their passage to the great white throne. For them Gethsemane is as paradise. God fills it with sacred presences; its solemn silence is broken by the music of tender promises, its awful darkness softened and brightened by the sunlight of Heavenly faces and the music of angel wings."The Easter Egg decoration at St. Ullrich Church in Hohenfels, Germany. I took this picture last Tuesday.
Frederic William Farrar
Frederic William Farrar
Click the logos, feel free to join, share and watch the beauty of the skies from all over the world. Thanks to the Authors for hosting these beautiful memes! Have fun watching the faces of the skies!


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- Interstride believes universities will see a 10-15% growth in international student enrollment once its platform is widely adopted
- The company has a goal of increasing international student job placement by 30%
- According to a recent poll, universities have seen a 7% drop in international student enrollment
Both American universities and the American economy have a lot to gain with increased international student success. One technology company in the Silicon Valley thinks it has the solution.
San Francisco-based Interstride is a cloud-based app for universities, geared toward international students. The platform has resources that assist international students with job hunting, immigration laws, and cultural immersion.
The company just hit a milestone: Interstride is now available at 50 universities.
"We're just getting started; we think every university in America needs to use our technology," CTO Gunther Cronenberg said.
Here's how Interstride works: Students gain access to Interstride through a university subscription. Using the mobile app, students can research companies who are hiring international students, access up-to-date visa and immigration-related information, find jobs that sponsor visas, get tips on how to interview, and access useful resources on how to assimilate into the American professional culture.
The goal is to make the entire process of enrolling, graduating and transitioning to the job market as transparent as possible.
The potential for impact is very clear. If universities can help their international students succeed, it opens the door for a much deeper alumni relationship. International students will then likely refer their friends and relatives - meaning a potential legacy stream.
Plus, university job placement rates will increase, meaning program rankings will, too.
Surprisingly, there isn't another resource like Interstride out there. Cronenberg says there are a handful of other companies that have a few of Interstride's features, but nothing close to what his team has developed. He estimates an eventual 10-15% growth in international student enrollment, per university, once Interstride is widely adopted and shared with prospective students, due to higher enrollment and student retention.
An added benefit: Universities may see interest from international students for the mere fact that they have an Interstride subscription.
Cronenberg hopes to see a 30% increase in retention (jobs) for international students who use Interstride's platform. That's huge; there's a major brain drain here in the US, as international students regularly return to their native countries when they graduate.
"We now have provided 50 universities the ability to retain and better serve their international students," Cronenberg said. "Traditionally, universities just aren't equipped to serve international students properly. Each university has a career services department, but it's focused on all students. Most counselors have limited understanding of the unique challenges and hurdles that exist for international students, nor do they have the time to handle them."
Even as recently as 2017, universities have noticed an average drop of 7% in international student enrollment, according to Inside Higher Ed. Primary reasons include visa and immigration challenges posed by the current administration and a diminished employment bridge.
The American economy as a whole has a lot to gain from international student success, too. Interstride points out international student success means more long-term economic growth, domestically. When international students get jobs in the U.S., we all benefit.
Example: For every 10% increase in international graduate students, U.S. patent applications increased by 4.5%.
"In order to innovate and remain globally competitive, it is extremely important to continue to attract and retain international talent," Cronenberg said. "Global academic and professional exchange is now constant and necessary, fueling the innovations essential to strengthening any nation's economy. International students and researchers can not only add value through their intellectual and economic contributions but also add diversity to our workforce."
"The ability to attract the brightest international minds will continue to be the biggest economic differentiator in today's knowledge-based world."
About Interstride
Interstride is a tool to help international students overcome many challenges. The platform provides updated information on which companies are hiring international students, as well as job-hunting tips, job positioning pointers, and even American culture assimilation resources. The yearly cost is very affordable and is based on each university's international student population.
Interstride was formed in 2016 by Nitin Agrawal and Christian Eder - both international students themselves. Agrawal (Nepal) and Eder (Austria) both struggled during their collegiate experience, but were able to succeed as international students. They realized the need for a program that would help future international students like themselves navigate the complex American system.
Interstride is available as an app on both iPhone and Android, and as a desktop platform. Universities license the affordable platform and make it available to international students each academic year.
Interstride is about to launch a solution for domestic students as well.


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Manchester United look to set to capture highly rated French under-21 midfielder Nampalys Mendy on a free transfer.
Newspapers in France are reporting that the 20-year-old defensive midfielder has rejected a new contract offer from his present club Monaco as he looks for a new challenge with the Premier League champions.
MORE: United will 'move heaven and earth' for Fabregas
Mendy, who has been compared to former Chelsea star Claude Makelele, told boss Claudio Ranieri he wanted to leave the club at the end of the season as he feared his playing time at Monaco would be limited.
Ranieri, who fielded Mendy 31 times last season, insists he has been left stunned by the midfielder's decision.
The former Chelsea boss said: 'I do not understand his [Mendy's] attitude. As soon as I saw him play, I said here is our Makelele. I trusted him and I played him.
'I think he will miss out on a great deal. But it's his life, not mine. He has preferred to listen to his brother and agent and not his coach. It's a shame.'
Mendy helped France's under-21 side secure third place in the Toulon tournament on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Portugal.
MORE: Who is Nampalys Mendy? Get the low-down on United's latest target


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Many of London's great landmarks are easy to love. The architecture is straightforward, quite obviously attractive, easy to photograph and aesthetically pleasing without question. The Barbican is a place that my eyes aren't quite sure what to do with. I find it truly fascinating and it's one of my favourite spots in London. I love the … Continue reading The hanging gardens of Barbican
Category: trips + travels
Postcards from a roadtrip to Cornwall
Despite going to university in Devon and spending three years living right on the brink of Cornwall, until last weekend I had never been there. How did I let this happen!?? Anyway. In the early hours of Friday morning, we packed up the MG and headed West. The weekend was spent adventuring, in the glorious twin … Continue reading Postcards from a roadtrip to Cornwall
The secret wonders of Kew Gardens Tropical Nursery…
Tucked away in a leafy corner behind a pair of Victorian wrought-iron gates lies Kew Gardens Tropical Nursery. It's a hot, misty place, filled with intriguing and bizarre wonders of the natural world, from the world's largest flower to the tiniest lily. The Nursery is where Kew do research, conservation work, and look after rare … Continue reading The secret wonders of Kew Gardens Tropical Nursery…
Costa Rica, a tropical paradise filled with sloths and parrots
Regularly labelled the happiest, greenest and most sustainable country in the world, Costa Rica is a tropical haven in the heart of Central America. The country relies mostly on renewable energy, it doesn't have an army and it's home to the world's most adorable creature: THE SLOTH. To summarise, Costa Rica is about as close as … Continue reading Costa Rica, a tropical paradise filled with sloths and parrots
Things NOT to take to Glastonbury
Whenever I go to a festival I always ask the Internet what to pack, and the Internet usually obliges with handy blogposts and checklists for me to use as inspiration when creating my own list. Over the years I have managed (despite all that faffing around) to screw myself over in some way or the … Continue reading Things NOT to take to Glastonbury
A perfect day in Kew
Kew is a lovely suburb in West London famous for its acclaimed botanical gardens.
Travel// A weekend in Nantes, France
During the many years I've known my boyfriend, I have heard more about Nantes than most employees of the Pays de la Loire tourist board. It's an understatement that the French city is one of his favourite places on this little blue Earth. Our trip to Nantes this month was therefore very, very overdue. Nantes is a … Continue reading Travel// A weekend in Nantes, France


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My name is Jermaine
Motown Records, 1976
1. Let's Be Young Tonight
2. Faithful
3. Look Past My Life
4. Bass Odyssey
5. Who's That Lady
6. Lovely, You're The One
7. Stay With Me
8. I Just Want To Take This Time
9. My Touch Of Madness
In August 1976, Jermaine's third album at Motown My Name Is Jermaine is released and he re-introduces himself at the label that his brothers by now have left to move on at Epic. For the album Jermaine worked closely with the rising young star Michael Smith, who wrote and produced three tracks for the album.
Among the other producers for the album were Hal Davis and Gregory Wright. Berry Gordy was the executive producer of the album. The album offers great up-tempo disco tracks and soulful ballads and reached #29 in the R&B charts and #164 in the Pop charts.
The opening track, "Let's Be Young Tonight", was released worldwide as a single with the strong bass rhythm instrumental track "Bass Odyssey" on the B-Side.
On his 22nd birthday, December 11th 1976, Jermaine Jackson performed "Let's Be Young Tonight" on the U.S. TV show "American Bandstand". On that day, the record peaked on Billboard's Hot 100 charts at #55 and it peaked #19 on Billboard's R&B Singles charts.
Other great tracks on the album are the up-tempo songs "Faithful" and "Look Past My Life", and the ballad "My Touch Of Madness", which was produced by Michael Smith.
Credit goes to Maarten Mulder for the discography information.
|Let's Be Young Tonight
Bass Odyssey
Motown, 1976


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Filed under: Uncategorized
These aren't real invitations, so don't try to crash these parties.
Just some fun options for you to choose from
to design your own invitations.
Call our studios for prices.
Filed under: Uncategorized
It's not to early to start planning your senior pictures. Schedule your appointment by May 31st and you will receive 48 free wallets!! We don't have to actually take the pictures by then, just have an apptointment made. We know students are busy over the summer with camps, sports and family vacations, so check your schedule and give us a call at 936-2295.
FYI: Girls who are wanting some of their pictures taken in creeks as you see on the front of our brochure. You need to schedule those appointment by early June. Those creeks here in southern Indiana really dry up once the weather gets too hot. We had several girls who waited until late August this past year and could not get what they wanted, because the water had turned to mud.
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Yes! Thats right, we want your old furniture. That couch you've been dying to get rid of has a place in our studio. Even grandmas old living room chair that is out in your garage. We will even pick it up! Take a photo…e-mail it to me, And I will let you know if it is worth a free session fee! Thats right, I want your old furniture thats hogging up space in your basement. Contact the studio if you want to make a donation. And we'll donate a session to you in return!
I know it sounds funny…But some of the cutest kids and families can bring out the best in an ugly old couch or chair. We don't have room for alot, but if you have something that has a little character, we'd love to have it!!
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I was just talking to Doug about how the Easter Bunny needs to get to work, as Easter comes way early this year. We have 3 kids to buy for and they don't like the chocolate candy eggs, bubble wands, and fluffy chicks anymore. They want stuff that takes planning to pay for. And did I mention there are three of them. Anyway… I found some interesting facts about easter this year. This will explain the early arrival… This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:
The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!
Pretty interesting huh! So all you Easter Bunnies–Get shopping!!


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Woman Entrepreneur Spices up Business with SBA Loan
SAN JUAN, PR -- There's a quaint little shop that will make you feel as though you have just stepped into your grandmother's kitchen. Wicker chairs and benches, embroidered dish towels and pot holders, and hand-painted teacups.
Then, the sweet yet piquant aroma of blended herbs and spices, chutneys, jams and hot sauces, laced with soft tropical music playing in the background, transport you from your grandmother's kitchen straight into paradise.
Hold on. We are in paradise.
Spicy Caribbee, at 154 Cristo Street in Old San Juan, was established 22 years ago by Nereida Williams. A former elementary school English teacher, Nereida received much of her inspiration from her mother, a hard-working woman who put her culinary talents to work, in order to satisfy the palates of her nine children.
"I have always loved the kitchen," Nereida says. "And, my mom is a terrific cook. We're not just talking rice and beans here. She is really creative."
Seven years into her teaching career, Nereida met Mark Williams, who made a living by transporting perishables to the Caribbean islands on his airplane. After some time, Nereida began accompanying Mark on these business trips, and it was during a delivery to Tortola that Nereida got her inspiration.
Walking into a shop called Sunny Caribbee, Nereida was captivated by the aromas that surrounded her, and decided then and there that a spice shop was exactly the type of business she wanted to own.
"I really didn't think that I could do it," she admits. "But Mark was so supportive, and the shop's owner told me that he would help me set up my own business."
In 1987, Nereida opened the doors to Spicy Caribbee, selling hot sauces under the label of her Tortola associate. With time, however, she knew that she wanted to wholesale, but in order to do so she would have to create her own product line and label. She and Mark, by then married for several years, began attending trade shows and food expos, looking for a source that would be willing to work with them in developing their own product. With an investment of $7,000 on Nereida and Mark's part and an additional $8,000 financed by their new supplier in St. Lucia, Spicy Caribbee became a private label and the business began selling two types of hot sauces –red and yellow-- manufactured in St. Lucia, but adapted to Puerto Rican flavors.
Today, Spicy Caribbee sells 29 products under its label. Although its top sellers are the red, yellow and green hot sauces, the business is also known for its mango and passion fruit sauces, in addition to guava and pineapple jams, mango chutneys, and even banana ketchup, among other varieties. Spicy Caribbee also boasts a line of dry seasonings --which are blended locally by Nereida and Mark themselves—and its own coffee, a dark chocolaty roast grown in the mountains of Jayuya.
"We want everyone who comes to visit to take with them the flavors that are reminiscent of Puerto Rico," Nereida proudly says.
Millions of tourists arrive in Puerto Rico each year, and Old San Juan is a favorite place to visit. It should come as no surprise then, that close to 80 percent of Spicy Caribbee's customers are tourists. The shop's products can also be purchased online or by phone. As a matter of fact, 10 percent of the shop's sales are conducted that way, mostly by tourists who come to visit or by people who receive a bottle of hot sauce as a gift from someone else who purchased it during a trip to the island. Spicy Caribbee has customers as far away as Canada, Spain, England and Austria, and, of course, many all across the U.S.
As good as business has been for Spicy Caribbee in its two-decade existence, sales suffered a bit in the past couple of years, due to the economic recession. And though they managed to maintain their credit and their suppliers, Nereida and Mark realized that they needed to improve their cash flow. During a conference sponsored a couple of years ago by the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, Nereida had learned of the Puerto Rico Small Business & Technology Development Center. Operating in Puerto Rico under a cooperative agreement between the SBA and the Inter-American University, the PR-SBTDC provides management and technical assistance to existing and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Nereida made an appointment to meet with business counselor Ivette Pinto, who worked with her and Mark on writing their business history, improving their management skills and preparing financial projections. Ivette was the person Nereida called for assistance this second time around as well, and soon after she and Mark were applying to Banco Santander Puerto Rico for an SBA-guaranteed loan made available last year under Economic Recovery programs. With the proceeds, they were able to retain their two part-time employees, pay their suppliers, purchase inventory, and create a three-ounce hot sauce sampler that allows tourists to easily stow in their carry-on luggage. And, of course, they have improved their accounting systems and made adjustments to other aspects of their operation.
"We are going to be able to continue bringing up our sales with the adjustments that we made and that we will continue making," Nereida declares.
When asked about the advice she would give another person looking to start a business, Nereida says "they need to make sure they at least have taken some type of class on how to manage a business, and if they're going to be in the same industry that I am, they need to have good people skills."
Good people skills indeed. The best part of walking into Spicy Caribbee is being greeted by Nereida's warm and welcoming smile, and that twinkle in her eye that comes easily to those living in paradise.
For more information on SBA's programs and services, please visit www.sba.gov/pr.


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This month the highly-anticipated debut Stormdancer is published. The first novel in the Lotus War series is hugely imaginative and, as a very enthusiastic Patrick Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind said: What's that? You say you've got a Japanese Steampunk novel with mythic creatures, civil unrest, and a strong female protagonist? I'm afraid I missed everything you said after 'Japanese Steampunk.' That's all I really needed to hear. Click here to read an extract from Stormdancer We caught up with Australian author Jay Kristoff to see what he had to say about the book.
Japanese steampunk, hey? So where did that come from?
I'd been thinking about writing a steampunk story for a while. I think the scene has an amazing aesthetic, and I thought I could have some fun subverting what I call the 'rose-coloured goggles' point of view. A lot of steampunk authors tend to treat the advent of industrialisation as something marvellous, and ignore the child exploitation and slavery and other such unpleasantness that came along with it. I thought it would be interesting to tell a steampunk story where the machine was the enemy, rather than a gateway to inexplicable corsetry and rayguns of suggestive design.
But I felt that Victorian England and Colonial America had already been done, and done very well. I didn't want to walk on ground that was already well-trodden. The world had some amazing cultures at the turn of the 19th century, and it seemed most of them were being ignored, both in steampunk stories and in fantasy generally. I decided to use a cultural touchstone that not many people had played with yet – the Tokugawa Shōgunate of Japan.
That said, it's not really accurate to call Stormdancer 'Japanese steampunk'. I've used Japan as a source of inspiration, certainly, but the setting is entirely fantastical. There weren't many griffins or telepaths running around feudal Japan, as far as I'm aware.
As Stormdancer is the first in a series - what did you learn from writing this going into book two?
I'm traditionally a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer as far as plotting goes. My favourite twists in Stormdancer are the ones I didn't know were coming until I was writing them. But moving into book two, and particularly now working on book three, I've had to be far more disciplined about writing with an outcome in mind. It's been an interesting switch.
It's also been really interesting expanding on minor characters who appear in the first book – how casually mentioned traits or features can become the underpinnings of an entire character in later books. All the characters have a story to tell, not just Yukiko and Buruu.
What authors influenced you or your writing style?
Biggest influence stylistically would be William Gibson. Others include: China Miéville, Robin Hobb, Philip K. Dick, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Piers Anthony, Isaac Asimov, Raymond Feist. I also take a lot of inspiration from the lyricists of bands I love – telling a story with 100,000 words is easy. Telling one with a few dozen is hard.
You've got some great characters in your novel, both human and non-human, do you have a favourite?
I think that's almost like asking someone to pick their favourite child. I try to give all of them a minute in the sun, and they all have moments that I love them for. A lot of people seem to love Buruu though, which is good news – of all the characters in the book, he's the one that has the most in common with me. Which makes me wonder why I'm not more popular in real life…
…excuse me I have something in my eye…
There are some fantastic bits of technology/weaponry in the book - if you had one choice, which piece would you choose?
Easy answer would be a chainsaw katana, but I'm not sure what I'd actually do with one if I had it. So I'm going to go with a sky-ship. It'd be slow travelling, but you could make a hell of an entrance to a book signing in one of those things.
Jay Kristoff's Lotus War Trilogy starts with Stormdancer, followed by Kingslayer and finally Endsinger. The whole trilogy is available now!


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Millstream Raspberry Tripel….. I guess I would fuck iton February 21, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Posted In: Beer Reviews
Tweet Oh hey Millstream you old so and so. Its been a little while, its nice to see you again. I see you're doing well. Yeah, I guess I have lost a little weight. You're not looking to bad […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…


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Help for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
When you experience something traumatic — such as combat, an assault, a terrorist attack or a serious accident — you are often left feeling powerless and scared. That's when the symptoms of PTSD — depression, anxiety, sleeplessness and isolation — start taking over your life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Avoiding activities you used to enjoy
- Avoiding situations that remind you of the attack or other trauma, such as not driving or staying away from crowds
- Experiencing feelings of guilt or shame
- Feeling anxious or hyper-alert or constantly looking out for danger
- Reliving the event through bad memories, flashbacks or nightmares
You may think these feelings will pass if you ignore them. Or, you may feel that you're weak if they don't. But they won't and you aren't. You don't have to face PTSD alone. Our team is here to help you overcome PTSD and to live the life you've earned and deserve.
When you have PTSD, you don't start feeling better day by day; instead, things seem to get worse and worse. Some signs that you may have PTSD include the following:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling depressed and hopeless
- Feeling irritable and having emotional outbursts
- Having nightmares and/or difficulty sleeping
- Thinking that your family would be better off without you
- Withdrawing from loved ones
At the center, we'll listen to your story and work with you to find the best treatment possible. Here, you'll get well-rounded support and care to help you live a strong, balanced life. Some possibilities for your treatment include the following:
Counseling: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of focused therapy that is effective for PTSD. CBT includes these therapies:
- Cognitive processing therapy: Through this type of counseling, you'll learn how your trauma affects you. It focuses on finding new ways to handle troubling thoughts by recognizing how you think and feel; learning skills to help you deal with the problems in your life; and finding a better balance between who you were before and who you are after the trauma.
- Prolonged exposure therapy: This therapy can help you change how you react to stressful memories. It works by using breathing techniques to help you relax; learning to approach situations that you may have been avoiding because they are related to the trauma; and talking through your trauma with a professional.
Medications: Medication can help improve many of the symptoms related to your PTSD, such as trouble sleeping, anxiety and depression.
- Anti-anxiety medications: Improve feelings of anxiety and stress
- Antidepressants: Ease depression and anxiety and improve sleep and concentration difficulties
- Antipsychotics: Relieve severe anxiety, sleep disturbances and emotional outbursts
- Prazosin: Reduces and suppresses nightmares and improves sleep
Treatment can help you learn to understand and cope with the challenges you're facing. The goal is for you to feel better about yourself, your life and your relationships.
The center provides a safe, comfortable place to help you begin to heal. Here, you'll:
- Explore your thoughts and feelings about what you've been through
- Work through feelings of guilt, blame and mistrust
- Learn how to cope with and control your memories
- Address the challenges PTSD has caused in your personal and professional life
- Meet other veterans who have been through similar experiences
- Find support from fellow veterans and dedicated health care professionals
- Difficulty holding down a job
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Fear in leaving the house
- Strained relationships with friends and loved ones
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or others
We also have highly skilled counselors and health care professionals who are committed to helping you get back on track. We will listen and help you through it without judgment and without an agenda.
When suffering with PTSD, you may take out your emotions on your loved ones. You may:
- Withdraw from your parents, spouse and/or children
- Isolate yourself socially
- Fight with friends and family
- Become violent with the people who you love the most


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|Photograph ©2010 Jill Greenberg
Where have you been, Nathan? What's the deal'e'oh?! You went all out and celebrated your happy fifth anniversary, and then joined the witness protection program! I realize you had a lot of cake during your anniversary celebration! Did you fall into a sugar coma? Was that punch spiked just a touch too much? And you sure did throw down some moves, dancing your legs off to some pumpin' dubstep while confetti streamed down from the sky! Did you break a leg? I mean, it's been five years of method (and going green) lustfulness! Time flies! - And gives us squeaky green floors, and countertops, and sweet smelling sheets! And I'm so glad you've all been along for the eco ride! Because, as I've said in the past, without you lusters, well, I'd be blogging on Mars. Knocking down trees in the forest with no one around to hear them drop. You know, writing to the wind! So I'm really glad that hasn't been the case!
Oh, oh, oh... But alright. Where have I been? I've got some news. It's sniffly wet nose news. method lust is going on sabbatical. I'm sure you've noticed the trend of lighter posts for a bit now, and I just felt on the momentous occasion of our fifth anniversary (though I'm a little behind on this actual post, I realize) now is better than never. (Well, I'm sure we'd all like it to be never, but no, it's now, unfortunately.)
The reasons are vast and varied, so let me focus on the main one. Way back in 2008 there was no method social interaction. - Wha?! For reals. method didn't have a blog, a Twitter account, a Facebook page, nada. Actually I'm not even sure half of that existed back then. But hey, they didn't have a Friendster or Myspace page either. So I felt it was time they did, and so I could also gush and squeal about how amazing they are! And hence, method lust was born! Today, method has taken the reins and they've got a whole slew of social media means! We're talking Twitter, Facebook, their own website blog, YouTube and television videos/advertisements and I'm pretty sure they even have weekly San Fran smoke signal messages! (Ok, they don't really have weekly San Fran smoke signal messages. I stretched the truth there just a bit. I'll admit it, ok?) So therefore, I've decided to take a sabbatical (how long, who knows? But keep reading) and let method shout it personally from their mountaintops! Alright, well more so from their offices! They're definite pros at it now! But never fear, they and you will always know how much I lust method! - Blog posts or not. (And this being the internet and all, just in case there's any "people-jumping-to-conclusions-ness" going on, this was solely my decision to make. I'm sure method would love for me to slather them in lustfulness forever!)
But here's my suggestion to you: don't go deleting ole' method lust from your bookmarks, or your RSS readers, or your feeds, or how the heck ever you read this! Because I'm not going away completely (remember, sabbatical.) When new products pop up on the shelves, or some huge news slaps me in the face, or I stumble upon the greatest eco-green idea on the planet and I want to share it with everyone else, well, you know where it's gonna end up! Here on method lust! So there won't be weekly fixes any longer, but the site will still be up for me to pop into every once in a while, and for everyone else to peruse. Because there is a lot of useful, fun, and wacky information here on this blog and I refuse to let it slowly fade away! I've put a ton of blood, sweat, sugary beverages, and tears into method lust - and I'm ever so grateful you (and method!) have been here with me! In fact, I'd love for you all to leave a comment, and let method lust (and all it's readers) know how long you've been reading this blog! Give yourself a shout out, because you deserve it!
Thank you method (for always supporting method lust, and me, personally. You all rock!) And thank you lusters for reading and sharing your thoughts, opinions and method-y desires! So don't be a stranger, and I'll do the same! And don't forget all these great official method choices for your lusting needs:
+ method Facebook
+ method Twitter
+ method YouTube
And last but not least, let's take a quick trip back in time to a bit of my very first post:
"...welcome to method lust! I'm so excited to have begun this blog. It's been on my mind for some time, and I've finally decided to get to it. My reason for starting this blog is simple, I'm a method addict! I love the stuff, and I can't get enough. From the amazing scents, to the gorgeous packaging, and the great for the environment products and mentality, I just LOVE it!"


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Since I started blogging, I've learned there are certain subjects that prompt a level of vitriol in readers' responses that is almost irrational. I know it's reflexive of the all-or-nothing linear thinking currently plaguing and undermining our culture, but I also know the level of vitriol is not reflexive of all readers. Thank goodness.
The three biggies for me have been the national park debate, race and guns. Once a commenter discounted my recounting of my personal race experiences with a "Bull…!" as if to suggest she knew more about my life than I. Or there was the commenter who compared forcing a national park against locals' wishes to forcing integration of schools in the south during the black civil rights movement. I think there were extra exclamation points involved.
And those were mild compared with some responses, but seriously?
The last time I blogged about guns, I wrote there are reasonable reasons to support lifting the permit requirement to carry a concealed gun. I was lauded by gun rights' folks and blasted by their opponents. Some people assumed that my post indicated I was totally anti-gun control; others assumed the opposite.
The truth is no matter what the subject matter is, I try to look at individual subjects on an individual basis. And I still stand by what I said in my previous post. And I affirm that I am a Second Amendment rights supporter.
But I fear the supporters I may have gained in the concealed carry post may not like my thoughts on the pending referendum drive to require background checks for private sales. I hope they will be fair enough at least to hear me out, even if they ultimately disagree.
Here it goes.
Just as I thought it was reasonable for gun-control advocates to rethink lifting the concealed weapons permit requirement, I think it's reasonable for their opponents to rethink their opposition to this new referendum. Bear with me.
I agree totally that guns don't kill people, people kill people. But the same can be said of cars. There aren't background checks for driving, but there is an exam to gain a license. That license links the person identified into a database of other drivers, and it can be revoked should circumstances change in such a way that compromises one's ability to drive.
Further, a registration is required to own or otherwise take responsibility for the operation of a car.
I'm the first to complain about the cost of registering my car. It's an old, beloved Honda with too many miles. Because it's a Honda, though, the cost of registering it every year is too much — and is getting closer and closer to its rapidly depreciating value. Other than the cost, though, I don't mind the idea of registering my car. It doesn't make me fear that the government is out to take my car or my right to drive away, unless I break the law with it.
The registration does help authorities if the vehicle is used in a criminal fashion or is stolen. Registering it is good for the community and really no big deal.
I'm not sure how much of a deterrent the background check law would be, but I don't think it's an unreasonable requirement. I also think it may be one of those areas gun rights advocates could compromise on — sort of a showing of good faith. A chance for both sides to say in a unified way that it's a good idea to prevent unsafe and restricted persons from accessing guns.
While I was doing a little research on the gun control debate, I did find two things of interest. First, Maine does not require owners to report stolen or lost guns. Again, that seems like a reasonable idea and an idea that would be in the best interests of a community.
Second, the three states that have the most guns originating in Maine and used in crimes are the same three states linked to our opiates problem, or at least the three states I've heard the most about anecdotally: Massachusetts, New York and Florida. I'm sure the residents of those states are no less pleased with our guns showing up there as we are about their middle men sending opiates up here.
I'm sure even gun rights advocates can agree that Maine guns moving via the drug trade to higher ups in other states is not a good idea. I'm not sure what needs to be done to change that sick symbiosis, but as Mainers we should take pride in trying to figure it out.
Figuring out what needs to be done will start with civilized conversations and passionate, but not vitriolic, pejorative or counterproductive debates.


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A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
2010 Review: Outfielders
Drew Stubbs -- Expectations: Medium, Grade: B-
In 2010, Drew Stubbs (he of the unrivaled opportunity cost) flashed the type of well-rounded game that first piqued the interest of Reds management and ultimately prompted his selection in the draft.
Heading into the season, Stubbs was coming off a respectable, albeit not impact level, slash line of .267/.323/.439 in 180 ABs. So, that coupled with his draft position meant he carried a decent set of expectations into the 2010 season. When all was said and done, his 2010 level of performance, .255/.329/.444, resembled what he posted in 2009. Of course, Stubbs had to travel many peaks and valleys to arrive at those final numbers.
His OPS by month was as follows:
April: .572
May: .864
June: .611
July: .657
August: .870
September: .984
October: 1.125
October consisted of only a handful of ABs, so basically Stubbs had 3 strong months and 3 weak months. It all evened out in the end, but going forward it would be easier for the team to rely on Stubbs if his production was more consistent.
The knock on Stubbs has long been his ability to make consistent contact, so it's not surprising that his AB/K rate worsened from 3.7 in 2009 to 3.1 in 2010. He struck out basically once every three ABs, which in part helps explain his long slumps. If you can't consistently put the ball in play, then the chances increase that you will struggle to produce, as swings-and-misses never produce positive outcomes.
The acquisition of Jim Edmonds notwithstanding, the Reds showed commendable patience with Drew Stubbs, giving him ample time to work through his struggles and put it together. Given Dusty's preference for veteran players, the Reds deserve quite a bit of credit for running Stubbs out there day after unproductive day. Ultimately, that patience was rewarded in a big way, as Stubbs blew up in August (.296/.363/.507/.870) and September (.311/.406/.578/.984).
On the defensive side, Stubbs didn't quite perform up to his reputation. Scouting reports have long stated that Stubbs was a Gold Glove caliber centerfielder, even while he was still a Longhorn. That reputation aside, Stubbs rated around league average under both UZR/150 (0.2) and the +/- metric (+5, ranked 14th overall). According to the +/- breakdown, Stubbs struggled significantly on shallow hit balls. He rated as a +10 on deep balls, +3 on medium balls, and -7 on shallow hit balls. What's interesting about that breakdown is that all the scouting reports on Stubbs in the minors stated that his only defensive flaw was his struggles going back on the deep ball. When you pair those two facts together, I have to wonder if Stubbs played a deeper centerfield to offset his struggles on the deep ball. That would account both for his impressive performance on deep balls and his struggles on shallow ones. Regardless, watching him effortlessly glide across the outfield turf makes it almost impossible to imagine Stubbs not becoming one of the very best defensive centerfielders in baseball.
Perhaps the most impressive component of his performance was also the least heralded: his baserunning. Not only did he swipe bases at a very impressive clip (30 of 36, 83%), but he excelled in taking the extra base. Stubbs performed as follows:
1st to 3rd: 13 Advances in 31 Opportunities
2nd to Home: 17 Advances in 21 Opportunities
1st to Home: 8 Advances in 10 Opportunities
All of which was good for a +17 mark, so Stubbs was 17 bases above average. When adding together his stellar basestealing totals and his strong baserunning, Stubbs was a real weapon on the bases. His dual success rate speaks both to his plus speed and his strong instincts on the bases, but also serves as additional evidence that Stubbs possesses both skills and tools. He doesn't simply have speed, but also the understanding of how to effectively utilize it.
Despite the inconsistencies and the disappointing defense, it's difficult not to be optimistic about Stubbs heading into 2011 based solely on his final 2+ months of play. If Stubbs can perform at that level over the course of an entire season, then his value will go through the roof. In the future, we may look back at 2010 as being a big stepping stone in the career of Drew Stubbs.
Jay Bruce -- Expectations: Medium, Grade: B+
After his 2010 season, it seems crystal clear that Jay Bruce is on the cusp of stardom. Bruce told the press that he would be open to a long term deal with the Reds and they would be foolish to not have him locked up long term prior to the first pitch of opening day.
In 2010, Bruce hit a rock solid .281/.353/.493 with 25 homers and a 136/58 K/BB ratio. After a substantial drop in line drive rate in 2009 (13.0%), Bruce fixed his swing and was again ripping line drives at a very good clip (20.1%). His walk rate has increased from 7.3% to 9.8% to 10.1% in his three years in the majors. He also performed better against southpaws (.899 OPS) than righthanders (.822 OPS) in 2010. That may be a sample size outcome, but at the very least he has improved against lefties. Over the last three seasons, Bruce's HR/FB has dropped from 20.2% to 16.8% to 15.3%. While the rate at which fly balls leave the yard is considered a skill largely within a hitter's control, it's not difficult to imagine a homerun surge in 2011, as all of his other skills seem to be trending up so it seems logical that the homeruns will almost inevitably follow.
Bruce's OPS by month was as follows:
April: .833
May: .827
June: .824
July: .508
August: 1.076
September: 1.025
October: 1.944
Unlike Stubbs, Bruce had only 1 bad month. He also had 3 pretty good months and 2 outstanding ones. As with Stubbs, if Bruce can maintain his final 2+ months of production in 2011, then he'll be on the verge of superstar status. And, of course, superstars are both incredibly valuable and incredibly expensive. (Subliminal message: Lock him up NOW!!!)
On the defensive side of the ball, regardless of the metric, Bruce graded out as one of the best rightfielders in the game. Under UZR/150, Bruce posted a robust 19.0. Under the +/- metric, he posted a stellar +25, which translates into 14 runs saved with the leather. That level of performance graded out as the best defensive rightfielder in baseball. Additionally, unlike Stubbs, Bruce excelled on all batted balls (+4 shallow, +6 medium, +15 deep), so there is little question that Bruce is already a legitimate impact talent on defense.
Bruce was also strong on the bases, albeit not in the stolen base department (5 stolen bases in 9 attempts). On the bases, Bruce grades out as a +9, so he was roughly 9 bases above average.
Bruce performed as follows:
1st to 3rd: 11 Advances in 25 Opportunities
2nd to Home: 15 Advances in 18 Opportunities
1st to Home: 6 Advances in 7 Opportunities
Overall, I'm more than a little bullish on Bruce going forward. He struggled in 2009, but showed his ability to deal with adversity by bouncing back strong in 2010. His peripherals are trending in the right direction and he already possesses an incredibly well-rounded game. Bruce has performed up to his considerable ceiling at times, now all he needs to do is maintain that level of performance over a full season.
Jonny Gomes -- Expectations: Medium, Grade: D-
On a certain level, I'm a fan of Jonny Gomes. I like his attitude and feel his skill set can create value if used properly, especially when his cost is low. Unfortunately, the cost is rising and the Reds failed to properly utilize Gomes. As a result, the "cost per unit of production" about which I was optimistic when he was first signed vanished in 2010. The production has been hindered by improper usage and the cost continues to escalate along with his service time.
Heading into the season, Gomes was coming off a strong slash line of .267/.338/.541 which raised expectations for 2010. Unfortunately, his production tailed off as he posted a slash line of .266/.327/.431/.758, which isn't terrible except when you factor in that his performance was skewed heavily by one very strong month.
Gomes's OPS by month was as follows:
April: .621
May: 1.056
June: .704
July: .673
August: .700
September: .768
October: .546
He basically had 1 Ruthian month, 1 decent month, and 4 really poor months. His offense simply needs to be significantly better than that to justify the Reds carrying his glove. In keeping with his career norms, he performed better against southpaws (.285/.378/.479) than he did against righthanders (.257/.301/.408). On defense, there's no kind way to put it, Gomes was atrocious. Under the UZR/150 mark, he posted an abysmal -19.1 mark. Under the +/- metric, he posted an awful -18, which translates into a -10 runs saved.
On the plus side, Gomes actually ran the bases fairly well. In 2010, he graded out at as a +7, so he was roughly 7 bases above average. Gomes performed as follows:
1st to 3rd: 14 Advances in 39 Opportunities
2nd to Home: 8 Advances in 21 Opportunities
1st to Home: 5 Advances in 9 Opportunities
In light of all the success the Reds are having running the bases, it may be time to give some credit to the base coaches. The Reds obviously have talent, but Billy Hatcher and Mark Berry seem to deserve a bit of credit as well.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly given his struggles on offense and defense, Gomes actually graded out as below replacement level. His WAR (Wins Above Replacement) was a mere -0.1. By definition, that level of performance can be obtained from a minor league free agent or a AAAA caliber player.
I still believe Gomes can generate positive value, but he needs to be utilized in a fashion that minimizes his weaknesses and emphasizes his strengths. Namely, he needs to be a platoon outfielder or a source of power off the bench.
Lanyce Nix -- Expectations: Low, Grade: B
Nix posted a .239/.291/.476 line in 2009, so expectations for 2010 were rather muted. The slugging percentage was strong, but when two of the three slash line numbers fall below .300 there is cause for concern. Regardless, Nix took his performance up a notch in 2010 and provided a nice bit of production for minimal cost.
Nix posted a line of .291/.350/.455 to go along with a 39/15 K/BB ratio. He managed to club 4 homeruns in the process. Unlike Gomes, the Reds utilized Nix properly, giving him 149 ABs against righties and only 16 against lefties. Interestingly enough, Nix received about half as many ABs in 2010 as he did in 2009. On the flip side, Gomes received about twice as many ABs in 2010 as he did in 2009. Can it be mere coincidence that the more these two play, the less impressive their numbers become? The larger the sample size, the worse the production.
On the defensive side, the metrics are all stellar, but the small sample size limits their utility. They are in line with his reputation on defense, which has long been solid. Still, Nix has long had decent tools, but struggled to effectively utilize them. That may be why he always seems to have untapped potential, which is why Dusty once lovingly called him a "monster."
Unlike the aforementioned on this list, Nix struggled on the bases. He posted a -5, so was roughly 5 bases below average. He also lacks basestealing ability, so he's largely a station-to-station type player.
Maybe it's simply a sample size issue, but Nix was a better value in 2010 than he was in 2009.
Chris Heisey -- Expectations: Low, Grade: B
Despite his strong performance in the minors, Heisey came into the season with minimal expectations. It simply wasn't clear that he would get the opportunity and, if he did, that he would be able to produce. All in all, he did rather well with the opportunity he received.
Heisey posted a respectable rookie slash line of .254/.324/.433/.757 with a somewhat lackluster 57/16 K/BB ratio and 8 homeruns. His walk rate isn't great, but he supplemented his OBP with 6 hit by pitches, which may or may not be sustainable. If it's not sustainable, then he'll need to improve his walk rate in the future. Additionally, he hit line drives at a solid 19.4% rate. Surprisingly, he struggled against southpaws (.545 OPS), but performed well against righties (.925 OPS).
On defense, Heisey split time between all three outfield spots. The sample size is too small for defensive metrics to mean much of anything, but he actually grades out as above average at all three spots under both UZR/150 and the +/- metric. I question his range in center, but he certainly was up to the task in 2010.
As with all the outfielders on this list save Nix, Heisey was very effective in running the bases. Impressively, Heisey was roughly 12 bases above average, which is very strong in light of his limited playing time.
Heisey performed as follows:
1st to 3rd: 7 Advances in 13 Opportunities
2nd to Home: 6 Advances in 8 Opportunities
1st to Home: 3 Advances in 3 Opportunities
Despite his limited playing time, Heisey managed to post a 1.3 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), which was significantly better than Gomes. Overall, it was a strong overall rookie season for Heisey and one that could have him in line for more playing time in 2011.
Friday, November 19, 2010
2010 Review: Infielders
Ramon Hernandez -- Expectations: Low, Grade: C
Ramon arrived in Cincy with mild expectations, as he was carrying around three straight seasons of .715 or lower OPS. He simply hasn't been an impact hitter, rather just an inexpensive veteran backstop with mediocre expectations. On the plus side, Great American Ballpark is the fountain of youth for righthanded hitters, so Hernandez would have that working in his favor.
Not surprisingly, Hernandez had his best season in four years, posting a line of .297/.364/.428/.792 with an OPS of .818 at home and .763 on the road. Ultimately, Hernandez was a solid player in 2010, providing decent production behind the plate and his ability to speak Spanish to the young Spanish speaking pitchers on the staff could only have helped. All in all, Hernandez was a solid veteran presence behind the dish. After factoring in the friendly hitting environment, Hernandez performed pretty much right in line with expectations.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Hernandez is his ability to elevate his hitting in key situations. I always have lingering doubt about a hitter's ability to consistently perform better in a specific spot in the lineup or in a specific situation. My thoughts run along the lines of "if he can elevate in certain spots, why wouldn't he elevate it all the time?" But, Ramon is just such a hitter. He seemingly DOES possess the ability to elevate his game in key situations.
In 2010, Hernandez hit .233/.285/.367/.652 with no runners on base, .318/.392/.447/.839 with runners on, and .327/.418/.451/.869 with runners in scoring position. The bigger the situation, the better the performance.
Additionally, over the course of his career, Hernandez has hit better in big situations.
Total Career: .265/.329/.418/.747
Career "High Leverage": .295/.360/.458/.818
Career "Medium Leverage": .264/.323/.397/.719
Career "Low Leverage": .251/.320/.416/.736
Both in 2010 and over the course of his career, Hernandez seemingly has had the knack for elevating his game when situation so requires. He seems to like the big moments and the chance for the big hit. Despite my skepticism of whether a player can consistently elevate his game in different situations, Hernandez seems to be able to do just that.
Hernandez was good enough that when paired with the next player in our list, he formed part of one of the most productive catching tandems in the majors.
Ryan Hanigan -- Expectations: Low, Grade: A-
The Reds signed Hanigan as an amateur free agent in 2002. After going undrafted and spending parts of 9 seasons in the minors, he finally broke through at the MLB level in 2010. Hanigan stepped up in a big way in 2010, posting a slash line of .300/.405/.429/.834. He didn't show much power, but made up for it with a stellar K/BB ratio of 21/33 and the second highest OBP among qualifying Reds hitters. Not too shabby.
One of the biggest reasons for Hanigan's success is his plate approach, as he rarely chases pitches outside the zone. It's remarkable how much easier hitting becomes when you don't help the pitcher out by chasing bad pitches. Let those pitches go and tilt the probability of success in your favor. Hanigan does just that.
Year: O-Swing%
2007: 22.2%
2008: 15.8%
2009: 17.6%
2010: 18.9%
In 2010, only 18.9% of Hanigan's swings were on pitches outside the strikezone, which landed him among the league leaders in the category. He also saw quite a few pitches per plate appearance (4.08 #P/PA), which when coupled with his refusal to chase bad balls makes him something of a tough out for opposing pitchers. Hanigan forces the pitcher to beat him, rather than making it easy by helping the pitcher out.
Once Hanigan did get a pitch to his liking he made contact 92.5% of the time. And, when he made contact, it resulted in a line a robust 20.8% of the time. Hanigan doesn't have much power, but he seems an ideal hit-and-run candidate and one of the better table-setters on the roster. The fact that he spent a grand total of 1 AB in the top 5 spots in the batting order is a clear failure on the part of Dusty Baker. But, of course, Dusty has long favored speed over on-base skill in his table-setters, which remains his biggest flaw as a manager.
Hanigan also did his part to slow the opposition running game, as he threw out 13 of 41 basestealers (31.7%) and seemed to call a better game than Hernandez.
If he can maintain that performance level, then it wouldn't be at all surprising to see Hanigan take over the larger role of the catching tandem in 2011. Overall, Hanigan was a very pleasant surprise for the Reds and helped provide one of the most productive catching tandems in baseball.
Joey Votto -- Expectations: High, Grade: A+
.324/.424/.600/1.024. A truly amazing season which establishes Votto as one of the top 2 or 3 hitters in the National League. As impressive as it was, even more impressive is that it was supported by the peripherals. Votto ripped line drives at a 20% clip and surprisingly was more productive on the road. At home, he posted a .950 OPS, while on the road he had a 1.093 OPS, which forecloses any notion that Votto was merely a product of a hitter friendly environment.
In fact, in the long history of the team, Votto's 2010 season was tied for the 14th best offensive season (at least according to Offensive WAR). The list reads as follows:
1. Joe Morgan (1975) 10.3
2. Joe Morgan (1976) 9.9
3. Joe Morgan (1972) 9.2
4. Joe Morgan (1973) 8.9
5. Joe Morgan (1974) 8.5
6. Frank Robinson (1962) 8.0
7. Cy Seymour (1905) 7.8
t8. Barry Larkin (1996) 7.7
t8. Johnny Bench (1972) 7.7
10. Ted Kluszewski (1954) 7.5
11. Pete Rose (1969) 7.4
12. Eric Davis (1987) 7.3
13. Joe Morgan (1977) 7.1
t14. Joey Votto (2010) 6.9
t14. Frank Robinson (1961) 6.9
Votto exceeded all my expectations in 2010, which continues a theme. I have never been happier to be wrong on a player than I have been on Votto. I simply didn't see this type of upside as he climbed the ladder, but his level of performance continued to improve as the competition got tougher. All of this culminated in an MVP caliber season with more undoubtedly on the horizon for one of the two or three best hitters in the NL.
Brandon Phillips -- Expectations: Medium, Grade: C+
At this point, there is no less surprising player on the roster than Phillips, whose performance has a metronome like consistency. His performance baseline is well established as .750-.770 OPS on offense and Gold Glove caliber defense.
On the season, Phillips hit the usual .275/.332/.430/.762, but struggled mightily on the basepaths where he stole 16 bases and was nabbed 12 times. It was the first time in 5 seasons that Phillips failed to swipe over 20 bases. Obviously, that type of "success" rate is unacceptable, as Phillips simply gave away too many outs.
Overall, it was largely what we've come to expect from Phillips. His production was on pace to be a tick better than in years past, but a terrible September (caused in part by a hand injury) dragged his numbers back down to his career norms. Phillips logged 97 ABs in September and posted a lackluster .175/.266/.278/.544 slash line. The Reds were pushing for a postseason spot, but in hindsight it was clearly a questionable decision for Dusty Baker to keep running Phillips out there. Not only did it drag down his overall numbers, but most importantly his performance simply didn't help the Reds win ballgames.
Overall, for better or worse, Phillips is as consistent as a metronome. His most valuable attribute is and always has been his defense. As a 29-year old, Phillips should have a few more peak seasons left in him, but his decline phase isn't too far off. Until it arrives, we'll continue to know what to expect.
Scott Rolen -- Expectations: Medium, Grade: B+
I was in favor of the Scott Rolen experiment and he certainly didn't disappoint. For me, Rolen was a key component in the Reds breaking through and into the postseason in 2010.
In 2010, Rolen was a 5-win player, which was roughly a 3-win improvement over the production the Reds got out of third base in 2009. And, his presence seemed to extend beyond the playing field, as he seemed to be a stabilizing influence on a young Reds lineup. In addition, he gave the Reds much better L/R balance in the lineup (a legitimate problem in years past), and was a very steady glove who helped out the entire pitching staff with his ability to make plays. Rolen not only improved the Reds significantly at the hot corner, but also seemed to make those around him better.
Unfortunately, Rolen faded in the final two months of the season, especially in slugging percentage which fell down to .402 in August and .365 in September. It's becoming clear that this is a problem that is unlikely to go away, as his pre and post All Star splits over the past 3-years showed a marked decline Rolen's ability to drive the ball. Over the 2008-2010 seasons, Rolen has hit .293/.366/.484/.850 before the All Star break and .272/.347/.427/.774 after the break. His slugging percentage drops .057 after the break. Clearly, some combination of age and shoulder injury cause him to wear down, sapping his ability to drive the ball.
As a result, the Reds will be forced to address the question of how to get the most out of Rolen in 2011. Simply put, the team will need to find a respectable back-up, both to give Rolen a breather and fill in when injuries arise. Rolen was certainly a pleasant surprise, but going forward the Reds would be better served by finding an impact righthanded cleanup hitter. Doing so would allow them to shift Rolen down to a more complimentary spot in the lineup (i.e. 6th). Rolen remains a very good baseball player, but at this point it would be foolish to expect him to carry a team like he did during his peak seasons.
Paul Janish -- Expectations: Low, Grade: B
Paul Janish had the type of season I suspected was in there all along. I have long liked Janish's combination of short, quick, line-drive swing and disciplined approach at the plate. That combination of attributes should have been sufficient in light of his stellar defensive tools.
In 2010, Janish made the most of his opportunity. However, the Reds decision to sign Orlando Cabrera still leaves Janish with something of a question mark over his head. Janish performed rather well, but the sample size isn't quite large enough to state that Janish is a surefire starter. Unfortunately, that leaves the Reds on the horns of a dilemma for 2011, as they still don't know if they can rely on Janish to hold down the job fulltime.
Despite a solid .260/.338/.385/.723 slash line, Janish sported some rather strange splits. Despite Great American Ballpark being a hitter's Valhalla for righthanders, Janish actually performed significantly better on the road. At home, Janish hit .213/.307/.247/.554, while he was appreciably better on the road at .297/.363/.495/.858. He also performed significantly better during the day (.318/.389/.435/.824), than at night (.217/.300/.348/.648).
So, the question is whether the 2010 splits will normalize over a larger sample size or whether Janish was protected from his splits by the small sample size. The Reds will have to decide, but early rumblings indicate that they have no intention of handing the starting job over to Janish. At the very least, Janish has proven his value as a utility infielder who packs a steady glove. When the Reds were kicking the ball around the field in the postseason, Paul Janish was the only player I actually trusted to have a ball hit his way.
In short, Janish went from a borderline MLB player to potentially a legitimate starting shortstop. It's hard not to label that type of season a success.
Orlando Cabrera -- Expectations: Low, Grade: D+
When the Reds announced the signing of O-Cab, I was immediately against it. I thought Paul Janish offered comparable, if not superior, production at a much lower cost. The bang-for-the-buck easily favored Janish.
One thing I thought would actually work in O-Cab's favor was the boost he would get from Great American Ballpark. Unfortunately and surprisingly, the boost never arrived. In 2009, O-Cab hit .284/.316/.389 combined in Minnesota and Oakland, while in 2010 he hit only .263/.303/.354 for the Reds. He declined in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
The one saving grace for O-Cab was that he actually exceeded expectations on defense. Under the UZR/150 metric, O-Cab was 5.3 runs above average, while under the John Dewan +/- metric O-Cab was a -2. Neither metric rates him as elite, but it's fair to say he was not the big liability with the leather that I expected him to be.
The Reds declined Cabrera's option, but remain interested in bringing him back at a reduced rate. However, given the strong performance of the Reds in 2010, it's probably time to completely embrace the younger talent. There is little to nothing to be gained from players like O-Cab, especially with the capable Paul Janish and Zack Cozart in the organization. Older players like O-Cab are nothing more than expensive security blankets for GMs, as they aren't going to provide legitimate upgrades in production, but the name recognition gives the appearance of improvement. For some reason, fans are placated by an acquisition like O-Cab and become less critical than they would be if the production was generated by an internal option lacking such name recognition (i.e. Paul Janish).
Overall, O-Cab disappointed on offense and surprised on defense. Regardless, the overall result was rather uninspiring. For an organization renowned for its shortstop play, O-Cab's 2010 season was hardly a memorable data point.
Monday, November 1, 2010
2011 Elias Free Agent Compensation
Courtesy of Baseball America, here is the Elias Free Agent Compensation Rankings:
"Players who rank in the top 20 percent of their position group (as determined by a statistical formula laid out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement) are designated as Type A free agents, and those who rate in the 21-40 percent bracket are designated as Type B. In order to receive compensation for a Type A or B free agent, the player's former team must offer him arbitration by the Nov. 23 deadline. The player also must sign a major league contract with his new club.
Type A free agents bring back the signing team's first-round pick and a supplemental first-rounder as compensation, while Type B free agents produce only the sandwich pick. Clubs that finished in the bottom half of the major league standings have their first-rounders protected from compensation, and teams also can't lose a consolation pick for failure to sign a draftee from the previous year. If a team signs multiple Type A free agents, the club that lost the higher-ranking player gets the better choice.
Below are the potential Type A and B compensation free agents by position, listed in order of their statistical ranking."
Potential Type A Compensation Free Agents
Catchers: Victor Martinez (Bos), A.J. Pierzynski (CWS), Ramon Hernandez (Cin), Bengie Molina (Tex).
First Basemen: Paul Konerko (CWS), Adam Dunn (Was), Derrek Lee (Atl)
Second Basemen: None.
Third Basemen: Adrian Beltre (Bos), Miguel Tejada (SD).
Shortstops: Derek Jeter (NYY).
Outfielders: Jayson Werth (Phi), Carl Crawford (TB), Magglio Ordonez (Det), Manny Ramirez (CWS).
Designated Hitters: Vladimir Guerrero (Tex).
Starting Pitchers: Cliff Lee (Tex), Andy Pettitte (NYY), Carl Pavano (Min), Jorge de la Rosa (Col).
Relief Pitchers: Rafael Soriano (TB), Mariano Rivera (NYY), Matt Guerrier (Min), Scott Downs (Tor), Dan Wheeler (TB), Jason Frasor (Tor), Frank Francisco (Tex), Grant Balfour (TB), Arthur Rhodes (Cin).
Potential Type B Compensation Free Agents
Catchers: John Buck (Tor), Miguel Olivo (Tor), Jason Varitek (Bos), Yorvit Torrealba (SD), Gerald Laird (Det), Rod Barajas (LAD).
First Basemen: Lance Berkman (NYY), Carlos Pena (TB), Mike Lowell (Bos), Adam LaRoche (Ari), Aubrey Huff (SF).
Second Basemen: Orlando Hudson (Min), David Eckstein (SD).
Third Basemen: Felipe Lopez (Bos).
Shortstops: Orlando Cabrera (Cin), Juan Uribe (SF).
Outfielders: Brad Hawpe (TB), Scott Podsednik (LAD).
Designated Hitters: Johnny Damon (Det), Hideki Matsui (LAA).
Starting Pitchers: Jon Garland (SD), Javier Vazquez (NYY), Hiroki Kuroda (LAD), Kevin Millwood (Bal), Kevin Correia (SD).
Relief Pitchers: Jon Rauch (Min), Koji Uehara (Bal), Brian Fuentes (Min), Kevin Gregg (Tor), Joaquin Benoit (TB), Pedro Feliciano (NYM), Octavio Dotel (Col), Trevor Hoffman (Mil), Kerry Wood (NYY), Randy Choate (TB), J.J. Putz (CWS), Jesse Crain (Min), Aaron Heilman (Ari), Chad Durbin (Phi), Chad Qualls (TB).


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The directive that sailed through the 2005 Cattle Industry Convention, Feb. 5 in San Antonio, TX, set forth a laundry list of concerns the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) wants addressed before it can support reopening of the Canadian border to live cattle trade. The directive's 11 key points include:
Prohibit the importation of cattle and beef products from cattle more than 30 months of age.
Assure all Canadian firewalls to prevent BSE, specifically adherence to Canada's feed ban, are functioning properly.
Harmonize health standards on imported feeder cattle, especially bluetongue and anaplasmosis.
Movement of Canadian cattle into the U.S. must be managed to minimize market disruptions.
Fed cattle imported for immediate slaughter must be certified to be less than 30 months of age at importation.
A ban on the use of fetal bovine serum from heifers imported for immediate slaughter.
Disallow USDA grades and stamps on any imported beef.
Feeder cattle must be branded with "CAN," individually identified with an ear tag, certified to be less than 30 months of age at time of slaughter, shipped in sealed trucks from the border directly to approved feedlots, then directly to harvest in sealed trucks.
Canadian feeder heifers imported to the U.S. must be spayed.
USDA must work with primary trade partners to ensure expanded access for U.S. beef exports isn't jeopardized in any way by expanded trade in Canadian cattle and beef.
The Bush Administration must first reach an agreement to re-establish beef and beef by-product trade with Japan, South Korea and Mexico, and apply economic sanctions if necessary.
USDA has already taken action on Point 1. Point 2 was partially addressed by NCBA's trade delegation, and additional investigations are ongoing with reports expected prior to March 7.
Point 3 isn't only obvious, but doable with little difficulty. The reality is Canada has far more at stake than the U.S., and this non-tariff trade barrier issue has existed for 20 years. It must be resolved and aligned with the science immediately, as the U.S. will never have this much leverage again.
Point 4 is a restatement of past NCBA policy but it underscores how complicated implementing this ruling will be and the possible need for more time. It's also an issue difficult to define and adhere to without trade first being established. Nothing in the current rule addresses mitigating short-term market effects.
Point 5 is already part of the USDA rule and isn't expected to be a major stumbling block. Point 6 is another difficult-to-resolve issue, while Point 7 is a restatement of current NCBA policy that USDA will likely continue to ignore. Point 8 is essentially a part of the current rule.
Point 9 is a major departure from the current rule but it's not likely to happen as the provisions and tracking of these heifer feeders are considered to be already adequate. While inherently obvious, Point 10 isn't expected to carry much weight.
Point 11, however, is critical, the most controversial, and USDA seems adamantly opposed to it. USDA believes the border reopening will lead to reopening of U.S. export markets. Point 11 will likely be the most difficult objective to achieve.


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KARL Robinson has confirmed Oxford United's interest in Chris Cadden and says the club are waiting on the right-sided player to decide on where his future lies after having a bid accepted.
Reports surfaced earlier this week of the U's pursuit of the Motherwell star, whose contract expires this month.
Due to Cadden being an academy graduate aged under 24, United would have to pay compensation to the Scottish Premiership side, who have offered the player fresh terms.
Robinson revealed a fee has been agreed and the Sky Bet League One club are now waiting for the 22-year-old, who had previously been linked with Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United among others, to make up his mind.
"We've made a bid and it has been accepted," said the U's boss.
"I've spoken to the player twice, we'd love to bring him in.
"There's three other clubs and we've just got to wait and see which one he decides to choose and that's where we're at right now.
"The fact is he's a free transfer, it's compensation.
"We've met the compensation laws and we've not commented on anything, so this is everybody else speaking about it.
"We're now just saying 'these are the facts' and that's it, that's where we sit and we're just waiting for an answer."
Cadden, who can play at right-back and in midfield, has made 139 appearances for the Lanarkshire club since 2013, scoring 14 goals.
Motherwell announced their 2019/20 squad numbers on Wednesday, with the Scotland international omitted from the list.