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Friday, October 26, 2007

Hell Rell - "For The Hell of It" - Diplomat Records/Koch Records (2007)

The latest release from the Dipset camp, Hell Rell’s “For The Hell of It” (Diplomat Records/Koch Records, 2007) does much to uphold the street aesthetic that the
Diplomats are known for yet little to continue with the commercial flirtation that some members (ie. Cam’ron, Jim Jones) have enjoyed in recent time. Don’t expect “Ballin’ Pt.
2” on this record, just brace yourself for Dipset’s standard bombastic production coupled with grimy, hard-hitting rhymes courtesy of Hell Rell, who sounds like he has a bone to pick with the rap game on this, his long-awaited solo disc.
Based on the cover art alone for this album (Rell looks like he sees his dentist Dr. FullClip twice a year for regular checkups), you know you are in for some typical Dipset street anthems with an added dose of malice. On album opener “Intro”, Hell Rell boasts over a panicky instrumental, “I don’t get high no more/I smoke for the smell of it/Money just a hobby/N**** get it for the hell of it!”
“Streets Gonna Love Me” is reminiscent of Cam’ron’s 2002 hit “Oh Boy”, as Rell paints a picture, over a high pitched soul sample, of the bittersweet relationship he has with the streets that don’t reciprocate the love he has for them, “It’s funny that/I love the streets/But they on’t love me back.”
Rell invites a few guests to help add some menace to this already gritty album, including Styles P, Young Dro as well as Dipset alums Cam’ron, JR Writer and Juelz Santana. Absent from the album is Dipset “capo” Jim Jones, which seems to reinforce rumours about a widening divide between Jimmy and the rest of the Diplomats fam.
“I’m The S***” featuring Killa Cam, is one of the album’s standouts with Rell and Cam spitting over this car rattler that sounds like a jam session between a ghostly choir and the devil playing the drum kit.
Rell wraps things up smoothly near the end, with “Where You From” featuring Juelz, where over a laidback, soul-drenched beat, Rell gives thanks and praises to his Harlem crew that gave him time to shine in one of rap’s most interesting collectives, “Before I run off in the sunset/I f*** with a few things/But I’m only loyal to one set!”
After numerous mixtapes and guest appearances, it is nice to hear Rell stretched out over a long-player with no gimmicks, annoying DJ catchphrases and skits; just tight production and strong rhymes. This offering makes a strong case for Rell to receive a quick promotion within the Dipset ranks from a street soldier to at least a lieutenant. Hey Jimmy, what do you think?

Rating: 7.5/10

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Common - "Finding Forever Tour" - September 24th, 2007 - The Kool Haus, Toronto, ON, Canada

A quick glance at the massive crowd and lines outside of the Kool Haus on Monday night were a good indication that the stock of Chi-City’s illest MC has clearly risen since the last time he touched down in the T-Dot, back in February 2006 at this very same (albeit less crowded) venue along Toronto’s waterfront.

Common, who was in town for a stop on his current tour to support his latest release “Finding Forever” brought along some lively opening acts in the form of Stones Throw artist and legendary underground lyricist Percee P and Q-Tip, whom some might remember from a little group called A Tribe Called Quest. Unfortunately, due to the lack of complete organization and a proper lineup system courtesy of The Kool Haus security staff (this is a persistent problem at this venue, and will continue to be until someone in charge gets their act together!), many concert-goers (including myself) were trapped outside steaming, listening to the muffled sounds of each artists’ opening sets.

Once inside I was immediately hit with a stifling wall of heat and humidity created by the combination of poor ventilation and the thousands of hipsters, b-boys and girls, thugs and middle-aged couples eagerly anticipating the return of Kanye West’s favorite rapper. The lights dimmed and the screaming began as vocal snippets off “Finding Forever” played over the sound system. Common bolted onto the stage dressed to impress in a white tee, expensive-looking denim and one of his trademark hats; and immediately had the floor bouncing with “Go” from 2005’s instant classic “Be” and his current single, “The People”.

A welcome addition to Common’s performance was the inclusion of a live drummer (Karriem Riggins, a producer/musician/power player who is known from his close association with the Stones Throw family); which added some sonic muscle to Common’s already dope live show. Common kept the energy of the crowd up as he played a little call-and-response with the sweaty party people in attendance during crowd favorites like “The Corner” off his last album.

The floor shook when Common unleashed a classic throwback collage in which he spit Toronto-centric rhymes (Shouting out street names, landmarks, etc.) over classic beats like “Just A Friend” by Biz Markie and Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind”. Those fans who weren’t at his last show in Toronto, wouldn’t realize that Common pulled the same trick the last time around and it wasn’t something new; however it worked like a charm nonetheless.

The energy in the building waned slightly during “Testify” during which Common left the stage to change clothes and cut the music to deliver a spoken word portion of the track to create drama; however all it did was cause the crowd to stir restlessly and complain until the beat kicked back in. The unbearable heat was surely a factor, as several people were carried out unconscious by security; but the “mini-stage production” seemed to miss it’s intended target.

Common closed off his set with a stirring rendition of one of his all-time greatest tracks “The Light” which was produced by the late production prodigy J Dilla, whom was shown love by all inside the cramped Kool Haus. He then stated that, “I always close the show with The Light and typically don’t do any more songs….however because y’all been so good, I’ll do a couple more!” The crowd roared its approval as Common bounced through the Kanye-assisted “The Food” and “I Want You” off “Finding Forever”.

All in all, Chicago’s finest delivered yet another memorable performance filled with everything you would expect from Common and maybe a little you wouldn’t. Hopefully next time Toronto is graced with Common’s fine mic presence it will be at a venue that that offers some relief from the heat being produced on stage and amongst the fans.
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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Gopinath quits from Kingfisher Board

Gopinath quits from Kingfisher Board
By   siliconindia news bureau
Thursday,25 March 2010, 08:13 hrs
New Delhi: Captain G R Gopinath, the pioneer of the low-cost carrier model in the country, resigned from the board of Kingfisher Airlines. Captain Gopinath has started a new venture - express transportation and logistics company 'Deccan 360' - where he is the Chairman and Managing Director, reports PTI.

"Captain Gopinath and Captain K J Samuel have resigned from the board as Directors to take effect from the close of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the company held on Wednesday," Kingfisher said in a communique to the National Stock Exchange. Gopinath was appointed Vice Chairman of Kingfisher Airlines after the Vijay Mallya-led carrier took controlling stake in his budget airline Deccan Aviation.

Last year, Captain Gopinath had continuously been offloading his stake in Kingfisher, bringing his holding down to 0.3 percent in September 2009.

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Sunday, September 23, 2012

3-day military diet. apparently you can lose up to ten lbs. in 3 days, with this special diet. Take a four day break and do it again until you've achieved your goal... Pinner checked it w/ her medic hubs & he said it's good to try!

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text: Big E to feature Connecticut beer tent Photo courtesy of The Big E. September 19, 2016 10:32AM By Farrah Duffany Record-Journal staff FacebookTwitterPinterestGoogle+Email As thousands flock to the opening of The Big E Friday, many are expected to try a new beer garden near the Connecticut Building. The Connecticut Craft Beer Garden will feature breweries from around the state, including City […]


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Tulsa police officer acquitted in death of unarmed African-American man

By | May 18, 2017

A white police officer was found not guilty on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 2016 shooting death of an unarmed black man

About 100 demonstrators gathered near the courthouse where a jury acquitted Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby of first-degree manslaughter charges in the 2016 shooting of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher.

After the decision was announced, peaceful but defiant protesters briefly blocked an intersection in downtown Tulsa, prompting authorities to threaten the use of tear gas and arrest. The crowd eventually dispersed overnight.

Demonstrators chanted, “No Justice, No Peace” and “Hands up, don’t shoot!” in the streets.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin called for peace after the verdict came down. (ABC News)

Click here for more…


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Monday, March 23, 2009

New Kitchen

As planned, I painted the kitchen this weekend. I'll be adding pictures soon, once I get home to take some :-). It is green, the same color as our living room, and I think it looks much better. It was so much work! We also painted the ceiling, as it was in dire need of a new coat of white. That made the whole process more difficult, but Scott helped me out significantly with that part. We ended up having to do 2 coats on the ceiling, which made it even more time-consuming and difficult. But, it was worth it. I also took the opportunity to clean the kitchen while all the stuff was moved out of it. So everything looks nice and clean now.

Speaking of cleaning, I'm considering hiring a maid service to come in and "deep clean" the entire house. They will do in 2 hours what would take me 2 weeks, and I think it would be worth it. Originally, I wanted to hire a service on a monthly basis, but I got some quotes and that is too expensive. So we are thinking of maybe 2-4 times a year. When two people are working full time, I don't think its unreasonable.

I finished the itineraries for Texas today and sent them to the family. I think its going to be a fun trip! I have a lot of history to read up on before we go, like the Alamo, JFK assassination, and king Tut.

I sent out Evites about a week and a half ago for our 2nd Annual Tindall Cookout, so be sure to remember to reply. I'll send out a reminder as it gets closer, since it is 2 months away now. If anyone did not get their Evite, let me know - I may have used an old email address. Hopefully we will have a good turnout - last year was so fun!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Last week, thanks to my friend Angela, I discovered a new website called Anyone who loves to read will love this site, so I encourage you to sign up (and add me as a friend). The best way I can describe it is "Facebook for Book-Lovers". You make an account, and then you start rating books you've read, adding books you want to read, giving reviews, making recommendations, etc. The more friends you have, the more fun it is, because each time you log in, you get a "news feed" similar to Facebook that tells you what your friends are reading, what books they recently reviewed, etc. It's a great way to get new ideas for books to put on your list and to compare opinions about different books. It's quite addictive, and I love it. So go sign up!

This weekend, I'm thinking about painting the kitchen. We painted it orange when we moved in, with the intention of eventually painting or staining the cabinets, but after 2 years, we still haven't gotten around to it. So I'm thinking about painting it the same color green as our living room. Scott thinks it will be "too much green". I'm a little worried about that myself, but I think the kitchen would look so much better that color. For those who have been to my house, let me know what you think. Will it be too much green?

I came home yesterday to sunshine and warmth. It was GREAT. I went outside, filled the birdfeeders, and walked around the yard to check my up-coming spring blooms. The roses are growing already (not blooming yet), the azaleas have buds, the cherry tree is starting to bloom, daffodils are coming up, and there are little sprouts where my lilies will be growing soon, too. I absolutely LOVE the spring, its the best season! I'm a little worried about the Bradford Pear out front, as it seems last weekends flurries might have killed some of the buds. It's not as pretty as it usually is, but I'm hoping it just hasn't fully bloomed yet.

I've been reading the Twilight series, and I have just started the 3rd book. I liked Twilight, but didn't care much for New Moon. I don't think I'm as crazy about the books as most people are, but they are easy to read and enjoyable enough. They have quite a bit of fluff and too much mushy talk between the main characters ("I love you more...", "No, I love you more....", "Noooo, I love YOU more...") It's not those exact words, but that's the gist, and it gets annoying.

Well, that's all that is on my mind at the moment. Have a great weekend :)

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

On Sunday, before Shane & Mandy left, we heard reports that there was supposed to be a snowstorm coming through the area. Scott and I scoffed at the news, stating that Richmond never gets snow. It's true - we've been here for 5 years, and it has only snowed once (and stuck for more than an hour). So imagine our surprise when, about 5:00 that night, we looked out the window to see this:We couldn't believe it was actually snowing AND sticking to the ground. Amazing! It just got better and better (and deeper and deeper) as the night went on, and by 8:00 I had already decided that I was not going to work the next day.

To my delight, this is what I awoke to the next morning:
I'd say it was a solid 8 inches, if not more. Check out how the bushes are buried! It was absolutely gorgeous, and continued snowing throughout the morning. My office closed, but I would have taken a PTO day if they hadn't. It's the first time I've seen snow like this since I was in Blacksburg, and all I really wanted to do was go out and play in it. Unfortunately, Scott had to work from home, and playing in the snow by yourself is no fun. Oh well.

Most of the snow has now melted, as the temperature is gradually warming up this week. By Friday it's supposed to be 63 degrees, and then 71 on Saturday. I am excited! It will be like the first "Spring" weekend. Hopefully there will be yard sales.


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Custom Toys and Action Figures by Blayne

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Cross Promotion - FanExpo Artists & Predators: 1000AD Art

Artist David J. Cutler is posting high res. shots of some of my Predators: 1000 AD sketchbook commissions on his tumblr.

Be sure to check them out, along with his other art. This guy's illustration is fantastic. Hopefully we'll see more Predator: 1000AD-based art from him in the near future...

Also found while browsing David's tumblr: a link translated art tutorials, originally made by Seiichi Nakamura. This is an excellent resource, and translate well into sculpting for those having difficulty with proportions, or the folds in clothing.


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New Orleans Hornets: Will They Remain in the Big Easy Next Year?

Jordan SpectorContributor IIIJanuary 20, 2012

The holidays are now in the rear-view mirror, and basketball fans are back to enjoying the thrill of an NBA season.

But despite the withdrawal of speculative doubts that surrounded the league during the lockout, a gloomy cloud of uncertainty still hovers over the city of New Orleans, and the NBA owned Hornets.

Following the departure of Chris Paul, general manager Dell Demps and his front office are now in full rebuilding mode.

In a blockbuster deal that sent the four-time All-Star to the Los Angeles Clippers under the approval of Commissioner Stern, the Hornets acquired shooting guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, Center Chris Kaman and an unprotected first-round pick from the Timberwolves.

Demps said in a statement concerning the trade, “For the long-term future of the New Orleans Hornets, this is the best deal.”

Many can agree with Demps for the most part, as he worked extremely hard for a successful transaction, while constantly having his hopes bashed by the iron fist of David Stern.

As a result, they definitely avoided catastrophe as well, considering the fact that Stern at one point appeared to have permanently thwarted any possible efforts to trade Paul after vetoing the original agreement with the Lakers.

But even after working out a successful deal in the end, there still only appears to be a small handful of potential owners willing to purchase the franchise.

Eric Gordon is the new building block for the Hornets' franchise.
Eric Gordon is the new building block for the Hornets' franchise.Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Now that Paul is out, the main selling point of the Hornets is the acquisition of young talent such as Eric Gordon, who will likely be the focal point of the team’s offense moving forward—if and when he finally gets healthy.

Even so, the Hornets' future in New Orleans is currently in dire straits.

Ever since previous owner George Shinn stepped down, the league has been losing millions of dollars each year to keep the organization afloat financially.

Some analysts believe the whole franchise is in jeopardy due to quiet talks of contraction that were hinted at by Commissioner Stern when first taking ownership two years ago.

That would mean completely erasing the Hornets from the NBA, and basically auctioning off the roster in a dispersal draft.

Therefore, with the increasing financial burden brought to mind, the shortened season could not have come at a better time.

With the compressed schedule now being played out, the quick pace is only helping the Hornets get through what truly is a rebuilding year—which can clearly be seen from the way they've played thus far.

And with two first-round picks quickly coming their way, the organization will be able to set their sights on draft night in hopes of adding more young talent to the team.

While acquiring a possible future star in the draft would certainly lift the Hornets back up to a competitive level—much like they did in 2005 with the addition of Chris Paul—there would still be some big issues to address.

I am an avid fan of the Hornets, but anybody who has been to New Orleans knows that football always comes first. With the 2010 super bowl victory of the Saints still lingering in the hearts and minds of every New Orlinean, the city has become an even stronger football town than ever. Therefore, it is quite agreeable that no matter how good the Hornets get, they will always be a mere second favorite in a city flowing with who dat fanaticism.

Even if the Hornets found an owner, it would be to no one’s surprise if the franchise relocated to a different market.

Possible destinations such as Seattle have been brought to mind. But if the Hornets did make the bold move to the northwest, they would be faced with the same challenges that the Supersonics dealt with before relocating to Oklahoma City. The Key Arena in Seattle needs major renovations in order to be suitable for a NBA franchise. But without the necessary funds being provided by the city to do so; it’s not a viable option.

There is certainly a lot of doubt to be had when looking at the current situation. However, one of the few bright spots that Hornets fans can at least hold onto for now, is the fact that Stern honestly wants to keep the hive in the Big Easy.

“Our sole focus was and will remain, until we sell this team, hopefully which will be in first half of 2012, how best to maintain the Hornets, make them as attractive and as competitive as we can and ensure we have a buyer who can keep them in New Orleans,” Stern said.

Unfortunately, Stern and the Hornets have ultimately failed at attaining this vision and the feelings of concern are only widening for the ball club.

Jamal Mashburn has shown interest in buying the Hornets.
Jamal Mashburn has shown interest in buying the Hornets.Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

But even with the early failures of the team, a small glimmer of hope might still remain.

Jamal Mashburn—who used to play for the New Orleans franchise in the latter part of his career—has been one of a very few to recently inquire on becoming the new owner.

"I can be an asset to a team as an owner, not only for my ability to scout talent, but also understand the business side of things,” Mashburn told China in an interview. “The first all-star of the Hornets comes back to buy the team, it's going to be a great story."

Mashburn would certainly be a great fit for the job—especially since he has shown to be extremely savvy in his post-athlete career as a business man.

Yet, Mashburn is still trying to establish a group of investors to give aid monetarily, and there is no guarantee he will be able to make the purchase in the foreseeable future.

So with that point, there is no definitive answer as to where the Hornets will end up. There doesn’t seem to be an answer as to whether or not they will even exist either, with the looming possibility of contraction.

But for now, we can only sit back and watch as the Hornets organization sits on thin ice; ice that will easily be able to melt when the warm humid, bayou weather returns to New Orleans during the offseason.


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Grading Ruben Amaro Jr.'s 25 Biggest Offseason Moves as Phillies GM

Greg PintoCorrespondent INovember 23, 2012

Grading Ruben Amaro Jr.'s 25 Biggest Offseason Moves as Phillies GM

0 of 25

    No one is ever going to accuse a general manager of a Major League Baseball team of having an easy job, namely because when someone needs to shoulder the blame (or reap the benefits), it falls on the guy who is responsible for putting the team together.

    As with any position with an ounce of power and responsibility, when things go well, you're a great general manager. When things go wrong, it's all your fault.

    Ruben Amaro Jr. is a man who has experienced both ends of the spectrum as the GM of the Philadelphia Phillies. He took over following a World Series title in 2008 and missed the postseason in one of the team's most highly anticipated seasons in 2012.

    Now, with an aging core and few prospects ready to step up as reinforcements, Amaro has his work cut out for him this offseason. With several holes to fill and limited resources, he'll need to be both smart and savvy.

    Is he up to the task? One way to find out is to take a look back at his offseason history. Amaro has a long history of offseason moves with the Phillies and now, it's time to slap a grade on them.

    Each move will be graded on the following attributes: Performance and contract.

    That's it. Did Amaro get the perfect amount of bang for his buck? Let's take a look.

Danys Baez

1 of 25

    The Deal: Two years, $5.25 million

    Grade: F

    Some deals are just bound to fail, and this was one of them.

    After failing to re-sign Chan Ho Park to fortify the bullpen, Ruben Amaro Jr. went out and signed Danys Baez to a deal that instantly seemed like it was for too much and too long. Two years for a reliever who hadn't pitched a sub-four ERA since 2005?

    At that point, it seemed as though Baez was destined to fail, and he did. He struggled mightily with the Phillies, who had no choice but to designate him for assignment before his contract expired. In less than two seasons, his ERA was 5.81 for the Phils.

Jose Contreras (2010 & 2011)

2 of 25

    The Deal: (2010) One year, $1.5 million

    Grade: A

    When you look over the careers of some high-profile general managers, some of their best transactions are of the low-risk, high-reward variety. When you have nothing to lose, good things tend to happen.

    That's what made Jose Contreras so valuable for the Phillies during his first contract. After experimenting out of the bullpen as a member of the Colorado Rockies, the Phillies signed Contreras to be a reliever full-time in 2010.

    It was a low-risk move that worked well. Contreras made 67 appearances and posted an ERA of 3.34. Not bad production for just $1.5 million, but that led Amaro to...

    The Deal: (2011) Two years, $5.5 million

    Grade: F

    ...sign Contreras to a multi-year contract in the following offseason—something that people questioned right off of the bat. Giving a raise in both years and dollars to a 39-year-old reliever never seems to end well.

    And it didn't. While Contreras pitched well for the Phillies when he was on the mound, he was rarely on the mound. He made 34 total appearances over the length of his new contract.

    The deal also included an option for the 2013 season, which the Phillies have declined.

Kevin Frandsen

3 of 25

    The Deal: One year, minor league contract.

    Grade: A

    General managers make plenty of minor league signings that often go under the radar, but every now and then one jumps up above the others and stands out. For Ruben Amaro Jr., one of those guys is Kevin Frandsen.

    After leading Triple-A in hits, Frandsen joined the Phillies last season and didn't disappoint. He hit .338 and stole the starting third base job away from the incumbent Placido Polanco.

    The Phillies and Frandsen have already avoided arbitration for next season, giving the club a solid fallback plan in case they come up empty in their search for a third baseman  this winter.

    Another guy worth a mention on this slide is Erik Kratz, who joined the Phillies as a minor league free agent and will likely serve as the club's backup catcher in 2013.

Ross Gload

4 of 25

    The Deal: Two years, $2.6 million

    Grade: F

    If Ruben Amaro Jr. was a bit more hesitant in giving out "extra" guaranteed years on contracts, he'd be an exponentially better general manager, because while he's made some good decisions, the bad ones really seem to stick because the player always seems to stick around for an extra season.

    Ross Gload is the perfect example. With Greg Dobbs having moved on, the Phillies needed Gload to step in and be their left-handed bat off of the bench. Perhaps feeling pressured to get a deal done, Amaro caved and gave him two years.

    Gload's first season with the Phillies was excellent. His second season was horrendous, as he dealt with a fraying hip and could barely play by the end of the season.

    Now, it looks like Amaro made the same mistake with Laynce Nix.

Roy Halladay

5 of 25

    The Deal: Phillies trade Kyle Drabek, Travis D'arnaud and Michael Taylor to Toronto Blue Jays for Roy Halladay; sign Halladay to three-year, $60 million contract.

    Grade: A

    After nearly two decades without much starting pitching, Ruben Amaro Jr. went on a bit of a shopping spree in the latter half of the last decade. After acquiring Cliff Lee during the 2009 season, he turned around and acquired Roy Halladay in the offseason.

    While Lee would ultimately be the victim of that trade, the Phillies got the pitcher that they really wanted from the beginning. It cost them three top prospects, but has been well worth it.

    Through his first three seasons as a Phillie, Halladay has won a Cy Young Award, tossed a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter and won 51 games. Talk about pitching "as advertised." This was one of Amaro's best moves, easily.

David Herndon

6 of 25

    The Deal: Rule 5 selection from Los Angeles Angels.

    Grade: D

    It sure looks like the Phillies may have given up on David Herndon too soon.

    Ruben Amaro Jr. plucked him out of the Los Angeles Angels system in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2010 season, and while the Phillies kept him aboard throughout the season, Herndon was nothing to write home about. His 2011 season wasn't spectacular either.

    Early in the 2012 season, Herndon seemed to have turned a page and the results were better, but he injured his elbow shortly thereafter and needed to have Tommy John surgery.

    Still recovering, the Phillies recently designated Herndon for assignment in a bit of a roster crunch and lost him on waivers to the Toronto Blue Jays, who would in turn lose him to the New York Yankees

    You almost have to assume that Herndon's best days are ahead of him.

Jeremy Horst

7 of 25

    The Deal: Phillies trade Wilson Valdez to Cincinnati Reds for Jeremy Horst.

    Grade: A

    Was this a lucky break for the Phillies' general manager or a stroke of genius?

    When the Phillies sent Wilson Valdez to the Cincinnati Reds, it was a curious decision. Depth had been an issue for the club in recent seasons and while Valdez was getting a raise, his salary would still be less than $1 million.

    But the rhetoric was that Ruben Amaro Jr. and company felt as though Valdez was expendable and the Reds were interested, so a trade went down. In return, the Phillies got salary relief and a throw-in by the name of Jeremy Horst.

    Well, as it turned out, the Phillies bullpen was a mess early in the season and Horst got his shot. He impressed all the right people, striking out 40 batters in 31.1 innings pitched and allowing just four earned runs.

Raul Ibanez

8 of 25

    The Deal: Three years, $31.5 million

    Grade: D

    Can't say that I'm speaking from experience, but there is probably no worse feeling for a general manager than absolutely needing to sign a free agent, but not having options available at your position of need.

    That's what happened to the Phillies before the 2009 season. Pat Burrell was on the decline and the club had already decided to part ways with him. They needed to replace his production in left field, but the only real option was Raul Ibanez.

    Ruben Amaro Jr. wound up signing him to a three-year, $31.5 million contract, which "experts" believed was for too long and too much, and in hindsight, they were right.

    But not having options is not an excuse for a poor transaction. The first half of Ibanez's first season is the lone reason I didn't give this deal an "F."

    Ibanez wound up being a solid left fielder, but he was nothing short of a butcher defensively and didn't do something so drastic offensively that the scales were tipped. This was just a below average deal made out of necessity.

Cliff Lee (Trade and Free Agent)

9 of 25

    The Deal: Phillies trade Cliff Lee to Seattle Mariners for Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies and JC Ramirez.

    Grade: C-

    I wanted to get to as many of Ruben Amaro Jr.'s offseason transactions as possible, so both of the Cliff Lee deals are on this page. The first is the trade to the Seattle Mariners—a move that Amaro came under fire for, and rightfully so.

    Was it about the prospects or were the Phillies being cheap?

    After acquiring Roy Halladay, Amaro's claim was that the Phillies needed to restock the farm system, so he sent Lee to the Mariners for a trio of prospects—each of whom have failed to live up to their original, lofty expectations.

    Meanwhile, Lee, on a very manageable one-year deal, reached the World Series for a second consecutive season—this time as a member of the Texas Rangers.

    The Deal: Five years, $120 million

    Grade: A

    Following the 2010 season, Amaro made it perfectly clear how he really felt about Lee. The Phillies used the hooplah of a bidding war between the New York Yankees and Rangers to plan a stealth offer to bring Lee back—one that he accepted.

    Bringing Lee back was both a smart business and public relations move for the Phillies. They marketed their "Four Aces" big time and Lee has been worth every penny they've given him to date, though the win total may not reflect that.

Michael Martinez

10 of 25

    The Deal: Rule 5 selection from Washington Nationals

    Grade: F

    There isn't much risk involved with a Rule 5 draft pick. If you see someone you like, you pick him up from another club. If you work out a deal with the former club or keep him on your roster for an entire season, he's yours to keep.

    But why did the Phillies keep Michael Martinez?

    Martinez was historically bad for the Phillies in 2012 and wasn't much better the previous year. While he is theoretically a depth player at a couple of different positions, Martinez shouldn't have been in the MLB for as long as he was.

    The Phillies finally made the right decision and removed him from the 40-man roster.

John Mayberry Jr.

11 of 25

    The Deal: Phillies trade Greg Golson to Texas Rangers for John Mayberry Jr.

    Grade: B

    John Mayberry Jr. may not have lit the world on fire as a member of the Phillies, but he has been a lot more productive than Greg Golson, who the Phillies swapped him with.

    Without even hitting arbitration, Mayberry has hit 35 home runs and played quality defense for the Phillies over parts of four seasons.

    He may not be an everyday player, but he isn't a bad option to have on the bench either. Solid deal for the Phils.

Jamie Moyer

12 of 25

    The Deal: Two years, $13 million

    Grade: D

    Anyone who has ever woken up in the morning with a stiff neck or sore muscles knows that getting older isn't fun. That's a crude way of explaining why most teams find it dangerous to guarantee a contract to older pitchers.

    But that Ruben Amaro Jr.? He laughs in the face of danger. At least, that's what it seemed like he was doing when he offered a 46-year-old Jamie Moyer a multi-year contract.

    Sure, Moyer is a "different" kind of pitcher. He has never thrown hard and he relies on movement and change in speed to confuse hitters. But if you're telling me that the Phillies felt as though they had to give Moyer a multi-year deal, well, I'm just not following.

    He wound up winning 21 games, but that's a deceiving number. He got plenty of run support while posting an ERA of 4.89 over that span of time. He also suffered an injury during the 2010 season that would lead to a Tommy John surgery.

Laynce Nix

13 of 25

    The Deal: Two years, $2.5 million

    Grade: F

    If every general manager has his vice, Ruben Amaro Jr.'s is a strange willingness to give out extra guaranteed years on contracts. Laynce Nix is just another example.

    The Phillies signed Nix to a two-year deal last winter—the first Major League contract of his career—and things didn't go as planned. Nix suffered a serious calf strain and never fully recovered from it during the season. He didn't hit for nearly as much power as anticipated either.

    But this deal was guaranteed to fail from the start. It just isn't necessary to guarantee multi-year contracts to replacement level players and now, the Phillies will find themselves debating whether or not to bite the bullet and move on or keep Nix around for 2013.

Jonathan Papelbon

14 of 25

    The Deal: Four years, $50 million (plus vesting option).

    Grade: C

    I'm struggling to grade Jonathan Papelbon's deal this early in the contract for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I think we all know that he is never going to live up to that $50 million salary. It's just impossible for a reliever.

    Then you have to figure out just how valuable a "save" is to a ball club. I tend to find myself giving Papelbon a lot of credit, because the Phillies bullpen would have been in shambles without him last season.

    So for now, I'll give this deal a "C"—right in the middle of the road. I have a feeling that it will end up being worse than that, however.

Chan Ho Park

15 of 25

    The Deal: One year, $2.5 million

    Grade: A

    Early in the 2009 season, Chan Ho Park was a train wreck and on pace for an easy "F," but baseball is a funny game and Park straightened himself out pretty quickly.

    The Phillies had signed Park prior to the season along with a promise that he would be given the opportunity to compete for the fifth starter's role in spring training—a job that many expected him to lose. But he beat out incumbents like JA Happ and Kyle Kendrick and started the season in the rotation.

    It didn't go well. Through his first seven starts, Park was shelled to the tune of a 7.29 ERA. Charlie Manuel had seen enough and sent him to the bullpen, where something magical happened—Park turned into one of the club's best relievers.

    He made 38 appearances and allowed just 14 earned runs, striking out 52 in the process.

    To be fair, Park saved Ruben Amaro Jr. this time. I'll give him an "A."

Juan Pierre

16 of 25

    The Deal: One year, $800,000 (minor league contract).

    Grade: A

    Every once in a while, a deal comes along that can be classified as a "no-brainer" for a club. Signing Juan Pierre to a minor league contract was a no-brainer for Ruben Amaro Jr. and company.

    On a non-guaranteed deal, the worst that could happen would be Pierre bottoming out in spring training and the Phillies cutting ties with him before the regular season. No harm, no foul. At most, however, he could step in and be a valuable asset to the club for cheap, and he was.

    With John Mayberry Jr. failing to win the starting left field job, Pierre stepped up to take the role. He hit .307 and swiped 37 bases for less than $1 million.

Placido Polanco

17 of 25

    The Deal: Three years, $18 million

    Grade: C

    The Phillies broke the mold a bit when they signed Placido Polanco to a three-year deal to be their new third baseman because he didn't hit like most third baseman across the league—a powerful bat normally inserted into the middle of a lineup.

    In Polanco, the Phillies were more interested in his caliber of defense and ability to make contact at the plate. With few other options, Ruben Amaro Jr. didn't have much of a choice here. He needed to get a deal done.

    In the first year of the new deal, Polanco made Amaro look like a genius. He played a Gold Glove-caliber third base and hit .298. That was the beginning of the end, however, as injuries and inconsistent performances plagued the rest of Polanco's contract.

Chad Qualls

18 of 25

    The Deal: One year, $1.15 million

    Grade: F

    In about a month's time, Chad Qualls went from "one of the biggest bargains of the winter" to "get this guy off of the roster."

    With uncertainty surrounding the health of Jose Contreras, the Phillies wanted an insurance plan in case their right-handed setup man couldn't go, and as it turns out, it was a good idea. The Phillies signed Qualls off of the bargain bin and he was eventually forced into the setup role.

    For about a month, Qualls looked like one of the best relievers in the league, but quickly spiraled out of control shortly thereafter. He bottomed out quickly and the Phillies were forced to designate him for assignment.

Jimmy Rollins

19 of 25

    The Deal: Three years, $33 million (plus vesting option).

    Grade: A

    It's probably not a good idea to judge a three-year deal (that will likely wind up being a four-year deal) just a year in, but Ruben Amaro Jr. got plenty of bang for his buck when he signed Jimmy Rollins to his new deal last winter.

    Shortstop is a premium position and Rollins is one of the best defenders in the game. As long as he stays healthy, there is a good chance that he can live up to his $11 million AAV with relative ease.

    But what Rollins also provides is offensive upside from a position that offensively weak across the game. He has above average speed and 20-home run power—a unique combination that makes him a dynamic player.

    He may not be suited to hit atop an order, but Rollins is one of the best all-around shortstops in the game and Amaro did a good job of getting him re-signed.

JC Romero

20 of 25

    The Deal: One year, $1.35 million

    Grade: F

    There comes a time when you have to say enough is enough, and the Phillies got to that point with JC Romero a little late.

    Romero was a big part of the bullpen that helped the Phillies win the World Series in 2008 and was already under a contract that makes people scratch their heads. Three years for a left-handed specialist? That's a lot of risk for clubs.

    But you would think that the Phillies were ready to move on following a contract that included everything from injuries to a 50-game suspension. However, the Phillies and Romero agreed to one final deal.

    The 2011 season didn't go as planned for Romero. He made just 24 appearances before Antonio Bastardo made him redundant and the Phillies cut him.

Brian Schneider

21 of 25

    The Deal: Two years, $2.75 million

    Grade: D

    Signing a backup catcher normally isn't a groundbreaking decision, and in some ways, Brian Schneider was the right guy at the right time for the Phillies, but again, you have to wonder why he was offered a multi-year contract.

    Schneider wound up being a good defensive backstop who knew how to handle a veteran pitching staff thanks to years of experience, but his offense dropped to almost nothing. It's his defense an experience stopping me from giving this deal an "F."

    When this contract had expired, the Phillies signed Schneider to a one-year, $800,000. Not a bad deal for a backup catcher, but Schneider found himself on the disabled list and really opened the door for Erik Kratz.

Jim Thome

22 of 25

    The Deal: One year, $1.25 million

    Grade: D

    In hindsight, bringing Jim Thome back didn't work out for the Phillies, but it was an out of the box, creative attempt to solve the club's need for some left-handed pop off of the bench and, for a little over $1 million, a move that I'm sure most clubs would have made.

    Thome's primary role for the Phillies was pinch-hitter and he struggled mightily doing that. He also couldn't stay healthy enough to play first base—another experiment for the Phils.

    And while he couldn't work things out in the National League, Thome practically carried the Phillies as their designated hitter in Interleague Play. You have to wonder what his numbers would have looked like if the Houston Astros moved to the AL last year and the Phillies squared off with the AL more often.

    It was worth a shot. It just didn't work.

Raul Valdes

23 of 25

    The Deal: One year, minor league contract.

    Grade: A

    Raul Valdes is probably more "lightning in a bottle" than a quality signing, but you can't discredit a guy for being lucky and Ruben Amaro Jr. made a solid move in getting the reliever to Philadelphia.

    After opening the year in Triple-A, Valdes joined the Phillies as part of a small bullpen shakeup early in the season as Amaro and manager Charlie Manuel tried to light a fire under their bullpen.

    Valdes was one of the guys that stuck. In 27 appearances he struck 35 batters and allowed just 10 earned runs.

    That's great production out of a journeyman on a minor league deal. It's a shame he had to have knee surgery.

Wilson Valdez

24 of 25

    The Deal: One year, minor league contract.

    Grade: B

    A good general manager is able to build depth for his club, and while Ruben Amaro Jr. has shown glimpses of being able to do so, some of his moves stand out above the rest.

    For example, getting Wilson Valdez on a minor league contract following the 2009 season turned out to be a huge benefit for the Phillies. With both Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins missing time in 2010, Valdez stepped in to play an impeccable defense in the middle infield.

    His bat was never his strong suit, but Valdez showed that having a quality defender on your bench just in case was something that a contending club couldn't live without.

Ty Wigginton

25 of 25

    The Deal: Phillies acquire Ty Wigginton from Colorado Rockies.

    Grade: F

    Sometimes general managers make a solid move that just doesn't work out. In this case, it was a low-risk trade with the Colorado Rockies for Ty Wigginton.

    Wigginton came to the Phillies billed as a solid "utility player" who could play several positions and hit left-handed pitching well. With Ryan Howard on the shelf an a carousel at third base, Wigginton spent most of the first half of the season playing the corner infield positions.

    Playing him everyday was taking an obvious toll on the impact that the Phillies actually wanted him to have—as a bench player.

    When Howard returned and Wigginton's playing time decreased, his numbers went into a tailspin and he did nothing to improve upon his stock with a horrid showing defensively.

    It was worth the time and effort, but this one just didn't work out.


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2014 US Olympic Hockey Team Roster: Most Exciting American Players to Watch

Steven CookFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 1, 2014

Dec 17, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) against the Vancouver Canucks at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Canucks 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sport

The complete roster for the United States men's hockey team is set for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and there is no shortage of world-class players from top to bottom.

Looking to improve off a silver-medal finish in 2010, the U.S. is returning plenty of experience, as its most talented players have emerged as top NHL players over the last four years. Gold will be the expectation for the Americans, as it should be with such a stacked roster.

Here's a look at the full roster for Team USA and the players to watch out for.

U.S. Men's Hockey Roster

Note: roster courtesy of USAHockey.com.

Forwards: David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk and Blake Wheeler.

Defencemen: John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan Suter.

Goaltenders: Jimmy Howard, Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller.

Coaches: Dan Bylsma, Tony Granato, Peter Laviolette and Todd Richards.

Management: David Poile, Ray Shero, Brian Burke and Jim Johansson.

Advisory Group: Stan Bowman, Paul Holmgren, Dean Lombardi, Dale Tallon and Don Waddell.

Most Exciting Players

Patrick Kane

Dec 20, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates on the ice during the second period against the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

In his first Olympic appearance in 2010, 21-year-old Patrick Kane had yet to etch his name on a Stanley Cup but still emerged as one of the tournament's best players.

He's led his Blackhawks to two Stanley Cups in the four years since.

Kane is one of the most dangerous forwards in all of the NHL. Whenever he gets the puck on his stick, he can take it the distance through multiple defenders and make goalies look silly.

Now as a 25-year-old who is soaked with experience, the Blackhawks star will be able to better understand how to get the most out of his teammates and set up goals instead of just out-skilling everyone—which he will still do at times.

The popular right winger has 23 goals (third in the league) and 53 points (second in the league) so far in 2013-14, so he's obviously peaking at the right time for Team USA.

Phil Kessel

Dec 29, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) shoots the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sport

Phil Kessel has suited up for USA since he was 17 years old and was one of many youngsters on the roster for the 2010 Olympics.

Ever since that tournament, Kessel has been on fire.

He only had one season where he surpassed 20 goals before appearing in the 2010 Games, but he topped the 30-goal plateau for three straight years before finishing 2012-13 with 20 goals and 32 assists.

Having a current NHL linemate on the squad could end up reaping benefits for Kessel and Team USA. James van Riemsdyk was also selected to the roster, and the fellow Maple Leafs just might end up on the same line due to their budding chemistry in Toronto this season.

Kessel is one of the most talented scorers and finishers on the USA roster, and the team will need him to be on point in order for gold to be a reality.

Zach Parise

December 11, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) moves the puck against the defense of Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Parise has already made his value imminent to Team USA, and he'll be one of the leaders of the offense in the 2014 Games.

The 29-year-old was in the midst of a goal-scoring tear in 2010 when he was the New Jersey Devils' star center, and he has since moved to the Minnesota Wild. His scoring went down—only 18 goals and 20 assists in his first season with the Wild—but he's matured as a player and has become more unselfish.

Parise scored four goals and four assists in six games for Team USA in the 2010 Olympics, and he could prove just as valuable this season if he plays up to his full potential.

Plus, he's in his second season playing with Ryan Suter. The talented defenseman ran the blue line for Team USA in 2010 and saw more ice time than anybody on the roster, so that improved chemistry could further help his ability to impact games.


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Markell Boston Commits to Auburn: Tigers Land Versatile Athlete

Alex SimsCorrespondent IIIFebruary 3, 2014

Credit: 247Sports

After finishing second-to-last in the SEC in pass defense in 2013, bolstering the secondary was a clear priority for the Auburn Tigers on the recruiting trail.

According to Kipp Adams of (subscription required), Gus Malzahn's club has done just that, adding another piece to its defensive backfield with the verbal commitment of composite 3-star safety/athlete Markell Boston.

Boston, a former East Carolina commit, is just the No. 101 athlete in the nation, but the 6'1", 200-pound senior has seen his recruitment heat up of late.

The Newnan, Ga., native saw an influx of attention from Alabama, Nebraska, Central Florida and Auburn late in the recruiting process, but he received his offer from the Tigers Monday and committed immediately.

After a January without a commitment, Boston is the first new addition for the Tigers in the 2014 calendar year.

He boasted offers from several small programs, but Nebraska, Indiana, Auburn and Mississippi State were his only listed offers from AQ conferences.

The Tigers have several talented prospects set to join their secondary in 2014, including the No. 1 junior college safety, 4-star Derrick Moncreif, who is already enrolled. Boston is the only other safety in the class.

Auburn claims verbal commitments from a trio of 4-star cornerbacks: Nick Ruffin, Kalvaraz Bessent and Stephen Roberts—ranked the No. 10, 11 and 12 cornerbacks respectively in 247Sports composite rankings.

Two days from national signing day (Feb. 5), Auburn's 2014 class is close to being set.

Two big fish remain for the Tigers: 5-star linebacker Rashaan Evans and 4-star offensive guard Braden Smith.

Auburn's class currently ranks No. 7 nationally, with room to improve as the recruiting season comes to a close.


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Belmont Stakes 2014 Post Positions: Complete List for Every Horse

Mike ChiariFeatured ColumnistJune 4, 2014

ELMONT, NY - MAY 27:  Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, with exercise rider Willie Delgado up, trains on the main track at Belmont Park on May 27, 2014 in Elmont, New York. He is scheduled to race for the Triple Crown in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Al Bello/Getty Images

The third jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown is always special, but the Belmont Stakes mean even more than usual this year as California Chrome has a chance to make history.

No horse has won all three Triple Crown races since Affirmed in 1978. Eleven horses have entered the Belmont Stakes with a chance to complete the Triple Crown in the past 36 years, but all of them have fallen short.

Will California Chrome be the latest in a long line of close calls, or will he be the one who finally gets the job done? It won't be easy, as California Chrome will face a deep and strong field of competitors, but he is certainly talented enough to succeed.

In the wake of the Belmont Stakes post draw, here is a look at how all the horses stack up as well as further analysis regarding some of the top contenders at Belmont Park.

Where: Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

When: Saturday, June 7, at 6:52 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC

Post Positions

2014 Belmont Stakes Field
1Medal CountRobbie AlbaradoDale Romans20-1
2California ChromeVictor EspinozaArt Sherman3-5
3MatterhornJoe BravoTodd Pletcher30-1
4Commanding CurveShaun BridgmohanDallas Stewart15-1
5Ride On CurlinJohn VelazquezBilly Gowan12-1
6MatuszakMike SmithBill Mott30-1
7SamraatJose OrtizRick Violette20-1
8CommissionerJavier CastellanoTodd Pletcher20-1
9Wicked StrongRajiv MaraghJimmy Jerkens6-1
10General a RodRosie NapravnikMike Maker20-1
11TonalistJoel RosarioChristophe Clement8-1

Top Horses to Watch

California Chrome

With six consecutive victories to his credit, it is starting to look like California Chrome may never lose again. The colt has been absolutely dominant, and he seemingly has all the tools necessary to take the Triple Crown. With that said, several of his closest competitors from the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes are back in the fold, so it won't be easy.

Perhaps the biggest reason why horses struggle so much to achieve the Triple Crown is the big change in distance at the Belmont Stakes compared to the other races. The Belmont is 12 furlongs whereas the Kentucky Derby is 10 and the Preakness Stakes is 9.5. California Chrome has simply never been tasked with running such a grueling endurance race.

California Chrome has shown a great deal of stamina and consistency through the first two legs of the Triple Crown, though, so he could very well have the makeup needed to succeed in such a long and difficult race.

One person who expects him to do precisely that is famed ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale:

Observers never know for sure how a horse will handle the demands of the Belmont Stakes until the race happens, but California Chrome has been so far above the field thus far that there is no question he is the definitive favorite.

Ride On Curlin

ELMONT, NY - MAY 27:  Ride On Curlin with exercise rider Bryan Baccia up, trains on the main track at Belmont Park on May 27, 2014 in Elmont, New York.  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Al Bello/Getty Images

Although Ride On Curlin hasn't won any of his past five races, he is a consistent horse who always seems to find his way to the front. Pacing will be of the utmost importance in the Belmont Stakes, but there is no question that Ride On Curlin is among the horses with the potential to reel in California Chrome late.

It's difficult to say how much the horses are aware of the big stage, but Ride On Curlin is no stranger to it. According to Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman, Ride On Curlin is one of just three horses to run in all three Triple Crown races this year:

That experience should be helpful as should his performance in the Preakness Stakes. Ride On Curlin finished second to California Chrome in that race, but he made a late charge that made many California Chrome fans sweat.

Ride On Curlin may have been able to usurp California Chrome had that race been a little longer. That will be the case in the Belmont Stakes, so maybe those extra 2.5 furlongs will make all the difference in the world.

Commanding Curve

LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 01:  Commanding Curve runs on the track during the morning training for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Very few had Commanding Curve on their radar in terms of horses who could potentially contend at the Kentucky Derby. When the dust settled, however, the long shot made a late charge and finished second behind California Chrome. Although California Chrome won that race with relative ease, Commanding Curve is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

If Commanding Curve takes a similar approach in the Belmont as he did in the Kentucky Derby, then he could very well pose a late challenge to the leaders. If nothing else, Commanding Curve is well rested after skipping the Preakness Stakes in favor of running at Belmont.

The horse racing public may not believe that Commanding Curve has a legitimate chance to win this race, but owner Terry Finley exudes confidence, according to Jennie Rees of USA Today (per The Courier-Journal):

The last thing we want to do is knock California Chrome. ...  Either we're going to look back and say he had a chink in his armor and that chink was exploited in the Belmont, or that he's a superstar. We're not intending to rain on anybody's parade. But we're looking to start our own parade.

Commanding Curve surprised a lot of people by pushing California Chrome at the Kentucky Derby, so the next logical step is to overtake him. It won't be easy, but Commanding Curve seemingly has a style that could give California Chrome some nervous moments.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter


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Juiceboxing 101: My 2010 Un-Wishlist

Justin OrelCorrespondent IDecember 26, 2009

NEW YORK - JANUARY 20:  Heavyweight mixed martial arts champion Fedor 'The Last Emperor' Emelianenko of Russia attends the 'Day of Reckoning' press conference at Trump Tower January 20, 2009 in New York City.  (Photo by Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)
Joe Corrigan/Getty Images

With the New Year approaching, it seems everyone’s been writing out their MMA-related wishlists online. While I have many a dream myself, I thought I’d go the other route and write about things I really don’t want to see in 2010.

So if you’re done hiding the Affliction shirts your uninformed grandmother bought you for Christmas, come get Juicy with me.

Gray Maynard/Frankie Edgar as Main-Eventers

The fact that both of these guys are becoming top contenders to BJ Penn’s UFC Lightweight title scares me as a viewer. It’s not like either of them have been tearing through top competition. Penn has basically cleaned out the division and these are two guys he hasn’t destroyed yet.

Seriously, I don’t care how crisp Edgar’s boxing has become, or how awesome Maynard’s tramp stamp is. I don’t want to look at it smothering someone for 15 minutes.

It’s almost enough to make me wish for Penn to jump back up in weight.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy

I feel like this is a waste of time. Of course, it builds up GSP’s title reign and legacy but come on.

I’ve seen upsets before and I don’t count anyone out of any fight. But this is as close to a sure-thing as it gets. GSP is going to put a business-like beatdown on this guy, and it will surprise nobody.

Controversial Decisions

Maybe we’re just going through a rough patch of decisions on UFC PPV’s, but it’s not something that needs to continue. Controversy is inevitable and even interesting sometimes, but if bad refereeing becomes a constant occurrence, in any sport, it taints the game.

And tainting the game is not cool.

Another Knockout Loss for Wanderlei Silva

Whether he’s rape-choking Keith Jardine or getting his unconscious body pummeled into the mat by Dan Henderson, Wandy doesn’t mess around. Even when he’s the one taking the shot, he does so in the most brutal fashion imaginable.

As a huge Wanderlei fan, I can’t stand to see this happen too many times. No one should ever drive home from Hooters in a bad mood, stuck at a red light, mumbling to themselves about “clinched knees” and “soccer kicks.”

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum

This one is just as silly as that Dan Hardy thing I was writing about. We all know what happens in this one.

Fedor’s like Tiger Woods. You can’t get near him anymore. And if you do, you’re screwed.

A Deaf Guy with Pools of Blood in His Eyes

I’m forever calling 12-6 elbows “Bones” now.

Immediately after I made a jerk remark about Jon Jones beating Matt Hamill “senseless,” the camera zoomed in on the blood pooling into Hamill’s eyes. I immediately regretted the comment, not only because it was crude and unfunny, but because I started feeling bad for the guy.

I’d rather not see something like that in 2010, or ever.

What Do You Call a Guy With No Arms and No Legs in an MMA Cage?

A bad idea.

It’s not inspirational. It’s senseless. Just accepting to fight someone was good enough for me, dude. I think the world of you. I'm just worried, that's all.

Please find something else to do that will prove your mettle, if that’s what you feel you need to do.

Maybe bull-riding.

False Media Reports

2009 was not a good year to be a celebrity. The list of dead celebs includes Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, Farah Fawcett, Billy Mays, DJ AM, Ed Sullivan, and Kimo Leopaldo.

Well, maybe not that last one.

Kimo is alive and well, and as MMA fans, we’re all a little embarrassed over the whole story. False news reports are far too abundant in the MMA community, and stories like that directly affect those people and their families.

It's ridiculous.

There are plenty of other things I don’t want to see in 2010, such as Stephen Quadros, Chuck Liddell dancing, and Randy Couture’s ears. Regardless, I’ll be right there watching, and right here complaining.

Bring your umbrellas, folks. It’s going to be a juicy ride.


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Twins Defeat Sox, Lose Alexi Casilla.

Dan WadeSenior Analyst IJuly 29, 2008

The Twins won a nail biter in game two of the four game series to pull themselves all but even with the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. The game was very different from the Twins 7-0 win the night before, they spotted the Sox a 4-0 lead before a five-run fifth gave the Twins the lead for good.

Joe Mauer's RBI single in 7th gave the Twins the insurance run they would need. Joe Nathan got the first two outs, but Nick Swisher took his 3-2 pitch deep and out, over the baggy in right to pull the Sox within one. Twins fans no doubt had visions of Todd Jones and the Sox comeback win over the Tigers last Friday as Carlos Quentin stepped into the batters box against Nathan.

Todd Jones was once a nasty closer, but no longer. Joe Nathan, on the other hand, can still be downright filthy. One pitch was all he needed to get Quentin who meekly grounded out to end the game. The Twins sit just 1/2 game behind the Sox, marking the closest the Twins have been to first place since they shared the division lead with KC and Cleveland at 1-0.

The Twins joy was muted after the game, however, by news that Alexi Casilla would be headed to the DL for an undetermined length of time. Casilla was one of the young players who ignited the Twins' hot streak and had established himself as a force in the lineup and the Twins everyday second baseman.

Casilla tore a ligament in his hand sliding into second base during game one of this series. His injury makes him the third Twin to miss substantial time with a hand injury. Michael Cuddyer and Matt Tolbert are both on the DL from their injuries sustained in late June and mid-May respectively.

If Casilla's injury is as bad as either Tolbert's or Cuddyer's, he will be done for the year, which would be a huge blow to the Twins. The next few days will be critical ones for the Twins as they decide what to do without their starting second baseman, and as they face the White Sox's young studs, Gavin Floyd and John Danks.

The worst the Twins can do now is a split, but even that would be disappointing; they have all the momentum now and should be playing for a clean sweep of the (barely) division leaders.


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Steelers Vs. Lions Game Review

Ahmad RashadAnalyst IAugust 15, 2010

PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 14: Dennis Dixon #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass against the Detroit Lions during the preseason game on August 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Football is back in Pittsburgh! I don't know about you guys, but I was thoroughly overjoyed at seeing the Steelers at Heinz Field again.

Despite torrential rainfall and lightning that delayed the game for 73 minutes, the 23-7 victory over the Detroit Lions was still thrilling to watch

Dennis Dixon had a heck of a night going 6-for-7 for 128 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed six times for 31 yards. Those rush yards paid off because they got Dixon away from pressure and converted a couple of third downs.

Though he didn't play with the starters, he looked more comfortable and poised in the pocket than I've ever seen. After the Lions fumbled inside of the Steelers 7-yard line, Dixon led an impressive 16-play, 9:09 drive that ended in a Jeff Reed field goal. So far, Dixon is more impressive than Bryon Leftwich.

The Steelers were 7-of-14 on third down. If I'm not mistaken, most of them came off of rushes, so that is a major improvement from last year. Dixon converted a few of them himself. Hopefully the Steelers can keep experiencing this type of success every week.

What a night Antonio Brown had. Brown had three catches for 84 yards and a TD with 68 of those yards coming off a crossing pattern from Dixon that he broke for a TD.

Another highlight  was at the end of the game when he hauled in a low 10 yard pass from Charlie Batch. This should have been an incompletion, but Brown snagged the ball before it hit the ground.

So far Brown is turning out to be a perfect fit for the Steelers. Lets hope he continues to amaze with more athletic plays.

Maurkice Pouncey had an excellent night as well. He worked the majority of his time at center for both the starters and backups. From my eye, he didn't look like a rookie at all. He actually perfromed better than all the other linemen and that's saying something since he took on Ndamukong Suh for the first half.

He held on his blocks, had an excellent motor, and got to the second level quickly. If he keeps it up, Steelers fans can say goodbye to Justin Hartwig.

Issac Redman was a real head turner last night. He had 15 carries for 60 yards and a 1 yard TD. Redman played like a man possessed. He constantly kept his legs churning, refusing to go down.

His best moment was when he took a draw play that Leftwich barely got off, and burst up field, spinning out of three tackles for a 33-yard gain. He also took a screen pass that Leftwich also barely got off for a 13-yard gain.

So far Redman is off to a great start. If he keeps it up, he might unseat Moore as the No. 2 running back.

On the not so happy side, the starting offense, with the exception of Redman, flat out stunk. Get this, 16-plays for 12 yards. That is freaking ridiculous, especially against the Lions.

First off, the offensive line looked like it got worse as the Lions front four were constantly penetrating the line for negative yardage, especially when we ran the ball. The pass and run blocking was so terrible, it made their performance against the Browns last year look good.

Byron Leftwich was under constant pressure and was 6-for-10 for 43 yards. He didn't have a good game either as he failed to get out of the pocket on several plays which resulted in incompletions and a sack.

Not only that, all three RB's (Mendenhall, Moore, Redman) fumbled the ball, but thankfully all were recovered by the Steelers.

Another problem that has lingered over into this year is scoring in the redzone. The Steelers got to the redzone four times and only scored a TD. The rest were field goals.

If things couldn't get worse, the Steelers didn't use a fullback enough. Legursky and Frank the Tank both got snaps at full back, but neither were used enough for me. Once again, I had to witness a lot of twin tight end sets and the RB's trying to break tackles in the backfield before they could get yards.

Overall I'm giving the offense a C. I'd give them an F if it wasn't for the turnaround once Dixon took over. Also on Leftwich's third drive, I heard many fans saying "We want Ben. We want Ben." Trust me, I wanted Ben too, but unfortunately Tomlin chose to sit him.

It's clear the offense still has a lot of work to do. If they plan to play like this during Ben's suspension, we might as well call it quits now. Mike Tomlin, I'm calling you out. Get this offense ready and soon if you want to go back to the Superbowl.

After a year of blown fourth quarter leads, everyone was looking to see how the Steelers' defense would rebound this year. They haven't disappointed.

The starters played two series that resulted in a three and out, no points, and a tipped interception by Ryan Clark. Aaron Smith made his presence known by shutting down the run early. Timmons had a nice stop on RB Jahvid Best that resulted in a loss.

Polamalu (great to see him back on the field and healthy) had a quiet night with no tackles and basically freelanced the whole time.

Once the backups came in, Stafford marched the Lions downfield and scored a 2 yard TD to Calvin Johnson. However, Burnett could have had an interception in the endzone if it wasn't for Calvin Johnson pushing him, who by the way wasn't called for pass interference.

Lewis and Burnett seemed to have grasped the defense and played relatively well. However, Sylvester and Cromartie Smith made their presence known all night long combining for 12 tackles. Both of them seemed to have a great nose for the ball and were constantly around it.

Hood was disruptive but wasn't really an eye-opener unless you watched him the whole time. Gibson could have had a sack if he could have wrapped up the QB better. Regardless, he still had a good night and came close to having a few others.

The front seven looked a little slow on the pass rush, but I know this is because they are still learning the defense so I'll cut them some slack. Still, they caused the Lions QB's to rush a few throws so great performance by them.

Overall I'm giving the defense an A. I would've given them an A+ but they had no sacks, and missed their chance for a shutout when they couldn't wrap up Jahvid Best for a loss on third and short on the Lions scoring drive.

On the otherhand, they didn't give up the lead after the Lions only score so that counts for something. Plus, they caused two turnovers, one fumble and one pick.

The Steelers special teams seems to have made major improvements from last year.

There were no returns for TD's, tackling was better, and long returns were kept to a minimun. On the otherside, nothing spectacular happened. Only Logan returned kickoffs and punts.

Jeff Reed was 3-for-3 on the night from inside the 30. Oh and guess what? Jeff Reed got a touchback! It went all the way into the back of the endzone and out of bounds. He also put a few others inside the 10 yard line as well.

Sepulveda did an excellent job punting, averaging 43 yards per punt.

Overall, I'm giving special teams an A+. New coordinator Al Everest has so far put this group back on the right track so that can only mean good things for the Steelers.

After the first week of the preseason, the Steelers are 1-0. The Steelers next game is against the Giants in their new stadium next Saturday at 7 PM.

Lets hope the defense can bring their dominance on the road to the Meadowlands and the offense can fix its problems and get its swagger back.


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2010-11 Utah Jazz NBA Predictions and Odds

Doc MosemanCorrespondent IOctober 28, 2010

PHOENIX - OCTOBER 12:  Deron Williams #8 of the Utah Jazz in action during the preseason NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on October 12, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Utah Jazz had a respectable season last year, but they just can’t get over the hump when they play the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, any team that finishes 53-29 has to consider their season quite successful. Deron Williams had a terrific postseason, and the Jazz greatly improved their play on the road, which has been a big problem for them in the past. A team coached by Jerry Sloan is always going to be fundamentally sound, and they will definitely run the pick-and-roll as well as anyone in the league.

Utah Jazz Offseason Moves
The Jazz were involved in all kinds of offseason moves this year. At the beginning of the free agent period, the Jazz lost Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver to the Bulls. Wesley Matthews received a $34 million five-year deal from Portland, and the Jazz chose not to match that offer.

Jazz fans were starting to wonder who would be around in 2010-11 to help Deron Williams. The help is definitely on the way, as the Jazz were able to bring in Al Jefferson as well as Raja Bell. Butler Bulldogs star Gordon Hayward was their first round draft choice, and I expect him to see quite a bit of action. The Jazz were very active this offseason, so there will definitely be plenty of new faces going into this year.

2010-11 Utah Jazz Outlook
While the loss of Boozer could hurt, I think the Jazz have done a tremendous job replacing him with Al Jefferson. Jefferson is a very talented young player who has never played on a contending team before, and I fully expect him to be hungry and on top of his game this year.

Paul Millsap is also a beast on the boards, and he’ll get more playing time this year. Raja Bell gives this team a defensive attitude that they have been missing the last few years, which could help them when it gets down to crunch time in the playoffs. C.J. Miles has shown signs of improving quite drastically over the past year, and he could also be a playmaker for this team.

Don’t overlook the fact that Andrei Kirilenko is going into a contract year, so he’ll be extra hungry to return to his old form. Deron Williams is absolutely one of the best point guards in the league, and as long as he stays healthy, this team will be one of the top squads in the West.

The Utah Jazz schedule for 2010-11 is packed with plenty of interesting matchups to keep an eye on. The Jazz will open the season at home against a new-look Phoenix Suns team on Oct. 28. I love the game on Feb. 9 in Salt Lake City against the Chicago Bulls. It will be Boozer and Korver’s first trip back to Utah, so the environment should be great.

2010-11 Utah Jazz NBA Odds
The sportsbooks aren’t giving the Utah Jazz too much respect at this point, probably because they are a little unsure of how the new players will fit into the system. The Jazz are listed at +5500 to win the NBA Championship this year. The Jazz are also listed at +1200 to win the Western Conference on 5dimes. What about the team total for wins this year? Right now, the ‘over/under’ for total wins is set at 50.5 for the Jazz.

2010-11 Utah Jazz NBA Predictions
The Jazz play in what is probably the most difficult division in the NBA, so it’s never easy. Oklahoma City, Portland, and Denver are definitely tough, and when you add in this Utah teamyou get a very stacked division.

I think the Jazz have a shot at winning the Northwest Division, but I think a finish of second is more likely. This team is definitely capable of producing a similar amount of wins as last year. An educated guess would be 52 or 53 wins for this team in 2010-2011.

Are the Jazz worth putting some of your money to work? This is a team in transition, so I think it’s unlikely they’ll win the Western Conference or the NBA Championship. I do think ‘over’ 50.5 wins is a solid play on a team that is as deep and talented as this Utah squad.


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French Open 2011: Does Federer Really Have the Advantage Going into Men's Final?

Sean ClairCorrespondent IJune 4, 2011

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 07:  Rafael Nadal of Spain, Roger Federer of Switzerland and umpire Mohamed Lahyani in a minutes silence to tribute spanish golfing legend Seve Ballesteros following news of his death before his match against  during day eight of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open Tennis on May 7, 2011 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Julian Finney/Getty Images

I had a feeling Roger Federer was going to beat Novak Djokovic in the French Open semis. Don't ask me why, it was just one of those times I knew Roger would step up.

The question now becomes: can he make me believe he has a chance to beat Rafael Nadal in the finals?

For Federer to win this match, he must do three things in my opinion. Get off to a fast start, keep serving well, and get to net.

For Nadal to win, he must clean up his entire game, as it has been sloppy at times so far in Paris, and he must do what he always does against Federer: pound the backhand until it breaks down.

When you look at all the aspects of this match, this is by far Federer's best shot to beat Rafa in Paris.

Looking at shot by shot for both players, I see things stacking up like this.

The forehands are a tie. It comes down to Rafa's spin and depth against Roger's power and placement. Federer's has been better the past two weeks, but I will never doubt Nadal's forehand.

With the backhand I still give the edge to Nadal. He hits his forehand more, but when he wants to, he can rip his backhand. Federer has been pretty good with his one-hander so far in Paris, but it can start to leak at times, so the edge goes to Nadal here.

The volleys go to Federer. No question there.

The serve—especially the way these two weeks have gone—definitely goes to Federer. Nadal has struggled with it so far in Paris, and after Federer's dominating service performance in the semis against Djokovic, Nadal better watch out.

When you look at overall momentum, it also goes to Federer. He is coming off his best match of the year against the hottest player the tour has seen in years.

Many had already penciled in the Nadal/Djokovic final, so you know the Fed express is feeling good about himself at this moment.

Having said all of that, there are two reasons I still give Nadal the slightest edge in this match.

The first reason is Nadal's intangibles on the clay. He is the greatest to ever play on the dirt, and he knows better than anyone what he must do, not only to help himself but how to put doubt in his opponent's mind, to win.

The second is the history these two have in Paris. In their previous four matches at the French Open, Nadal has won all of them. There must be a little sticking point of this in Federer's mind, and it obviously isn't a good one.

In the end, this is by far the best shot Federer will have at beating Nadal at the French Open, and I believe it will be a classic match between these two rivals and kings of the sport.

However, I see Nadal escaping with the win in a thrilling match: 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4


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Monday, December 28, 2009

(Me and my niece, Stella.)
What a cutie! She said her first actual, coherent, intelligent sentence that day while we rode in the car to go day-after-Christmas-shopping. She was looking at the birds flitting by outside, saying, "Birds! Want birds!" So her mom said, "Get the birdy!" which Stella responded quite clearly: "I can't reach it!" Pretty good for a not-quite-2-yr-old. OK, enough braggins.
WHAAAA! I got an iPod Touch for Christmas...which is pretty damned sweet. It can do everything! But I won't bore you with the details. Go read the stinkin Apple website if you want to bathe in jealousy. I'm just happy I got one and I can actually listen to music while running, instead of my own labored, wheezy breathing.
Can't wait for New Year's celebrations! I'm gonna stay up all night gorging on pizza...and then I'm planning a Tactical Hike for the next day...but it looks like I'm going alone. Everyone else is pussin' out. It's only gonna be like 14 miles in 14 degree weather! Come on, people! Balls!
Alright, that's all for now. Stay tuned for mo.
----Blindy Pophetttttt

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

(Final Three: Lesley, Paul, and Yours Truly!)

(Me counting chips for a bet)

(Me in blue, Paul in the hoodie)

That's right! This blog is officially mine again!...not that I minded sharing it, of course, of course. So in the spirit of winningnessity, I'm posting some pictures from my recent Poker Tournament, which I won. (I didn't win the prize, though, because since it's my tourney, I'm the one fronting the prizes. Too bad. I just get bragging rights.)
Well, that's it. I didn't get many pics early on in the time I'll catch some more and throw 'em on here. Maybe. If you behave.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

LOGROLLING! That good, old-timed, ever-present political sport! Politicians cutting votes and favors...killing each other's detractor's...etc, etc, etc. We all know that this sort of back-door dealing goes on in politics; in fact, it's known as "LOW" politics, an important part of American Democracy as it now stands. Without Low Politics, it would be difficult for politicians to remain in power in our current adversary system of democracy--making Low Politics a sort of necessary evil.

So where is the logrolling in the Health Care Bill? Granted, we aren't going to see much of the back-door dealing that goes on with such a disputed and important piece of legislation, seems as though we aren't seeing the swift passage of the bill (despite announcements to the contrary) that perhaps Obama and the Democrats expected. Is it possible that Low Politics can't get everything done?

I hereby announced that I believe that most options for Low Politics have been exhausted for the Health Care Reform Bill. I think that by now, most deals have already been made and discussed--it looks like everyone has already, for the most part, chosen their side and are sticking to that side. Barring an epic power deal brokered behind the scenes, I believe that from here on out the Bill's existence depends upon "HIGH" Politics, or actual democratic representation and fair voting and debate. That's why the bill hasn't apparently been moving very much in recent days: The LOW Politics option has been exhausted, and legislators are now trying to sway each other's opinions through debate and dialogue (HIGH Politics).

So maybe Low Politics isn't the dominant force in American democracy! Perhaps High Politics does play an important role! Yay...I suppose!

----Blind 'Ol Prophety-boy


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bethlayne gave props on Jan 28 at 7:32 am
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Saturday, March 23, 2013

New Collage

This is a new 12" x 12", as I was saying in my last post a friend sent me a package of micro sepia pens and I love them, so I did some drawings on tea stained paper, usually I do a venetian plaster background, but when I got this board out I loved it's golden tones which of course you can't see at all no matter what I did, but trust me it is a sweet light honey color. The rest is very close to the real thing, but the camera washed out the golden and made it a boring light off white.Blah. I will have to try again on another day for a better photo.
This piece is all torn, stained tea and rust and the sepia pen with cold wax, that is all not a lick of paint.
I always love to here your thoughts and I have a question: I am thinking of giving an on line class using venetian plaster and collage, would any of you be interested? It would be very affordable. Not sure what it would look like yet, but first want to know if any artists out there are interested at all. If you are please let me know in your comment. Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO

Judy Shreve said...

Love the neutral palette and your composition is beautiful as always! good new direction!
Spring and summer are difficult times for me to take a class. I'm so busy with my garden and outdoor stuff, I hardly have time for my own studio.

Annie said...

Judy, Thank you. I am not sure when I will have the class, it maybe Fall or Winter, I may have two, and I plan on giving plenty of time to do the work, I just need to know if there is an interest. xoxo

CERULEAN said...

Wonderful piece and use of materials, collage tea and rust!

Annie said...

Cerulean, Thank you so much for the kind words. xoxo

Lori ann said...

ooh this is SO pretty annie, i think i love those micro sepia pens! maybe someday i will teach you how to knit and you will show me how to paint. :)

lynne h said...

wow annie, this is beautiful... you're such a good drawer!! i love the drawing, the collage, everything... (as usual)

Annie said...

Lori, Thank you, I would love that, I
wish we lived next door :-). xoxo

Lynne, you made me laugh because I think I stink at drawing, though I love to do it. Thank you for your sweet comments. xoxo

sukipoet said...

Interesting combination of papers and pen. unable to take a class right now but it sounds interesting.

if i use google chrome as a browser i can see the words, at last

kj said...

That is a black cat in this piece!!!

Your colors are so pleasing, Annie. This is a beauty. Including that verdant happy tree

Plaster is not my calling; I am micron pens, water colors and or colored pencils and rarely at that :-) but I wish you well in teaching; maybe locally too?

becky said...

Hi Annie,
love that you are always up to something new here & glad you are having so much fun doing it.
yes, i thought i was going to get up that way last week during spring break, but i had to pick up some extra shifts at work instead. now i can almost make ends meet... sort of. now it is back to class & work, so i am not sure when i'll get up there, but i'll keep in touch.
glad you had a nice birthday!!!

ArtPropelled said...

Lovely piece Annie. I love the colours and the tree is amazing!

SIGrid said...

How I like your collages (and your CATS, Annie.
I saw other pieces in TaosMountainStudio and I like your experiments with different materials. Great!

Houseelf said...

There is something almost tribal stretched skins but with a flowing life in them. Beautiful natural palette.

Sorry I think venetian plaster would be beyond. I am still trying to get the hang of paint.

rivergardenstudio said...

Dear Annie, what a beautiful collage, I love how you draw over it's pieces, and especially the tracks...


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Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Bubbleshare - The Magic Zoo

I've rediscovered Bubbleshare and think I might use it instead of making a video for a couple of cartoon projects that one of my classes (Junior, ten years old) have been doing.

They have finished the cartoons, and we have also recorded the audio to go with them, but I think that I may ask them to record the audio again, directly in Bubbleshare, as they might get a kick out of doing that.

This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

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SC2014_800px-wideNow is your chance to uncover the Secrets of the Savvy REALTOR® and win a new Apple TV. The Arizona Association of REALTORS® Spring Convention, taking place in Prescott, AZ April 15-18, is now open for registration!

Register Here

Join AAR and your fellow REALTORS® from around the state to unlock the secrets to being more tech savvy, market savvy or business savvy. You’ll hear from experts like:

  • Amy Swaney, certified mortgage broker with Citywide Home Loans. Amy will be “busting” myths about the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (a.k.a. Dodd-Frank) and showing agent’s “the money” when it comes to understanding new loan processes;
  • Technology guru Joeann Fossland, who will once and for all answer the question “Is there an app for that?”;
  • J.T. Tsighis, a Tucson REALTOR® that will help agents “demystify” what consumers really value in an agent and, in turn, show agents how to demonstrate their true value to consumers;
  • Duo Beth Adams and D. Patrick Lewis, who will help solve the crime of the century: terrible real estate photos!

With more than 35 breakout sessions and eight continuing education courses to choose from, there is something for everyone!

Register Now and Win an Apple TV

appletv_smallsize If you register by midnight on Tuesday, March 11, you will be automatically entered to win a free Apple TV. This little gadget packs a big punch and is the perfect way to put your newly-learned tech skills to good use!

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CES 2011: Innovative Honorees

CES 2011 has come to a close.  It’s been a  long weekend filled with amazing new technology and prototypes that should be hitting the market as 2011 moves forward.  There were some manufacturers that outdid themselves when it comes to being innovative.  CES compiles a list of the 2011 Most Innovative Honorees.  Take a look and see some really creative products.  One that caught my eye is the portable solar charger by the manufacturer Joos.  Charge your cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras and more.

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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Conferences for K-12 Computer Science Educators

If you are a K-12 teacher looking for conferences about using technology in education there are many conferences one can go to. If you are a post secondary school computer science educator there are a good number of conferences you can go to. If you are a K-12 computer science teacher you have fewer options. Sure you can go to the higher ed conferences and look for things applicable. And you can go to tech education conferences and hope for some good CS education content. But if you really want conferences with a lot of value for you in particular there are fewer options. I’m going to go over a few I like.

CSTA ConferenceThe CSTA Annual Conference is of course your number one event. Workshops, concurrent sessions, networking with CS educators from all over – this conference has it all for K-12 CS educators. It’s my all time favorite. And it is growing in sessions and attendees every year. And it is during the summer so you don’t have to miss school to attend. You should be there.

The Amazing SIGCSE 2017 Logo, in blueish and greenish.SIGCSE is my number two choice. Sure it looks like it is for higher education people but there is also a lot for K-12 people. The sessions on how to teach work for all levels. The chance to talk to great educators is a big plus as well. Friday has a lot of special sessions and events for K12 people My big problem is that it is during the school year. With snow days like we have here in New Hampshire I feel bad about skipping school to go.

isteISTE I really like ISTE. While it is really about using technology in education I have been seeing more and more computer science content in recent years. Plus it attracts a lot of people who see themselves as teachers of some other subject first and computer science second. So you get to meet some people who teach CS but who don’t go to CSTA or SIGCSE. A bunch of big computer companies exhibit here so I spend some time visiting with them. I get to ask some good questions and learn stuff which makes it worth while.

imageTCEA is also a big conference about using tech in education but Texas has a lot of computer science education and that makes TCEA stand out for me. Like ISTE, TCEA has a lot of teachers who are not full time CS teachers. There are also more CS sessions than a lot of other ed tech conferences and with its size there are a lot of networking opportunities.

HomeA year ago I would not have brought up SxSWEdu (South by Southwest EDU)  SxSWEdu has a reputation of being for and about tech companies and startups trying to sell tech to teachers. This year that was a lot of computer science education content. It may be too early to see if this continues but I hope it does.

Other than SXSWEdu I’m been to all of these multiple times. I’ve learned a lot from these conferences over the years. I’d love to hear other people’s opinions both about these conferences and others I might have missed. Where do you go for K-12 CS learning?

Doug said...

ACSE - Association for Computer Studies Educators -
CEMC - The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing -

Alfred Thompson said...

One day I need to get to one of those conferences in Canada Doug. You all seem way ahead of the US in CS education in some ways.

Mike Zamansky said...

Just got back from my first SIGCSE and it was terrific -- working on finding the time for a number of blog posts about or inspired by the trip.

Alfred Thompson said...

I was hoping you would be blogging about SIGCSE Mike. Looking forward to reading about what you have learned and done.

Mike Zamansky said...

I'm going to try to get to blog about four different things + a series on my panel talk.

But first, catch up on sleep from spending a week on the west coast going close to 24 hours a day :-)

Tami Brass said...

I'm part of the Minnesota Coding in the Classroom Leadership Cohort, and its MN Coding in the Classroom Summit is in its 2nd year this year. It's a tiny conference - not even close to the scale of the ones mentioned above - but if you're within a day's drive from Minneapolis, it's well worth it! See:

The EdTechTeam Google Summits also have strands related to computer science, especially for teachers hoping to integrate CS into content areas. I was part of the Minnesota Google Summit this past weekend, and there were three CS sessions. Again, not huge, but with the growth of CS instruction, worth having on the radar.


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Southern California Edison

At long last! Southern California Edison, the only remaining utility company still needing to update their rebate list to include our 2.5 and 4.5 models, has finally done so. Good grief, it took them long enough!  For over 6 months now I have been making at least one, but usually more, pleading calls a week to their rebate center and rebate program manager. I’ve sent more than a dozen emails to them.  I’ve begged anyone over there who would listen to look at the California Energy Commission appliance database and the PG&E website for the required documentation, which are the only requirements listed for SCE to list a new product model.

It wasn’t the rejection that bothered me the most, although 6 months with no response is disheartening to say the least. What bothered me most was when customers would call us, frustrated at receiving a rejection to their rebate application, who had been told by the SCE rebate center that their list was absolutely up to date with no pending items.  No pending items? What do they call over half a year’s worth of unanswered voicemail messages and emails then?

Well, all my bitterness aside, I am happy to announce that the long wait is over.  Every model whole house fan that AirScape manufacturers is now listed on the SCE’s list of qualifying products. SCE qualifying product list

For a list of the other utility companies that offer rebates on our fans, see our rebate page. AirScape rebates

When you have a hammer…

“When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail”

What a wonderfully simple way to describe much of our world.  I am reminded of this whenever I see people working on the “energy” problem.  Software people clearly know, that if only we wired everything up and monitored our energy use, the rest of the problem would be trivial.  Economists clearly have the upper hand, because they can describe carbon trading as the sure fire method to reduce carbon output,  increase energy efficiency, and still have economic growth.  Photovoltaic manufacturers, electric car builders, and wind farm developers are among the many queuing up at the public feeding trough.

Nothing wrong with any of those solutions.  Just bear in mind the aphorism.

By the way, our hammer is a whole house fan.


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Anything but Square and Rectangle

Hello everyone,

Shaped cards are unique and fun to make. Usually, I use a rectangle card base and cut out a bordered edge. But lately, I’ve been shaping all edges of the card – circle, triangle, cupcake shape. It’s feels fun and adventurous to make but it’s really a pain to photograph – it just wouldn’t stand!! Have you tried making a circle card stand without it rolling away?

Well, here is the challenge at Tuesday Throwdown – make a shaped card! I was determined to make a “real” shaped card – cut on all sides not just a shaped bottom edge.

Here is my card:

The onesie shape is actually a die from Papertrey Ink and the cute lil’ giraffe is from Imaginisce. I look at this little baby shaped onsie and I feel very nostalgic because my little Emma wouldn’t be in her onsie much longer.

The winner of this week’s shaped card challenge will get a prize from Catherine Pooler Stampin’ Up.

Have a great week and if you have a tip for me to photograph a circle card, please let me know.

Challenges entered:

Whimsy Stamps

Meljen Challenge