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Sassy’s Best Summer Cocktails in Hong Kong

summer cocktailsThe sweltering heat this summer is truly insane, we can’t seem to walk five steps without breaking out into a sweat! Never fear, as we’ve scoured Hong Kong high and low to find you some of our favourite summer cocktails. You’re going to need more than air-conditioning or a dip in the pool to beat this summer heat, so as the days get hotter, you can depend on these icy drinks to keep you cool. With summer officially here and the holidays just around the corner, this couldn’t have come at a better time, so here’s to our best summer cocktails… cheers!

drunken brambleDrunken Bramble at the Common Room!

What’s in it?
This gin and crème de mure cocktail is served with a berry-based boozesicle!

Why we love it!
Nothing says summer more than a popsicle on a hot sunny day. In a collaboration with Lola’s Ice Pops, the Common Room are bringing us alcoholic adult versions of the ice-lollies we loved as kids… except these ones are much more fun! Their drunken boozesicles are icy cocktails served with an alcoholic popsicle (booze + popsicle = boozesicle!), and we can’t get enough of these unique summer drinks. There are three different drunken boozesicles to try, but the Drunken Bramble has got to be our favourite. The gin and crème de mure cocktail and berry boozesicle take refreshing to a whole new level, making summer the best season to be a drinker!

Price: $130

Common Room, 8-12 Wo On Lane, Wo On Building, Central district, Hong Kong, 2525 3599, www.common-room.hk

summer cocktails mott 32 hk iced teaHong Kong Iced Tea at Mott 32!

What’s in it?
This delicious drink is made of Reposado Corralejo tequila, Lillet Blanc, blackcurrant and jasmine tea, with dragon fruit seeds and lemon wedges.

Why we love it!
Mott 32 is one of our favourite new restaurants, and a winner at the Sassy Awards 2014 to prove it! This Cantonese restaurant’s dishes completely embrace the flavours and ingredients of Hong Kong, so why should their cocktails be any different? Inspired by the beloved refreshment, the adult version of Hong Kong Iced Tea is made from ice tea (obviously!), tequila and lots of other summery ingredients – need we say more? With its slight Asian vibe, this drink is the perfect partner to a hot summer day in Hong Kong… drink up!

Price: $130

Mott 32, Standard Chartered Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2885 8688, www.mott32.com

gdhF1kUPEkYt8drD3nCEgk4VBcFn3zfYL2e2CypCJ7E,8aRS3teSmfJIT7B_36NxOhsCOEm_YAHNrkqSF56ugtoJoh San at Fu Lu Shou!

What’s in it?
Ketel One Citroen, homemade lemongrass syrup, fresh ginger juice, lemon juice, vinegar, lime leaves and fresh chilli!

Why we love it!
We’re huge fans of this casual, cool Chinese eatery and bar, especially with it’s chilled out rooftop space (we even had to have our Sassy meet-up here!). While away the hours at this relaxed space, and of course don’t forget to order our favourite cocktail here, the ‘Joh San’. The refreshing flavours of lemongrass and ginger are given a kick by the fresh chilli, creating a unique flavour that’s reminiscent of Tom Yum. Warning – this cocktail is especially easy to to drink and moreish, so make sure you keep track of how many you’ve had! Drink it with some of their tasty, tongue-in-cheek Chinese food and you’re set for a fabulous evening.

Price: $118

Moscow mule cocktail mama sanMoscow Mule Cocktail at Mama San!

What’s in it?
This cocktail is a combination of vodka, citrus sugar, homemade ginger beer and mint… all served in an adorable little copper bucket!

Why we love it!
Newly opened Mama San combines flavours from all over Southeast Asia. Right in the middle of the city on Wyndham Street, this restaurant is the ideal place for dinner and pre-drinks. The food here is sublime, and the same can be said for their drinks. Every cocktail is well crafted and each dished up differently, but our favourite has got to be the Moscow Mule. Served super chilled, this drink is the best accessory for a hot summers day, and its refreshing ingredients give it the kick and spice this cocktail is famous for! This drink is the perfect pick me up for when you’re battling the heat and humidity. Read our full review of Mama San here!

Price: $110

Mama San, 1/F, 46 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2881 8901, www.diningconcepts.com/tandoor/index.php

birds of a feather - the envoy2

Birds of a Feather at The Envoy!

What’s in it?
Talisker 10 years, Ballantine’s finest scotch, blueberry and pomegranate tea syrup, blueberry purée, malt essence and lemon juice… yum!

Why we love it!
If you’re looking for a drink with the visual wow factor, then head on down to one of Hong Kong’s newest bars, The Envoy. Each quirky drink is an experience in itself, with a backstory and unique arrangement! The Birds of a Feather cocktail is served in an Instagram-worthy bird shaped glass, and we’re happy to say the cocktail itself tastes pretty unique too. This fruity drink is sure to make you feel like you’re enjoying a picnic under the sun…we can almost hear the birds tweeting! And don’t forget to try their Milo Dinosaur cocktail too for more presentation surprises (wink, wink!).

The Envoy, 3/F, The Pottinger Hong Kong, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong, 2169 3311, www.theenvoy.hk

The Smoked Lychee Sake at Ozu!

What’s in it?
You can’t come to this cheeky sake bar and not try one of their sake cocktails. The Smoked Lychee Sake uses fresh lychees, Sake, lychee liqueur, lemon juice and simple syrup

Why we love it!
We love lychees as a summer ingredient, and this really brings out the sweet, refreshing flavour of the fruit. The theatrical presentation with the dry ice poured into the martini glass makes this one feel extra special, and leaves a swirling, cool mist behind – perfect! With a relaxed vibe and a convenient location, OZU Bar is the ideal place for that much needed after work drink, and their Happy Hour only sweetens the deal. That’s what makes them one of our favourite new bars, check the rest out here! And don’t forget to try out their brand new summer cocktail, Tranquility – $100 for a sweet blend of home made Chamomile Tea,Vanilla Vodka, Honey, Lemon Juice, Sake and Plum Wine, yum!

Price: $110. Stop by during Happy Hour from 5-8pm to nab it at only $50 – bargain!

OZE Sake Bar, Shop G6, 1 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 5244 1417, www.facebook.com/ooosake

Fish & Meat - Farm house jam

Farm House Jam at Fish & Meat!

What’s in it?
This summery drink uses Ice Fox vodka, delicious homemade blueberry thyme jam and prosecco to top it up!

Why we love it!
Fish & Meat is already top of our list when it comes to the best summer spots for wining and dining. This chic restaurant on Wyndham Street is welcoming and warm, and the outdoor terrace is the perfect place to spend a balmy summer’s eve. This drink not only tastes deliciously sweet with the blueberry jam, but it looks super cute too, presented in a vintage-looking mason jar with thyme leaves. Loved by many as a go-to Sunday brunch bevvie, this drink is refreshing and seasonal… and will look great on Instagram! If you’re keen to try and re-create it at home, check out our former That Girl Geneva‘s post here.

Fish & Meat, 32 Wyndham Mansions, Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2565 6788, www.fishandmeat.hk

Gin Basil Smash

Gin Basil Smash at the Island Shangri La!

What’s in it?
This drink uses gin as a basis, and is perfectly combined with fresh lemon and basil, and a little bit of a sugar.

Why we love it!
This summer, Island Shangri La welcomed Joerg Meyer from the award winning Le Lion Bar de Paris in Hamburg, Germany to Hong Kong to make his signature summer drink, the Gin Basil Smash! This timeless cocktail has become a classic, and you will never get bored of it. The drink spread like wildfire across Germany, and we are sure it will be just as popular here. This revitalising cocktail is like a cool breeze on a hot day… in liquid form! Plus, you can enjoy it in the sophisticated setting of the Shangri La (check our staycation review here).

Island Shangri La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2877 3838, www.shangri-la.com/hongkong/islandshangrila

PC-50 at Chachawan!

What’s in it?
Made with Sipsmith Gin, pomegranate, cucumber and egg white.

Why we love it!
One of our favourite Thai restaurants, Chachawan, has created a brand new irresistible cocktail list! The buzzy Sheung Wan eatery has become a utopia for after-work dwellers looking for a place of unwind with a glass of something cool. Chacha Hour drinks are from 5.30-6.30pm every evening, with treats like buy-one-get-one-free on beers and wines, as well as the ‘Hot Deal of the Week’ cocktail for $75. There are tons of drinks for you to try but we love the PC-50, a delicious and healthy concoction that makes us feel slightly less guilty for choosing this over our detox juices!

Price: $95

Chachawan, G/F, 206 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 2549 0020, www.facebook.com/chachawan.hongkong

The Caprese at The Woods!

What’s in it?
An interesting concotion of Tito’s Vodka, fresh tomato water, basil, cherry tomatoes, aged balsamic vinegar, Himalayan pink salt, black pepper and a black lava salt rim.

Why we love it!
Although The Woods is brand new (stay tuned for our review!), this cocktail is already making a name for itself, with regulars swearing by it as the ultimate hangover cure. Say bye bye to your regular Bloody Mary, because The Caprese brings that savoury, refreshing punch you so desperately need… and more! The completely unique blend of vodka, tomato water, basil and balsamic vinegar is inspired by that light salad we all know and love, and it seriously tastes like ‘salad in a glass’. So if you’re after something that’s more on the savoury side, this is definitely one to try.

Price: $120

The Woods, 17 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2522 0281, www.facebook.com/thewoodshk/

Papi - cocktail - Infusion Grappatini (1)

Infusion Grappatini at Papi!

What’s in it?
Looking for some true craftsmanship? Papi’s Grappatini is made with their very own homemade infusion grape grappa, fresh grapes and pisco. Yum!

Why we love it!
Homemade infusions always taste so much fresher, with intense flavour that hits the spot! Papi’s Grappatini is the perfect cocktail to try in this relaxed little Italian resto, with it’s chilled out atmosphere and tasty dishes to snack on. We love the strong yet refreshing taste of grapes that’s slightly sweet and sour at the same time… these could go down a little too well!

Price: $78 – a very reasonable price in our opinion!

Papi, 26/F, QRE Plaza, 202 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2151 2868, www.papi-hk.com

mojo and lauren sig

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Satellite Internet in Jefferson, AR

Rural residents have limited options when it comes to Internet, but that doesn’t mean that you should have to pick a last resort Internet solution. Satellite Internet is a lifesaver for people who live in sparsely-populated areas because it is faster than dial up, and more widely available than DSL.

The great thing about satellite Internet is that there are few question marks.

Wondering about availability? HughesNet is available to anyone in Jefferson in the contiguous United States who has a clear view of the southern sky.

Wondering about affordability? HughesNet has different services and packages that fit every Jefferson family’s needs.

Wondering about accessibility? HughesNet doesn’t use your phone line like dial up providers and DSL providers do, so you have an always-on Internet connection.

Dial up providers are a cheap way to get Internet service, but you’ll pay for it in the long run with slow dial up speeds and a spotty connection.

Satellite vs Dial up speeds

Take a look at how dial up speeds compare to satellite Internet speeds with HughesNet service in Jefferson:

  • Downloading a .5mb image: With a dial up connection, downloading a .5mb imagine could take over a minute. HughesNet can download the same image in 2 seconds.
  • Downloading a 1mb video clip: With a dial up connection, downloading a 1mb video clip could take a well over two minutes. HughesNet can download the same video clip in 4 seconds.
  • Downloading a 4mb MP3 audio file: With a dial up connection, this download could take almost ten minutes. HughesNet can download the same audio file in 16 seconds.
  • Downloading a 25mb software upgrade: With a dial up connection, this download could take more than an hour. HughesNet can download the same software upgrade in under two minutes.
Speeds compared to dial-up speeds of 53k. Actual speeds may  vary and are not guaranteed.

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SherrillSouth SheridanTuckerWhite Hall

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Phillips just the first of many SEC coaching casualties

Joker Phillips was informed on Sunday he would no longer be Kentucky’s head football coach next season.

In other news, the sky is blue.

Phillips became the first SEC lame duck coach to receive his paper’s this fall during a tumultuous third season in Lexington. Saturday’s home shutout loss to Vanderbilt made things clear to UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart that the program’s spiral would continue unless a change was made. Effective at the end of the season, Phillips is out and new blood will be in (Here’s a list of candidates).

Phillips isn’t the only coach, however, who will be gone at the end of the season. John L. Smith is a dead man walking, and both Gene Chizik and Derek Dooley could be out, too. In a league where wins come at a premium, losses can build quickly if a quality product isn’t put on the field. Phillips has lost 23 of 35 games for the Wildcats in three seasons while Vanderbilt, the SEC East’s other perennial bottom-dweller seems to be headed in a different direction. James Franklin is considered one of college football’s best young coaches, has his team thinking bowl game and has been competitive against the big boys during his stint in Nashville.

The same can not be said for Phillips whose in a similar situation in terms of recruiting challenges and limited funds dedicated to football compared to other schools. In Fayetteville, things have been embarrassing for a team that were penciled in as a BCS sleeper in August. Smith’s been a disaster at Arkansas coming in for preseason hiccup Bobby Petrino. Petrino’s name is swirling around several soon-to-be vacant jobs in the country while Smith plays out the string for the Razorbacks. The overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe started a rip current of defeats that included lopsided loss to Alabama and Texas A&M with a setback to Rutgers sandwiched in between.

At least Smith’s team hasn’t given up like what has appeared to happen at Kentucky and Auburn. We’ve all heard of Chizik’s post-Newton numbers, but the Tigers have been downright disastrous this season. Auburn needs a win over Georgia or Alabama over these next three weeks to avoid a winless conference season. Of the four lame duck coaches in the SEC, Chizik’s job is most safe since he does have a recent national title.

Dooley and the Volunteers have been the biggest disappointment. Tennessee has better players than Kentucky and one could argue Auburn. Tyler Bray and the Vols’ offense is statistically one of the conference’s best, but a grueling schedule and hole-filled defense as led to five SEC losses — the third straight season under Dooley that the Vols have started 0-5. A program with a rich history, Tennessee’s 15 consecutive losses to ranked teams under Dooley has turned his seat from hot to scorching. A loss to Troy Saturday night could have sealed Mr. Orange Pants’ fate. A team that entered Neyland Stadium 4-4 overall, nearly pulled the unthinkable with a season-high 721 yards of offense and 34 first downs. However, there are some rumblings that if Dooley does win seven games, he could return, but it would be a terrible mistake.

Soon, more heads will roll in the SEC.

Photo Credit: Beth Hall-US PRESSWIRE

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  • Charlie Strong, Kirby Smart, and Todd Grantham are the nearly sure fire candidates to replace the men mentioned. Or at least three of them.

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SEO Tips: How does Incoming and Outgoing Links work ?

Here is nice tips on how incoming and outgoing links gets calculated for a page. After watching this, I got how one page gets SEO rank from incoming and outgoing links.

In video Matt is telling that the links a page is getting create a weight (rank) for page. and What comes out divides those ranks. So, just to understand, I got like this: If a page gets 30 incoming links and he has 3 outgoing links then the page is worth 10 incoming links. There are more to know from the video.

  • # 1 - by Software Outsourcing

    Thanks for sharing, I didn’t know that outgoing links are also important.

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2005 News Story

King Abdullah continues to receive condolences

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received in Riyadh today a number of foreign dignitaries who came to offer condolences on the death of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz. These included: President of Germany Dr. Horst Koehler; from the United Kingdom, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan; Vice Chancellor of Austria Hubert Gorbach; and Speaker of the Russian Federal Assembly Sergei Mironov. King Abdullah also received Crown Prince of Bahrain Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa; Crown Prince of Qatar Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; Prime Minister of Qatar Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani; and Kuwait's Speaker of the National Council Jassim Al-Khurafi.


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Good news for Greyhounds as Muzzin returns 0

By Peter Ruicci, Sault Star

His goal was to earn a contract and play as a professional this season.

But defenceman Jake Muzzin isn't too disappointed about returning to the Soo Greyhounds for an overage season.

After leaving the Nashville Predators rookie camp, the six-foot- three, 217-pounder arrived in Sault Ste. Marie Wednesday and practiced with the Hounds in the afternoon.

The 20-year-old Muzzin is expected to log lots of ice time Friday, when the Hounds open the 2009-2010, Ontario Hockey League regular season against the Ottawa 67s.

Start time at Essar Centre is 7:30 p. m.

"They were really happy with how I played and how I tested," Muzzin said of discussions with Predators officials. "Their message was that they're going to watch me closely this year. If I have a good season, they'll consider offering me a contract."

A fifth-round draft choice of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007, Muzzin was never offered a contract by the Pens and became a free agent.

Considering the fact a back injury wiped out his first, and hampered the start of his second OHL season, returning to the Hounds has its benefits.

"I missed one-and-a-half years of junior hockey, so this really is like my third full season," said Muzzin, who was taken by the Hounds in the first round (11th overall) of the 2005 OHL draft. "I'm not discouraged about being back at all. I want to improve all aspects of my game: offence, defence and leadership."

"We wish Muzzin could have gotten a pro contract," said Denny Lambert, about to begin his second season as the club's head coach. "But now that he's back, we're thrilled to have him. It's a huge lift for our team."

General manager Dave Torrie also expressed mixed feelings. He wanted to see Muzzin succeed and though the player wasn't offered a contract for this season, Torrie believes the Woodstock, Ont., native accomplished his goal.

"Jake went there to make a positive impression and he did," said Torrie, whose club also entertains the Erie Otters Saturday. "They're very high on him and they'll monitor his progress. Now he has to come back and have a really great year. I think this will be the best thing for him."

Meantime, Torrie, who traded Cameron Odam to Kingston and cut Brendan Childerley Tuesday, said he doesn't expect to make another roster move prior to this weekend's season-openers.

That means the Hounds will start with a roster of 26 -- including Jordan Nolan, who is at the Los Angeles Kings main training camp and is suspended for the first 17 games of the OHL season.

Each team may dress 20 players for an OHL game.

Torrie said he believes winger James Livingston is attending the St. Louis Blues main camp. Ditto for netminder Robin Lehner with the Ottawa Senators.

Kyle DeCoste had been invited to the Tampa Bay Lightning's main camp, Torrie said. But the 19-year-old forward is dealing with a recent death to a member of his extended family and has returned home for the time being.

So, other than Muzzin, the Hounds general manager isn't sure which of his veterans will be available Friday.

"We have some options," said Torrie, when asked about his larger-than-normal roster. "We could put a couple of our young players on affiliate cards to start the season. But I don't want to get into who we're thinking about at this time."

Affiliate players may dress for up to 10 OHL games before having to be signed to Major A cards.

Notes: Torrie said one OHL team has shown interest in winger Brendan Childerley who was sent home on Tuesday pending a trade.

"He's a great kid and we're hoping to make that connection for him as soon as possible," said Torrie, who won't hold up any possible deal. "This isn't about us getting value in a trade. It's about trying to get a young man a second opportunity."

Meantime, having taken a look at former Soo player Jamie Haines, the Saginaw Spirit have decided not to seek a trade with the Hounds in order to obtain the winger.

Torrie wasn't sure exactly where, but said it looks as if Haines could begin the season playing Tier II Junior A in the Toronto area.

Lambert said he'd "like for everyone to be back from pro camp before I announce who our captain will be."

If everyone isn't back in time for Friday's opener, the Hounds coach said he'd have to adjust his plan.

"Someone will wear the C on Friday," Lambert said.

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Sweet Sharing Monday

|By Kayla Domeyer| Misc, Sweet Sharing Monday

Hey everyone! Yeah, its THAT time again! =D Sweet Sharing Monday- hopefully it’ll help you combat the “mondays”. Lordy knows I’ve had a hard weekend- and I’m ready for some lazy R&R at work. =D

Let’s do some Sweet Sharing!

Don’t forget to Check back on Thursday to see which link was the most viewed!

To link back to the party- just copy & paste this code onto your blog!

Love it? Share with your friends!Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on FacebookGoogle+Email to someone

6 Comments on Sweet Sharing Monday

  1. Amy
    June 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm (3 years ago)

    Thanks for hosting! I love your parties.

  2. Jessi
    June 27, 2012 at 10:49 am (3 years ago)

    Thanks so much for the invite! I linked up and grabbed a button, and I’m your newest follower now too!
    Jessi recently posted..Fun Fabric Flowers!My Profile

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1425 South "D" Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0060
(909) 388-5823
(909) 388-5825  FAX
Mapquest: http://mapq.st/xIffkN

EMS Administrator
Tom Lynch

Medical Director

Reza Vaezazizi, MD

Governing Board
Janice Rutherford
Robert A. Lovingood, Vice Chair
James Ramos, Chair
Curt Hagman
Josie Gonzales

Business Operating Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm*

EMS Credentialing Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm*

*Excluding Holidays

2015 Remaining Holidays:
July 3, September 7, October 12,
November 11, 26 & 27
December 24, 25 & 31

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To ensure an effective system of quality patient care and coordinated emergency medical response by planning, implementing and evaluating an effective emergency medical services system including fire department and public ambulances, prehospital providers and hospitals, including specialty care hospitals, such as trauma and cardiac care hospitals.

Performance Based Contracts

Release Date
2012 PBC Annual Report11/4/2013
2011 PBC Annual Report (updated 09.09.13)5/21/2012
2009 PBC Annual Report1/18/2011
2010 PBC Annual Report3/10/2011
2006/2007 PBC Annual Report1/18/2009
2008 PBC Annual Report1/18/2010

ICEMA Reports are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
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text:
It’s Q&A Time (New Year’s Eve Edition)

Hello all. It is the last day of 2008 and it feels like the perfect opportunity to have the final Q&A of the year, especially since one of my New Year's resolutions is to not take so long to complete the Q&As.

It has been six weeks since our last Q&A, meaning there are plenty of fresh topics to discuss. Among the topics we DON'T need to discuss are: John O'Brien, Promotion/Relegation, Eddie Johnson's future, the Red Bulls stadium/training facility, World/CONCACAF/USA All-Time Best XIs, the U.S. team's starting lineup in any future World Cup, The best American players in any age group younger than 20, my favorite soccer teams, Freddy Adu's national team future or who the next batch of Designated Players will be. (I reserve the right to add this list as I remember other questions that have been asked dozens of times)

Those subjects aside, feel free to send your questions, either soccer-related or general pop culture questions, and I will look to answer them by Jan. 8th, with Jan. 9th being the date for the next Q&A (Yes, the plan is to schedule them in advance so folks can get their questions ready.

Now it's your turn, fire your questions my way.

This entry was posted in SBI Live Q&A. Bookmark the permalink.

128 Responses to It’s Q&A Time (New Year’s Eve Edition)

  1. bellbj8 says:

    I figure you don’t get asked this much but it wouldn’t hurt to know it offhand in case you have to pick a mushy one for a date or something. What is your favorite RomCom (romantic comedy) or chick flick?

  2. Landis says:

    Hi Ives- great site. Question about Diego Jiminez. Will he be back in March or is he back in Mexico? On Teco’s webpage it says he’s returned from his loan at NYRB but I’ve seen no reports from you or MLS.

  3. paulinsaranaclake says:

    First off Happy New Year. I really enjoy the information found on this site and appreciate the hard work you put into it. With Subotic & Rossi spurning the US for different reasons will there be any fallout/backlash within US Soccer from this? Also are there any other players out there that could make a difference on the USMNT but could play for another national team? Thanks I’ll hang up and listen.

  4. NJ Guy No Longer Stuck in DC says:

    Who would be on your MLS all-time all-journeymen team? I’m talking players who pop up on a new team every year or two, are middling to below-average at best, and somehow get significant time on the pitch.

  5. Adam says:

    The whole Subotic situation…I know, I know… Do you think Bob Bradley as a coach was a liability during the process?

  6. Dannyc58 says:

    Hey Ives,

    1)Whats the latest on Kanji? Will he be picked up by NYRB, I know you said ATL transferred the rights to Carolina I think.

    2)What three teams do you think get relegated in the EPL?

    As always, your site rules.

  7. boneall says:

    I keep hearing about all the “partnerships” MLS clubs are making with teams across the pond. My question is what is the real pay out? Other than FCD’s Andre Rocha from CAP in Brazil I can’t recall seeing anything benefit the MLS team(s). I’ve read about coaches trips to the club(s) but how much does that really help if you’re not scouting talent?

    It seems to me it’s more for the other team to get their name bigger in America…is there something I’m missing?

  8. Matt says:

    Congrats on winning the Best in US Soccer award for ’08 and best wishes for ’09. MY question is rather plain and simple. Apparently Chris Birchall, T-n-T’s white lightning, is headed stateside (according to BBC and Sky). Have you heard anything about it being MLS? Everything I’ve seen just says America.

  9. Brian says:

    Just want to hear your take on the U20 team for 2009 assuming we qualify for the U20 WC.

    1) Do you think Freddy or Jozy will play? Since the tournament is in September and October, every player will have club/country conflict. FIFA will strongly suggest players be set loose from their clubs to play. Otherwise they run the risk of the tournament being pointless. Maybe the the best handful of players in the world will stay with the clubs but players of Freddy and Jozy will and should play. Do you agree?

    2) If Freddy and Jozy do play in the tournament how far do you think the team will go and which players do you think will gain the most attention from club scouts other than Freddy and Jozy? My bet is on Vincent Bernardo, Guiseppe Nazzani, and Peri Marosevic.

  10. Igor says:

    I know Agoos addressed this, but he was vague as usual. Do you have any more info about the Michael Bradley allocation that RBNY got? Agoos said they got one but he didn’t specify the amount.

    Keep up the good work on SBI.

  11. Gabe says:

    Greetings here from snowy NH. My question is simple. While it is obvious that MLS (and American in general) supporters are not quite as die-hard and rowdy as that of England, Italy, and Spain, do you think that the fan-bases in Columbus and Toronto are going to be the exception or the rule in 3-7 years in terms of rowdiness and overall passion for the game and their teams. Also, do you ever see US International supporters becoming a force to be “reckoned with” like in other die-hard nations?

  12. j1mbr0wn says:

    How do you see the new roster changes in the MLS impacting teams? I have to imagine that many teams will be stronger with more depth, but what about the development of players? Is the MLS getting better at negotiating with other leagues, so that they can afford to loose the contract controls of this many developing players? It seems to be quite the double-edged blade.

  13. jig says:

    How do you see the 2010 WC playing out as an event. I know more than a few people living throughout South Africa who believe the tournament will be a disaster in terms of logistics, safety, etc. Your thoughts on these issues.

    Have a happy new year!

  14. Chris says:

    Obviously, feel free to ignore this if you’ve touched on it before. Once MLS reaches 20 teams, are they closed for business? What do you foresee happening with owners/cities that still want in?

  15. kilmier says:

    What ever happened to Gold Coast Galaxy, the A-League expansion team allied with LA Galaxy? Last I heard they will be called Gold Coast United. Scared off by the poor LA “brand” perhaps?

  16. EDB says:

    When do you think the MLS will look into doing a winter break? It could be a way to lengthen the season while still skipping the coldest months.

  17. CSD says:

    New Year’s themed questions for you.

    1) What do you consider the biggest soccer events domestically and internationally in 08′.

    2) What do you think the biggest soccer events domestically and internationally will be in 09′.

    I look forward to you keeping the SBI momentum rolling in 09′. I applaud your tireless efforts.

  18. Benjamin Davenport says:

    Ives, I love your site and check it more often than my email. Keep it up!

    1. I was wondering what the best game/atmosphere you have ever been to? I don’t know how anything would compare to the US/Italy game in the 06 WC for me ever….

    2. Who do you think has the edge in the EPL?

    3. Who do you hate more: Lampard, Gerrard, or C. Ronaldo. Personality only of course!

  19. David says:

    David Beckham. Elaborate.

  20. MZ says:

    what would you say furthers a players development more. Being in a intense training environment and playing with the reserves, or being in MLS and playing with the first team?

  21. Erik Abarca says:

    Happy New Year Ives, God bless you and your family. Who is, in your opinion the best No Limit Texas Hold Em cash game player, and the best tournament player? If you were at the 2009 Main Event final table and they had a break like they did this year and you can have someone mentor you to prepare you for the final table, who will it be? Thanks!

  22. JJJ says:

    why has the movement of players to Europe from MLS shifted more towards Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and France, and away from England?

  23. cowtown says:

    Who’s coming up from the Championship? (hint: the correct answer is Cardiff, with the other two spots being reserved for other years where Cardiff might need them. No, I haven’t read the FA’s rulebook. Why do you ask?)

  24. Aris says:

    Great site, Ives. I know you said no Red Bulls Arena questions, but I think mine’s not what you had in mind: will they allow tailgating like at Giants Stadium? I’m wondering really if it’s a New Jersey thing or a Meadowlands thing. Also, do you think we might see new kits with the new stadium?

  25. Marco says:

    Heard anything about a potential Kenny Cooper transfer? It’s been quiet, wondering if you’ve heard anything?

  26. TBrodie says:

    What do you see as the Red Bulls’ starting line-up opening night in Seattle?

  27. kahlva says:

    Hey Ives!

    Do you know what John O’Brien’s Promotion/Relegation situation is, in regards to Eddie Johnson’s future at the Red Bulls stadium & training facility in the World/CONCACAF/USA All-Time Best XIs, (with the U.S. team’s starting lineup in any future World Cup, of course), taking into account the best American players in any age group younger than 20, that you could see on your favorite soccer teams, while keeping in mind Freddy Adu’s national team future and who the next batch of Designated Players will be?

    Thanks, and Happy 2009!!

  28. Grease says:

    Where is US Soccer getting its funding, and how much does it get. I’m sure it makes a profit from the games it plays in, but it is quite costly to send players around the world, 10-15 times a year, put them up in hotels for in total more than a month…

    Secondly, do we know Sunil Gulati’s salary?

  29. mark says:

    Will BarcaMiami happen in 2010?

  30. Carlo says:

    If the US had nabbed Castillo, Subotic, ibisevic, and rossi. What would the starting lineup look like for the USA.

  31. eric says:

    Hey Ives –

    I spent a lot of time in Holland in the late 90’s and it pushed my soccer fandom over the top, so I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the Eredivisie and Ajax in particular. Why is the league such a mess, what does it need to do to climb back to respectability, and do you think it’ll ever merge with the Belgium league?

    Have a happy and safe New Years!

  32. Steve says:

    Happy New Year Ives and thanks for all the info from 2008 you’ve set the bar high and naturally we’re expecting even more in 2009.

    With the (relatively) topsy turvy first groups stage in CONCACAF qualifying who do what’s the order you of finish you project in the hex? (My thought US, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, T&T, El Salvador – but I ask because I could easily see Mexico slipping to 4th and having to playoff in SA).

  33. Gilby says:

    Hey Ives, great site. IF DaMarcus does decide to come back to MLS where does he land and would he be a DP. I know Chicago would probably be his first choice but unless Blanco leaves I can’t see him fitting under their cap.

  34. Ed says:

    If I friend request you on Facebook, will you accept?

    Give me an MLS team to root for; I live in Alabama, so nothing really geographically close.

  35. Stephen says:

    Hi Ives: RBNY has lost Parke, Jiminez, and Cichero from the back line – who does Osorio plan on starting in defense in ’09? Please don’t tell me that Petke will be one of our starting CB’s next year!

    Any word on the negotiations with Dave VDB?

  36. Mark says:

    Happy New Year’s Ives

    What are the top 3 concerts you’ve seen?

    Did Chad Marshall make the right move staying in MLS? He was compensated well or he wouldn’t have stayed, but do you think he needed to go to Europe to take his game to the next level?

  37. g-loff says:

    Hey Ives, thanks for the site. A random question for you: what are your top 10 movie soundtracks? Last of the Mohicans is always a good one…

  38. Dominick says:

    Hi Ives, really enjoy the site! thanks for all your work.

    With more SSS in the works, can you see MLS moving to place MLS cup at the site of the team with the most points? I heard the league was against this originally, in part, because they didn’t control their venues and the dates–with SSS, this point loses its validity. Also, such a move would give more weight to the winner of the supporters shield.

    An idea worth exploring?

  39. Andre` says:

    Hey Ives…

    Think Jozy gets some meaningful minutes against Real Madrid in Villareal’s next game?

    Also, have to ask, any Red Bull transfer rumor rumblings us offseason junkie’s might be interested in?

  40. jjfad says:

    Happy New Year Ives.

    Two questions.

    Where do you see Charlie Davies going?

    What’s the latest you have heard about Bobby Convey?

  41. jacobi millionaire says:

    Do you think MLS expansion dilutes the player pool too much? Or do you think MLS can recruit enough talent to fill the expected number of teams with decent players?

  42. Geoff says:

    Happy New Year to you Ives,

    I have a theory and I wanted to see what you thought. Personally in my opinion, I think that nobody does a better job at producing young talent then the Netherlands. Yes I know so many Brazilian players play across the world but they have such a huge population. But with Holland, if you look at the size of the country and the amount of great players that have come through the Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord youth systems in the last 40 years and how technically gifted they are it’s quite amazing really. My question is would it be a good idea if Dutch methods were adapted by coaches here in the US if they haven’t already? Could these ways of coaching kids from a young age eventually develop US born players into playing for any of the European big boys like Barcelona, Inter, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United, Real Madrid etc?

  43. Citronomics says:

    Happy new years Ives and keep up the great work on the site.

    With Houston’s bid for Luis Landin getting rejected, what factors or conditions need to change for MLS squads to have more success at brining in young talent with some noteriety from Mexico, Argentina etc?

  44. Hincha Tim says:

    Happy New Year Ives!

    Do you see the USL ever trying to compete with the MLS as a rival league? Maybe under a different business model with an open system (anyone can form a club with little upfront cash (not like $40 million in the MLS) and start at the bottom and move up (or down) in a relegation/ promotion system).

  45. seven says:

    Is MLS making big mistakes with post-Toronto expansion? It seems that MLS is giddy about the Toronto’s success, but in looking to duplicate it they are ignoring the factors that made Toronto successful. Without a soccer specific stadium close to the downtown core Toronto would not have the same passionate crowds. Expansion fee is also 4 times greater than what Toronto paid. Seems like MLS is more interested in cash grab than ensuring that the strongest bids are rewarded.

  46. BoRiUaNo616 says:

    Im not sure if u posted it but i dont recall if u did. do you kno wat juan pablo angel is thinkin if he is comin back to nyrb or not? also was with kandji???

  47. mikebsiu says:

    I just heard that Chris Birchall who plays for Coventry is coming to the mls. People might remember him as the only white player for Trinidad and Tobago. Any news of where he is going? TFC?

  48. Randall says:

    Happy New Year Ives!

    In the Big Three American sports, athletes have gotten noticeably bigger, stronger and faster. In the cases of football and basketball, in particular, the game itself is very different than a couple of decades ago due to the rapidly evolving size and speed of the players involved. How has top-level soccer changed in the past 20 or so years? Would you say the changes in the athletes involved mirror those in the other sports, or is more of a premium placed on skill rather than raw athleticism?

  49. Mikemike says:

    1) What is your favorite dog breed? Why?

    2) If tomorrow MLS magically did away with all regulations on team size/salary cap/DPs, do you think the league would crumble like the NASL? Conversely, would the NFL crumble without these regulations?

    Happy New Years.

  50. Brendan says:

    Hey Ives,

    I was wondering how soon Charlie Davies will move to a bigger European club. Also, do you think that he will have a major role in the 2010 World Cup?

  51. Frog says:

    Hey Ives,

    Thanks again for all you do and best of wishes for the blog as we head into 2009.

    As for a question, a while back we had heard that Red Bull had lost almost all of their sponsors, and that is why during games the only real sponsor ever mentioned was the red bulls themselves. This was coupled with the massive amount of money that the red bulls lost in their first year. Can you shed any more recent news on these topics?

  52. Richie B says:

    Do you like indoor soccer? I hate playing it, hate watching it, hate basically everything about it.

  53. RS says:

    Do you foresee any changes/tweaks to the MLS playoff format for 2009 or will things stay the same for a couple of years until more teams are added? What changes could you see them making to the current format? (And no, I’m not asking about going to a single table format…that horse has been beaten rather severely for the time being)

  54. joe k says:

    hey ives, couple red bulls questions, thanks for taking your time to read all this nonsense:
    is it just me, or does kevin goldthwaite seem like one of the slowest players on the field every game?
    the way i see it, the red bulls never have enough depth in defense — is there a reason they focus on offensive positions?

  55. Daniel says:

    Dear Ives,

    Do you miss Eric Wynalda being in ESPN’s commentating booth just as much as I do? I know that the man is a walking time bomb of insensitivity just waiting to explode, but I think he was a great commentator. Without Wynalda JP Dellacamera, Rob Stone, Julie Foudy, and the like seem to lack the gumption to tell the game like it is. Wynalda would let you know when someone was struggling, and he could capture the intensity of a USA/Mexico rivalry like no one’s business. Do you think televised soccer lost something when it (justifiably) axed their “tough guy” personality?

  56. bubblehouse says:

    Will Jozy or Freddy ever end up on one of the BIG 4? If not any idea what american player might?

  57. patrick says:

    here’s my 2 completely unlrelated questions :

    Is red bull, as a corporation, happy with the status of the redbull within the NY/NJ market? I can’t imagine a company that size would be content to virtually ignore a population the size of new york city. We’ve talked about the fact that their home market is the NJ suburbs and whatnot, but as a company attempting to make money it seems odd that they ignore it. I thought once they took over we’d see a revisit to the NYC fans. Do you think we could see another attempt with the new stadium coming, or have they completely given up on the market?

    2) Nelson Becerra from SJU… MLS talent or flash in the pan?

  58. biological says:

    I would like to let sponsers of MLS know that I make an effort to purchase their products simply because they sponser MLS. With sponsership money a little more scarce these days, I am hoping a few words will go a long way. Do you know of a site where I would easily be able to obtain emails to do this (or who to write to at MLS)?

    Have you checked out Mad Men on AMC? I think you said you were looking for something new to watch and it is pretty good. It took me a few episodes to get into to, but now I’m hooked.

    Thanks for your site and all your work!

  59. Frimp says:

    Hey Ives, long time no post. Love the site. If this question is a repeat or whatever, my apologies please feel free to disregard. So looking at MLS and potential top foreign talent/DPs coming in…do you think MLS still gets enough bang for the buck with a big name as it did before, or would it be better in this phase of maturation for MLS teams only to bring in players based on contributions to the team completely regardless of name/stature/draw. That is, is it better to NOT have a DP and go with more “mid-level” players (ie RBNY may be doing in 09), or is it still really worth the hype of an aged star…?

  60. steal your sounders says:

    Do you think it would be a resonable to allow american national team regulars to come home as dp’s without it counting against your cap or taking up your dp slot? I guess I’m asking should teams be allowed to have a 2nd dp of american decent

  61. Brandon Donahue says:

    Hey Ives, why do you think bob bradley never wears a suit, or even a nice dress shirt to the games? I think it would look classier than the team training gear, and maybe people might think he knew what he was doing if he were to dress up a little bit. You know dress for success.

    – Brandon

  62. Indie FC says:

    This regards the recent decision of Neven Subotic. All feelings aside, I’m wondering if there are any lessons to be learned here. About 4 months ago, an article ran on Neven, centered around his experiences with our youth sides. In the article, it was stated that Neven was always separate from the other players and, in fact, commented on his lack of feeling “integrated.” If true (and I would like your impressions around this), do you feel that our program understands the importance of building camaraderie/friendship as much as skill? Your take?

  63. SeaOtter says:

    You may have covered this in another Q&A, so feel free to pass this Q over. But,….since Bradley gave Beasley a half at LB versus Cuba there’ve been many within the US soccer community who’ve believed he could be the answer there (not me). Assuming there’s a ready replacement for him at LMid, how does he compare to our other options?

    And since you may skip my 1st Q, I’ll ask a second. Who would make your MLS All Time – All Heart team? A team composed of players who didn’t whine, didn’t dive, but gutted out games whistle to whistle despite any pain or limitation.

    Happy New Year from a devoted SBI junkie.

  64. Graham says:

    Ives – Happy New Year. My question is how on earth did Max Bretos get a job? He is garbage. What can we do (SBI community)to get him replaced by you? Ever thought about commentating?

  65. Steve says:

    Happy New Year Ives,

    I was just reading Malcolm Gladwell’s new book “Outliers” (a must read) and he had a chapter which focused on how people become experts, or world class at something. The data he presented seemed to indicated that what separates the greatest people in a given field is the amount of time spent practicing. He said that once someone has done something for around 10,000 hours he/or she should be an “expert” in that field. Applying this to the soccer, I think the reason that the US has not produced a true world class player yet is that soccer is usually never a child’s main focus in the US, like in other countries. This lack of constant practice might be what is holding us back as a soccer nation. I also think the data would seem to indicate the need for an academy based system, and a reserve system. Thoughts?

  66. James says:

    Thanks for the site Ives. This may have been covered already, but what cities do you see hosting the next round of WCQ games?

  67. Todd says:

    I am just curious as to why individual MLS teams are not able to negotiate independently with with companies that provide the jerseys and gear. Too many MLS teams jerseys are similiar. The only difference is the color pattern. I think each team should be able to have a jersey designed by Puma, Adidas, Nike, and etc. I feel like this would give teams even more of an identity. Your thoughts?

  68. Matt Laurenzano says:

    Which clubs/national teams have the best jerseys, at least your favorites? I liked Holland’s for the 2008 Euros.

  69. Carl says:

    Ok 3 v 3 soccer tournament. Teams are Jimmy McNulty, Kima and Lt. Daniels, and Stringer Bell, Avon and Bodie. Who wins?
    I’d go with Baltimore PD and I think McNulty would carry them as a striker. He clearly would be a good player, and I think Kima would be nasty in the midfield and Daniels would D up. Stringer would be on D and he wouldn’t be able to contain McNulty’s speed.
    A better question might be is there a better TV show than The Wire?

  70. Trent says:

    Ives, Great site, I love the Q&A but I rarely see anything about RSL so I thought I would throw these questions out at you,

    1. Obviously RSL needs a more leathal finisher than they have if they want to go all the way, but other than that, what addition do you think they need to indeed go all the way?

    2. Why doesn’t Kyle Beckerman get called up for any MNT friendlies, he is obviously one of the better defensive midfielders in the MLS and lately with the US friendlies it has been very pro-mls, so why not give KB another chance?

    Thanks Ives

  71. Chris says:

    Re the 10,000 hours. I heard a player needs 1,000,000 touches to be at the professional level. When (relatively) older players like Johnson haven’t had that many touches, is there hope that they will gain the skill later? Or does it only work if you’re young?

  72. Drew says:

    Who will be the surprise team of 2009? I like what KC is doing with all the experience their young players now have. Will they break out this year?

  73. beckster says:

    Happy New Year’s Ives. I’d like to know your oppion of the top 10 (most interesting or important) American moves in the January transfer window. Who and where – although by the time the answer gets posted, we may have the answers!

  74. Jerry says:

    Hey Ives,

    Do you think Honduras has a shot to clinch one of the 3 spots for Automatic WC qualification ? also do you know where the US vs Honduras game will be played here in the States?

  75. beckster says:

    Ives -also, if you were Dave Kasper and could make 3 trades for DC – what would they be?

  76. TBryantMU says:

    Hey Ives,

    We’ve all seen the effects of the DP rule in MLS and I’ve seen commercials trying to compare the MLS to american football, but it seems the general American public is still very unaware that soccer exists. Personally, it seems like a lot of people have some sort of vendetta against soccer (aka Jim Rome), and are completely close-minded toward the game. What do you think can be done or what will it take to really push soccer into the mainstream, and do you think soccer will ever be as highly regarded in this country as the NFL or MLB? I think MLS and US Soccer could be a little more aggressive in their marketing efforts.

    Thanks! Keep up the great work!

  77. Modibo says:

    Ives –
    Thanks for the site and all the work you do to keep us informed and entertained!

    Here’s a “question from hell”*:
    Where do see yourself and the site in five years? Ten years? (Acknowledging that there are known knowns, unknown knowns, etc, like technology, the news biz, soccer decisions)

    * (“a question I hate to ask and you may hate to answer” (courtesy Chuck Mertz, host of “This is Hell” on WNUR 89.3 Evanston, IL).

  78. Tim says:

    1. Now that it looks like Sacha Kljestan is going to Europe he has been rumored to a bunch of clubs including Zenit St. Petersburg, Shalke, Manoco, and FC Twente. What league and/or team to you think would be best for him? If he goes to the Eredivisie could that hurt his progress defensively? His defensive is getting better but it is less than desired.

    2. Why is Dempsey playing so well recently? Did Roy Hodgson get the best out of him by benching him in the beginning of the year and forcing him to play his best and earn his spot in the starting XI? Is it his USMNT form carrying over to the EPL? Or is it just him playing good and I’m just overthinking?

  79. Carl says:

    How good do you think Michael Bradley is? After he had such a good goal scoring season at Heerenveen, I thought that success might continue to the Bundesliga. But although hes started a bunch of games, he isn’t scoring a lot and has struggled lately.
    Is there an adjustment period when starting in Germany? Is his play a result of playing on a bad team? is it that he is playing a different position or can his lack of production be attributed to something else?

  80. Bacalao says:

    Happy, happy, Ives.

    Here goes: in your estimation, who has the best hair in the world game right now?

    Hint, hint: you can’t go wrong by picking any random Italian or Argy player. Having said that, there are some African players who have made tremendous strides in le coiffure.

  81. Tim says:

    absolutely love the site keep up the good work.

  82. Paul says:

    Two “essay” questions for you, Ives:

    (1) Can you review or summarize which leagues around the world determine champions by regular-season records (e.g., Europe) and which leagues have playoffs (e.g., Mexico)?

    (2) Can you explain the transfer-window rules? To which leagues, players, teams, and “movements” (player leaving vs. player arriving) do they apply?

  83. Gregg says:

    Why do you have no love for Portland? Enjoy your site BTW..

  84. Tony in Quakeland says:

    Damn- I blink and there are 75 questions already!

    Mine: I think the international tv rights for MLS is an interesting story. I think that once MLS is attracting younger international players closer to the prime of the careers (or on the early upside), they will be able to start selling rights more broadly. After all, a noon Saturday game in New York is a five o’clock game in London. There would be an audience for a quality product. Do you think MLS is thinking along these lines? Is it a viable idea?

  85. mikeK says:

    1) Any news about the fringe players on the Red Bull? Will players like Ubi and Sassano get a raise?

    2) Cat, dog, or other?

  86. James says:

    Great site Ives I appreciate all your hard work. Why haven’t youth clubs made moves to grow into professional rank adult teams also? Start with youth teams and build them up to one day having a professional team say at the MLS/USL level. A real soccer club with full training facilities etc. Thanks.

  87. kemps villa says:

    A year ago, the San Jose Earthquakes resumed play in MLS with part-owner Billy Beane, the man behind Moneyball and the GM of the Oakland A’s. He wanted to bring to his Moneyball tactics from baseball to help him run the Earthquakes alongside John Doyle. My question is have you heard or seen any evidence of Billy Beane’s Moneyball tactics being applied to the MLS franchise this past season? If so, please list some examples.

  88. jig says:

    Re: Steve and Chris

    Here’s a link to an article on Sky a while back on the theory of player development according to Arsene Wenger. Some pretty interesting stuff. It’s also a bit depressing because it shows that we tend to go about manufacturing players in the completely opposite manner than do the Gunners. I’d rather do it their way.

    happy new year! link to

  89. Ed says:

    What do you think about the future of the USL? Teams are trying to leave to MLS, Atlanta folded, and there are rumors of some teams breaking away to form their own league. Will the league continue to survive and will it be able to expand?

  90. AltiCooper says:

    Hey Ives,

    One thing that really bothers me is the hole we (USMNT) has at Left Back. What do you think our best options are? I personally would like to see Boc move to lb as he has distinguished himself as one of the top lb’s in the French ligue. Spector is also another intriguing prospect. I have never been a fan of Bornstien or Pearce…Wade Barret and Harrington are even farther below. Thoughts?

  91. Bob says:

    If you were to make a USMNT soccer player from spare parts of either former or current USMNT players, whose parts would you use? i.e. whose head would you use, best for headers, whose eyes, has best vision of the game, whose hands, goalie, whose legs for speed, whose feet for touch, and brain for overall abilities?

  92. Tim F. says:

    Happy New Year Ives.

    With only 24 roster spots available on MLS teams, there will be fewer spots available to those leaving college. What are the best options for college soccer players attempting to play soccer professionally? USL? Overseas?

  93. isaac says:

    1)I thought the ussf should have hired a tandem of Steve Nicol and Mo Johnston. Or even Peter Nowak as head coach. Would this have been a good idea.

    2)Do you think Toronto FC will be a 20 game winning team next season if they pickup Osei Telesford, a DP forward and 3 1st round picks.

  94. puhe says:

    It seems that Jossimar Sanchez has left the Red Bulls Academy for PDA. Do you know why? And who remains as the top RBNY prospects?

  95. Marc Silverstein says:

    Hey Ives: Thanks so much for taking my question. Would you ever consider an article providing us with information about charities which have an affiliation with soccer? I know that some of the MLS teams have their own charitable groups that they support and some might have their own foundations and such. I know about the local GrassRoots soccer group from that Survivor winner, but I’m sure that there are other worthy charities out there that could use the publicity in these trying times. What do you think? Happy New Year!

  96. Cubillas says:

    Best wishes for the coming year. Knowing that NYRB is in desperate need for more depth, what players in your opinion, should they be looking at for the midfield and defense? I’m interested to see what lineup would you put together for our first game in ’09 using existing players? And, who do you think might make the most sense to play with Angel up front?

  97. Art says:

    Even if Kansas City paid half of VDB’s salary last year, shouldn’t the Red Bulls shell out in 2009 at least the full amount of what VDB earned last year if not a little bit more? The Red Bulls need a center attacking midfielder, center back and forward; shouldn’t they keep a proven player like VDB rather than have to replace him as well?

  98. Bits says:

    How is Johnny Exantus doing with the Belgian club? What is his update?

  99. Eugene T says:

    Ives – should Sarah Walker and Chuck Bartowski get together this season? I say yes; I don’t want one of those dragged-out plot lines. What do you think?

  100. Mike Caramba says:

    Thanks for the site and conrats on winning Top American Blog. Few quick questions.

    1. What do you rate more highly–Charlie Davies’ season at Hammarby or Kenny Cooper’s season at Dallas? They’re about the same for me. Anyway, this leads me to question two…

    2. Is Scandinavia really a gateway to bigger European leagues? I’ve heard this line for quite some time, and I’m wondering which (if any) American players have been able to use a Scandinavian team as a springboard to, say, England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, or even Holland or Portugal? I’m not necessarily knocking those leagues–the paycheck is certainly better, so I fault no one for plying their trade their–but it seems like if you perform well in MLS, European clubs are starting to notice. Just wondering if you think the springboard theory is, at the very least, overstated. And on to completely unrelated number 3…

    3. I’ve never been a big fan of Hejduk. He’s bad on the ball, he’s reckless in the tackle, and his one great skill–running fast/getting forward–is largely negated by his inability to throw in a good cross.
    a. Do you think he’ll make the 2010 roster?
    b. Do you think he deserves it?
    I think someone needs to tell him “you had a…run, it’s over, ‘No Woman No Cry,’ stay in Columbus–you’ve got a good thing going.”

  101. Justin says:

    Do you think David Beckham will come back to the Galaxy on March 9, no questions asked, or will he try and stay in Milan?

  102. Joe B. says:

    Great site Ives,

    Has there been any more speculation/talk on where Beasley, Edu, and Yes Eddie Johnson may end up after the Jan. Transfer window?

  103. Matt says:

    Hi Ives, great site, I read it every day and it’s the first one I hit as soon as I get home from work as my employer has blocked your site, bummer. Anyway, my question is this: what is the official rule with regards to a deflection from a defender negating a player’s offside position. In other words, if a through ball is played and the player it is played to is offsides, a defender makes contact with the ball while trying to prevent the pass, but the ball continues through to the intended target, is said player still offside? I recently watched a high profile game (league name withheld to protect the possible ignorance of certain announcers), in which a defender did just that. He deflected the ball while trying to block the pass, but didn’t actually trap and pass the ball, and the announcer seemed to believe that the simple act of a deflection negated the other player’s offside position. I was under the impression that the defender had to actually “play” the ball, i.e. trap and pass the ball of his own accord. What is the official rule on this subject? Thanks for your time Ives! Happy holidays!

  104. Homey says:

    If FIFA or various FAs can review dangerous plays to possibly assess suspensions, why couldn’t that be done for diving as well? I know it’s a tough call to make in full speed for a referee. But once you break it down slowly afterwards, sometimes dives are pretty clear. I say suspend every diver one game for those clear instances, and the game will start looking a LOT better.

  105. FCSuffield says:

    Hey Ives,

    I know in the developmental academy, the us u17 mnt plays as a team in the league… and I heard that they did the same thing with the St. Kitss and Nevis pro league, by inserting their U20 mnt into their league

    don’t u think that thus wud be beneficial in the mls, having the us u20s as a team, atleast we couldn’t gripe about them getting match experience

  106. lou says:

    Great site probibly the best for soccer in the tri state area. Ok so I have alot of questions so here it goes I would like to know about the following- John O’Brien, Promotion/Relegation, Eddie Johnson’s future, the Red Bulls stadium/training facility, World/CONCACAF/USA All-Time Best XIs, the U.S. team’s starting lineup in any future World Cup, The best American players in any age group younger than 20, my favorite soccer teams, Freddy Adu’s national team future or who the next batch of Designated Players will be.

    Just kidding, but in all seriousness I was wondering what is going on with Kandji in respects to him being on the Bulls roster, and just a little personal question who are you’re top favorite soccer players either playing now or all time. Thanks.

  107. Tim F. says:

    With Jimenez already gone, who else will not be returning to the Red Bulls in 2009:

    Terry Boss

    Danny Cepero

    Jon Conway

    Caleb Patterson-Sewell

    Andrew Boyens

    John Gilkerson

    Kevin Goldthwaite

    Chris Leitch

    Carlos Mendes

    Mike Petke

    Danleigh Borman

    Matthew Mbuta

    Michael Palacio

    Juan Pietravallo

    Dane Richards

    Jorge Rojas

    David Roth

    Luke Sassano

    Seth Stammler

    Sinisa Ubiparipovic

    Dave van den Bergh

    Juan Pablo Angel

    Oscar Echeverry

    Macoumba Kandji

    Mike Magee

    John Wolyniec

  108. Matt says:

    Hi Ives Great Site I Was wandering how much the salary cap they said a little how much is that 10,000 or 300,000 number please. Also i was looking at the salarys for the mls teams and why dont all the players in the senior roster make north of 100,000 because it’s possible i tryed making it its very easy if they make the salary cap 2.6 million. Alos why dont they pay for income tax.

  109. Rich says:

    Keep up the great work Ives.

    Do you think Rojas or Magee or Sinisa will play center attacking midfield for the Red Bulls or do you think the Red Bulls will find someone else to play that position? If the latter, who will it be?

  110. Matt says:

    Also wuth the cba why dont they make the minimum developental 75,000 and 95,000 for senior roster. the salary cap allows it. Also why dont the mls scrap allocation and teams can spend 50% of the revenue of the club also the clubs own the contracts. Do you think its a good idea.

  111. Brant says:

    Any chance of working loans from European leagues to MLS for players that are stuck on benches and needing some game time? I’m not talking about Americans, but someone like Shola Ameobi from Newcastle. He’s getting some game time right now with Martins hurt, but would Newcastle ever look into loaning him to MLS for part of their ‘off-season’ to get some games in while the squad is on break?
    Would MLS go for it at all?

  112. KP says:

    In the spirit of the New Year, what do you think Bob Bradley’s resolutions are for 2009? (soccer related of course)

  113. Alex says:

    I know that the draft hasn’t taken place yet, and not many trades have been made yet, but what teams who didn’t make the playoffs do you think could make a good run next year. (If you think it’s too early too call this, then feel free to ignore this one.)

  114. Johnny says:

    Hello Ives,

    Some FSC programming questions for you…

    1. Why in the world does FSC tease us with these sylvania HDTV commercials that boast about watching the beautiful game in HD when FSC is not in HD anywhere?

    2. Does FSC hate Fulham? There are barely any Fulham games on this year. I hate watching soccer on the computer!!!

    3. Any more BPL to ESPN rumors?

  115. pk says:

    It seems that the US has had unpropotional success (compared to other field positions) in delivering world-class goalkeepers to top stages of European football. How do you rationalize this success? Is it simply chance or does the hand-eye coordination culture of the US, evidenced by sports like baseball and football, explain this trend?

  116. Ryan says:

    How likely is the following scenario? Beckham opts out of his contract following another dismal Galaxy season and signs a long-term deal with AC Milan to finish his career.

  117. El Scott says:

    In the American sports scene, it seems a given that some teams will eventually pack up and move to a new city. What is your best guess as to the first MLS franchise to relocate, where will it go, and what is your estimated ETA?

  118. Brant says:

    What do you think will happen with the new women’s league starting up? Stick around? Implode (again)? Will they fall victim to the marketing fallacy of the “soccer mom” (she drives the *kids* to soccer, people, she’s not a fan of any pro team or player…) ?

    The WNBA has survived in large part by being subsidized by the immense (though waning) popularity of it’s big brother. To my knowledge, there’s no connection between men’s/women’s pro leagues, is there? How stable is there plan?

  119. NICKELCALI23 says:

    Who are the 2 hardest working USA national team player in USA practices and games?

  120. Liam says:

    Ives, me being of Scottish heritage, I love to see Beasley and Edu playing or at least attempting to play in the SPL. What do you think about more Americans going to leagues like the SPL or League Championship where they’re guaranteed to get more playing time then most Premier league sides such as if like Holden, Rolfe, Mapp, Shea, Pearce would all be guaranteed to play for most of the SPL sides (remove Celtic/Rangers). Plus I’d be able to see more Americans play in my EUro League of choice.

  121. Thomas says:

    Give a rough estimate of the number of years before you think it would be fair to say that the quality of play in MLS puts it in the top three leagues in the Americas. My guess: 10-15 years.

    If you HAD to pick one or the other, which is more important to getting to that level, better foreign talent, better American (and Canadian) talent, or better coaching?

    Keep up the great work. I can’t wait to see the site redesigns.

  122. Mr. Derp says:

    I was reading an article recently where they discussed how the Bosman Ruling has all but wrecked team loyalty. My question is how were transfers/contracts done pre-Bosman?

  123. Chase says:

    When ESPN inevitably purchases the North American broadcast rights of the Premier League (and subsequently other European leagues), do you envision them using ESPN2/ESPNClassic as its platform or will they more ambitiously move to create a new channel (like ESPNWorld for example) that would be home to all soccer, as well as other sports like F1 racing, rugby, etc. This would make even more sense if ESPN/Disney buys Setanta (as is being rumored) and begins to compete with Sky Sports in the British market.

    And do you think ESPN acquiring the rights would be a good thing?

  124. Brokenbil says:

    Hi Ives,

    Thanks for doing this again. I love your Q&A, especially the recent debate on Supporters Shield vs. MLS Cup.

    Can an MLS team win the US treble of MLS Cup, US Open Cup, and CONCACAF Champions League in a single season?

  125. BD says:

    Hey Ives, thanks for doing this again,

    If Ike Opara is really staying in school is there a chance that MLS might look to replace him in the GA class? I know Ofori Sarkodie had looked to go pro after the 2007 U-20s, do you think he (or somebody else) could be added to the class?

  126. Isaac says:

    Hey Ives. Thanks for the site. It’s expanded my understanding of the sport largely and i really appreciate it.

    What, in your opinion, was the best goal ever scored in the MLS and for the U.S. national team?

    Where do you see U.S.A. In the FIFA Rankings come South Africa 2010?

  127. Pico says:

    Hey Ives,

    since you are in the NY metro area, what are your favorite Peruvian restaurants? It takes me two hours from the Poughkeepsie area to make it to the RB games and I would love to take advantage of the situation to grab some tasty meals afterward.

    Any places in the nearby NJ region would be greatly appreciated.

  128. Ives says:

    NO MORE QUESTIONS FOLKS. Thanks to those of you who took part. Look for these answers next week.


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Cancer Research

Human tumors grown in mouse models have long been used to test promising anti-cancer therapies. However, when a human tumor is transplanted into a mouse, the mouse immune system must be knocked down so that it doesn't attack the foreign tumor tissue, thus allowing the tumor to grow. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study describes a new model, XactMice, in which human blood stem cells are used to grow a "humanized" mouse immune system prior to tumor transplantation.

What makes triple negative breast cancer more lethal in African-American women than European-American ("White") women? A new study reveals specific genetic alterations that appears to impact their prognosis and ultimately survival rates.

Much of what we know about cancer and many modern medicines that treat it grow from experiments on cancer cells but it is difficult to maintain the integrity of cell lines due to contamination or simple mistakes such as mislabeling.

Later generations of a cell line may bear no resemblance to the original sample, potentially invalidating results of research performed on mistaken cells. For this reason, the National Cancer Institute maintains a library of 60 authenticated human cancer cell lines for the purposes of research, called the NCI-60.

We can complain about the cost of American health care but that is the price for doctors caring too much. While in Holland doctors can just unilaterally make the decision to let a patient die, in the United States doctors will continue to recommend tests even when recommendations are that they should be done half as often.

Obesity was associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer in African-American men and that risk grew by nearly four times as body-mass index (BMI) increased, according to a new study.

African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the United States, as well as the highest rates of aggressive disease and prostate cancer death.

Cancer mortality remains significantly elevated among African-Americans but if recent trends continue, cancer outcomes will disappear over time, according to a new analysis of "Health Equity" - defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services as the highest level of health for all people.

Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, has been increasing in incidence in adults over the past 40 years.

Pediatric melanoma is rare (5 or 6 children per million) but some studies indicate that incidence has been increasing. A new study in The Journal of Pediatrics found that is not so, and the incidence of pediatric melanoma in the United States decreased from 2004-2010.

On one side of the political spectrum in America and across a broader swath of Europe, science is controversial - especially genetic engineering. But genetic engineering has been done since humans first deduced they could shape the natural world, if anything it has gotten precise in a way that was never possible before.

Now it mean even help fight against cancer - and it may do so using Salmonella, more famous as a bacteria that lives in intestines.

A vital self-destruct switch in cells is hijacked - making some pancreatic and non small cell lung cancers more aggressive, according to new research which found that mutations in the KRAS gene interferes with protective self-destruct switches, known as TRAIL receptors, which usually help to kill potentially cancerous cells.

The research, carried out in cancer cells and mice, shows that in cancers with faulty versions of the KRAS gene these TRAIL receptors actually help the cancer cells to grow and spread to new areas in the body. These KRAS faults occur in 95 percent of pancreatic cancers - pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma - and 30 percent of non small cell lung cancers.

Melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer¬related deaths and surgical excision is the primary therapy for melanoma. It is recommended that melanomas should be excised within 4 to 6 weeks of the diagnostic biopsy because surgical delay may result in the potential for increased illness and death from other malignant neoplasms, along with anxiety and stress.

In a study that included more than 32,000 cases of melanoma among Medicare patients, approximately 20 percent experienced a delay of surgery that was longer than 1.5 months, and about 8 percent of patients waited longer than 3 months for surgery.


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Seeing Is (Not Always) Believing!

Visual illusions and other optical puzzles are fun for families to share and explore. With hands-on science projects and activities, students can create and test their own visual illusions. For more advanced exploration, a new electronics science project guides students in creating a mesmerizing infinity mirror that invites viewers to gaze into a seemingly infinite tunnel lit by a series of lights.

Visual illusion - Kanizsa Triangle
Image: Wikipedia.

How many triangles appear in the image above? The correct answer is zero, but your brain probably perceives several triangles because your brain is filling in information that is not actually present. Your brain is "interpreting" the image as a whole, despite what your eyes are actually "seeing." You probably see a white triangle atop of what you assume is a black outlined triangle. You may also argue there are other clear smaller triangles within the image as well! But this image, known as a Kanizsa Triangle, contains no triangles at all.

The Kanizsa Triangle is comprised of three "v" shapes and three "Pacman"-style, open-mouth shapes. The white triangle seemingly formed by the negative space is something our brain interprets even though it isn't drawn into the image. In fact, the "white" of that central triangle flows unimpeded into the white of the background. There is no defined triangle—other than the one our brain perceives.

The visual illusion created by the Kanizsa Triangle is one of a number of types of perceptual illusions, and, like sleights of hand that a magician might perform, visual or optical illusions are fun because they trick the eye and challenge us to understand how our eyes and brain work together.

How many dark dots appear in the following image?

Visual illusion -- Hermann Grid
Image: Wikipedia.

Did you have trouble isolating or counting the dark dots? The above image is a grid illusion, specifically a Hermann grid illusion. You will find similar versions with more boxes and more dots, but the problem of counting the dark dots remains because as your eye moves around the image, the dark dots seem to shift. In fact, there are no dark dots at all in this type of grid illusion, just white lines on a black field.

Visual illusions are engaging puzzles because they tease the brain. The brain and the eye don't agree about what they are seeing or how to interpret the information. Do you see an old woman or a young one? Do you see a rabbit or a duck? Do you see two vases or a face? In some types of visual illusion, you may see more than one image, your brain bouncing back and forth between possible interpretations as your focus shifts.

There are countless visual illusions to explore, and delving into the "why" we see (or think we see) what we see is a great way to learn more about the eye, the brain, and human biology and neurology.

Making Connections

Students and families can explore visual illusions with the Afterimages: The Colorful Tricks Eyes Play science activity. The activity, a simplified version of a longer, independent science project, helps students explore what happens when you stare at blocks of color for a long time, effectively fatiguing color-receptive cones in the eye. Better than a game of who can not blink for the longest amount of time, this fun science exploration challenges you to stare at something for a set amount of time.

Infinity Mirror Student Electronics Science Project

An Endless Tunnel?

How many LEDs do you think are used in the construction of the infinity mirror shown above? How deep do you think the infinity mirror is? You might be surprised! Get answers to these questions by making your own infinity mirror in the Explore Optical Illusions science project.

If you can do it without blinking, you may see something that isn't really there!

To explore other ways to experiment with afterimages, including combining fun computer programming tools and environments, like Scratch, see A Trick of the Eye for Halloween. A classroom-friendly exploration of afterimages is also available, complete with educator and student materials.

Electronics Fun with Illusions

While many familiar visual illusions are flat renderings designed to be viewed on paper (or on a screen), with a bit of creativity and electronics know-how, you can create cool dimensional optical illusions that will further challenge viewers to understand what they are really seeing. In a mirror at a carnival, for instance, you may appear either shorter or taller, or thinner or wider, than you really are. Or, you might wander through a fun house room of mirrors, looking for a way out.

A new electronics engineering project at Science Buddies guides students in creating an infinity mirror. In the Explore Optical Illusions: Build an Infinity Mirror project, students design and construct an infinity mirror from a cardboard box, a set of LEDs, and two mirrors. When activated, a viewer looking into the mirror will see what appears to be an infinitely long tunnel, a lit tunnel stretching far into the distance of the box. But the box is really just a shallow box!

Creating your own LED infinity mirror is a fun DIY electronics project. In the end, you will have a light-up optical illusion that will amaze friends and family!

Award-winning Optical Illusions

For more fun with visual illusions, check out the Dynamic Ebbinghaus visual illusion, the winning entry in this year's Best Illusion of the Year Contest. You can view all 10 finalists from this year's contest on the contest site. It is fun to look at the visual illusions and to read the descriptions that accompany each. Some of these are real eye puzzles!

Further Reading

For more information about visual illusions and other great examples, see:

Science Buddies Science Activities

Featured Science Kit for Summer Science Fun from the Science Buddies Store

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You may print and distribute up to 200 copies of this document annually, at no charge, for personal and classroom educational use. When printing this document, you may NOT modify it in any way. For any other use, please contact Science Buddies.


text:
Public Health News
July 3, 2015

Latest Headlines
updated 1:22pm EDT

More Public Health News
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New Cardiac Arrest Recommendations: Increased CPR/AED Training Will Improve Survival Rates

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Hepatitis C: Life-Threatening Barriers in Access to Breakthrough Drugs in US

June 29, 2015 — Most states violate federal Medicaid law because they deny coverage for sofosbuvir, a new and highly effective treatment to cure hepatitis C. According to a team of researchers who examined Medicaid ... read more

Experts Cover Korean MERS Outbreak in New Article

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Scoring System Can Help Trauma Centers Improve Care During Surges in Trauma Cases

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Interest in Child-Specific Nurse Practitioner Programs Dwindling Despite Strong Job Market for Graduates

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New Strategies, Solutions to Fight Pediatric Asthma

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Children With Asthma Likely Born in Area With High Air Pollution

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Back to the home page
Here are pictures and embedded videos of other people who have made pop pop boats--cool variations, too. Putt Putt Gallery.

Below is the introduction to making the kind of toy steam engine boat seen in the movie Ponyo. To go straight to the instructional video links, click here.

ENGINE (BOILER) PATTERN needed for Step 7 CLICK HERE (Do not re-size or "fit to page", and check the scale) Foam boat pattern here If you decide to make a 3-D boat the pattern for the hull is here and the deck and cabin is here.A print-friendly list of materials and tools is here.

The first time I saw a putt putt (aka pop pop) boat I couldn't believe my eyes! I must have gotten every science toy known to mankind when I was a kid: rockets, airplanes, slinkys, the bird that dunks its head in water, the junior chemistry set that I almost burned down the house with...I could name dozens. But it wasn't until I was an adult that I encountered a putt putt steam boat. It was chugging away in an outdoor market in Bangladesh-- in Southern Asia-- one of the poorest countries in the world. Made mostly from a recycled milk tin, it sounded like a tugboat and it really zipped fast--all powered by a little vegetable oil lamp. How could such a cool thing have existed without my knowing about it?

2 boats from Bangladesh, one uncovered to show the boiler. The bodies are made from old tin cans, which rusted over the decades, causing the dark patches.

Even more astonishing, I learned that putt putt boats (also called pop pop boats) were once very popular throughout the world in the first half of the 20th century. So why did they disappear? I guess tin toys and steam power seemed antiquated after World War II. Batteries and plastics were the exciting thing happening to toys!

Part of an entry from a 1933 science magazine.

Speaking for myself, I'm tired of plastic and batteries, especially in my kid's toys. I must not be alone. Old fashioned toys--including putt-putt boats are becoming popular once again. Science, model and toy catalogs offer stamped tin boats from Asian countries like India, Pakistan and China. You can pick up old ones on eBay.

A word about safety: The boat is surrounded by water and the steam engine cannot explode. Yes, the boats use a candle flame, so of course kids have to be supervised and not touch it. But let's put this in context: We annually challenge our young children to position their faces inches from multiple burning candles stuck into a giant pastry.

Excepting a few experimenters who soldered together engines, putt putt boats have always been something people bought rather than made. Even the boats in Bangladesh required some brass for the engine and solder to seal it. Over the last 15 years I have made hundreds of putt putt boats with one goal in mind: to develop a design such that anybody could make their own. At first I copied engines using brass shim stock, copper tubes and solder. Then I began using epoxy glue instead of solder, and disposable aluminum pie tins instead of brass. After years of slow evolution, I completely redesigned the engine to be made of a cut-up aluminum soda can and flexible plastic drinking straws. Now almost three hundred of my 8th grade students make it every year as a technology project.

You can make the body of the boat with a recycled, cut-up milk or juice carton, which is easy to cut, water-proof and paintable (although mine are not painted here). Or you make a simpler boat out of a recycled foam grocery tray. In either case the engine is the same, made from a cut-up aluminum soft drink can and drinking straws. The instructions for both the steam engine and the boat are HERE.. Gabriel from California sent me this wonderful picture of his daughter and her science fair project about pop pop boats. Below, in the tub, you can see the simple foam boat. You can see other people's projects (and add yours if you send a picture) in the GALLERY OF POP POP BOATS.

I should mention that there are actually two kinds of putt putt boat: the diaphragm kind I concentrate on in this site, and the looped copper tubing kind. Instructions for this design were in the Cub Scout handbooks from 1954 to 1977. The advantage of the copper tubing engine is the relative ease of construction, and you cannot wreck it with too much heat. The disadvantage of the coil design is that it is often slower and makes little or no noise. If you are interested in this type, click here.

The engine of this boat is simply a coil of copper tubing.

Here is a gallery of pictures people from around the world send me of putt-putt/ pop pop boat projects they they have made.

Here are some interesting related pop pop links. Perhaps the best, most encompassing web site is the Pop Pop Pages by Vance Bass.

Have you thought about making a giant pop pop boat? You're not alone--and I mean that in a good way.

Daryl of Canada is building some magnificent, powerful boats and I call this his Dr. Suess boat

The longer I experiment with putt putt boats, the clearer it becomes to me that I have only just scratched the surface. It is too much for one person to conduct all the development and experimentation that needs to be done for this project to reach its full potential. I am happy to have found a kindred spirit who has developed a see-into putt putt engine and gone a long way toward understanding why some engines work and others don't.

Another kindred spirit looked up putt putt boat patents and scanned them into PDF files.

And here is some amazing work by a retired Dutch professor in the Netherlands, including a pop pop powered Dutch wooden shoe!

There has been lots of pop pop activity in France, and a French engineer is carrying on the tradition.

Here is a link to a Google translated page a gentleman from Argentina doing interesting research into pop pop engines

Here is a nanotechnology device smaller than an ant that uses propulsion system similar to a pop pop engine, but it uses audio waves instead of a flame as the power source.

Here is an interesting article that describes pulsating heat pipes (PHP) which incorporate the same principles that make pop pop boats work.

Instructions for building a putt putt (pop pop) boat using a recycled beverage can and a milk or juice carton click here.

For explanations, activities and cool links related to putt putt boats click here or on the picture.

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R4420 and Rackform iServ R4422

11 July 2014

Silicon Mechanics

Silicon Mechanics has announced that it has expanded its high-density server family with the release of two 2U 4-node products based on Supermicro TwinPro architecture, the Rackform iServ R4420 and Rackform iServ R4422.

Each node supports up to two Intel Xeon processors E5-2600v2 series, SAS3 hot-swap drives, and up to 512 GB of DDR3 RAM per node, as well as optional onboard InfiniBand or 10GbE networking.

Like all Silicon Mechanics’ high-density servers, the R4420 and R4422 are designed to deliver cost-effective, energy-efficient compute power in a small footprint. ‘This new generation of multi-node products offers even more options than previous products,’ said Sue Lewis, Chief Marketing Officer at Silicon Mechanics. ‘For customers who need the increased versatility, the R4420 and R4422 are a great feature-rich update to our multi-node family.’

Click here to find out more