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H.E. Mr. KOICHI HARAGUCHI
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At The Meeting Of The General Assembly On Item 11: Report Of The Security Council And Item 53: Question Of Equitable Representation On And Increase In The Membership Of The Security Council And Related Matters
Mr. President,
Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom, for his presentation of the annual report of the Security Council on its work. I would also like to thank the former President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Julian Robert Hunte, as well as Ambassador Luis Gallegos Chiriboga of Ecuador and Ambassador Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein for their efforts in revitalizing the discussion in the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council.
The United Nations is confronted with new threats such as internal violence, poverty, infectious diseases, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as the inter-state conflicts which the United Nations Charter originally was intended to address. The Japanese Government regards Security Council reform, an initiative to bring the Council in line with the reality of international politics at the beginning of the 21st century, as the central issue of UN reform, since the Security Council, as an organ with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, must be able to address the above-mentioned issues effectively. The establishment of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change represents an effort by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to improve the UN system for addressing these challenges. Along with the work of the High-Level Panel, serious discussion has also being going on among the UN Member States particularly on the subject of Security Council reform, because the Security Council must play the central role in the matter related to international peace and security.
Japan's position on Security Council reform, as Prime Minister Koizumi stated in the General Debate, is that, in order for the Security Council to effectively address its new threats and challenges, countries with the will and resources to play a major role in international peace and security must always take part in the Council's decision-making process. In addition, the Security Council must improve its representativeness to better reflect today's world. The Security Council therefore needs to be expanded, both in its permanent and non-permanent categories, adding new members from both developing and developed countries. It is our conviction that the role that Japan has played in the international community has provided us with sufficient basis for assuming the responsibilities of a permanent member of the Security Council. Japan supports Brazil, Germany and India as legitimate candidates for permanent membership in the Security Council. I also wish to add that Africa must be represented in the permanent membership of the Council.
Mr. President,
We have conducted discussions in the Open-ended Working Group on Security Council Reform for more than a decade only to arrive at no consensus among the Member States on how to reform the Security Council. In December of this year, the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change is to issue its report, which is expected to include proposals on Security Council reform. This time it is incumbent on us to carry on a serious discussion to seek ways to adjust the Security Council to the current reality of the world. Based on that discussion, we have to produce solid results regarding Security Council reform in next year, which marks the sixtieth anniversary of founding of the United Nations. Nothing less than our wisdom, courage and public spirit from the global viewpoint are challenged in addressing this issue.
Facts speak more eloquently than rhetoric. In the chairman's summary of the work of the Working Group on the Security Council reform of the 58th Session of General Assembly, it was stated that many speakers expressed support for an increase in the membership of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. In the General Debate this September, we were able to have a lively discussion on the Security Council reform. By our own counting, among the 190 Member States that made remarks at the General Debate, 151 members referred to the need for Security Council reform, and 86 Member States supported the expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. Dozens more countries may have wished to express the same viewpoint, but were prevented from doing so because of time constraints. There are thus many nations which believe it is time to expand the number of both permanent and non-permanent seats in the Security Council. In contrast, only six countries supported the expansion of the Council in the non-permanent category only. These figures present a clear picture of what the Member States desire in terms of Security Council reform: there is substantial impetus among the Member States in support of the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of the Security Council membership. We must translate this sentiment into the realization of true reform. Japan, along with many other like-minded Member States, will make its maximum effort to ensure that Security Council reform finally become a reality. In view of the substantial interest which many UN members have in this issue, Japan would like to reserve the right to seek further discussion under item 53 during the 59th session of the General Assembly.
I welcome the Council's voluntary efforts to improve its working methods in recent years. Among other improvements, the frequency of open briefings for non-Council members and of open debates allowing for statements by non-Council members has certainly increased. I believe that such meetings contribute to enhanced transparency of the discussion in the Security Council. In order that the varied opinions of Member States may be reflected in the discussion in the Security Council, it is essential for the Council to provide non-member states with opportunities to listen and speak in the Council, especially with regard to those matters in which they have major stakes.
Since the decisions of the Security Council are generally binding on all of the Member States, it is vital that the views of those states which are major stakeholders be reflected in the decision-making process. By so doing, the Security Council will be able to fulfill its responsibility to be accountable to Member States. It is Japan's hope that the Council will continue to look for means to involve non-Council members with a vital interest in an issue under discussion more substantially in the Council's decision-making process. For the resolutions that have large budgetary implications on such activities as political missions and the consolidation of peace in addition to those pertaining to peacekeeping operations, transparency as well as accountability needs to be ensured, particularly vis-?-vis major financial contributing countries. A mechanism for consultation has been established between the Council and Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) regarding specific PKOs. This mechanism needs to be expanded to include major financial contributors as well. In this regard, Japan considers the holding of the PKO Working Group with non-Council members as a sign of progress and looks forward to further efforts by the Security Council for the revitalization of the PKO Working Group.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.

subset: commoncrawl


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Coupon we all know about coupons. They are the things your Mom clipped out of magazines and used to save money on groceries. I blame coupons for having to eat lima bean kibble. Sure Mom got $.40 off but really it is pretty gross.
Anyway with the way technology is changing the world coupons have had to keep up. You can't really hand a piece of paper to an online merchants so coupons have gone digital. There are a ton of really cool digital coupons out there. We use them all the time at amazon.com
There are several sites out there that provide coupons codes. While I almost never remember to check for coupon codes until it is too late these sites are actually pretty good. You get to save some money on something you were going to buy anyway and all you have to do is take a few minutes to look up a code and type it in. You are going to have to pull out your AMEX card anyway so why not take a few more seconds and see if there is a coupon code out there.
Oh yeah please don't tell my A I have an AMEX it is actually attached to his account but I don't think he would be happy knowing I had the card.
Check out some of these There are some good ones. Like free shipping at Blue Nile
Blue Nile or 10% off HDTVs at best buy. It does not hurt to look so I say check out the coupons. Saving money is fun and remember 50% off is practically free


text: Humanities › Visual Arts How 9/11 Changed Standards of Building and Safety The International Building Code Gets Revised Share Flipboard Email Print An April 2003 Presentation by Structural Engineers Explaining Why the Twin Towers Collapsed on 9/11. Stephen Chernin/Getty Images (cropped) Visual Arts Architecture History An Introduction to Architecture Styles Theory Great Buildings Famous Architects Famous Houses Skyscrapers Tips For Homeowners Art & Artists By Jackie Craven Art and Architecture Expert Doctor of Arts, University of Albany, SUNY M.S., Literacy Education, University of Albany, SUNY B.A., English, Virginia Commonwealth University Dr. Jackie Craven has over 20 years of experience writing about architecture and the arts. She is the author of two books on home decor and sustainable design. our editorial process Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Jackie Craven Updated September 07, 2018 Before September 11, 2001, building codes in the United States focused on structural stability and routine fire safety. Buildings like the twin towers at the World Trade Center were considered safe because they could withstand hurricane-force winds and even the impact of a small plane. They were over-built to not fall down. A typical fire did not spread beyond a few floors, so skyscrapers weren't required to provide multiple escape routes for speedy evacuation of the entire building. Using fewer stairways and slim, lightweight construction materials, architects could design skyscrapers that were slender, elegant, and amazingly tall. About Building Codes Rules and regulations that outline good and safe construction, fire safety, plumbing, electrical, and energy are generally "codified," which means they become law. These codes are administered and enforced regionally and locally. Across the United States, states and localities "adopt" model codes — a set of best practices building standards that have been created by a council of independent experts. Most states adopt and modify standard codes, such as the International Building Code® (IBC) and the International Fire Code.® On January 1, 2003, New York State adopted the International Building Codes, "...which are widely used throughout the country, provide a greater level of consistency and allow us to keep pace with emerging technology in today's fast paced construction industry," writes the NYS Division of Code Enforcement. Up until then, New York State was one of the few states who wrote and maintained their own codes, independent of standard model codes. Construction codes (e.g., building, fire, electrical codes) are legislated by individual states and localities in the United States. Local building codes, such as the New York City Code, can be more stringent (i.e., more strict) than state codes, but local codes cannot be less stringent than state codes. Building codes in New York City have existed since the city was called New Amsterdam in the 17th century. When the first skyscrapers were being built at the turn of the 20th century, it was the building code that enforced architects to design buildings that would allow sunshine onto the street, which is why many of the old skyscrapers are "stepped," with tiers and cut-outs at the top. Building Codes are dynamic documents — they change when circumstances change. After September 11, 2001 After two aircraft struck and brought down the twin towers in New York City, teams of architects and engineers studied why the World Trade Center towers fell. The reports issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National 9/11 Commission, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) included recommendations of ways to make future skyscrapers safer. From 2005 to 2008 NIST compiled their findings in a series of reports, including a study of the collapse of building seven at ground zero. The office building known as WTC 7 was a more typical New York City skyscraper compared with the super-tall twin towers that had been hit by jets and jet fuel. Building seven stood for nearly seven more hours after the nearby north tower collapsed. Crumbling at 5:20:52 p.m. ET after a long day of terror, WTC 7 was never attacked, but it, too, collapsed. In its report, NIST claims that this building's collapse "was the first known instance of the total collapse of a tall building primarily due to fires." Other buildings in New York City have had fires, even as their sprinkler systems have not function, yet WTC 7 is the only one to have collapsed. In fact, in 1945 and Air Force bomber accidentally flew into the Empire State Building one foggy morning, and the skyscraper built in 1931 did not collapse. NIST observed that "the collapse of WTC 7 highlights the importance of designing fire-resistant structures for situations where sprinklers are not present, do not function (e.g., due to disconnected or impaired water supply), or are overwhelmed." The WTC 7 fell on 9/11 because of "a fire-induced progressive collapse...the spread of local damage, from an initiating event...." The building met the New York City building codes of 1968 — regulations written over thirty years before 9/11. The age of a building code should not matter, however. On the south end of the World Trade Center site, a 23-story Gothic skyscraper designed by Cass Gilbert never collapsed although it was heavily damaged on 9/11. The steel frame of the 1907 building built at 90 West Street was reinforced with heat-resistant terra cotta, tile, and concrete. New York City, which suffered the most catastrophic losses on 9/11/01, took the lead passing legislation to save lives in the event of another terrorist attack. In 2004, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomburg signed Local Law 26, which required tall buildings to incorporate improved sprinkler systems, better exit signs, an additional stairway, and other features to help people exit quickly during emergencies. Nationally, change came more slowly. Some people worried that more demanding building code laws would make it difficult, if not impossible, to construct record-breaking skyscrapers. They wondered whether architects would be able to design beautiful, slender skyscrapers with enough stairways or elevators to meet the new safety regulations. Critics also charged that new, more rigid safety requirements would increase construction costs. At one point the General Services Administration (GSA), a federal agency that manages government property, estimated that the expense of installing additional stairways would outweigh the safety benefits. April 2005 Presentation by Lead Investigator Shyam Sunder, NIST. Stephen Chernin/Getty Images (cropped) Building Code Changes NIST was not prescriptive in its recommendations. Instead, NIST encouraged competitive solutions to the issues it raised and supported public policymakers to adopt revised standards and codes By 2009, the push for new construction standards won out, bringing sweeping changes to the International Building Code and the International Fire Code, which serve as the basis for building and fire regulations across the United States. The International Code Council (ICC) approve changes every three years when the codes are updated. Some of the new safety requirements for buildings included additional stairways and more space between stairways; stronger walls in stairwells and elevator shafts; reinforced elevators for emergency use; stricter standards for construction materials; better fire-proofing; backup water sources for the sprinkler system; glow-in-the-dark exit signs; and radio amplifiers for emergency communications. The End of Elegance? In 1974, the City of Los Angeles passed an ordinance requiring helipads atop all commercial high-rises. Firefighters thought it was a good idea. Developers and architects felt the flat-top requirements stifled a creative skyline. In 2014 the local regulation was rescinded. Architects face difficult challenges as they grapple with more demanding fire and safety codes. In New York City, disputes over the design of Freedom Tower became legendary. As safety concerns mounted, the original concept posed by architect Daniel Libeskind morphed into a less fanciful skyscraper designed and then re-designed by architect David Childs. The final design for One World Trade Center resolved many complaints. New concrete materials and construction techniques have made it possible to incorporate fire-safety features with open floor plans and transparent glass walls. Still, some fans of the original Freedom Tower design say that Childs sacrificed art for the sake of an impossible-to-achieve notion of security. Others say the new 1 WTC is everything it should be. The New Normal: Architecture, Safety, and Sustainability So, what is the future for skyscrapers? Do the new safety laws mean shorter, fatter buildings? Absolutely not. Completed in 2010, the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates shattered world records for building height. Yet, while it rises a whopping 2,717 feet (828 meters), the skyscraper incorporates multiple evacuation lifts, super-high-speed elevators, thick concrete reinforcement in the stairways, and many other safety features. Of course, a building as tall as Burj Khalifa poses other problems. The maintenance costs are astronomical and the demands on natural resources extreme.These shortfalls point out the real challenge that every designer faces. One World Trade Center stands near where the destroyed twin towers once stood, replacing office space but never taking the place of memories — the National 9/11 Memorial is now where the twin towers stood. A number of safety, security, and green building features have been incorporated into the design and construction of the new 1WTC, design details that may have been missing in the original buildings. For example, safety systems now exceed the requirements of the New York City Building Code; elevators are housed in a protected central building core; protected tenant collection points are on each floor; a dedicated staircase for firefighters and extra-wide pressurized staircases are part of the design; sprinklers, emergency risers, and communication systems are concrete-protected; the building is the most environmentally sustainable project of its size in the world, attaining a LEED Gold Certification; the building's energy performance exceeds code requirements by 20 percent, cooling systems use reclaimed rainwater, and waste steam helps generate electricity. The Bottom Line Designing buildings has always meant working within rules. In addition to fire codes and safety laws, modern-day construction must meet established standards for environmental protection, energy efficiency, and universal accessibility. Local zoning ordinances impose additional restrictions that can affect anything from paint colors to architectural style. And then, of course, successful buildings also respond to the demands of the landscape and the needs of the client and the community. As new rules are added to the already complex web of regulations and restrictions, architects and engineers are doing what they have always done so well — innovate. Ask about the building / fire codes / standards in other countries, and watch the horizon for the tallest buildings in the world. We are in a new world, redefining what is feasible. Summary: 8 Areas of Needed Change — NIST Recommendations Increase structural integrity to prevent progressive collapseEnhance fire endurance, including ratings and testing of spray-applied materialsCreate new methods for fire resistant design, including burnout without collapseImprove active fire protection systems ("design, performance, reliability, and redundancy") such as sprinklers, alarms, etc.Improve building evacuation and emergency communication procedures and designImprove emergency response, including command and controlImprove procedures and practices, including code compliance and documentationEducation and training ("for fire protection engineers, structural engineers, architects, and building regulatory and fire service personnel") Sources National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Final Reports from the NIST World Trade Center Disaster Investigation. September 2005 to November 2008. https://www.nist.gov/engineering-laboratory/final-reports-nist-world-trade-center-disaster-investigation Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA. "High-Rise Intl. Building Code Changes Reflect Lessons Learned from 9/11." Buildings.com, November 6, 2008. https://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/6719/title/high-rise-intl-building-code-changes-reflect-lessons-learned-from-9-11 The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. One World Trade Center Progress. http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/index.htmlNew York State Department of State. About the Division of Building Standards and Codes. https://www.dos.ny.gov/dcea/About_DCEA.htmlPatrick Butler. "Maybe L.A.'s 'stupid' helipad rule wasn't so dumb." Los Angeles Times Op-Ed, October 6, 2014. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-butler-rooftop-helipads-fire-20141007-story.html


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What is Primary Authority?
At Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards we understand the risks that businesses face. In particular, having another enforcement authority challenge you (even though you think you have done the right thing) can be worrying, costly and damaging to your public image.
The Primary Authority Scheme addresses these concerns by giving a statutory status to advice received from a local authority partner. Provided the business is in partnership with that authority and has followed the advice, the law now prevents other authorities from challenging that business and sets out a specific route for challenging the advice.
- So, if for example you sell garden equipment and receive "assured advice" that a particular hedge cutter is not subject to age restrictions, you know you won't face enforcement action from other authorities who decide to try and "test purchase" these items using a child.
- In the same way, if you are manufacturing toys or cosmetics, you can receive assured advice on the processes that you use. That way, if another enforcement authority challenges these processes you will have the assurance that you won't need to spend time and money changing them because the processes will have been "assured" by us.
Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards offer an award winning Primary Authority (PA) service across Trading Standards, Environmental Health and fire safety legislation. Your business doesn't need to be based in Buckinghamshire or Surrey to enter into a partnership with us.
We have extensive experience in offering both 'direct' and 'co-ordinated' PA partnerships, (which extend participation to businesses in trade associations and franchisees). Our PA partners include both large and small businesses including Coca-Cola Enterprises, Shell, Esso, British Gas, Waitrose, Toyota and the Association of Convenience Stores.
Partnerships must complete a formal nomination process and are approved by the Government which can take a few weeks to complete.
Buckinghamshire and Surrey offer a range of partnership models to suit your needs. Please see our webpage: Fees, timescales and payments for business advice for more information.
Primary Authority Partnerships with Buckinghamshire and Surrey trading standards have:
- Helped businesses manage relationships with local authorities across the UK
- Simplified regulatory processes and reduce the cost of compliance.
- Delivered significant financial savings
- Helped to reduce the risk pf non-compliance for a business and ultimately ensured it is both profitable and productive.
- A guaranteed level of service and support.
- Access to other sources of helpful information.
Other potential benefits of Primary Authority are:
- Financial savings – the Government estimates that UK businesses could save £48 million per year through PA (source Regulatory Delivery).
- Improved standards.
- Fewer inspections, information requests, and checks on your business nationally.
Contact us
- Telephone: 0300 123 2329
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Textphone (via Text Relay): 18001 0808 223 1133


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Following official government advice issued on Monday 16 March, which stipulates that people should avoid public buildings including theatres, we regret to announce that the theatre is currently closed for performances to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
A Comedy About A Bank Robbery was due to end its hugely successful run with us on the 3rd May. In light of this and the government advice on theatres, regretfully the producers of the show have made the difficult decision to end the run early and consequently all performances are now cancelled. The theatre will re-open as soon as possible, following government recommendations.
Ticket holders will be contacted by their ticket providers regarding refunds - we ask you to bear in mind that our customer service teams are currently extremely busy.
Thank you for your support and understanding at this difficult time. We hope to be back up and running very soon and look forward to welcoming you to the Cri for our next show.
Fiona Callaghan, Managing Director, Criterion Theatre Trust


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SLUMDOG Millionaire star Freida Pinto is keen to address the gender pay gap in Hollywood. She talked to Hannah James about her latest project.
Since Slumdog Millionaire (2008), you've moved to LA and joined the debate about women in film, via your work with non-profit production company We Do It Together — how are you involved? I sit on the advisory board and I also work closely with the founder, [Italian filmmaker] Chiara Tilesi. We are planning a compilation of short stories and we will be launching it soon. But we want to work with not just female actors; we want male and female producers, male and female directors, males and females to sit on this board, including PR people and agents and editors. Ultimately, though, it will be stories about women, made by women, to entertain a whole audience — males, females, children, everybody.
It's true, then, that women are under-represented in all areas of the industry? Certainly! And it's time we do something [about it] — we've all been talking big talk for a very long time. So my purpose, my mission, was to find a way to actually go out and do it. When we found a wonderful team to come together, it started making sense that this could really happen.
Is it rewarding to have more control of the filmmaking process as a producer? Absolutely. I get to choose the stories I want to tell and act in them if I want to, or just produce. I like wearing that hat because it's a natural progression — for me, at least — to want to have more of a say. As an actor you have a say on your character and working relationship with your director, but as a producer you have a say on the entire film, how it's marketed and distributed, what it looks like and what story you're going to tell. I really enjoy that privilege. The ultimate goal is hopefully one day to direct, and once I learn the behind-the-scenes [skills], I think I'll be ready for that, too.
What kind of stories do you want to tell? They have to be inspirational; stories of triumph. I want people to feel uplifted at the end of our films. Why do people want to go to cinemas? It's an escape, right? Also, a real-life story can be educational if you want it to be, but I think the most important part is it needs to be entertaining.
You've said before that you want to tell stories about India. It's an under-represented landscape. Everybody has seen a Bollywood film or two, but there are still stories about brave, amazing women that need to be told. I'm going to use my platform to make them happen and open people's minds to stories about women that aren't conventional; stories they aren't used to seeing.
You're also returning to modelling, in Audemars Piguet's new campaigns for its Diamond Fury and Diamond Punk watches. Yes — I love my Royal Oak watch, I wear it every day. It's my baby! The thing is, I never liked modelling when I was modelling [before]. I thought it was something that sucked the life out of me. Now, I feel like I'm doing it as an actor. I am a person who needs to feel a purpose in order to do something.
Is there anybody's career that particularly inspires you? Angelina Jolie's. I think she is one heck of a brave woman and I would love to learn from her. Among male actors, Idris Elba. I think he's super-charismatic. At the same time, it's not just his charisma, he's really got talent. Also, Robin Wright. I have all these role models.
Which of your humanitarian projects are you most proud of? I'm not the kind of person who is proud of something until something big happens, and in the humanitarian space change only happens incrementally. But the work that has been done on education in India has definitely been my biggest achievement — I'm glad I can lend my voice [to it].
Freida Pinto is an Audemars Piguet ambassador.
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There once was a designer, she sewed and sewed all night and paid her bills another way all day. Her vision was for her designs to be showcased worldwide, her name becoming a synonym for success. She sold her clothes via the internet, and in little marketplaces throughout the land, until one day she put on a show, and suddenly all the citizens were obsessed with Evelyn.
Last night we watched as some of Brisbane's great creatives came together for a night, I will certainly not forget. Set at Fridays Riverside, the night featured a runway show dishing out pieces from bridal boutique Hilde Heim, emerging designers Undral and Sugoi, our favourite Fashion Democracy, Everything's the same and of course the organiser Lexi Wittke's own collection Evelyn Curtis. Looking forward to another one miss Evelyn.... perhaps a collaboration is on the cards.
I was so busy with my jaw dropped to the floor to take photographs of the runway, but I'll make sure to let you know when and where the photographs are published via our facebook page.


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How can cities continue to grow and attract investment while preserving their cultural infrastructure – and the vibrancy and diversity that make them unique? Our new 'Making Space for Culture' handbook for City Leaders explores how world cities across the globe are answering this question, from San Francisco to Shenzhen.
Though culture is a key contributor to economic prosperity, the rising property prices and increasing social and economic inequality caused by rapid urban growth can threaten cultural life and cause new issues for makers of cultural policy. This is an extreme challenge for world cities in particular, because of the sheer volume of capital that pours into them and the unprecedented speed at which development takes place.
For example, in London, one of the few cities to track the issue, 35% of grassroots music venues have been lost over the past 8 years and 30% of artist studios are likely to be lost over the next 5 years.
The World Cities Culture Forum believes that the affordability crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing culture in world cities. These trends directly threaten the long-term health of world cities, striking at the heart of what makes them unique – their rich cultural offer, their cosmopolitan mix of people, and their ability to innovate.
Our new 'Making Space for Culture' handbook offers twelve in-depth case studies illustrating some of the ways our member cities are responding. An introduction by Tim Jones, CEO of Artscape in Toronto, surveys the opportunities for city and cultural leaders to work with other interests to 'scale up' the response and meet the challenge.
The handbook can be downloaded here.


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Click the "Team Sales" button to learn how to get our best pricing!
The Boogie Board sports coaching blackboard is a must-have coaching tool for the high-tech coach. The Boogie Board writes and erases electronically without ink or paper. It's a whole new way to write, edit, and erase your game notes or game strategy. This game-planning tool will take your play to the next level. No markers. No mess. Just more coaching. Use the blackboard for diagramming plays, setting lineups, keeping score, illustrating concepts, tracking and tabulating, conveying ideas, and brainstorming. There's nothing to charge, plug in, or turn on with the Boogie Board. It's electronic, but somehow you'll never notice. With this blackboard you can effortlessly write on anything - grids, templates, documents, photographs, digital screens, anything! This clear screen technology includes four changeable templates but can also be used with any document. The large 8.5" X 11" writing surface feels just like pen on paper. The durable design can be used both indoors and outdoors. You have the ability to selectively clear the entire surface with the touch of a button, or erase like pencil with exact-erase. The lock switch prevents accidental erasing. New Liquid Crystal formula allows for precise writing. Download the free Blackboard app and easily capture, organize, search, and share your work, doodles, designs, lists, and more.
Additional Information
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RSM Custom Rubber Stamp Resource List:
Companies that make bulk and custom rubber stamps for companies and individuals.
Below are names and contact information for companies that manufacture stamps for individuals and/or businesses. Are you wanting to have a rubber stamp made? Or maybe an entire line of images? Read descriptions for each company before making contact, as some handle retail (large and small orders), while others do only wholesale. It's helpful to be specific about what you need when you contact the companies. See RSM Stamp Company Resource Page for current advertising partners. RubberStampMadness vouches for companies that have a working relationship with us.
Starting with rubber stamp manufacturing companies that partner with RSM:
Repeat Impressions
Original Art Stamps & Custom Stamps Too!
PO Box 193
Freeport, ME 04032-0193
(207) 865-3794
Fax: (207) 865-3825
"We create custom art stamps from your camera ready line art or typesetting. We also produce Ideal self-inking stamps for all your personal and business needs. Please visit the Custom Stamps page of our website for details.https://www.repeatimpressions.com/custstmp.html"
Jackson Marking
9105 N. Rainbow Lane
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 242-1334
Fax (618) 242-7732
Offers a variety of traditional and innovative ways to mount and index your art stamp dies! Cost determined by square inch. Rubber or Polymer options. Laser-engraving process creates stamps without first making expensive dies.
Pilot Products, Inc.
Carolyn Hebel
PO Box 3221
Long Island City, NY 11103
(718) 728-2141 Fax: (718) 728-5190
email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com
Manufacturers of stamp and moulding rubber since 1947. Natural Rubber gums. Wholesale only. Stamp mold must be provided.
Casey Rubber Stamps
John Casey
322 E. 11th St.
(Between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
New York, NY 10003
Custom Stamps in 1-3 business days. Please provide 1200 dpi jpeg or pdf file. Money order payment required; no credit cards or checks. All stamps are made on the premise with a photographic process with real red rubber! Price by the square inch. Sample: 1″-$20, 5″-$42, 10″-$63. More prices and info on the website.
Highlander Celtic Stamps
Original Art Stamps, Digital Art, Custom Artwork Creation
2384 Tokay Ct
Paradise CA 95969
(530) 876-8989
Your photograph can be a rubber stamp – your pet, your favorite person, your house or farm, your favorite tree, your you-name-it. Fine artist Kim Victoria is the one-woman at the Highlander Celtic Stamps shop, wearing all hats since 1995. She knows how to draw and render images for best impressions as stamps. Custom stamps are all clear polymer and can be mounted or unmounted. Cost is based on artist's work time and stamp manufacturing.
Jackbear Stamps
John Ballou
Rochester, NY
"Jack makes it look hand carved, because he carves each custom stamp by HAND! Jack specializes in portraits, bookplates, logos, monograms, wedding invitation stamps, and signature stamps for letterboxers and geocachers. He hand carves on vinyl rubber and can leave unmounted, cling mount, plain foam mount, or wood mount. He likes a challenge, so send him an email for a quote on your idea. Retail online shop." Advertises in RSM.
Susan Janicki
3101 SW 34th Ave. Suite 905-292
Ocala, FL 34474
We manufacture deep etch rubber stamps made with our proprietary blend of natural gum rubber to your artwork specifications. Your customers will appreciate the fantastic ink transfer and image quality. Manufacturing services for single stamp designs, artwork collections, or both. Minimum initial order of 25 stamps or sheets applies to each new setup. Volume discounts allow you to order your rubber stamps below wholesale pricing. Retail custom stamps not available. Email for a confidential artwork evaluation to get started.
The Stampin' Place
PO Box 43
Big Lake, MN 55309
(800) 634-3717
Making quality rubber art stamps since 1981. Over 3,500 original art-stamp designs & full line of stamping supplies. Special designs for return address stamps, monograms, book plates, name, graduation and custom orders.
Blank Page Muse
231 E. Alessandro Blvd. Ste 6A #647
Riverside, CA 92508
(951) 758-0739
Blank Page Muse turns your black and white line art into deep etched red rubber stamps using industry standards highest quality natural gum rubber. Provides manufacturing service for personal stamp businesses. Customer retains copyrights and creative control. Wholesale pricing for Retail businesses.
3856 Gala Loop
Bellingham, WA 98226
Ph: 360-647-9663
email: email@example.com
We've been manufacturing custom made stamps since 1993. We offer clear polymer and natural red rubber options. Stamps can be made from your black and white line art or text. We also make self-inking, pre-inked flash stamps for return address, logos, bank endorsements, signatures, Notary stamps, Engineering stamps and more.If it's a rubber stamp, we can make it!
And more companies (who are not current partners with RSM)…
Village Impressions
Anna-Mae, owner
P.O. Box 610989
Port Huron, MI 48061-0989
This company makes a variety of stamps including alphabetic sets for scrapbooking, images from original artwork and drawings, personalized and seasonal sayings, wedding invitation stamps, "handmade/By Me" stamps, images from children's artwork, extra deeply etched see-through pottery stamps, Letterboxing and Geocaching stamps, images to use with PMC and Polymer Clay, and more. Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Village-Impressions-137427732978558.
Creative Images
Barbara Hoch
116 S. 9th St.
Burlington KS 66839
(620) 364-6085
"We can convert your black and white line art drawing into red rubber stamp. Sizes from 1/2 to 8×10 inches."
2390 Cumberland Square Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722-3219
Our stamps are laser-engraved on natural red rubber, then individually trimmed and tested. Upload your own logos and personalized artwork for free, customize text, and make your mark. There's no minimum order, and wholesale discounts are available. We are a family owned and operated business since 1995.
email@example.com or email@example.com
RubberStamps.com is your source for superior quality rubber stamps; all at affordable prices. Choose from any of our stock rubber stamps including office stamps, teacher stamps, or holiday stamps. Don't see the stamp you are looking for? Create a custom rubber stamp to imprint your logo, personalized message, address stamp, notary stamps, and more! All of the rubber stamps and stamping supplies you order on RubberStamps.com ship for free!
Embossing Die Company
Steve Clark
P.O. Box 1299
Cicero, NY 13039
(315) 439-7201
"These stamps are made of hard plastic and are an alternative to traditional rubber stamps. They are designed to be used to make an impression in various materials such as leather, soap, wax, pottery clay, polymer clay and fondant. Impression stamps, not for use with ink. No minimum order. Wholesale pricing available."
Philadelphia, PA
Stampmore provides artist-designed, wood & self-inking rubber stamps. Browse over 1 million designs or design your own.
Additional Note:
Local office supply stores and some printing businesses often offer custom business and art stamps.
The RSM Resource page offers links to other stamping and scrapbooking resources such as rubber stamp companies and stores, events, and more.
For more information, or if you would like to be added to this list, please contact Angela through RSM Contact Page.


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Windows Presentation Foundation is set to revolutionize both web-based and standalone application development. It uses a declarative markup language called XAML to place controls, which looks very similar to HTML. If you're new to XAML or would like to follow along with these examples, you may want to check out a previous tutorial I blogged about WPF, "Start experimenting with XAML on your XP machine in under 15 minutes".
In this post we'll see how WPF uses the System.Windows.Controls.Grid control to present data similar to an HTML table. We'll also see features specific to the Grid control.Here is the table layout we will use for these examples:

In XAML the columns and rows are defined first, and then controls which come later can be placed in a specific cell. Unlike HTML a cell cannot be merged with another cell, but controls being placed can span multiple cells. In this example there are two cells that are merged using HTML's COLSPAN and ROWSPAN. To replicate this we'll put two rectangles on the grid, filled with a color so we can see where they exist:
<Page xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" > <Grid ShowGridLines="true"> <Grid.ColumnDefinitions> <ColumnDefinition /> <ColumnDefinition /> <ColumnDefinition /> </Grid.ColumnDefinitions> <Grid.RowDefinitions> <RowDefinition /> <RowDefinition /> <RowDefinition /> </Grid.RowDefinitions>
<Rectangle Fill="#800000FF" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"></Rectangle> <Rectangle Fill="#80FF0000" Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Grid.RowSpan="2"></Rectangle>
Note that the gridlines are present even where a control spans two cells. This is because spanning of cells occurs on a control basis rathar than a cell basis.
Unless you use the Grid.Column and Grid.Row properties, content will default to being shown in the upper-left cell of the Grid. An example of defining where content should be placed can be seen in the two Rectangle controls used in this example that use Grid.Column, Grid.Row, Grid.ColumnSpan, and Grid.RowSpan for placement.Note the colors used for the Fill attribute of these rectangles. With the alpha channel being 80 hex, this effectively sets 50% opacity since 80 hex is half of the maximum FF hex. So what happens if they overlap each other? Being halfway transparent the colors will combine. We will move the reddish rectangle up to start at the top row, which is row 0. Here is the code change to make this happen, and net effect:
<Rectangle Fill="#80FF0000"
Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="1" Grid.RowSpan="2">
By default the grid will fill up whatever space is available to it with equally spaced cells. If you want to define the width of a column or height of a row then like HTML you can use either a number of pixels or a fractional amount of the whole. The fractional values work differently than HTML's percentages. Doing WIDTH="50%" on a  in HTML means that the column, not the , will try to take half of all the width available to that table. Things are done a little differently in WPF, where you define the width on the whole ColumnDefinition and not an individual cell. And in WPF instead of a percentage you use a fractional decimal amount suffixed with an asterisk, such as Width="0.50*". The result of using this is also different than HTML in that a setting of 0.50* makes that column take half of the space that it would normally consume. The added code and net effect is this:
<ColumnDefinition Width="0.50*" />


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Support Us
Become a Digital Supporter
Make a one-off Donation
Join Us
Want to receive all the latest news, infomation and special offers from the orchestra? Then please join our mailing list today!
- CD David Matthews - Symphony No. 9, Variations for Strings, Double Concerto £12.00
- Philip Sawyers - Violin Concerto, The Valley of Vision, Trumpet Concerto, Elegiac Rhapsody £12.00
- Brahms/Kenneth Woods- Piano Quartet in A Major (arr. for symphony orchestra) £10.00
- Hans Gál- Concertino for Cello and Strings, Solo Cello Works, Avie Records £10.00
Simon Desbruslais and Clare Hammond- The Art of Dancing


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From Lesterville to Ironton. From Annapolis to Bunker. From Centerville to Arcadia. From Black to Ellington and all across the two-county area, the Taum Sauk Fund is committed to improving economic development and tourism.
Each year, the Taum Sauk Fund awards grants to improve our communitites.
Additionally, the Taum Sauk Fund partners with other community organizations, launching key initiatives that better our region.


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What to Expect
If you've ever gone to a social event where you didn't know anyone, you know how uncomfortable that can make you feel. Our goal is to eliminate every shred of apprehension and make you feel at home.
Since chiropractic care involves a series of visits, with each one building on the ones before, it's important that our relationship can go the distance. We've found that one of the best ways to have successful patient relationships is to explain everything in advance. No surprises!
The more you understand who we are, what we do and why we do it, the better the results you'll enjoy. It's as simple as that.
So, check us out here. Have a look around. Get to know us. Then make an appointment so we can get to know you!
- Your Appointments. Find out what you can expect on your first and subsequent visits.
- Insight Scan. We'll use up-to-date technology to help reveal the health of your Nervous System.


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Shorts & T-shirt - Red (s)
Boy doll clothes > Little Baby Born > Summer Fashion
The aboriginal print on these shorts is so vibrant and matches perfectly with the red t-shirt. The shorts can also be used as board shorts when your doll heads to the beach or for a swim in the pool.
Both are made from cotton and the shirt fastens at the back with a Velcro strip, while the pants have an elastic waist so simply pull on making this a super easy outfit for little ones to put on their dolls.
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25 Alternatives To "What'd You Learn In School Today?"
1.When did you notice yourself most interested and curious today? 2.Was there a time today when you were especially confused? How did you respond? 3.What is one thing that was hard to believe? Not confusing, but surprising? 4.If you were … Read More


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We would like to thank our friend, Adele of Live Large Design, for working with us on our website to get the look and feel that we were going for. We were able to accomplish all of the planning over the internet/phone and she has set up a platform that is easy for us to update on the road and has spent the time to teach us how to use it. We are excited!
- Squid Acres Kennel


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Umpqua Beginners Fly Tying Kit
- Description
- Reviews (0)
This entry level kit is great for those looking to make just a small investment in a kit to see if fly tying is something for them. This is a great starter set for kids; a great birthday or Christmas gift. A small price, but includes everything that is needed to start tying quality flies.
Full Tying Instructions and Sample Flies
- Head Cement
- Tinsel
- Floss
- Tying Thread
- Assorted Chenille
- Peacock
- Metz Dry Fly Hackle
- Assorted Marabou
- Mallard Flank Feathers
- Deer Body Hair
- Strung Saddle Hackle
- Assorted Dubbing
- Calf Hair
- Turkey Quill
- Bucktail Pieces
- Metz Beginner's Vise
- Hackle pliers
- Scissors
- Tying bobbin
Tiemco Hooks
- Assortment of hooks


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Gregor Shapanka also known as Blizzard is a Hungarian scientist obsessed with immortality, and decides studying cryonics is the first step towards his goal.
Shapanka then joins the company Stark Industries to fund his research, and eventually attempts to steal directly from Tony Stark - secretly the hero Iron Man. Shapanka is caught and fired, but, following a remark made by Stark, he creates a suit containing cold-generating devices. After Shapanka uses the suit for committing robberies, he is dubbed Jack Frost by the papers. He then attempts to raid Stark Industries, but is defeated by Iron Man. Several years later, Shapanka returns with an updated suit and using the alias Blizzard. He again attempts to steal from Stark Industries and is once again defeated by Iron Man. Shortly thereafter, Shapanka reconstructs his cold-suit in prison; but when Electro uses his electrical powers to break out of the adjoining cell, Shapanka is caught in the blast and the suit is fused to his body. Electro and the Blizzard then join forces to take over the Daily Bugle, but are stopped by Spider-Man and Daredevil. Some months later criminal mastermind Justin Hammer hires the Blizzard to join an army of supervillains and battle Iron Man, who subsequently beats the Blizzard twice in a matter of days. Shapanka then briefly resumes his Jack Frost identity and battles The Hulk. Some time later the Blizzard attempts a bank robbery but is thwarted by Spider-Man. Blizzard then mistakes a villainous version of Iron Man from the year 2020 for the modern Iron Man and attempts to ambush him. The future Iron Man, however, is on an urgent mission and instantly kills the Blizzard with a repulsor blast.
- There are no current notes available on this topic.
- There are no current trivia available on this topic.


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Our friends dropped off some parakeets last night for Sophia to pet sit while they're on vacation. I was gone when they arrived, and when I got home, Sophia was already in bed. Here is the first conversation we had this morning.
Sophia: Mama, did you see the birds…the parakeets that M.J. dropped off last night?
Me: I did, I did.
Sophia: Aren't they so cool?
Me: Yes they are. Aren't we so lucky to get to have them while M.J. is visiting her Grandma and Grandpa?
Sophia: Yes we are! (Sophia looks up at the ceiling and presses her palms together.) Thank you Jesus for listening!
Apparently, our little one has been praying on her own these days. It's good for this mama's heart to know.


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Musings in Moral Theology (2)
The central metaphor of these four chapters is that the mind is divided, like a rider on an elephant, and the rider's job is to serve the elephant. The rider is our conscious reasoning—the stream of words and images of which we are fully aware. The elephant is the other 99 percent of mental processes—the ones that occur outside of awareness but that actually govern most of our behavior.
• Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind
• • •
The first principle Jonathan Haidt sets forth in his book, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, is:
Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning second.
Haidt urges us to recognize that there are two kinds of cognition that we access when making moral judgments: (1) intuition, and (2) reasoning.
As for the first, thousands of "tiny flashes" of judgment "flit through [our] consciousness" every day. These are "automatic" processes that lead us to make "effortless" judgments and decisions, and in fact, they run the human mind and have for millions and millions of years. The process of reasoning that we value so highly and put so much stock in, in fact is more of a servant to this intuitive process.
The metaphor Haidt uses to describe these two forms of cognition and how they function is that of the elephant and the rider. Over the course of human evolution, the elephant (intuition) took on a rider (reason) because the rider did something useful for the elephant. The elephant is still in charge and leads the way, but now it has the rider to come up with rationales for the decisions it makes. He once wrote an article called, "The Emotional Dog and Its Rational Tail."
The rider can do several useful things. It can see further into the future (because we can examine alternative scenarios in our heads) and therefore it can help the elephant make better decisions in the present. It can learn new skills and master new technologies, which can be deployed to help the elephant reach its goals and sidestep disasters. And, most important, the rider acts as the spokesman for the elephant, even though it doesn't necessarily know what the elephant is really thinking. The rider is skilled at fabricating post hoc explanations for whatever the elephant has just done, and it is good at finding reasons to justify whatever the elephant wants to do next. Once human beings developed language and began to use it to gossip about each other, it became extremely valuable for elephants to carry around on their backs a full-time public relations firm. (p. 55)
Jonathan Haidt says that independently reasoned judgment is rare. Moral reasoning is not something people do in order to discover the truth. Humans just aren't wired to dispassionately examine all the evidence and then come to rational conclusions when making moral judgments: "We make our first judgments rapidly, and we are dreadful at seeking out evidence that might disconfirm those initial judgments." (p.55)
The rider goes where the elephant goes and then explains/justifies why he went there.
But there is more — a social angle to this. Making moral judgments is not an individualistic endeavor. Haidt calls his theory the "social intuitionist model of moral judgment,"
Moral talk serves a variety of strategic purposes such as managing your reputation, building alliances, and recruiting bystanders to support your side in the disputes that are so common in daily life. (p. 55)
Our moral arguments feel right to us because they align with our intuitions and help us feel accepted and properly aligned within our group. This is the "righteous mind," and the natural response when someone comes at us with another point of view is to go immediately into defense/combat mode.
However — and this is important — what Jonathan Haidt is not saying is that the elephant is so relentless that it cannot be redirected onto other paths. Intuition is not destiny. We can change or modify our positions. We can allow ourselves to reflect upon our own automatic responses and allow reason to persuade us to see things a bit differently. We can also make space for people who are gifted "elephant whisperers" to help us see things from other perspectives so that we can begin to grasp and feel other moral intuitions.
And if you do truly see it the other person's way—deeply and intuitively—you might even find your own mind opening in response. Empathy is an antidote to righteousness, although it's very difficult to empathize across a moral divide. (p. 58)


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Groupon promise of ability to scale is weak
There has been a fair bit written about the Groupon IPO and while some have touched on it, there is one key point that needs to be made. I remain sceptical about online advertising and affiliate marketing in terms of long term sustainability, and yet that is the basis of Groupons model, and that they can improve their margins by scale.
Groupon is not any kind of testament to whether we are in a dot com bubble or not. Groupon is a classic case people becoming muddled by large numbers, and I will explain that in a moment. The others that somehow Groupon became associated with, Linkedin, FaceBook and Twitter are completely different. Linkedin have gone public, and they have a potential profit story. The other two have not tried to go public so there is nothing to defend there.
Groupon is a different story. This from the SEC S-1 filing. The story here is whether they can scale, and I do not see it.
First a brief explanation of the business model. Groupon sells coupons to consumers, and pays 50% of the proceeds to the business that offers the coupon. The first thing we notice is that the gross margin say in the 2011 3 months result is not $322 (50% of the revenue) but $52 million less. There must be sufficient operational costs associated with getting the 50% back to the merchants, or from acquiring merchants, that it eats up almost 20% of the Groupon share of the revenue.
Next and sticking with the March 2011 results, we can look the marketing costs of $208M which all but wipes out the gross margin.
Revenue $644
Cost of revenue $375
Marketing $208
Surplus $ 62 9.6%
A 9.6 % contribution to operational expenses is not good. This company is just churning money.
If we boil the numbers down to their product, groupons, here is how it shakes out.
|Gross revenue
|Groupons sold
|Revenue per groupon
|Gross revenue per groupon
|mkt cost per groupon
|Total contribution to operational costs from Groupon sales
While the number that gets the attention is the $644M in 3 months, that is not the story. The story is the gross contribution per groupon after acquisition costs, is less than $3. The cost to acquire each groupon is what matters, and to what extent can the company reduce that cost with scale, a claim that is throughout the S-1.
To return to the point made at the beginning. Groupon is not a story of internet companies. It is a company based on extremely high marketing costs. It is not clear why with scale of 5 times more groupons sold, or 5,000 more groupons sold, that the individual marketing costs of acquiring the consumer for each groupon will change. That would require Groupon re-invent marketing beyond the current framework represented by typical online marketing (from S-1 – (online marketing initiatives, such as search engine marketing, display advertisements, referral programs and affiliate marketing).
The thing about FaceBook is that they have developed their own eco-system of users. This can potentially open up new customer engagement and revenue opportunities that would not be available to others.
I don't see that with Groupon. This is a company based entirely on customer acquisition using the commodity that is standard online advertising, and commodity advertising just get more expensive, not less. The owners and investors might do well on this IPO but I see little in terms of benefit to others.
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Aside from lens flares, we've all probably tried creating the mograph abstract 'glitchy' or 'twitchy' effect, whether it's for your abstract blob render from Cinema 4D or your sci-fi trailer. Whatever the reason is, there are plenty of awesome tools out there to help you achieve this effect nicely, such as the infamous Twitch plugin by Video Copilot.
These plugins are my preferable choice when trying to create a nice glitchy effect but when you don't have these fancy plugins, how do you create it? You'll soon find out in my upcoming tutorial where we'll be constructing the glitchy/twitchy effect all within After Effects with no 3rd party plugins. Of course we'll be adding some expression controls to more easily control everything, we'll be using a few basic expressions and parenting, learn how to split the RGB channels, and most importantly having fun.
Stay tuned, this tutorial will be up later in the week! In the meantime, what do you think about the glitchy/twitchy effect? When should it be used and what enhancements can we make to it to sell the effect?
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waiting waiting waiting … EXCITED . 😀 😀 😀


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Article content
Do you find sitting at a desk a pain?
Ryan Holmes, founder and CEO of Vancouver's Hootsuite, shares your pain. Together with designers, he has launched Oristand — a cardboard, collapsible standup desk solution that won't strain your back or bank account. At $25US, the Oristand is simple and more affordable than buying a sit/stand desk.
"The original idea came from Ryan Holmes," said Oristand co-founder Steve Suchy. "He had a sore back and was looking for a solution and couldn't find what he was looking for. So he did, in fact, start experimenting with boxes on his desk and ultimately that led to a very affordable cardboard standing desk.
"He gave me a call and we looked into trying to design a $25 desk that's ergonomically correct and strong and easy to assemble."
While Oristand may be reminiscent of that cardboard box solution you've hacked together to raise your computer high enough so you can stand to type, for its $25 US price tag, you get considerably more design expertise, and it folds flat so you can easily take to your next gig.
Suchy, who has a degree in architecture and works in architecture and interior furniture design, co-founded Vancouver-based Oristand with Holmes and Nathan Martell, a designer and founder of the multidisciplinary design office Martell Studio.
While the Oristand isn't adjustable, Suchy said the three-person team made a number of prototypes, experimenting with the best solution that would fit a range of user heights from about five feet tall to six feet, with the Oristand sitting on a regular desk with a height of 20 to 30 inches.
"It is one size, so it may not fit everybody but it's affordable enough that a lot of people at an average height can give it a chance," he said.
It has two tiers, one for your laptop to put the screen at the best height for your head and neck, with a lower tier for a keyboard — so you'd want to have a separate wireless keyboard to use with your computer.
"It's definitely better than sitting and it's better than a lot of single level options," said Suchy.
He said the team didn't get input from ergonomic experts in the design but with the release of the Oristand, they hope to get feedback that will help in the design of future products.
"For patenting reasons, we had to keep the development quite quiet," he said. "Since then we've been showing it around and we've had a fair bit of interest from occupational therapists saying that this is something that may interest them.
"Often they have clients that would benefit from using a standing desk but the initial entry of $200 and up can be a strain for a lot of people."
Coincidentally, Oristand launched on the morning I was at physiotherapy for treatment of back pain from — what else — writing at a computer.
I use all kinds of makeshift solutions to stand up while I type and I've been thinking of shelling out for a stand up desk — a pricey alternative that can start at a few hundred dollars and go to the thousands.
"So," I asked my physiotherapist as I pulled up a video of the new Oristand. "Should I try out this $25 solution first?"
Reaching over to stop me from sticking my head out like a chicken pointing at the computer screen, my physio Joanne McBrinn said while she can't really comment on the Oristand since she hasn't had a chance to test it out, the concept of a transportable and low-cost solution is a good one.
"It's a great idea in that you haven't committed to an expensive, fixed piece of equipment that only one person can use," she said.
McBrinn said spending a lot of money doesn't necessarily mean a device is better for you.
"The efficiency of an ergonomic device is not related to the cost," she said. "There are many desks that are costly and people aren't using them because of the expense."
If you share a desk at work or you're a telecommuter who only drops by the office occasionally, the Oristand is a relatively inexpensive way to adjust your desk height and it can be tucked under your desk if you want to sit for a while.
The Oristand is light and opens easily in a couple of seconds. It is made at the same factory near Seattle that makes shoe boxes for Nike. Ordering is online at Oristand.co, with the Oristand in black, natural or white and five-packs available for $100 US. Oristand also offers custom branding for companies that want to put their logos on the stand up desk.
"The most important thing about cardboard is that it has allowed us to create a kind of democratizing stand up desk that everybody can afford, both businesses and individuals," said Suchy.
Recyclable cardboard, low cost, and nearby production were important factors in the first design from this newly launched company.
"We're trying to create a product that's good for your wallet, good for your back and for the planet," said Suchy.
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Results tagged ' Clay Middleton '
The Fire to Win: An Interview with Sam Huff
In writing the feature for the Hickory Daily Record, I had a bit of a writer's block. I found the subject of this interview, Sam Huff, to be a multi-faceted person and there were so many directions in which I could've steered the article.
For the HDR writeup, I chose to go the route of the guy that had his baseball fire sparked at the age of five. As I mentioned in the article, there is a fire there that burns in the baseball soul. This kid wants to win and he wants to win however necessary.
I interviewed Huff a day after a game against Rome during which he and pitcher Jean Casanova put together a clinic on how to change the plan of attack against a lineup when the original plan didn't work.
The night before, I had talked to the two of them about the game. A minor blip on Huff's night was getting the golden sombrero (4 strikeouts in a game at the plate, for those that don't know). When I asked him about that, while he wasn't happy about the strikeouts, in the grand scheme of the game itself, he didn't care. His team won. He had a part of that win because of the work as a catcher and that's all that mattered to him. He repeated the mantra over and over, "I just want to win." I left without the expletive that was a part of one of those statements.
So, inside of a measured speaker, that fire is there and the more it smolders.
There were other areas we touched on in this interview: his development, his leadership, and his curiosity for learning. I think readers will see that curiosity when reading through the interview and how he seeks to soak up information.
Both Huff and catching coordinator mentioned the influence of former Crawdads catcher Jose Trevino on Huff. So, I tracked down Trevino to get his perspective on Huff and what stands out to him.
Said Trevino about Huff:
"He's different. Swings different. Throws different. He's a special kid.
"He doesn't know how dangerous he is yet though and I think being in his first full season, he will start to figure it out. He's like that baby snake that doesn't know how poisonous it is, yet. But sooner or later he will know when to strike and how much he needs to take down someone.
"He always wants to learn and he's always picking my brain about everything! I like being around the kid because he still needs that person to check him back into place at times. It looks funny, a 5'8" dude telling a 6'8" dude something that will help him.
"But yes, a very special kid with a lot of talent. I don't really compare him to a player in the big leagues right now cause I don't think you can. Sam Huff is Sam Huff. He's going to keep getting better and he's always going to want to learn. Great ballplayer and a better person!"
However, Huff is not just a student for the sake of being a student. He wants to lead. He wants to lead his team. He wants to lead his pitchers. Huff doesn't appear to be a person to lead in such a way that gives the feeling he that wants the world to revolve around him; he wants to figure out how to make his teammates better—so they can win.
Here is the interview with Sam Huff:
First of all, your three-headed monster at catcher, I guess, is now down to two with you and Pozo. How did the three of you work together where you're not getting total playing time behind the plate but you're having to figure that out?
Huff: At the start it was kind of different because we'd play like Melvin, me, Pozo, Melvin, me, Pozo and we kind of had to work off of that. It was kind of hard to get into a rhythm and a groove. Then we'd finally start to get the hang of it and we were like, "Okay, this is our day."
The day before that we'd get focused on watching and studying. Then the day of, we'd talk to each other. Melvin would say, "Hey, this team is good at hitting fastballs" or "This team likes to hit offspeeds and the fastball away" or "They're a fast team, so then like to bunt or run." We just had to almost give each other reports to keep us in the game and to help our pitchers.
Because, our goal is to help our pitchers. Us three together, we knew we all had to come together and help each other, because overall, we want to be good and we like to see each other do good because we're winning. What I said last night, we like to win and have us three catchers calling good games and our pitchers in the strike zone and keeping them in good rhythm. It helps a lot to talk to each other.
Was it hard to get the pitchers into any kind of consistency, though, when you have three different voices coming at them?
Huff: Yeah, because pitchers will want to throw to a different guy, or to one or the other, but we just had to work with it. We had to learn our pitchers by talking, then catching the bullpens, catching the sides and getting an idea of what they like to do. So, every day I didn't catch, and it was my off day, I would go to the bullpen and catch all the relievers. That's the biggest part is every night, you've got a new guy coming in. You've haven't caught them in two weeks and you don't remember the ball movements. My biggest thing is I can remember my pitchers.
I live with four: Tyler Phillips, Joe Barlow, Josh Advocate and Noah (Bremer) – he's coming back from the rehab. I talk to them. I always work with them. I know them like the back of my hand. I love them and it's just good to talk to pitchers because then they tell you what pitchers think like from a perspective of what they want to do, how they want to do it. What's their strengths and what's their weaknesses. How they rank their pitches. That comes into play because you've got to know, if he doesn't have his fastball, what's his second best and go off that. You can't just say, "Okay, we're going to go to his third best," and that's not his strength. You got to work to the strengths of the pitcher and understand them.
There's so much that goes into catching, not just handling the pitching staff, obviously the defense, then you've got to come out and bring a stick to the plate and hit. Then, there's so many intangibles. What's the biggest thing you are working on right now, at this level?
Huff: The biggest thing is being consistent behind the plate, catching, calling the game, maintaining a good pitching staff and how I want to approach hitters. Last night was a really good thing for me as a catcher to learn. If a plan doesn't work, we can work off of it where we can modify it a little bit. We don't have to flip the script and get a whole new plan. We just build off of it. It was really cool to understand that. Here's a team that's a fastball hitting team. They don't like curveballs, so, okay, we'll pitch backwards now. As a catcher, when I see that, it's going to be easier to call because you understand, because I'm right here and the hitter's standing right there. So, it's easier for me, but it has to come from the pitcher, too.
Learning that as a player and hitting and just being consistent. I'm just working on some stuff. Overall, I don't try to focus too much about hitting, because the biggest thing for me is to become the best catcher and I want to be the best.
What made you decide you wanted to be a catcher in the first place? You guys take a beating and there's so much going into what you do at the position.
Huff: I didn't catch my whole life. I played short when I was little, third, first, the outfield and pitched. I didn't pitch in high school. I played first base my freshman year.
I watched a guy named Tommy Joseph and Matt Wieters and Joe Mauer. I liked the way they did their catching. I just kind of said, I want to be a catcher. I went to a guy in Arizona – he was Tommy Joseph's catching coach. Tommy was in the (Arizona) fall league at the time with the Giants, so he'd come and watch and hang out. It kind of got me triggered there. I was in my sophomore year. In my junior and senior year, I caught.
It's been different. I didn't think I was ever going to be a catcher when I was younger. I thought I was going to be a third baseman or a first baseman, or the outfield type. It stuck with me. I liked the way it is, that you're in every pitch. You're not just standing there, but you're doing something to help the team win.
What is the thing you think you bring to the position? You were playing other positions and now you're fresh behind the plate. What did you bring to the position that you thought would make it work?
Huff: I thought I received well. I caught the ball. I threw the ball good and I could throw guys out. Blocking, I had to work at it and I'm still working at it, but it's becoming one of my strengths. I just felt like I could catch and throw really well. I felt like I could bring energy as a player and being able to control my team and help my teammates out, because I want other guys to be good.
To be able to see a catcher, even though he's down, but he's still up and going, that's a leader. I'm just trying to fill the role, because it's something I want to be, but it's something I've got to work at. Every day I'm working and I'm talking to guys that I feel like are leaders to me and they tell me how they do it and I try to copy that.
Who are the leaders to you?
Huff: I feel like Clay Middleton. He's a really good guy to look after. Tyree Thompson, Tyler Phillips, I could go on. I feel like everybody, in some aspect of the way, is a leader to me. They show me things that I can do different, and they tell me things that I can do different, and I show them things that I've improved on that they could do different. So, it's really cool. As a team, I try and incorporate everybody as a leader. It doesn't matter how you lead, if you're just a quiet guy or if you like to talk a lot. If you're a leader, you're a leader.
You mentioned some guys that got you interested in catching like Mauer and Tommy Joseph. At this stage of you career, who are you looking at as someone you'd like to model your game after?
Huff: I'd like to model my game after Mike Piazza. He wasn't the best catcher, but he could hit. He's a Hall-of-Famer, so you can't say that he's not that bad of a catcher. But, I really like to model my game after him, because watching video, he had the mentality of, he's going to beat you. He doesn't care about you. He doesn't give, you know what, about you.
He plays hard. He wasn't given the opportunity, he had to work for it. I like watching him as a player, because he had the flow. He had the mentality to just go out there and play to show everyone that he was better than they thought he would be.
(Rangers catching coordinator) Chris (Briones) will come in and say, "it's time to fill my guys up." What does a guy like Chris bring to you when he comes on a visit?
Huff: We talk about what I can do different and what I'm doing good at. What things he's seen that I've improved on, or I need to improve on. Lately, we've just talked about being consistent behind the plate and getting wins, being consistent with the blocking, the throwing, the receiving, calling. I love Chris and love when he comes here and we talk.
We always bring up Trevino because we're in the same agency and we always talk. I always talk to Jose, so I ask him little things and he just tells me what's the deal and how to do it. It's really awesome to have a guy like that talk to me. It's really cool.
What are you looking at as the next step of development for you?
Huff: Just getting better every day at everything. I feel like I can get better at everything. There's always something I want to improve on. I feel like once I start to get the hang of hitting, then everything will come together. Overall, I want to get better at everything. I'm always anxious to learn. Briones, he knows that and I'm always talking to him about stuff. So, it's always cool to have him here and pick his brain a little more.
You get a call that says you're going to the major leagues? Who's the first person you call?
Huff: My parents. My dad first. He's been there since the start, so he would get the first call. Then my grandma and grandpa, and then my whole family members and my coaches and friends.
Who is the biggest factor in your career that is not a family member?
Huff: As crazy as it sounds, my dad's best friend, Marty Maier, a pitching coach at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona. We talk all the time and he's been playing for a while.
He was kind of the first guy I talked to in baseball when I was a five-year-old kid. He's a pretty funny guy, but he told me, "This game ain't easy, but you can do a lot if you just apply yourself. Play every game like it's your last. Never, ever take anything for granted." I took that to heart and I really love this game and I like to play.
I thank myself every day and I thank my parents. I thank everybody that's helped me along this journey. Even though I'm in the ups and downs, I still remember what would I rather be doing: going to school or playing baseball for a living? When you tell yourself that, you really take it to heart. I'm playing a game that's a kid's game and I'm having fun with it. So, I try not to take anything for granted. For him doing that and telling me that at a young age, that was really cool and I thank him for that every day.
Meet the 2018 Hickory Crawdads
The Texas Rangers announced the initial roster for the 2018 Hickory Crawdads. A total of 28 players are on the list with three to be pared off before opening day begins on Thursday, April 5 at Greensboro.
Six of the 28 players assigned to Hickory are currently on the Rangers top-30 prospect according to MLB.com. They include outfielders Pedro Gonzalez (No. 10) and Miguel Aparicio (18), catcher Sam Huff (25), and pitchers A.J. Alexy (17), Alex Speas (23), and Tyler Phillips (30).
Twelve of the 28 listed on the initial roster spent some time at Hickory last season, including eight pitchers.
Among the pitchers, five of them – Alexy, Phillips, Reid Anderson, Demarcus Evans and Sal Mendez – made starts for the Crawdads in 2017. Also returning are Dario Beltre, Joe Kuzia and Grant Zawadzki.
The four position players returning to Hickory are catcher Yohel Pozo, infielder Ryan Dorow – his only game with the Crawdads was a start in the final game of the 2017 season – Aparicio and Eric Jenkins, who will spent at least part of a fourth season in Hickory.
Below is a brief look at all 28 players on the initial roster:
Josh Advocate (6-1, 195 lbs., 24 y/o) RHP
The native of Mohave Valley, Ariz. pitched in 18 pro games (1-3, 3.63 ERA) out of the bullpen with rookie-affiliate Arizona Summer League (AZL) Rangers and short-season Spokane (Wash.) after his 20th round selection out of Long Beach State. Was a first-team All-Big West Conference pick in 2017. Played one season at Cochise (Ariz.) College and was a first-team Small School All-American in 2012 while at River Valley (Ariz.) High. Also played football in high school and was a first-team All-State pick as a free safety.
A.J. Alexy (6-4, 195, 19) RHP
The native of Honey Brook, Pa. was obtained by the Rangers last summer as part of a four-player deal that sent Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Assigned to Hickory after the trade, he made five starts (1-1, 3.05) and struck out 27 in 20.2 innings. Held opponents to a .180 batting average, the third-lowest among all full-season minor league pitchers (min. 90 innings). Originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 11th round in 2016, he was signed away from a commitment to Radford. Was a catcher before switching to the mound in his junior season in high school (Twin Valley, Elverson, Pa.). Also wrestled in high school. Currently the No. 17 Rangers prospect according to MLB.com.
Reid Anderson (6-3, 185, 22) RHP
The native of New Egypt, N.J. made 28 appearances (13 starts) for Hickory in 2017 (1-11, 5.30). Was a starter almost exclusively in the second half of the season. The 17th round pick of the Rangers in 2016 out of Millersville Univ. (Pa.) in 2016, he attended college as an outfielder and moved to the mound during his sophomore season. Went 8-1 in 2016 and made three relief appearances during Millersville's run to the Division II final. Played baseball and basketball at New Egypt High.
Joe Barlow (6-3, 195, 22) RHP
The native of Riverton, Utah made 16 relief appearances (6-1, 2.00) for Spokane in 2017. An 11th-round pick of the Rangers out of Salt Lake Community College in 2016, he struck out 64 of the 158 batters faced (40.5%) in 45 innings. Barlow was second in the Northwest League in opponents batting average (.177) and fifth in Ks-per-9-innings (12.80). A two-way player in college, he also caught 25 games in college. Pitched in high school at Riverton.
Dario Beltre (6-3, 210, 25) RHP
The native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic made his first full-season appearance last year since signing as an international free agent contract with the Rangers in 2010. Made 11 appearances with Hickory (1-0, 2.60) with 19 Ks in 17.1 innings before ending the season on the disabled list with a right elbow strain. Missed the 2016 season due to elbow surgery. Fanned 173 in 153.1 innings during his pro career.
Noah Bremer (6-5, 200, 21)
The native of Berkeley, Calif. was the sixth-round pick of the Rangers in 2017 out of the University of Washington. Ranks third in innings, sixth in strikeouts and tied for sixth in starts among all hurlers in school history. In his pro debut with the AZL Rangers and Spokane, he made 12 relief appearances (1-0, 2.61) with 30 Ks and four walks in 20 innings. Held opponents to a .152/.211/.212 slash. Was an All-Pac 12 pick in 2017. Pitched in high school at Berkeley.
Jean Casanova (6-3, 155, 21) RHP
Was the 35th-round pick of the Rangers in 2016 out of Waukegan (Ill.) High. Spent both pro seasons with the AZL Rangers. Made 11 appearances (five starts) with the rookie affiliate in 2017 (5-2, 2.70) and 47 Ks in 36.2 innings. Moved to the U.S. in fifth grade from the Dominican Republic. His cousin Raul played in the majors from 1996 to 2008.
Alex Eubanks (6-2, 180, 22) RHP
The native of Moore, S.C. made 10 of his 11 appearances with Spokane (3-0, 1.17) after his 14th-round selection by the Rangers out of Clemson last June. Struck out 25 and walked just two in 16.1 innings. Made 16 starts for Clemson as a redshirt sophomore last year and walked just 1.73 per nine innings with the Tigers. Was an all-state as a senior at Byrnes (S.C.) High.
Demarcus Evans (6-4, 270, 21) RHP
The native of Petal, Miss. started the 2017 season with Hickory. A shoulder strain placed him on the disabled list in May and he rejoined the club after a rehab assignment with AZL Rangers. Finished the season at Spokane. With the Crawdads (2-5, 4.85), the Rangers 2015 25th-round pick (Petal High) made 12 appearances (six starts) with 46 Ks in 29.2 innings. Held opponents to a .170/.250/.250 slash in five starts at Spokane. As a high school senior, chosen as one of baseball's "Dandy Dozen" by The Clarion-Ledger.
Joe Kuzia (6-4, 196, 24) RHP
A free agent signee of the Rangers in April 2017, the native of Cape Coral, Fla. had a four-game stint with Hickory last summer (1-1, 12.79). Spent the rest of 2017 with Spokane where he made 16 appearances. Had the lowest walk-per-9 inning rate (0.86) among Northwest League relievers to go with a 12.93 K-per-9 inning rate. Previously pitched professional with Garden State in the independent Can-Am League, as well as Bridgeport and New Britain in the independent Atlantic League. Was first-team All-Big East at St. John's in 2014. Pitched in junior college at Herkimer County (N.Y.) CC and at Seymour (Ct.) High. where he also lettered in basketball, football and indoor track.
Sal Mendez (6-4, 185, 23) LHP
The native of Weehawken, N.J. made 25 appearances (6-6, 4.71), including nine starts, with Hickory in 2017. Spent part of August on the disabled list with a strained quad. Was the Rangers 40th round pick in 2013 out of Weehawken High. Missed first two pro seasons with an elbow injury. Threw a no-hitter in high school. Signed away from a commitment to Howard (Tex.) College. Father Sabah played two seasons in the New York Yankees system and one year with the Minnesota Twins chain in the 1970s.
Tyler Phillips (6-5, 191, 20)
The native of Lumberton, N.J. started the 2017 season with Hickory and struggled (1-2, 6.39 in his seven appearances (four starts) before an assignment to Spokane. With the Indians, the Rangers 2015 16th round pick out of Bishop Eustace Prep (N.J.) had 12 Ks in his final start of the season. Had an 18-0 career record in high school and posted a 1.02 ERA his senior season.
Alex Speas (6-4, 180, 20) RHP
The native of Powder Springs, Ga. made 16 appearances (7 starts) for Spokane (1-6, 6.15) in 2017 with 45 Ks in 33.2 innings. Was ranked the 12th-best prospect in the Northwest League by Baseball America. The Rangers drafted him in the second round of the 2016 draft out of McEachern (Ga.) High and signed him away from a commitment to Auburn. Threw 8.1 scoreless innings with the AZL Rangers in his pro debut season in 2016. Was an Under Armour All-American. Baseball America had him as the 11th-best high school pitching prospect before the 2016 draft. Signed away from a commitment to Auburn. Currently the Rangers No. 23 prospect according to MLB.com
Tyree Thompson (6-4, 165, 21) RHP
The New Orleans native made 13 starts (5-1, 3.15) for Spokane in 2017 and was second in the Northwest League in ERA, fourth in WHIP (1.24). The Rangers 26th-round pick in 2016 was the first player drafted by MLB out of Edna Karr (La.) High, where he threw six no-hitters and two perfect games in his high school career. Signed away from a commitment to play baseball and basketball at Northwestern St. (La.)
Grant Zawadzki (5-10, 200, 25) RHP
The native of Shrewsbury, Mass. signed a free-agent contract with the Rangers in February 2017. Split time with Spokane, Hickory and high-A Down East last season. Made seven relief appearances with Hickory (0-1, 7.71). Previously pitched in the San Diego Padres organization as well as with Lancaster and Southern Maryland in the independent Atlantic League. Played collegiately at Cleveland State (Tenn.) CC and Bryan College (Tenn.). Went to St. John's High (Shrewsbury).
Sam Huff (6-4, 215, 20) B-T: R-R
The native of Phoenix spent both pro seasons with the AZL Rangers after his selection in the seventh-round of the 2016 draft out of Arcadia High. Posted a .249/.329/.452 slash in 49 games last season. Tied for the AZL lead with nine homers and was fourth in total bases. Named to the post-season AZL All-star team. Reached base safely in 24 of 28 games in 2016. Named to Arizona Republic's All-Arizona baseball team in 2016 after hitting .554 with 14 homers and 49 RBI. Signed away from a commitment to Grand Canyon Univ. Currently the Rangers No. 25 prospect according to MLB.com
Clay Middleton (6-0, 205, 24) B-T: R-R
The native of Oviedo, Fla. spent both pro seasons with Spokane, splitting time behind the plate and at first last season. Posted .263/.323/.415 slash in 39 games with four homers and 17 RBI last season. Was the 22nd-round pick of the Rangers in 2016 out of Bethune-Cookman University. Named first-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2016. Played high school ball at Hagerty (Fla.) High.
Melvin Novoa (5-11, 215, 21) B-T: R-R
The native of Nandaime, Nicaragua signed an international free agent contract with the Rangers in 2013. When he appears in a game for Hickory, Novoa will be the first Nicaraguan to play for the Crawdads. Hit for a .281/.338/.467 slash with four homers and 15 RBI in 38 games last season at Spokane. Was suspended for the 2016 season after testing positive for PED.
Yohel Pozo (6-0, 201, 20) B-T: R-R
The native of Maracaibo, Venezuela signed an international free agent contract with the Rangers in 2013. In his first full-season assignment last season, posted .338/.373/.465 slash with two homers and 15 RBI at Hickory. His .338 batting avg. is the eighth highest in Crawdads history for a player with a minimum of 150 plate appearances. Opened the 2017 season with Spokane before joining Hickory in July. Threw out 35.1% of baserunners for the Crawdads in 2017. Named to 2016 post-season AZL All-Star Team after hitting .341 for the AZL Rangers.
Ryan Dorow (6-0, 195, 22) B-T: R-R
The native of South Haven, Mich. played in the final game of the 2017 for Hickory (1-3, double) after suiting up for 40 games with the AZL Rangers. A 30th-round pick last June out of Division III Adrian College (Mich.), he posted a .296/.382/.384 slash. Named MVP of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association three straight seasons. He is the first player drafted by MLB out of Adrian since 1974 (Sherwin Rogers by Baltimore). Played baseball, soccer and basketball at South Haven. Named to all-state baseball team his senior season.
Kole Enright (6-1, 175, 20) B-T: S-R
The native of Winter Garden, Fla. was the third-round pick of the Rangers in 2016 out of West Orange (Fla.) High. After posting a .313/.378/.420 slash with the AZL Rangers in his first pro season, played in 67 games at Spokane last season when he hit .233/.314/.323 with three homers and 20 RBI. Named to the Orlando Sentinel all-area team in his senior season. Signed away from a commitment to Stetson Univ.
Yonny Hernandez (5-9, 140, 20)B-T: S-R
Signed as an international free agent in 2014, he made his stateside debut as a pro last May with AA Frisco (Tex.), where he went 0-for-3. The native of Planta, Baja, Venezuela spent much of the season with the AZL Rangers (32 games) before ending the season at Spokane (18 games). Hit his first pro homer in three seasons with Spokane last year.
Justin Jacobs (6-1, 195, 22) B-T: L-R
The native of Spokane, Wash. signed with the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2017 after playing college ball at Gonzaga. Played in 48 games with the AZL Rangers posting a .326/.438/.431 slash. Was second in the AZL in hits (59) and on-base percentage (.438), sixth in batting avg. Named a JUCO All-American at Lower Columbia College (Wash.). Played high school ball at Auburn Riverside (Wash.).
Tyler Ratliff (6-2, 210, 22) B-T: R-R
The native of Port St. Lucie, Fla. played mostly with Spokane in his initial pro season after his selection by the Rangers in the 17th round out of Marshall Univ. last June. After hitting .500 in eight games with the AZL Rangers, Ratliff hit .264/.330/.421 with the Indians six homers and 25 RBI. Named to the Northwest League All-Star Team. Was a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week during his sophomore season. Played in high school at T.C. Williams (Va.).
Miguel Aparicio (6-0, 175, 19) B-T: L-L
Signed as an international free agent in 2015, the native of San Carlos, Venezuela struggled as an 18-year-old during a 25-game stint (.176/.255/.247) with Hickory last season in his stateside pro debut. Re-assigned to Spokane, he put together an all-star season with the Indians (.293/.333/.395). Was second in the Northwest League in hits (86), fourth in runs (47) and the third-hardest player in the league to strikeout. Named by Baseball America as the 13th-best prospect in the NWL. Currently the Rangers No. 18 prospect according to MLB.com.
Pedro Gonzalez (6-5, 190, 20) B-T: R-R
The native of Santo Dominguez, Dominican Republic was obtained by the Rangers from the Colorado Rockies last August in a deal for catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Originally signed by the Rockies as an international free agent in 2014. Went 0-for-17 with Spokane in six games after the trade. Before the trade, he put up a .321/.388/.519 slash with 25 extra-base hits in 45 games with the Rockies rookie affiliate at Grand Junction (Colo.). Named the seventh-best prospect in the Pioneer League by Baseball America. Originally a shortstop in the Rockies organization, moved to centerfield in 2016. Currently the Rangers No. 10 prospect according to MLB.com.
Eric Jenkins (6-1, 170, 21) B-T: L-R
The lone North Carolina native (Cerro Gordo) on the Crawdads roster was drafted by the Rangers in the second round of the 2015 draft out West Columbus High. After playing in 51 games with the AZL Rangers in his pro debut season, he hit .389/.421/.444 with the Crawdads in the final five games of 2015 and started in left during the playoffs. Led the South Atlantic League with 51 steals in 2016. Started the 2017 season with a hamstring injury before rejoining Hickory last May. Hit .216/.266/.310 in his final 60 games with the Crawdads. Also played basketball in high school. Signed out of a commitment to UNC Wilmington.
Chad Smith (6-2, 193, 20) B-T: L-L
The native of Snellville, Ga. played for Spokane (.277/.354/.447) for a second-straight season in 2017 before a shoulder injury shut him down for the season after 39 games. A fifth-round pick of the Rangers in 2015 out of South Gwinnett (Ga.) High, he was as Northwest League all-star in 2016. Named a Perfect Game second-team All-American as a high school senior. Signed away from a commitment to the Univ. of Georgia.


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IMAGO is a novel approach for guiding visually impaired people with the help of smartphones and image processing techniques. The aim of the project is to build a robust and affordable tool to provide positioning and navigation for blind and visually impaired pedestrians in outdoor environments. This method uses pre-recorded routes to compile a three-dimensional model linked with GPS coordinates and sensor data (e.g., GPS, accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope) on the route.
The navigational approach requires two steps: (i) route acquisition and (ii) navigation. At the route acquisition step, a person knowing the route has to walk it at least once. During this walk, the data required for the route model is acquired with the image recording app. The recorded information is embedded into the images transferred to a server. At the server, a 3D model representing the route is build from the images. At the navigation step, another smartphone application is used to pick the desired route to walk. After the walk initialization images and sensor data are acquired by the app and matched with a corresponding model. Identified locations of the matched images are used for the navigation.


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We're pleased to announce the release of v3.1 of cosmetri. This latest version of cosmetri enables staged formulation and the two-way linking of the formula's 'Composition' and 'Method' tabs. You'll be able to add e.g. Aqua @10% at Stage A, Aqua @15% at Stage B, etc, either in the composition or when entering your method of manufacture.
Note: If you have already associated stages in the 'Method' tab with raw materials, these associations will now also be shown in the formula's composition.
Other updates included in this latest release include:
- faster loading of the formula tabs
- new raw material parents do not include batch-level data - use 'clone' to create your first batch from the parent
- default for all newly created raw materials is 'measured by weight' not 'by volume'
- prevent multiple user-sessions in same browser
- INCI breakdown listed according to Max. %w/w concentrations, in descending order
- sort raw materials in Composition tab, by %w/w, in descending order


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