text:
Punxsutawney Phil has deigned us worthy of an early thaw so there's no use procrastinating on your spring cleaning—even if your kitchen is dirtier than a roadside truck stop Blimpie's. Here's how to make your kitchen sparkle using supplies that're already there (or at least should be).
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is throughout the kitchen from refrigerators and toasters to counter-tops and the the sink itself. That includes most of your flatware, too. While durable and resistant to stains, stainless steel's finish can dull over time due to oils—either from fingerprints or cooking—oxidizing on its surface. Its hairline finish is susceptible to scratches as well.
To bring back the steel's luster, you'll need the following:
- white vinegar
- baking soda
- small, clean cotton rag
- a sponge
Dip the rag in the vinegar and work it over the steel's surface using a tight circular motion (wax on, wax off). Vinegar acts as an organic solvent and will cut through any fresh oil that hasn't yet oxidized. If you've got a bottle of mineral spirits under the sink or some olive oil in the pantry, they'll work as well. You can also sprinkle a bit of baking soda onto the surface and work it in with the sponge to remove any residual discoloration, just be sure to rinse it thoroughly with water. Vinegar and club soda both can be used to remove heat stains from cutlery and counter-tops, simply rub on with a rag and rinse with water.
Long before stainless steel had even been invented, copper was a staple of the home, used for everything from roofing to cookware. However, copper is constantly oxidizing, which is what creates that awesome green patina you see on antique roof tiles. While aesthetically appealing on the roof, patina has no place in the kitchen. To remove it from your kettles and steampunk flatware, grab the following items:
- White vinegar
- salt
- baking soda or cornstarch
- pot large enough to hold copper items
- tongs
A vinegar and salt bath is the easiest way to clean copper. Mix a tablespoon of salt with one cup of white vinegar and 3 cups of water in the pot. Immerse the copper item in the bath and bring everything to a full rolling boil and keep it there until clean, then turn off the heat and allow the bath to cool to room temperature. Give it a quick wash with some dish soap to get rid of the vinegar smell and that's it.
For spot cleaning copper, both lemon and ketchup work well. If you use lemon, cut a wedge and sprinkle salt on both sides for grit and go to work. If you've only got lemon juice, mix it with equal parts corn starch to make a paste or just use ketchup straight from the bottle. Either way, be sure to wash the items with soap and water when you're done.
Marble is a gorgeous, durable counter-top material commonly found in newer and higher-end kitchens. The problem with marble though is that its an extremely porous stone so it sucks up stains like a sponge. And the longer it sits, the deeper it penetrates and the less likely you'll ever be able to get it out. If you own marble, keep the following items handy:
- cotton cloth
- sponge
- warm water
- hydrogen peroxide
- a chamois
First, blot the offending liquid with the sponge—don't wipe it, that just makes matters worse. Dip your cloth in warm water and wipe down the marble thoroughly, then immediately dry with the chamois. Next pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide onto the stained area and allow it to penetrate for a minute or so, then wipe off with the warm water cloth and dry it with the chamois.
You should also be vigilant about not letting citrus or other acidic liquids on marble as they can literally eat away at the stone and cause etching. Marble also scorches easily so make sure you always set hot pots on pads or a rack, never directly on the marble.
You'll be hard pressed to find an appliance in your kitchen that doesn't have at least a few plastic components. And while plastic seems to be a magnet for grease and grime buildup (seriously, top of your fridge? Nasty) cleaning it is as simple as microwaving a lemon. You'll need:
- a lemon
- salt
- a sponge
Cut the lemon in half, microwave it for 30 seconds, salt the open half and go to town. Repeat with the other half, then rinse with water.
Salt, lemons, and white vinegar—these are the holy trinity of housekeeping. Keep some on hand at all times and you'll be able to erase the evidence of any cooking disaster, no matter how splattery.
[How to Clean Stuff - Wikihow - Clorox - Real Simple - Mother Nature Network - Image: epstock / Shutterstock]


text:
Control file inconsistencies during startup when using ASM (ORA-000214)
During some testing I encountered an ORA-000214 during startup of an Oracle 220.127.116.11 database instance:
ORA-00214: control file '+RECO_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.334.755391511'
version 268 inconsistent with file
'+DATA_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.299.755390399' version 265
This is a RAC instance on Exadata, but all techniques in this article will work on any Oracle 11.2.x database using ASM.
This message means the database found two controlfiles which have a different version. If this message appears when the database is open, the database will crash. If an instance is startup after this message, the same error appears, and the database remains in nomount state. Further diagnosis: the control file version in the recovery area is more recent than the version in the data diskgroup (version 268 versus version 265).
The obvious and correct way of resolving this issue is to copy the latest control file version in the recovery area over the older one in the data diskgroup.
The most simple and obvious way is to use asmcmd:
[oracle@xxxxdb01 [test1] ~]$ +ASM1
The Oracle base for ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/11.2.0/grid is /u01/app/oracle
[oracle@xxxxdb01 [+ASM1] ~]$ asmcmd
ASMCMD> cp +RECO_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.334.755391511 +DATA_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.299.755390399
copying +RECO_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.334.755391511 -> +DATA_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.299.755390399
ASMCMD-08016: copy source->'+RECO_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.334.755391511' and target->'+DATA_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.299.755390399' failed
ORA-15056: additional error message
ORA-15046: ASM file name '+DATA_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.299.755390399' is not in single-file creation form
ORA-06512: at "SYS.X$DBMS_DISKGROUP", line 410
ORA-06512: at line 3 (DBD ERROR: OCIStmtExecute)
This means asmcmd can not be used to copy the controlfile.
The resolution for this issue is to use rman to copy the controlfile:
[oracle@xxxxdb01 [test1] ~]$ rman target /
Recovery Manager: Release 220.127.116.11.0 - Production on Sat Jul 2 17:23:32 2011
Copyright (c) 1982, 2009, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
connected to target database: TEST (not mounted)
RMAN> restore controlfile to '+DATA_XXXX' from '+RECO_XXXX/controlfile/current.334.755391511';
Starting restore at 02-JUL-11
using target database control file instead of recovery catalog
allocated channel: ORA_DISK_1
channel ORA_DISK_1: SID=847 instance=test1 device type=DISK
channel ORA_DISK_1: copied control file copy
Finished restore at 02-JUL-11
RMAN> exit
By only specifying the diskgroup, a new controlfile is created using OMF (Oracle Managed Files) naming.
At this point we have a valid, consistent control file in the data diskgroup, in order for the database to be able to use it, we need to do the following tasks:
– Gather the name of the new, consistent controlfile in the data diskgroup.
– Remove the old, inconsistent controlfile in the data diskgroup.
– Set the control_files parameter to use the new, copied version in the data diskgroup and use the copy in the recovery area.
Gather the name of the new controlfile in the data diskgroup:
[oracle@xxxxdb01 [+ASM1] ~]$ asmcmd
ASMCMD> find -t controlfile +DATA_EMC1/test *
WARNING:option 't' is deprecated for 'find'
please use 'type'
We know the old, inconsistent version from the errormessage: current.299.755390399. So the new version is current.314.755457847.
Remove the old one:
ASMCMD> rm +DATA_EMC1/test/CONTROLFILE/current.299.755390399
And set the parameter and bounce the instance to test if it works:
[oracle@xxxxdb01 [+ASM1] ~]$ test1
The Oracle base for ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1 is /u01/app/oracle
[oracle@xxxxdb01 [test1] ~]$ sq
SQL*Plus: Release 184.108.40.206.0 Production on Sat Jul 2 17:30:22 2011
Copyright (c) 1982, 2010, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 22.214.171.124.0 - 64bit Production
With the Partitioning, Real Application Clusters, OLAP, Data Mining
and Real Application Testing options
SQL> alter system set control_files='+DATA_XXXX/test/CONTROLFILE/current.314.755457847','+RECO_XXXX/test/controlfile/current.334.755391511' scope=spfile sid='*';
System altered.
SQL> startup force;
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 1043886080 bytes
Fixed Size 2233088 bytes
Variable Size 478153984 bytes
Database Buffers 423624704 bytes
Redo Buffers 139874304 bytes
Database mounted.
Database opened.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Champ is alive: Muhammad Ali "is not dying"
Muhammad Ali's daughter scotched rumors of her father being near death Sunday, saying he was at home watching the Super Bowl.
May May Ali says she talked to her father Sunday morning on the phone and he was fine. She says he was watching the Super Bowl at home in Arizona, wearing a Baltimore Ravens jersey.
"He's fine, in fact he was talking well this morning," she said in a telephone interview. "These rumors pop up every once in a while but there's nothing to them."
The family later posted a photo on Twitter of Ali sitting in a chair wearing a Ray Lewis T-shirt.
The rumors were started by a report in a British tabloid quoting Ali's brother, Rahman, as saying the former heavyweight champion was near death. Rahman, though, said he hadn't seen his brother since last summer and had no contact with the family.
The report was widely repeated on the Internet, drawing expressions of condolences on Twitter and Facebook.
Ali suffers from Parkinson's disease. He celebrated his 71st birthday last month.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


text:
Rapid Results
Installing a mile-long protected lane on Ninth Avenue in New York City resulted in a 49% estimated potential increase in retail sales among merchants located along the path and a 58% reduction in injuries to all street users (cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers).
Source: New York City Department of Transportation, Measuring the Street, 2012
More From Bicycling
The State of Bike Commuting
Since 2000, record numbers of Americans have climbed on their bikes and taken to the streets. Here's a look at who's riding where.
Federal Funding for Bike Lanes
Funds have been declining the last five years, though they're still a big improvement over 10 years ago.
Ride or Drive: The Choice is Clear
Pedaling around town saves gas, saves money, and helps save the planet.
Making a Difference If Americans made one 4-mile round-trip by bike instead of car each week, we'd burn nearly 2 billion fewer gallons of gas annually. At $3.64 a gallon, that's a savings of $6.6 billion.
Reader Survey: The Way You Roll
Source: Sierra Club: Pedaling Prosperity, 2012 NEXT:


text:
Cheesy Pierogi Lasagna
Start by spreading a layer of mashed potatoes over…
If you've ever had classic pierogi (and even if you haven't) you'll be blown away by our pierogi lasagna. Traditionally, pierogi are dumplings from Eastern Europe filled with potatoes, cheese, and a variety of meats and veggies. While they are extremely delicious, making the dough and hand-forming each dumpling can be time and labor-intensive.
In our quest to simplify the pierogi process, we have discovered that regular lasagna noodles provide a very similar taste and texture, with a whole lot less work! This lasagna is so easy to make, and with tons of melty cheese and buttery mashed potatoes, it's the epitome of comfort food. We're super excited about this yummy recipe hack and can't wait for you to try it! It's so delicious, I'm sure I'll be making it once a week for my family! They can't get enough.
Pierogi Lasagna
Serves 6-8
50 minutes
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 6 cups mashed potatoes
- 2 sweet onions,thinly sliced
- 2 cups cheddar, grated
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, and set aside.
- In a large skillet add onion, butter, salt, and pepper. Saute on medium heat until soft, about 10 minutes.
- Place 4 lasagna noodles in an even layer on bottom of baking dish. Layer ½ of total mashed potatoes on top of noodles, followed by ½ of the sauteed onions, and ½ cup of cheese.
- Repeat with another layer of lasagna noodles, remaining mashed potatoes, sauteed onions and ½ cup cheese.
- Top lasagna with remaining 4 noodles and 1 cup cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Jayesel


text:
Best viral videos of the year
Staff Writer
Echo Pilot
From "Gangnam Style" to a baby and a Husky singing to Matthew Broderick's Super Bowl commercial, relive 2012 through the best viral videos of the year. Click below to view the collection of hits.
More best of 2012 moments to come!
Check back in the coming days for more top videos of the year. Here's what you can expect:
Dec. 22: Funniest polical moments of the year
Dec. 23: Best of the 2012 Summer Olympics
Dec. 24: Coolest gadgets of the year
Dec. 25: Best feel-good videos of the year
Dec. 26: Year's most weird stories
Dec. 29: 2013 lifestyle tips
Dec. 30: In memoriam
Dec. 31: The year in video


text:
Focused on Eye Care
- What To Expect During Your Eye Exam
- Meet Your Eye Doctor Dr. Diegel
- Raves & Reviews: Read What Our Clients Say About Urban Optiques!
- Ask The Eye Doc: Do Lash Growth Serums Work?
- The Difference Between Contact Lens Exams and Regular Eye Exams
- Use 'em or Lose 'em! Nine Ways To Use Your Flex Spending Account Dollars on Your Eyes ...
- Optometrists vs. Ophthalmologists: What's The Difference?
- Nine Signs That You Need An Eye Exam


text:
Home > Consumer Protection > Consumer News & Information > FDIC Consumer News
FDIC Consumer News
Fall 2012 - Tips for Young Adults
Credit Cards: How to Avoid Costly Mistakes
When you're just starting out on your own, credit cards offer a convenient way to make purchases and build a credit history. But it's also easy to make costly mistakes and damage your credit record. Here are tips for responsibly managing credit cards.
Read the fine print. "Before you apply for a credit card, read all the terms and conditions so you know exactly what you're getting into," said Susan Boenau, Chief of the FDIC's Consumer Affairs Section. "This is especially important if the card offers a low introductory Annual Percentage Rate because you need to know when the introductory rate ends and what the new, higher rate will be."
You can avoid fees by being aware of your card's credit limit. If you want your credit card issuer to permit transactions over your credit limit to go through, you must notify your lender that you want that service in advance and will pay the resulting fees. "To avoid the fees from going over your credit limit, don't ask for the service and instead allow the transactions to simply be turned down," said Heather St. Germain, an FDIC Consumer Affairs Specialist.
Try to pay the entire balance in full and on time every month. That way, you will avoid interest charges and save money. However, if you can't pay the balance in full, pay at least the minimum monthly payment amount, and do so before the due date. Remember that late payments can result in fees and hurt your credit score (see Build a Good Credit Record: It's Important for Loan and Job Applications).
Think twice before applying for more credit cards. Special promotions, such as low introductory rates or discounts on purchases, make it tempting to apply for additional credit cards. But every time you apply for a card, it appears on your credit report. Multiple applications (called "inquiries" on a credit report) or new cards opened within a short time period can lower your credit score. One reason is that this scenario could suggest that you may be about to take on more debt than you can manage. (For guidance on managing debit cards, see For Everyday Banking: Choosing the Best Account for You.)
Take advantage of automated alerts from your card issuer. Many lenders and other companies can send customers messages by cell phone or e-mail, such as payment reminders, balance notifications to let you know if you're close to your credit limit, and information on suspicious activity that may indicate fraud. Check with your card issuer to find out if it offers alert services and whether there are any associated fees.
Last Updated 6/10/2014


text:
World Academy of Art & Science
World University Consortium
Agenda for Future Programming
November 10, 2015
Venue: CERN, Charpak Room (Main building, 6th floor conference room 60-6-015) Register at reception in Building 33
Increasing globalization of the economy in Space, accelerating velocity of movement and social change in Time, growing Complexity and integration of activities, sectors and levels of society, rapid Evolution of global society undergoing continuous transformation, and rising imbalance between technological development and cultural adaptation present unparalleled challenges for individuals, nations and the human community. Evolving effective responses to these challenges and ways to transform them into opportunities for human progress lie at the heart of the Academy's agenda in collaboration with the World University Consortium and partnering organizations.
On November 10th WAAS and WUC convened a meeting in Geneva to summarize core findings of fifteen conferences and workshops conducted over the past four years and to identify the agenda for future work. A consensus has emerged from these efforts that a new conceptual framework is urgently needed to reflect the complex realities of global society. This calls for a paradigm shift in thinking in the social sciences as significant as the earlier shifts in the natural sciences from a geocentric to a heliocentric universe and from a mechanistic Newtonian world to the complexity revealed by Quantum Mechanics. This paradigm shift will represent a quantum shift away from mechanistic, naturalistic, materialistic conceptions and models of human society, making human welfare the focal point and central objective, affirming the central importance and validity of universal values in the human sciences, restoring scientific legitimacy to subjective experience, and recognizing the catalytic role of creative individuals in the evolution of the collective.


text:
On Friday, we posted a short roundup of what's expected in iTunes 8 thanks to the rumortastic stylings of Kevin Rose. The Pandora-like Genius feature, Genius Sidebar, Grid view, and more are all said to be included. Although the general web consensus was that it would probably land on next Tuesday's Apple Special Event, we were skeptical.
Well, that skepticism was unwarranted, it seems. A person close to the situation has informed us that, as of this morning, iTunes 8 is finally confirmed for September 9. This person conveyed that much of what Rose claims is in iTunes 8 is correct as well. So, our hunch was wrong. And we're glad, because it sounds pretty cool, too.
Another little birdie told us that it's widely expected within some Apple circles that iPhone 2.1 will be released on September 9. We were told that, aside from what we already know about iPhone 2.1 from leaked info on the web, there are other parts to 2.1 that were specifically removed from developer seeds in order to keep them secret from the world. This both excites and worries us, because if true, then there are features coming in the newest firmware that have not been widely tested outside of Apple. On the other hand, we're suckers for a surprise.
All we can say is that Tuesday can't come fast enough for the rumor mill.


text:
To little surprise, CBS has pulled Three Rivers from the Sunday night schedule, effective immediately. Will the show be back? Has it been cancelled?
Three Rivers follows a group of dedicated doctors and medical staffers who help those in need of organ transplants. The series stars Alex O'Loughlin, Katherine Moennig, Daniel Henney, Justina Machado, Christopher Hanke, Amber Clayton, and Alfre Woodard.
The medical drama got off to a slow start in the ratings back in early October. Unfortunately, the numbers only got worse as the weeks wore on and it became a likely candidate for early cancellation.
To CBS' credit, the network has been patient with the series and has kept it on the air. Two weeks ago, the network tried switching timeslots with Cold Case. While the veteran crime drama benefited from the time change and attracted more viewers, Three Rivers did not.
Three Rivers has now been pulled from the Sunday night schedule. As expected, Cold Case will slip into the earlier timeslot and repeats of various crime dramas will take over at 10pm.
A CBS spokesperson has said that Three Rivers' fate has not yet been decided but the network has not ordered any additional installments beyond the initial 13 episodes.
Eight episodes of the drama have been aired, leaving five on the shelf. CBS will likely burn them off either on Saturdays or during the summer months but, unless the execs have a major change of heart, Three Rivers is essentially cancelled.
What do you think? What went wrong with Three Rivers? Is Sunday night football to blame for the show's failure to attract more viewers or was the show flawed?
Image courtesy CBS.


text:
Study Searches for Best Ab Exercises
In a study conducted by the Biomechanics Lab at the San Diego State University, thirteen common abdominal exercises were measured using an electromyography. This specialized equipment measures the activity in the abdominal muscles during the performance of the exercise.
What does all this mean? Well each abdominal exercise was analyzed for the effectiveness in the rectus abdominus and oblique muscles to determine the best ab exercises.
Thirty healthy men and women ranging in age from 20 to 45 participated in this study. Each person was allowed to practice the abdominal exercise before doing 10 to 12 reps of each exercise. The data was gathered and analyzed.
Best Ab Exercises
If you are like many people who thought the traditional crunch was the best abdominal exercise then the results of this study will surprise you. Rather than being one of the best abdominal exercises, the traditional crunch actually ranked in the bottom three.
The top 3 ab exercises for overall effectiveness and for the most effective in the rectus abdominus muscle were the bicycle crunch, captains chair and the exercise ball crunch. The most effective in the oblique muscles ranking number 1 3 respectively were the captains chair, bicycle crunch and the reverse crunch.
Worst Ab Exercises
Although this study only included 13 ab exercises and all the exercises showed some effectiveness, these three showed the least activity and effectiveness in the rectus abdominus and oblique muscles. These three are the traditional crunch coming in at number 11, the exercise tubing pull at number 12 and last was the ab rocker.
Just because these 3 came in at the bottom does not mean you should remove them from your list of abdominal exercises. However, if you are looking to purchase abdominal exercise equipment you may want to consider some more effective than the ab rocker in order to get your moneys worth.
Effective Ab Exercise Routine
To get the most out of your abdominal exercises and flatten your stomach you want to make sure you are working all the abdominal muscles. The ab muscles include the rectus abdominus, internal and external obliques and the transverse abdominus muscle.
Most abdominal exercises target the rectus abdominus and oblique muscles but it is critical you also include exercises that work the transverse abdominus muscle. This muscle acts as a griddle to help tighten and hold in your stomach.
To get the most out of your abdominal exercises try including several different ab exercises so that you work all the muscles. Exercises like the bicycle crunch work all the ab muscles, including the transverse abdominus. Make your abdominal exercise routine varied and fun. Add new and different ab exercises each time to ensure you are hitting all the muscles and toning all areas.


text:
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A jury acquitted former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves on Tuesday of allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in a motel room four years ago.
The verdict announced in a Genesee County courtroom in Cleaves' hometown of Flint came after a nearly-two week trial that included the testimony of the Mount Morris woman, who told jurors that she had wanted to leave the motel room but Cleaves continued to force himself on her.
The jury of nine women and three men deliberated for a little more than two hours before delivering its verdict. Cleaves sobbed after the last of four not-guilty verdicts was read.
"Thank you for giving me my life back," Cleaves said.
Juror Michael Lambert said the verdict came quickly after he and other jurors concluded Cleaves' accuser wasn't believable.
"Her testimony was consistent lies," Lambert said, adding jurors noted the frequency he woman forgot key parts of her story.
Outside the court following the verdict, Cleaves continued to proclaim his innocence.
"I've been waiting for this moment for four years," he told reporters outside the court. "I didn't do anything wrong."
Evidence against Cleaves, 41, included a video that prosecutors contended showed the woman pulling away from Cleaves. Prosecutors argued she tried twice to escape from the motel room.
The woman testified during the trial last week that she had gone to a gathering at a bar with Cleaves at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.
The woman said she and Cleaves stopped at a gas station and that she fell asleep before waking up in a room at the motel with him. The woman said she told Cleaves she "wanted to go home" but admitted she kissed him even after saying that.
"He started kissing me. I kissed him back, and I remember being on the bed," the woman said. She said she didn't want to be "rude" to Cleaves, a celebrity donor to her employer, because she didn't want her rejection of his advances to affect her job.
Cleaves did not testify. His attorneys told jurors that the woman lied about what happened because she felt guilty about cheating on her boyfriend.
During closing arguments Tuesday, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor David Champine said the woman, of Mount Morris, did not want to have sex with Cleaves and told him so.
"You can see her in the video pulling away," Champine told jurors, adding she was able to push him off in some way and get out of Knights Inn in Mundy Township on Sept. 15, 2015. "He grabs her and starts pulling her. You can see her in the video pulling away ... she doesn't want to go back but his decision is he's going to take her back."
Cleaves' defense team told jurors it was a clear case of consensual sex and that the woman is lying because she felt bad because she had cheated on her boyfriend with him.
"Regret is not rape," argued defense attorney Michael Manley, contending there wasn't a "sliver of DNA" evidence that backs up her claims.
Cleaves was acquitted on all charges, including unlawful imprisonment and assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration. He had faced a maximum of 15 years in prison had he been convicted.
The trial itself came after a long legal battle that started in late 2016 when a district judge dismissed the charges, saying that there were a number of factors that suggested "something else was going on" between Cleaves and the woman.
But in 2017, the charges were reinstated after the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office filed an appeal that contended the judge had abused her "discretion of power" in dismissing the charges. Then last year, the Michigan Supreme Court refused to review that decision, clearing the way for the trial.
Cleaves is a revered figure in Michigan, an integral part of a Michigan State team that won the national championship in 2000 before his six-year NBA career.
And on Tuesday, sitting in a courtroom was another reminder of that team: Coach Tom Izzo. Izzo told The Detroit News that he did not know the details about the allegations against his former star player but wanted to be in the courtroom to support Cleaves as he would "any of my guys."


text:
Biden Visits Iraq To Mark Formal End To U.S. Combat
LARA JAKES and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA | 08/30/10 11:22 AM |
BAGHDAD — Vice President Joe Biden returned to Iraq Monday to mark this week's formal end to U.S. combat operations and push the country's leaders to end a six-month postelection stalemate blocking formation of a new government.
Wednesday's ceremony will signal a shift toward a greater U.S. diplomatic role as the military mission dwindles seven years after the American invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Underscoring the shift, officials said Biden will make a new appeal to Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, to end the political deadlock and seat a new government. March 7 parliamentary elections left Iraq without a clear winner, and insurgents have exploited the uncertainty to hammer Iraqi security forces in near-daily attacks.
Biden and al-Maliki will meet Tuesday morning "to discuss the political situation and withdrawal, and Iraqis taking over responsibility for security," the prime minister's adviser, Yasin Majeed, told The Associated Press.
It was the vice president's sixth trip to Iraq since he was elected and, officially, he came to preside over a military change-of-command ceremony. On Wednesday, Gen. Ray Odierno ends more than five years in Iraq and hands over the reins as commander of U.S. forces here to Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin. Austin also has served extensively in Iraq, most recently as commander of troop operations in 2008-09.
But the Sept. 1 ceremony also marks the start of the so-called "Operation New Dawn" – symbolizing the beginning of the end of the American military's mission in Iraq since invading in March 2003.
Just under 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq – down from a peak of nearly 170,000 at the height of the 2007 military surge that is credited with turning the tide in Iraq as it teetered on the brink of civil war. Additionally, U.S. troops no longer will be allowed to go on combat missions unless requested and accompanied by Iraqi forces.


text:
This blog post is intended to sabotage any chance that I'll get a "normal" software-engineering job, because I don't think I could ever go back to a "normal" job.
I've become used to extraordinary jobs, not "normal" jobs.
The following 10 things, which I hate about software development as practiced in much of the industry, I think will keep me from ever being successful or happy in a "normal" software-development job.
Along with them, I list the antiviruses that I hope will help me avoid these diseases, if I need to go back into software development, even temporarily.
Incompetent managers. Software development managers in general graduated from being software developers. Unfortunately, the skills you need as a developer are different than the skills you need as a manager. The best manager I ever had was not a particularly good or experienced software developer. Rather, she treated management as a profession, read books on how to be an effective manager, attended seminars, took classes, and as a result, she was good at her job. But most software-developers-turned-managers don't treat management as a profession. Instead, some of them become telepaths, who expect you to know what they need without actually telling you; others become micromanagers, who expect to be able to do all the actual development themselves, using your eyes and hands and brain; still others become arguers, the worst of both worlds, who instead of letting you do your job, take great pride in pointing out everything they think you did wrong. So the next software job I take, I will be interviewing and trying managers carefully to make sure they know how to manage, regardless of whether they are good developers.
Snotty developers. I must confess to going through a snotty phase myself. It's part of growing up. You have to live as a snot-nosed, young-whippersnapper, green-behind-the-ears code slinger before you can mature into a wizened Yoda figure. In fact, part of me still may be a snotty developer. I'm definitely snotty when it comes to my own work, because I don't want anyone telling me how it should be done, as long as I achieve the intended results. But as someone who's been doing this shtick for 20-something years, I've grown weary of junior colleagues telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. And when something doesn't work out as well as they thought it should, they persistently maintain that it had nothing to do with them, despite the fact that they had ignored every piece of advice I gave them. There's only one sure-fire remedy I know of for this problem, and that is to insist on a higher rate of pay. People may balk at paying you through the nose, but when they have to—especially managers—they not only accept your advice, they seek it out, because for the money they're paying you, they expect you to solve their problems.
Commoditization. That is, the devaluation of specialized knowledge. The most obvious manifestation of this disease is the company who outsources its development to a third-party contract shop in India or Mexico, and then wonders why the project is falling apart at the seams. A more insidious and pervasive symptom has employers and clients boil a job down to a long list of buzzwords, pattern-match résumés to those buzzwords, interview you to make sure you really do qualify for the buzzwords selected, and then look for the lowest price. And then they ask you to do everything under the sun, including those tasks that could be handled by a $20/hour contractor from Mexico. Instead, they ought to be looking for solutions to specific problems or for people to fill specific roles within the organization. For veteran jobs, that's no longer about price, however, because if you're specific enough, you'll likely find only one or two qualified candidates, if you search for them, and whatever they want to charge you, you'll pay. Again, the only sure-fire antivirus I know of is to demand a higher rate of pay, because for the money they're paying you, they won't treat you like a commodity.
Slipshod engineering practices. I am one of those programmers who actually believe software development is engineering. Many developers don't believe in software engineering, or at most give it only lip-service. But software engineering is like gravity: you may not believe in it, but the result is the same when you step off that cliff. Developers who don't believe in engineering experience bugs, hold-ups, overwork, and stress. To account for it, they blame the code, the programmers who worked on the software in the past, their development environment, the operating system… But they never do anything to fix it, because "we just don't have the time." Note, however, just because developers complain about not having enough time to fix the system doesn't mean they're using slipshod engineering practices. In fact, those developers who don't complain are probably the worst offenders. Often, good developers complain about the code, but it's really not that bad, because they've already fixed the worst parts of it, and the problems that are left just stick in their craws. These are the developers I'd love to work with. The quickest way I know of to assess the situation is to look at the code: Is it well-architected? Well-designed? Are there unit tests? If so, the team is probably using good engineering practices.
Neglect of quality. By "quality," I don't mean over-designed, fluffy, overly glitzy software. What I mean is, simply, software that works, that satisfies the customer's needs, makes the customer swoon, has no bugs, does not constantly poke you in the eye—"See that?!" Ow! "See that?!" Hey! Cut that out! Quality is important, because it gives a team of engineers a sense of accomplishment, of pride, a healthy morale. And engineers who value quality will be professional, always improving their craft, always building better and better software. Again, a quick glance at the codebase should give some idea as to how highly the team values quality, because a quality team will use sound engineering practices. But you could also look at the finished product, and especially customer comments on the product and its support.
Black-and-white thinking. Frankly, I hate having my good ideas shot down with dismissive comments like: "Unit tests don't catch every bug." Yeah, but they catch more bugs sooner and cheaper than any other method of testing. Polarized, black-and-white thinking is actually a sign of depression, of hopelessness, of having given up. "My life isn't perfect; therefore, I have no reason to live." Sounds silly when put that way. But how many software teams are in a similar, self-imposed depression? "That technique can't solve all our problems; therefore, it's not even worth trying." Almost every team has a naysayer, but such sentiments can cause actual depression in the more innovative among us, who actually want to better the team and its engineering practices. The antivirus is simple, if not easy: Early in working with a team, try to find one or two simple process problems and propose simple, direct solutions. Then sit back and see what happens. If you get a lot of hemming and hawing and ignoring and naysaying, think about whether you should split.
Focus on establishment. Humans have a natural need for stability and for camaraderie. That is, they need to feel like the floor is firm beneath their feet and that there are others on their side. But in some companies, these tendencies can become dysfunctionally pervasive. If you continue to do only what you've always done, only what everyone else is doing, you'll always be safe from blame. But humans also innately need to do what they haven't done before, to stretch their minds, to create. Because this gives one a sense of purpose. Rather than playing it safe, we should always be trying new things, and keeping those that work. But the dysfunctional company focuses on establishment, rather than on results. The antivirus is similar to that for black-and-white thinking. Early in the experience, try something new, and then see what happens. Do it early, before you develop an emotional investment in the project. It might even be best if the thing you try fails completely, because then you can see how the team handles failure. Even if your experiment fails, they should not make you feel like a failure for having tried it. If they do, think about whether you want to stay there.
Ignorance of modern research. Quick! Name at least 2 of the 9 teamwork-killers Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister identified in their landmark work? It should be pretty easy, because they identified 7 of those 9 back in 1987. That's what I mean by "modern." Here's another one: What 3 characteristics must a software team exhibit in order to have any reasonable chance of success, according to Alistair Cockburn in his research? Peopleware (2nd ed. 1999) and Crystal Clear' (2005), for starters. This is what I mean by "modern." Heck, we might as well even include The Mythical Man-Month in the list, because too many software engineers have never read it, either. At my next interview, while the development staff are quizzing me on my knowledge of Perl programming, PHP, and JavaScript, I'll be sure to quiz them on their knowledge of Demarco and Lister, Cockburn, Schwaber and Beedle, Kent Beck, Michael Feathers—and of course, Frederick Brooks.
The blame game. Being caught in the blame game can cause stress, exhaustion, demotivation, and depression. It can also be the source of other maladies, such as black-and-white thinking, as engineers attempt to cope. Unfortunately, staffers don't usually like to talk about the blame game, but a pointed interview question might reveal something. Something like: "Tell me about the last, big mistake someone made that cost the company money." What was the fallout? Did anyone get yelled at? Fired? In a perfectly healthy organization, no matter how bad the error was, no one will have gotten yelled at; rather, it will just be accepted that everyone makes mistakes, because we're all human, and the whole team will have looked at the process (rather than any particular person) to see how to avoid an analogous oops in the future.
Unrealistic expectations. I'm talking about the top-down variety here. Yes, engineers can—and frequently do—have unrealistic expectations of themselves. But that's easily enough fixed. (Or at least I know how to fix it, with a bit of measurement, in my own estimates.) But I'm talking here about something different: Management wants such-and-such at such-and-such a date, and they won't accept your promise that it simply can't be done. When faced with such a situation, there are only 4 things you can do: Deliver less functionality. Take longer to deliver it. Reduce the quality (leading to delays because of unexpected bugs, and see #5 above—better yet, forget about sacrificing quality). Or spend more money (but adding people to a late project only makes it later—that's Frederick Brooks, see #8 above). Management, under pressure, may not want to make real-world trade-offs, leading to overwork, demotivation, and depression for the engineers. Like the blame game, I don't know any sure-fire way to discover this problem early on, because no one wants to admit to a new recruit that he's walking into the lion's den. But you might try asking about the team's last overconstrained project or iteration, with a knowing, Columbo-esque gaze, and see if it prompts any reaction at all.
Now, if you happen across this blog post because you're considering me for a job position, and if you think that I'm being abusive and unreasonable here, well, that might be a hint that I don't want to work at your company.
Just a thought.


text:
I recently wrote an article on Examiner.com about how professional journalists continue to pronounce Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak's name wrong. (It's Kup-CHAK, not Kup-CHEK). That's pretty pathetic. Anyway, Kupchak has 10 NBA championship rings – seven with the Lakers as an executive, two as a player, and one as a player for the Washington Bullets in 1978. Kupchak was an All-America at North Carolina, ACC Player of the Year, started on the 1976 U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal, and played a key role as a member of the '78 Bullets and '85 Lakers championship teams. Jerry West put together most of the Lakers' title teams, but Kupchak deserves credit for at least the two most recent ones. Anyway, if Kupchak led the Knicks to a title rather than the Bullets, everyone would pronounce his name right.
It's too bad how we always forget the past. Now I'm getting a little off topic, but Charles Barkley always mentions himself, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, and Dennis Rodman as the best power forwards ever, and he never mentions Elvin Hayes, as if basketball wasn't played before Barkley's era.
Never forget the Washington Bullets, the 1978 NBA champions.
Click here to read my article on Mitch Kupchak on Examiner.com.
Tags: general manager, L.A. Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Washington Bullets


text:
Canadian Developer Announces Luxury Development in Kohala
The Residences at Laulea to start construction in 2015.
Many people dream of retiring to Hawaii Island. This new luxury development on the Kohala Coast offers to make that a reality for 17 new owners.
Rendering: Courtesy of The Luxus Group
A study by Sotheby's International Realty says that there was a 23 percent increase in home sales on Hawaii Island in 2013, compared to 2012. Inventory is tight all over the state, so Canadian businessman Stephen Petasky's plans to transform a 5.5-acre lot at the Mauna Lani Resort into a luxury residential community may be welcome welcome news to folks on the market.
At a recent press conference, Petasky said the previous owner "graciously" agreed to sell the property to him four months ago. Records from the county Real Property Tax Office indicate the sale was $5.3 million.
The Residences of Laulea will have 17 units:
The units will be 2,700- to 3,000-sq. ft.
Six detached homes – all four bedroom
Four paired homes (eight units) – all four bedroom
One triplex (three units) – all three bedroom
Each unit has its own pool and spa
Each gets resort services and amenities
Price range from $2 million to $4 million
The project is expected to break ground at the end of this year or in early 2015, depending on permits, at which time interested buyers can reserve their homes. The homes are scheduled to be ready by 2016, and the entire project completed by 2017.
For more information about this new residential community, visit laulea.ca.


text:
We are now offering a new wireless network in addition to midd_secure, midd_unplugged, and Midd-standard. The new network is called eduroam. If you've never heard of it, see https://www.eduroam.org/ for more information.
Eduroam has become very popular at Colleges and Universities in Europe as a way for faculty, staff and students to be able to access the Internet wirelessly while visiting other participating institutions. It is now starting to take hold in the US as well. By becoming a participating member of Eduroam, we can offer wireless Internet access in a secure and reliable manner to Eduroam-participating school members without having to have them register ahead of time. And our faculty, staff and students will have wireless Internet access while visiting at other participating institutions.
You will know you are at a participating institution if you see a network called 'eduroam' listed. To use eduroam when traveling, you will need to enter your full "firstname.lastname@example.com" and password. See https://confluence.terena.org/display/H2eduroam/endusers for documentation on configuring eduroam on your device.
While you are here on campus, there would be no reason for Middlebury folks to use the eduroam network. While it will work for you, it is designed for guests and will not give you the access or speed that you enjoy using midd_secure.


text:
NEW YORK >> Nicki Minaj sings about "Starships," but is she a star-maker? The singer-rapper could be joining the ranks of "American Idol" judges.
A person close to Minaj said Monday the 29-year-old entertainer has been in talks to judge the Fox TV competition and that a deal is in the works. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that person was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
The Fox network said it had no comment.
If Minaj signs on, she would join Mariah Carey as a new judge on "Idol," which returns in January. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez announced their exits from the show last month.
Minaj — known for her colorful hairstyles, wardrobe and antics — is best known for hits like "Super Bass," "Starships" and "Turn Me On" with David Guetta.


text:
Alan Nuttall
Original artwork, "Say Cheese" by Alan Nuttall. Image size 8 x 7".
We respectfully acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis peoples. As treaty People, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, we share the responsibility for stewardship of this beautiful land.
Website by
Hours of Operation:Tuesday–Saturday: 10 am–5 pmThursdays: 10 am–8 pm
Admission is free, donations welcome
780-460-4310 | firstname.lastname@example.com
Closing at 5pm
Closing at 1pm
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday–Saturday: 10 am–5 pm
780-459-1528 | email@example.com
St. Albert's Historic River Lots + Grain Elevators are open seasonally from Victoria Day to Labour Day. Outside of operation hours, and for group bookings, please contact the Musée Héritage Museum.
The sites are currently closed for the season. We will reopen to the public Victoria Day Weekend 2023.
780-459-1528 | firstname.lastname@example.com
Please call ahead to book your visit.
Studio art programs take place at the Visual Art Studios. Visit the learn tab to book.
The site is currently closed for the season. We will reopen to the public Victoria Day Weekend 2023.


text:
From the Silvermine Guild Arts Center website:
SPECTRA '10: National Photography Triennial
Click here to download a prospectus.
Juror: Brian Paul Clamp, owner, ClampArt, Chelsea, NY
Brian Paul Clamp is the owner and director of ClampArt, a gallery in Chelsea in New York City specializing in modern and contemporary art with an emphasis on photography. ClampArt mounts ten to fifteen exhibitions per year featuring the work of emerging and mid-career artists. Mr. Clamp opened the gallery in 2000 after completing a Master of Arts degree in Critical Studies in Modern Art at Columbia University. For eight years prior to that Mr. Clamp served as the director of a gallery on Manhattan's Upper East Side specializing in late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings. Aside from exhibitions at his own gallery space, Clamp has curated numerous photography shows at various venues throughout the United States, and has reviewed photographers' portfolios on dozens of panels over the past several years. Mr. Clamp is the author of numerous publications on American art to date, and also occasionally contributes written work to various art periodicals.
Eligibility: All original photography, completed since January 2007, is eligible. Residents of the United States only. Maximum print size must not exceed 165 inches in length or width. CD-ROMs and DVDs will be accepted. No slides.
ENTRY DEADLINE: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
All entries received after that date will not be eligible.
Silvermine is a learning community on four scenic acres in New Canaan, Connecticut. We are dedicated to creativity and growth through the making and understanding of the visual arts. Silvermine Guild Arts Center promotes artistic experimentation and growth through the Guild of Artists; courses and workshops in ceramics, sculpture, photography, new media, painting, drawing, jewelry and more. Our classes, lectures, gallery and community outreach offer a full spectrum of opportunities to creative individuals of all levels and ages. The facilities feature fully equipped art studios and galleries. Silvermine Guild Arts Center's programs and activities draw 15,000 artists and patrons annually to this historic section of Fairfield County dedicated to the fine arts.


text:
Dec 30, 2013
Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées has clinched the much coveted World's Leading Serviced Apartments 2013 title by World Travel Awards, the largest and most prestigious award in the travel industry.
Lauded as the "travel Oscars" for its ultimate hallmark of quality, the World Travel Awards recognises the best hospitality brands that exemplify commitment to excellence in products and services, as voted by travel and tourism professionals worldwide.
"Having once been the favourite hotel of musical luminaries Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Marlene Dietrich, it was very much our intention to restore this magnificent property back to its former glory when we took it over in 2006, as our first Frasers serviced residence in Paris," said Mr Guus Bakker, Chief Operating Officer for Europe and Middle East, Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd said. "Receiving the World's Leading Serviced Apartments 2013 title for delivering the Fraser Difference Gold Standard service excellence is a great honour for us, as it is global recognition of our success in continuing Le Claridge's distinctive legacy."
Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées is a magnificent Gold Standard serviced residence with Parisian rooftops, a tranquil courtyard and sweeping views over classic façades on Champs-Elysées. Housed in a 1914 heritage building, it is located in Central Paris with easy access to the city's iconic attractions such as Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier and Grand Palais. Ideal for business and leisure travellers, it is only steps away from Paris' famed Triangle d'Or, where a wonderful array of designer shops and luxury stores are situated, and is within easy reach of the business district of La Défense, the CNIT convention centre and Porte Maillot Palais des Congrés.
The recently refurbished serviced residence features 110 suites that range from executive suites to three-bedroom apartments, each showcasing classic yet contemporary French interiors that reflect the essence of its prestigious neighbourhood. Drawing inspiration from Haussmann style buildings, Parisian mansions and high-end fashion labels such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermés and Yves Saint Laurent, Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées features silk curtains, plush Louis XVI style chairs, leather upholstery, full-length floor mirrors, Kartell lighting, Porcelanosa-tiled bathrooms with rain showers and L'Occitane amenities, which are artfully combined with the latest technology and top quality facilities.
Fully equipped to provide residents the option to self-cater, each suite has separate living, dining and bedroom areas featuring Simmons beds for maximum comfort. The kitchens come complete with the latest appliances and residents can enjoy state of the art entertainment system with satellite and video on-demand TV in the comforts of their own "home".
Among the facilities available include a full service business centre, meeting rooms with the latest audio-visual equipment that can accommodate up to 50 people, a fitness suite and the Elysées Café where breakfast is served. As part of its Gold Standard service, Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées provides 24-hour reception and security, concierge, daily housekeeping, room service, taxi and chauffeur, laundry and dry cleaning services.
High-speed Internet access is available complimentary to residents at all Frasers properties worldwide.
Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd's current portfolio, including those in the pipeline, stands at 86 properties in 45 key gateway cities, and more than 15,000 apartments worldwide.


text:
US AG meets with Caribbean leaders in Haiti
February 19, 2013
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder discussed regional crime with Caribbean leaders on Monday during a summit in Haiti.
Holder talked with the leaders of mostly English-speaking Caribbean countries about crime problems, efforts to curb weapons and drug trafficking and a need to alert countries in the region about imminent deportations at the conference of the Caribbean Community, known as Caricom, held at a hotel in the Haitian capital.
Hundreds of thousands of people from Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and other nations have been deported to homelands they barely know since the U.S. Congress mandated in 1996 that every non-citizen sentenced to a year or more in prison be booted from the country upon release.
"With regard to deportees, I think what we need to do is make sure that we give as much notice as we possibly can before people are to be released and deported from the United States," Holder told reporters. "As we increase the more general capacity, law enforcement capacity, security capacity of the nations of Caricom, they will be in a much better position to deal with these deportees from the United States."
Holder also met privately with Haiti's President Michel Martelly, who assumed the chair of the Caricom group in January and will hold the title for six months.
It's the first time Haiti has hosted a Caricom conference. The gathering ends Tuesday afternoon.
Holder flew Monday afternoon to Thomas, Virgin Islands, where he is to meet with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
—Associated Press


text:
Good riddance 2017
One of my friend's houses who got hit hard
2017 felt like a non stop cycle of bad news: Mass shootings in the US, bombings in the the UK, crazy wild fires, and of course hurricanes. Hurricane Harvey but particularly close to home both literally and figuratively since Htown is my hometown. Luckily most of my friends and family came out unscathed with only a few friends of mine having any flood damage. A lot of families are still displaced in Houston because their houses are uninhabitable and there just aren't enough workers to go around to rebuild. In addition, FEMA didn't come through for everyone so rebuilding will have to wait until enough money is saved. Keep in mind Houston might have gotten all the press coverage but cities up and down the entire middle Gulf Coast got hammered especially Port Aransas and Rockport. You can donate here if you have some spare change.
As grim as late August and early September were for us, the Houston Astros uplifted everyone's spirits in Houston and really all of Texas (except maybe Texas Ranger fans). Fifty five years of existence, one World Series appearance in 2005 and the Astros win the World Series in seven games the year that Hurricane Harvey decided to take a dump on Houston ? And the final score was 5-1 (Harvey dropped 51 inches of rain on Houston). You can't write a better movie ending people. Still, there is lots of work to be done in Houston but at least we can call ourselves World Series Champions.
The Best Things I Purchased This Year
'47 Brand knocked it out of the park. I bought every shirt in this pic from Academy which is a smallish sporting goods store here in the south. Not only are they official Astros sponsors, but they stood by Houstonians and Texans during Harvey by opening up theirs stores for First Responders. Whataburger and will always have me as customers while Mattress Mack and JJ Watt will always have me as a fan because they just stepped up to the plate when we needed them most. There were so many unsung everyday non celebrity heroes during Harvey that they all deserve a serious round of applause.
Capsule X Staple Minimalist Wallet
I got tired of having the same LV wallet that all my friends had and I liked the fact that I could show some sneakhead fandom while not looking over the top. Great leather, a beautiful smart and simple design for $75 bucks. If you don't know who Jeff Staple is you can't call yourself a sneakerhead.
Of course in typical sneaker fashion, these are all sold out but Capsule still has a lot of cool options: Capsule Wallets
Titleist 917D3 9.5 degrees, Graphite Design BB 6X.
My first new driver in five years. Not highly talked about but longer, straighter and more forgiving for me than the highly touted TaylorMade M1 or Callaway Epic. Just picked it up and smacked it straight out of the box. Also I went back to the ProV1 and I'm back to being an elevator..getting up and down from everywhere. I love you Titleist.
I'm Training Rip Cones
You've probably seen these cones on any training video and I finally pulled the trigger this past month. I'm thrilled with the results so far because these dumb little cones get you to get down low and be explosive. Standing erect is great for posture but not during hoops. I'll be writing a full review soon. I used soda bottles prior and they work just as well for most cone based exercises but are free versus $10 a piece
Two Tickets to Paradise Kids Free
A much needed break for me and the wife
Too many Loco Mocos in Maui, I'm pretty sure I had about one per day. Hawaii is my spirit state, I just love the vibe. If I lived there I would probably never hoop because the ocean calls my name. I am Moana of Te'fiti.
Anyways, onto the 2017 rankings and awards
My Favorite Off Court Shoes
Nike Free Flyknit
The last pair of Nike Frees I bought lasted ten years but I don't run so that's why they lasted so long. One rule of thumb with Nike Free's that I follow is to never buy at retail. Got these for $65 or so. The design doesn't change much year to year so there really is no reason to buy them right away. Just a comfortable lightweight sock.
New Balance CruzI really like the design and colors of this pair. Like the Free, I didn't buy them until a few months after the release date and got them for $47. Nice cushioning, fit and very comfortable out of the box. I've always liked NB stuff because they are typically made well and last. My last pairs were 802's or something like that and they lasted seven years through constant abuse.
Most Beautiful
Simplicity sells simple as that. All the mumbo jump tech speak doesn't matter if the average consumer thinks it's ugly.
Most improved
Soldier XI:
Nike improved everything from the X and the XI is solid across the board. No where to really go but up from last year's model.
Best traction
Most Comfortable cushioning
No surprises here
Best Blended Cushioning
WTF is blended cushioning ? It's my definition for a nice combo of comfort and responsiveness. Basically, firmer yet still comfortable cushioning.
I had the Curry 4 in here but I had to knock the Curry 4 down a notch because it is too "one size fits only one". If you don't fit your normal size you have to adjust to it not the other way around.
What's this category? Only a few shoes offer some additional support nowadays.
All the usual suspects
Best Lowish Top Shoe
Since Nike is calling lows mids now so I decided to make the category count anything I felt constituted a lower cut. I'm not really low type of guy but all of these worked great for me.
Best Lowish Cut
Best Performing Signature Shoe
I had a hard time trying to decide where to put the NXT and the XXXI Low, so I went with the one I thought performed better due to traction. I threw the Dame 4, Rose 8 and AJ 32 in together at the five spot because they all do some things very well but they also have some glaring weakness. The Rose 8 is probably the most well rounded out of the three though.
Best Budget Shoe
I wasn't really sure what I should make the cutoff for what counts as budget. $100? But ten bucks more gets me a PG1 but then ten bucks more gets me a Kyrie..but then ten bucks more gets me the Curry 4. Do I include shoes that are under $100 due to sales ? In reality I should do it that way since the purchase price is the actual paid price not the retail price but that just opens a whole new can of worms. I've noticed price cuts and sales have been coming faster and heavier this year so just wait a month or two and everything ends up in the budget category.
In the end I went with $115 but it doesn't matter because the Explosive Bounce wins anyways due to the best on court performanceand the lowest price. Not to mention they are on sale for $70 now on Adidas before any promos. These almost took the top overall spot.
I'd put the Instinct at 3 if it didn't roll up like a ball.
2017 First team (in order of preference)
Pic courtesy of the Score
Nike React Hyperdunk 2017
The React Hyperdunk took my top spot for the year around mid July and hasn't let go. It's always been a jack of all trades and it continued to do that this year as well. Traction really stood out for me and is tied for the best the year with the Explosive Bounce. React foam worked great for me and is a nice balance of springiness, impact protection and responsiveness. Flyknit or mesh, it doesn't matter, the HD 17 flat out performs. Nike is artificially keeping the price of the FK high on their website but you can get them at a discount on Eastbay or Finishline. The mesh versions are all discounted heavily everywhere. A little patience saves a lot of dough my friends.
Adidas Explosive Bounce
I can't get over how generic this shoe looks but damn, it plays great. If it's good enough for average height ultra quick guard Yogi Ferrell and the Process (sometimes) I can assure you it will work for you. It could use some more midfoot support but the balance of excellent traction, cushioning, and stability makes it a favorite of mine for the year even if it isn't sexy or full of latest and greatest tech speak. It just plays like a shoe should. Too bad I can't swap the outsole with the Dame 4..
Kobe AD Mid
Another performer that seemed to go under the radar for some reason. True, the materials aren't the best looking but everything else about it is great. Great traction, fun cushioning, and very stable with a full range of motion. Best of all they are sitting and are being discounted. If The Kobe brand had an official ambassador like Jordan brand, these would spark some more interest…well that and better color blocking. Just say no to monochrome.
Air Jordan XXXI Solid Outsole
Don't buy the translucent outsole because it's just as bad as the mid. I tested out my friend's pair and sure enough it was Yamaguchi time just like the mids. This is the Zoom BB I reborn. If you want some bang for your buck, pick these up now since they are super cheap.
Kobe NXT
If you like drop in insoles, you'll love these. I keep flip flopping between which one I like more between the NXT and AJ XXXI Low. I like the cushioning more on the AJ but the traction is better on the NXT. Oh poor me I can't pick between two shoes to play indoor basketball in. Wtf is wrong with me?
Honorable Mention
I really wish MiAdidas added more speckles. I guess I'll do it myself
I really really love playing in these but not when it counts. I played in four tournaments this year (won two, finals of another and went 0 Fer in the last one…don't drink and ball kids) and you know what I reached for every time it was championship time? The Curry 2 or HD17 just because I trusted the traction that much. If traction were a little better on dusty floors I'd definitely include them in the top 5 but the rest of shoe's greatness can't be ignored. If you play on clean floors or don't need top tier traction, these are for you.
Sorry Dame, always the bridesmaid. Can we still be friends ?
Scroll to the 2:30 mark. Hooper, Rapper and Actor, Golden Globes look out!
Second team (also in order)
Pic courtesy of SI
These are all great options but I just didn't get excited about them for one reason or another.
Rose 8
I know my review wasn't super enthusiastic about the Rose 8 and that's because I have the Rose 7 which is very similar but with better traction. If you want another all around great performer, go for the Rose 8 especially as it gathers dust on the virtual shelf. I haven't seen these in any store, is it just an online exclusive ? Once again, materials might feel cheap but they break in just fine. Another alternative of course is to just buy the Rose 7; just because the calendar year is over doesn't mean you can't buy shoes from last year. Pretty much why I don't like yearly lists. Hmm I might have to write a best of for the past five years.
Nike PG 1: very good at everything, great traction and fit, boring Phylony cushioning, sits a little high. Crazy cheap now.
Dame 4: Technically, it isn't on the first team so I'll just stick it here. Fix the traction for us common folk please Adidas. At least they are under $86 already at Finishline.
Air Jordan XXXII: the 32 does everything well while doing nothing badly although I find it a little clunky and too shoeish. I think a few tweaks to the shoe really would have made this great. Lots of tech specs doesn't always translate into an exceptional shoe and this feels shoe still feels like a shoe after break in.
Crazy Explosive 2017: traction and outsole durability didn't improve and I still feel the forefoot bottoming out. I loved the fit, stiffer upper and the looks though.
Third Team (somewhat in order and more than five but who cares at this point)
Pic courtesy of the Undefeated
Curry 4– Seth Curry parts, Steph Curry name. I could put this on the 2nd team due to its great fit and traction but its very average EVUA cushioning *this description was changed this week* hahah
and sharp lace pressure put it into the 3rd team. It's over precise fit also helped knock it down a notch because if you're not exactly a certain size, you have to adjust to the shoe, not the other way around. I've never had a shoe where half a size matters this much so while it is good for some, it is a lot of adjustments for everyone else. It is sexy though.
Nike Mamba Instinct: Areally good shoe especially for the price. I've seen them around fifty bucks lately and there is ZERO reason to get the 2018 model, the Mamba Rage. It does need more midfoot support since it can roll into a ball but it does everything else well.
Nike Lebron Soldier XI: A jack of all trades. Very good traction but did nothing outstanding for me.
Nike KD X: traction slightly worse than the IX after break in, containment improved slightly still not great, nice materials. Great cushioning just like IX after you break it in. Felt very bottom heavy for me, more so than the IX and I can't figure out why. Sorry I didn't have time to write a review.
Curry 3 Low: my favorite of the Curry 3 line. I really wish the Curry 3 had the Curry 2 traction. Good shoe all around but nothing outstanding and does nothing better than the Curry 2 Mid. Traction isn't nearly as good as the Curry 2.
Curry 3Zero: better fit than the 3, plays better than the 3 Mid due to improved heel fit and less padding. Actually heavier than the Curry 3 despite what the marketing materials say. Same traction as the Curry 3, 3 low and very similar to the Clutchfit Drive 1 set up as well.
Nike Kyrie 4: not the best or worst at anything. Okay traction and decent cushioning. Take the Kyrie name off and nobody would care about this shoe let alone pay $120 for it. Even Kyrie doesn't care for it and he gets paid to wear it.
Adidas Dame 3: lots of lace pressure, a little clunky, very good traction. I found some at the outlet for $29.99 so I can't complain about the price now. Adidas basketball shoe prices fall like bricks and will continue to do so until an Adidas player is holding a championship trophy. No pressure James Harden.
Pic courtesy of ESPN. Corn dogs anyone?
Adidas Ball 365: even though it was released last year I'm counting it for this year. The Ball366 was a major disappointment: Painful lace pressure, some heel sli, same materials as the Dame 3, and a Climawarm lining that retailed for $130? Regretted the purchase almost immediately.
LBJ XV: just not for me. Nice cushioning and materials but easily the worst traction of the year and sits way too high off the ground. I'd rather wear the Lebron XIV, KD IX Or X if I wanted cushioning or the Soldier XI for a more complete shoe AND have some extra cash in my pocket.
Nike Lebron XIV: excellent cushioning, sloppy fit, too tippy in the heel for me though. Two Lebron sigs within ten months is one too many. Space it out better Nike!
There are a lot of good shoes out there, probably more than ever so just because it didn't make my list don't think a shoe is garbage. Anything from my First to Third team is more than playable but there are little details that may or may not work for you. If you like how a shoe looks or it's a shoe of your favorite player, just buy it, you won't regret it since you already have an emotional attachment to the shoe. It's okay to be shallow when it comes to shoes just don't be that way with people. #proverb42018
I try my best to give an honest assessment of every shoe that I buy so if I miss something or I'm not in tune with another review, don't have tunnel ears, do your research and look on Niketalk or use YouTube/Google to help you decide. And if you still don't have answer you like, go buy a pair yourself to decide if the shoe is right for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions, I'm always happy to answer questions because I will inevitably miss something. Always speak up and ask questions..hey another proverb to live by.
Bring on 2018!
Oh btw, I was so busy this year that I didn't even get to talk about NCAA shoe gate and how dirty sneaker companies but I hope to get around to it this year. Happy 2018 everyone!
So relatable with the LV wallet; seems to be part of the uniform for asian bros around the country
How often do yall scrub down the outsoles of your shoes? Is it a good idea or bad? I usually never do but I decided to do a deep clean on a pair of my shoes which left the traction feeling amazing the next time i played. For 15 min.. afterwards the extra grippiness seemed to pick up even more dirt than when it was mildly dirty already. Wondering if leaving it be and just hand wiping is the way to go
Hahah the black epi leather LV wallet? Lol
I use dawn periodically but usually I don't take my shoes outdoors at all. I don't think it affects the traction but that's just my personal experience
Really nice write up Schwollo, especially the beginning and the ending of the article.
Can't wait to see what 2018 brings – hopefully only good things (with the real world and sneaker world)
Congrats on a successful 2017
Thanks Don! Hope 2018 is great in Canada as well!
Hey schwollo! This might be a bit confusing, but, out of all the nike shoes you've ever played in, which one offers the best combination of traction, fit, and containment?
Look at my top ten pinned on the menu. I don't really sub in newer shoes unless they are better. Kobe IV is still in my rotation bc of all those attributes.
Thanks! Great reviews btw 🙂
Thanks !
One hell of a mixtape this one heheh. Well done schwollo!
Just got a pair of FK Hyperdunk 17's this past weekend for $57 from a Nike clearance store. Thought I was done buying shoes for a while after getting the Kobe ADM's but couldn't turn down these performance beasts at this price. Still looking for a some Explosive Bounce's at a discounted price and that's it I swear…lol
Damn that's cheap! Don't worry nobody is buying the explosive Bounce so they will hit outlets for super cheap.
i wouldn't mind a pair in size 11! Anyone wanna help me out a brother?
Nice piece, Schwollo. Seems like 2017 was really eventful for you. Hope 2018 brings you and your family better things. Keep up the good reviews and thanks again for all your help, I'm sure your readers appreciate them a ton!
P.S. I also think it'd be nice to hear your opinion on things not shoe-related like the NCAA scandal, just so we get to discuss things like that on here as well.
Thanks Tazzari! I hope 2018'treats you well as well
why do you prefer kobe mid over xxx1 low?
Traction is a little better. I had a hard time deciding between the two and I just saw I wrote the opposite of what I ranked them (I fixed it, thanks for making me check) I think both are great but for different reasons.
And the award goes to…!!! Happy New Year!
How long before lunarlon on kobe ad mid bottoms out?
Depends how often you play but I'd say 8 -10 months if you played 2-3 times a week . It is thicker than other Kobe's
Thanks for all your work this year! I've tried a few pairs this year (not as many pairs as you, I'm not balling out of control like someone), and my personal top shoe would be the Jordan 32 lows. I would have actually given that to the HD2017 FK, but I think I'm too light to actually activate the foam properly, as I've also seen quite a divide of opinions between react cushioning, and most of the people that don't like react tend to be on the lighter side as well. With that said, the HDs get a very close 2nd on my personal list, though if I absolutely need the best traction, the HDs are definitely the way to go for me. I like the Dame 4s but traction really isn't good enough, which is honestly baffling in this day and age. The curry 3 lows were alright, nothing too exciting, but the seam at the tongue gave me some uncomfortable pressure. Finally, the shoes that I REALLY wanted to like were the PG1s, since they were one of the best looking Nikes in a while, but the fit was just too snug and was killing the side of my feet (the bone that's the widest part of the foot, whatever that's called). When I went to try the Kobe AD NXTs in store, it felt super snug too so I didn't want to repeat the PG1 situation and ended up not getting them, even though I like the zoom/lunar cushioning set up and they have good traction (plus, the asking price was just dumb initially).
Haha I wouldn't call what I do work. Glad you found a pair in 2017 that worked for you ! I agree you can't charge 200 for a Kobe when Jordan is charging less.
Hey Schwollo! What are/were the pros and cons of the jordan superfly 2s?
Didn't buy the 2 so can't say
Best year end write up out there – Bravo!
Thanks bud !
Interesting that the adidas CE 2017 only appear in the fit department and in the second team.
I'm looking for a successor of the D Roe 6, especially when it comes to support and cushion. Do you have any suggestions? The CE17 don't seem to fit my bill apparently.
Forefoot cushioning is firm in CE. Rose 6 is plush from heel to toe. Depends what kind of cushioning you want . Aj 32 is good cushioning but it's firmer than rose 6.
Thanks for the reply. Is there any shoe out there that has the same amount of forefoot cushioning the Rose 6 has, but is as stable as the 6?
Clb16 but it's a low. Rose 7 and 8 if you put a thicker insole is pretty close as well but still a little firmer .
Rose 7 – I have those. Not a super fan. Cushion is okay. Support is acceptable. But on the right ankle, medial side, I feel a strong pinching pain while wearing them. Hm. Maybe it's time to try the DRose 8.
Where is the pinching pain? You might try working that area with your hands to soften it up . Try end extra insole as well.
Hmm, so I actually decided to measure the length of my foot and got 26.5 CM. According to Nike, I'm actually an 8.5 in length then, when i've been buying size 9.5/10's lol. I definitely have wide feet then cause I still had pinching when going a full size up.
My new years resolution for shoes would be to actually get shoes that are my actual size now lol. I actually was skimping out on a good fit by going up so many sizes.
Using a standard is good but it comes down to preference so you have your own standard. Finger width is what's recommended by most doctors and that's what a size Xxx is supposed to give you. Wide footers like ourselves have a whole nothing dimension to worry about. Lol
Oh I see. Yea, I'll probably size it down as good a fit as possible without it being too squishy. Will also go for mostly wide foot friendly shoes.
Ok, so I went to the store today and used their brannock device. heel to toe measurement gave me a 9.5. You ever use it before? I've read online that it's legit. So I'm guessing my true to size is actually then 9.5 then? Which isn't my actual heel to toe length
Haha of course I have. 9.5 is your measured true size which is what most shoe companies go off of. Brannock measures from your heel to toe so I'm not following ?
Hate how I can't respond to the latest comments sometimes on wordpress lol. But in response to your reply down there, yea, I guess 9.5 is my TTS then, which I was right about before.
Oh yea, sorry to confuse, but yes Brannock measures the heel to toe length. What I was trying to say though was that it only shoes the shoe size but doesn't give the CM or inches. What confused me at home though was the conversion charts and even my shoes. So with pencil and paper I measured it out myself, and got around 26.5 CM and 10.5 inches for my heel-toe length. A few conversion charts said that having a 26.5 CM length means that you're a size 8.5 US, which I know by now is wrong. And also my shoes having the CM on it is wrong. On all my nike shoes, it'll have a sticker on the inside which gives the length of the shoe.
So an example would be US:9.5 UK 8.5 EUR 43 CM 27.5 on the sticker. this confused me because I thought I would've had to get a size 8.5 shoe for it to be CM 26.5, but I guess that's not the case lol.
Haha best to try on if possible that's the lesson learned
Btw your TTS is the most convenient lol. 11 inches in heel-toe length = size 11
Oh yup true. Guess TTS is a good guideline, but always best to try them on at the store.
I think in general Nike is true to size sometimes half a size up. Adidas is half a size down sometimes true to size and almost never half a size up. UA is also usually true to size and on occasion half a size up.
I have been a fan of this site for a while because you are a lot more accurate than the Sole Bros. and this article was very well put together. I have been wearing Lebron 13's for over a year and a half, and I think it's time that I get a new shoe. I have been reading almost all your reviews, and I just can't seem to choose one because every shoe has its cons and I don't live near stores where I can try on shoes easily. I am a 5″9 point/shooting guard, and I need a shoe that is pretty good at dealing with mid-range jumpers. Do you have an idea what shoe should I get because I saved up enough money to where the price is no longer an issue? Thus I am open to any shoe in mind. Preferably not the Hyperdunks FK 2017 because I personally didn't enjoy the cushion as others did.
No shoe is going to help you with mid range jumpers you have have to work on that yourself. What's your playing style ? What do you like about the Lebron 13 and what do you wish was better .
No shoe is going to help you with mid-range jumpers you have have to work on that yourself.
(ANSWER) I didn't mean that I need a shoe that will make me score my mid-range jumpers, I meant a shoe that can deal with the jump stop that occurs right before the jumper, so I guess a shoe with traction and impact protection?
What's your playing style?
(ANSWER) Rolling of screens, I generally play point guard/shooting guard for my high school. Offensively, I typically run the offense, create off the dribble, catch and shoot, and drive the lane. Defensively I guard the perimeter and the ball handlers. If I'd compare my playstyle to an NBA player (minus the skill), I'd say DeMar DeRozan, Devin Booker, or Bradley Beal.
What do you like about the Lebron 13 and what do you wish was better?
(ANSWER) I loved the traction, ankle protection, and durability of the Lebron 13. Cons would be heel slippage, challenging to run in them, their laces, and poor ventilation.
Do you still want that high of a cut like the Lebron 13? If you don't like Hyperdunk 17 the AD Mid, NXT is good. Curry 2 (still on ua website) but you might not like the cushioning. Adidas explosive bounce, Rose 7, ClB16 all would be good traction and cushioning wise. PG1 would fit the bill as well but the Pg2 sounds promising with a thicker zoom unit. Pg1 are on sale everywhere now. I'd say dame 4 but traction is iffy. If you're tight on funds, check out Marshall's and ross they have pretty good shoes on occasion. Oh HD16 aj xxxi low would work for you too. Hope that gives you a list to work off of. Check eBay also
Do you think the Rose 7's perform better than the Rose 8's?
Yes superior traction same cushioning. I had no issues with the 7 fit but the 8 might be more forgiving for overall fit
Hey Schwollo,
Did you ever get a chance to try the HD 17 low? I love my FK's, curious whether if there's any differences between the highs and lows. Had some minor heel slippage in the HD 16 lows so hesitant to pull the trigger on this year's version
I've only tried them on in the store and I had no slippage. Sorry couldn't be of more help!
No worries, appreciate it buddy!
Hey Schwollo,
I've looked at all your reviews and need some help with a shoe.
The most important factor is traction and then some cushioning so it's easy on the knees. I play point and do a lot of cutting and stopping.
What would you recommend for traction, comfort? Not sure what other things I should be looking for but those would be my top two. Here are the list of shoes I was considering with traction being high on my list:
Rose 7- hear it has great traction and cushion.
KD9- Traction and zoom bounce.
Kyrie 2- Hear it has amazing traction but not much cushion.
If nothing on this list what do you recommend?
Rose 7 traction and cushioning are great. Some readers of mine have said they couldn't get locked in enough but I had no issues.
Kd9 has great cushioning and good traction not as good as Rose 7 or others on this list. Fit can get sloppy over time containment isn't very good over time either.
Kyrie 2 Cushioning is not really there
I'd also look at the Kobe ADM and Explosive Bounce if you're looking for something from last year. Also peep my top ten list (haven't updated ) but it's big on traction . Curry 2 still a great shoe but a little firmer cushioning than most
Thanks so much for the response. It doesn't have to be last year's shoe but a lot the reviews were mentioning these.
Okay looks like I need to figure out between the KD9 or the Rose 7. Not sure if it matters that I will be wearing ankle braces with these.
Will one be easier on the knees than the other?
I know that the Rose 7 is in your overall top 5. If I'm purchasing the Rose 7 is there a particular stye I should get. Not sure if they are made with different rubber and stuff.
There are SO many shoes out there. Hard to narrow down and find one. Last time I bought a new pair of basketball shoes was back in 2015 so trying to figure out the best option for traction, comfort but yet doesn't slow me down.
If you cut a lot you won't like the kd 9 or 10
Bc foot slides off the footbed bc of the upper. Both are nice on the knees. Ankle brace might be tough to get on a kd9. If you get the Rose 7 get the solid outsole it works better. Primeknit does feel better on foot but during play no difference. If you think of other shoes you're interested in feel free to ask.
Been meaning to thank you for this rundown. Ha, had been checking for it daily around the turn of the new year! Good stuff as always! I like how you rank not only by overall performance but also by specific performance aspect (and props on the helpful Blended Cushion category!).
You were speaking my language with the "just say no to monochrome" line—haha!
Finally scooped XXXI lows when Eastbay had a sale recently (don't understand why they still have the HD17s priced so high… so but still biding my time on them). I warmed up in them on Sunday, and they killed my left foot—same pain as I had with the NXTs. Think it has to do with having them too tight across the widest part of my foot, although I feel the discomfort on the bottom of my foot. Loosened the laces, but still hurt. Switched back to (new pair of) CLB16s, but I've been wearing XXXIs around the house trying to break them in. Gonna give them another shot tonight—fingers crossed.
Anyway, hope you're well, man. Thanks for droppin' knowledge!
Thanks for always reading bud! Hope the 31 works out for you. Monochrome is so boring I don't get it lol
Hey, my pleasure!
Got to play in XXXI low Wednesday evening, and it went much better—wore 'em for entire 1.5-hr. run—so I'm feeling optimistic about them. Left laces little looser than I usually like, and the underfoot discomfort never manifested. Eventually felt some numbness in left forefoot, but suspect that, as I continue to break them in and figure out the best lace tension, that'll subside. And aside from that numbness, they played great!
And speaking of boring monochrome uppers, too bad the only solid outsole options for the XXXI have boring monochrome uppers—hahaha! Oh well.
Hahah at least the lace loops and jump man are colored !!
Mere accents! Haha! I prefer some more substantial interplay. But I'm sure glad they dropped the Swoosh from the mids—that double branding made me cringe!
FYI hd17 flyknit on Nike for 101. Plus Ebates 10%. Kobe adm and Kd X for 70 lol
Schwollo, thanks so much for the advice.
I went in and tried the KD9 and I see how it can be hard to get the ankle brace on. Same with the explosive bounce because of the sock like top. Went to Footlocker and FinishLine. Neither had the Rose 8 to try on but I'm going to pull the trigger on the Rose 7's flyknit.
I tried on the Kyrie 3 and they felt pretty stiff (not much cushion) along with the curry's. Maybe that's just me.
I'm thinking of getting one more shoe so I can rotate. Is there another shoe that you recommend that's light, got a nice bounce to it and decent traction that would work with ankle braces? I think you mentioned in your reviews the weight doesn't matter much. Also read the Rose 7 makes you feel like you're sitting higher off the ground. Is there one that that's give you a feeling you're closer to the ground with bounce or zoom?
Thanks again.
Jordan xxxi low Solid or Kobe adm. Nice bounce pretty good. CLB 16 as well can be had for cheap on eBay but might require an extra eyelet.
What would you recommend for a shoe to someone around 5'9-5'10 160~, play style similar to Westbrook in not a lot of fancy handles and more just driving it home? Been using the CLB but want something with a better fit. For reference tried my friends Dame 4 but the the cushion left my legs pretty hurting the next day; though they werent ultra broken in at that point. The HD2017 looks promising but the cushion worries me for my legs.
Crazy explosive ? Sits a little lower on forefoot still comfortable cushioning. If you didn't like the bounce on Dame 4 you won't like hd17. Westbrook why not might be a good option although I haven't gotten a pair yet. Kobe AD NXT or adm would also be very good options .
I'll look into the crazy explosive then, the ad mid material durability concerned me a little bit because i've seen pairs where the material was already tearing from a few runs. Thank you for the response!
You might try double socking with your CLB or adding the extra eyelet like I did if you haven't already
I have the PK version, which has the laces seemingly a bit farther back than the regular so I wasn't sure where to add the extra eyelet yet.
Was looking into the XXXI since it seems like a well cushioned low, the stability just worries me
Ah with knit it will
Be a little tougher to make and eyelet since it might unravel ..lol
XXXI might feel tippy standing still but during play no issues .
Thanks for the info! I'll take a look at the options, I did quite enjoy the bounce in the Dame 4, my legs just didn't after haha.
Your knees or your legs hurt?
Legs, maybe knees to a lesser extent but it was more the quads and calves
Nice article! How did the Nike Free Flyknit and the NB Cruz last till now?
They've held up great but they are just casual/gym shoes
Yea I'm looking for a casual shoe to wear every day, so I would need lots cushioning (or a decent one that won't make my feet hurt after a whole day of walking ), comfortable upper, not expensive and last. I was waiting for the eqt 93/17s, zoom all outs for a while now and they don't seem to drop (I'm in Canada lol, not even in big cities like Toronto…), and I don't want to pay retail… never… prices are going crazy now.
Yea the NB fresh foam is decent. Has a nice spring to it but feels kind of dense. Adidas looks wise has lost my interest entirely everything looks the same or way too out there for me lol
Yea I tried on the NB in store, the heel feels thick, but the forefoot seems thin tho
I didn't find it too thin but there is some heel toe drop


text:
TORONTO – The Toronto stock market racked up a solid gain Friday at the end of a positive week amid strong jobs data and relief that the U.S. economy avoided a combination of government spending cuts and tax increases that came to be known as the "fiscal cliff."
The S&P/TSX composite index advanced 70.37 points higher to 12,540.81 as Statistics Canada reported the economy created 40,000 jobs last month. Economists thought that only about 5,000 positions would be turned out in December after job creation surged by 59,000 in November.
Canada's unemployment rate edged down to a four-year low of 7.1 per cent from 7.2 per cent in November and 7.4 per cent in October.
The Canadian dollar came back from early declines to move up 0.1 of a cent to 101.31 cents US.
The TSX Venture Exchange was ahead 2.05 points to 1,228.22.
New York indexes ran ahead as the U.S. economy cranked out 155,000 positions. That was in line with heightened expectations after payroll firm ADP reported Thursday that the U.S. private sector cranked out 215,000 jobs last month.
The Dow Jones industrials rose 43.85 points to 13,435.21, the Nasdaq inched up 1.09 points to 3,101.66 while the S&P 500 index closed at a five-year high, up 7.1 points to 1,466.47.
Indexes ended the first week of 2013 trading with solid gains after U.S. lawmakers reached an 11th hour deal to avert big tax hikes and spending cuts that were due to kick in at the start of the year.
The TSX gained 1.82 per cent this past week while the Dow Jones industrials ran ahead 3.84 per cent.
Traders also looked ahead to the start of the fourth-quarter earnings season in the U.S. next week with resource giant Alcoa Inc. reporting after the close on Tuesday.
The information technology sector led TSX advancers, up 1.38 per cent with Research In Motion Ltd. (TSX:RIM) ahead 50 cents to $11.85.
The energy sector also helped support the TSX, up 1.07 per cent as the February crude contract on the Nymex came well off session lows, closing up 17 cents to US$93.09 a barrel. Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) improved by 61 cents to C$30.15 while Imperial Oil (TSX:IMO) was up 62 cents to $43.05.
March copper fell two cents to US$3.69 a pound and the metals and mining sector was up 0.74 per cent. Thompson Creek Metals (TSX:TCM) jumped 20 cents to $4.27 and Taseko Mines (TSX:TKO) climbed 12 cents to $3.19.
Financials were also positive as Sun Life Financial (TSX:SLF) gained 13 cents to $27.14 while Royal Bank (TSX:RY) advanced 37 cents to $61.07.
The gold sector finished up about 0.25 per cent after spending most of the session in the red amid speculation over just how long the U.S. Federal Reserve will continue with its economic stimulus program that involves the purchase of bonds to keep interest rates ultra low.
The minutes of the latest Fed policy meeting released on Thursday showed a split over how long to continue the purchases amid concerns that the continued bond purchases, known as quantitative easing, would destabilize the economy.
The Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program has involved printing more dollars to buy up bonds. The program has been supportive of gold prices since bullion looked attractive as an inflation hedge.
"Basically, the Fed came out and tested the waters with the concept of perhaps the economy is improving at a sufficient enough pace that we can start to remove some of the stimulus," said Phillip Petursson, director of institutional equities at Manulife Asset Management.
"And with gold being the beneficiary of QE, basically you're printing money and driving inflation higher and therefore gold should move higher — you take that away and all of a sudden there's a much less reason to want to own gold."
The February bullion contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange came off the worst levels of the morning after the U.S. jobs report but was still down $25.70 at US$1,648.90 an ounce.
Gabriel Resources (TSX:GBU) rose five cents to C$2.37.
In corporate news, Lululemon Athletica Inc. shares fell 4.55 per cent to $70.88 after Credit Suisse downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform citing a likely slowdown in comparative sales momentum and the risk of further merchandise margin pressure.
Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) says it will spend $400 million to expand the capacity of its pipeline system between Hardisty, Alta., and the U.S. border. Enbridge says the project involves increasing pumping horsepower and that no new line pipe construction is involved. It expects to increase capacity by 230,000 barrels a day when the upgrade comes on line in 2015. Enbridge shares gained 14 cents to $43.16.


text:
For more information on our recent data notice, please click here
Neutrophils' role is a surprise – and a potential new target for treating diabetes
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say neutrophils, an abundant type of white blood cell typically tasked with attacking bacteria and other foreign invaders, also plays an unexpected role in mediating insulin resistance – the central characteristic of type 2 diabetes, which afflicts an estimated 26 million Americans.
The findings are published in the August 5, 2012 Advance Online Publication of Nature Medicine.
A false-colored, scanning electron micrograph of a neutrophil.
Using liver and fat cells from mice and humans and live mouse models, a team led by Jerrold M. Olefsky, MD, associate dean for scientific affairs at UC San Diego Health Sciences and professor of medicine, discovered that an enzyme secreted by neutrophils called neutrophil elastase (NE) impairs insulin signaling and boosts resistance. Conversely, deletion of NE in obese mice fed a high-fat diet improved insulin sensitivity.
"These results are largely unexpected," said Da Young Oh, an assistant project scientist in Olefsky's lab and study co-author. "Although several immune cells have been established in the etiology of insulin resistance, the role of neutrophils in this process has remained unclear until now."
Oh said neutrophils were considered to be "transient infiltrates," temporary cells (average lifespan: 5 days) that were incapable of sustaining chronic, low-grade inflammation. "Our studies now suggest neutrophils possess powerful immune modulatory effects," Oh said.
Specifically, neutrophils use NE to activate a signaling pathway which triggers pathogen-eating macrophages to secrete proinflammatory molecules called cytokines. NE degrades IRS1, a key protein in the insulin signaling pathway in both liver and fat cells. Although NE has been shown to degrade this protein in lung cancer cells, the scientists said, the effect on insulin target tissues such as liver and adipose is striking.
The insulin-mediating role of neutrophils makes them a new target for developing treatments of insulin resistance in particular and diabetes in general. "Given that NE mediates insulin resistance, one could, in theory, take an NE activity inhibitory approach to reverse or improve insulin resistance," Oh said, noting that NE inhibitors are already used for treatment of emphysema in Japan and are being tested in the United States, both for emphysema and type 1 diabetes.
Co-authors are Saswata Talukdar, Gautan Bandyopadhyay, Jianfeng Xu, Joanne McNelis, Min Lu, Pingping Li, Jachelle Ofrecio and Michael Lin, Department of Medicine, UCSD; Dongmei Li, Qingyun Yan, Yimin Zhu and Martin B. Brenner, Pfizer.
Funding for this research came, in part, from the National Institutes of Health (grants DK033651, DK074868, T32 DK007494, DK090962, and DK063491) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD/NIH agreement (U54 HD 012303-25), part of the specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility Research.
# # #
Media Contact: Scott LaFee, 6190543-6163, firstname.lastname@example.com
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases