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At this time last year Jordan Spieth was ranked 220th in the world.
He had played in a handful of PGA Tour events since turning pro in 2012, missing the cut four times. His best finish was second place at the not-exactly-marquee Puerto Rico Open.
Twelve months later, the 20-year-old from Texas is ranked 13th in the world.
Heading into Sunday at Augusta, he's tied for the lead at 5-under, and he's 18 holes away from becoming the youngest man to ever win the Masters.
Spieth's rise has yet to resonate in the mainstream sports world. But just look at what he has done in the last 12 months:
- 11 top-10 finishes
- Won the John Deere Classic, becoming the youngest PGA Tour winner in 82 years
- Finished 10th on the 2013 PGA Tour money list with $3.9 million in winnings
Here's a week-by-week chart of his world ranking in the last 12 months, from 220th to 13th:
Spieth has always been considered a phenom. He won the U.S. Junior Amateur twice. Tiger Woods is the only other guy to ever do that.
You simply don't see 20-year-olds playing as well as Spieth has played in the last year.
It's not like he burst onto the scene with one exceptional performance. He doesn't drive the ball 350 yards (in fact, he's one of the shorter hitters on tour), and he doesn't gamble on highlight-reel shots like Bubba Watson.
His rise has been built on consistency and a week-in, week-out steadiness that young players never have.
A Sports Illustrated profile by Alan Shipnuck last December painted him as an old soul:
"Spieth is inherently conservative ('the world's oldest 20-year-old,' in the words of his trainer, Damon Goddard). He finished 10th on the Tour money list—$3.9 million in just 23 starts—and along the way added lucrative deals with Titleist and Rolex, but so far his only splurge has been Dallas Cowboys season tickets. He dates his high school sweetheart, Annie Verret, a sophomore at Texas Tech and rolls in a 2008 Yukon with 110,000 miles on the odometer. Equipment companies threw money at him when he turned pro, but he waited until September to commit to Titleist because he didn't want to be tinkering with new sticks while he was chasing his Tour card. 'I don't really like change,' he says."
His rise has flown under the radar. That won't be the case if he wins on golf's biggest stage Sunday.


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Stonington included in suit over photos linked to Haberek
Stonington - A Pawcatuck woman who formally sued First Selectman Ed Haberek this week for allegedly sending her "sexually graphic photos of himself" on his town-issued Blackberry, says she also has sued the town, in part because it has interfered with her legal effort to obtain evidence from the town's cellphone provider.
Tracy Swain, who had notified the town of her intent to sue last week, states in the lawsuit that the town has opposed her effort to lawfully obtain evidence when it has no legal standing to do so.
In court documents, her attorney, Scott Camassar has argued "the wrongs perpetuated by Mr. Haberek in sending photos to the plaintiff constitute a private civil matter between him and the plaintiff."
Over the past month, town labor attorney Michael Satti has filed several motions in the case - called Swain vs. Cellco Partnership - seeking to prevent the disclosure of the phone records and stopping Haberek's deposition.
The suit states that the town assumed liability for Haberek's actions when it appeared in the Swain vs. Cellco action and declared or implied Haberek was an agent of the town at the time of the incident.
The Day filed a freedom of information request with the town Tuesday seeking copies of the legal bills it has incurred so far in the case. As of Thursday, the town had not provided those bills.
In July, Camassar informed Haberek of Swain's claim and three months ago filed a bill of discovery in New London Superior Court seeking to obtain evidence of Haberek's conduct from Verizon Wireless.
The suit also charges Haberek engaged in conduct that he should have known would cause emotional distress and physical injury to Swain, who continues to suffer from migraine headaches.
The suit further charges the town allowed Haberek to contact Swain inappropriately and let him transmit a graphic photos of himself using town equipment and a phone number assigned to the town.
It also alleges the town failed to monitor Haberek's communications with Swain and failed to have a policy or enforce a policy regarding proper use of town equipment and electronic communications. The suit seeks monetary damages.
Haberek has said he cannot comment on the issue because it involves litigation against the town. But he said he reserves the right to take his own legal action against Swain in the future.
Two years ago, Swain had complained about the alleged incident to state police, who investigated and determined no crime had been committed.
During that probe, state police seized Haberek's town-issued BlackBerry and computer and obtained a search warrant for hundreds of pages of his Facebook messages and postings.
The Day requested access to that information, but state police refused to release it. The Day appealed, but the state Freedom of Information Commission ruled that state police did not have to release the information because the investigation involved uncorroborated allegations as well as a signed witness statement and records that, if disclosed, would constitute an invasion of personal privacy. State police also have refused to release to Swain the contents of their investigation.
The suit states that prior to Jan. 12, 2010, Haberek had extensive telephone, email, text message and Facebook communication with Swain. When Swain told him on that date to stop sending the messages, he allegedly sent her the lewd photos.
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subset: commoncrawl


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$2,338 1 bed S. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL, 60605
$2,338 1 bed
S. Michigan Ave., South Loop, Chicago, 60605
Commute to Downtown Chicago
1 bed
S. Michigan Ave. is a four minute walk from the Red Line at the Roosevelt (Subway) stop.
This apartment is in the South Loop neighborhood in Chicago. Nearby parks include South Loop Elementary School, Park 479 and Dearborn Park.
S. Michigan Ave. has a Walk Score of 94 out of 100. This location is a Walker's Paradise so daily errands do not require a car.
Summers by the pool, winters in the game room, and so many options in between. Youll never get bored in this luxury high rise... List ID: 212833454 | RealRentals.com
Pets allowed:
Owner/manager tools | Report bad listing | From RealRentals.com
South Loop, Chicago, 60605
Daily errands do not require a car.
World-class public transportation.
Daily errands can be accomplished on a bike.
Explore how far you can travel by car, bus, bike and foot from S. Michigan Ave..
S. Michigan Ave. is a Rider's Paradise which means world-class public transportation. Car sharing is available from Zipcar, RelayRides, I-GO and Getaround.
Rail lines:
Red Line
0.1 mi
Green Line
0.1 mi
Orange Line
0.1 mi
ME Metra Electric
0.4 mi
Blue Line
0.7 mi
Brown Line
0.8 mi
Pink Line
0.8 mi
Purple Line
0.8 mi
RI Rock Island
0.8 mi
Bus lines:
29 State
0.0 mi
62 Archer
0.0 mi
146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express
0.1 mi
12 Roosevelt
0.1 mi
192 University of Chicago Hosp. Exp.
0.1 mi
18 16th-18th
0.1 mi
924 Harvey TC Chicago Express
0.1 mi
925 Blue Island PNR Chicago Express
0.1 mi
3 King Drive
0.1 mi
1 Bronzeville/Union Station
0.1 mi
S. Michigan Ave. compared to all of Chicago.
Lower crime area.
Lower crime area.
How do you feel walking near S. Michigan Ave.?
Thanks for your feedback!
View all South Loop apartments on a map.
Search for homes in Chicago or find a Chicago real estate agent who knows walkable neighborhoods. Links will open on our partner site Redfin.com.
S. Michigan Ave. is in the South Loop neighborhood. South Loop is the 11th most walkable neighborhood in Chicago with a neighborhood Walk Score of 92.
Moving to Chicago from another city? View our moving to Chicago guide.


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Commuter Mat – Breathe
Premium Eco-friendly Mat/Towel
Lighter than our traditional Combo Mat and highly foldable, this mat/towel was designed to be the ultimate on-the-go yogi companion. Reduce slipping, injuries and you no longer need to bring a mat AND towel to class anymore. All-in-one product. Machine washable.
Luxurious and absorbent sueded microfiber (made of recycled plastic bottles!) bonded to a natural tree rubber base gives you the sweaty grip of a towel and the cushion of a yoga mat.
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- 70in x 24in x 1.5mm
- 2.9lb
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$1 from every purchase goes to support Urban Youth Yoga Programs in need.
See the Commuter Mat in action! Click play below:


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|Location information
Third floor, Gunhilda of Gorsemoor Corridor, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland, Great Britain
The storeroom is a circular room hidden behind a tapestry on the Gunhilda of Gorsemoor Corridor. It is perfectly round, and contains various objects, including cauldrons, books, potions, and a chest containing a Babayaga Famous Witch and Wizard Card. Being not far from Classroom 3C, where Defence Against the Dark Arts is taught, it may be used to store things by the D.A.D.A. professor, along with the Defence Against Dark Art's Store Room.
After Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger were stuck on the third floor at night, when Professor Severus Snape was patrolling, Hermione used Draconifors, which she learned from one of Professor Binns's books, on the tapestry, revealing the storeroom entrance. They passed through the room and onto the balcony.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (First appearance)
Armoury · Charms Corridor · Class 34 · Classroom 2E · Classroom 3C · Clock Tower Entrance · Gunhilda of Gorsemoor Corridor · Hesperius Hall · Jinx Rooms · Library · One-Eyed Witch Passage · Storeroom · Third Floor Corridor · Trophy Room · Turret Stairwell · Vastus Vestibule
Basil Fronsac · Brutus Scrimgeour · Damara Dodderidge · Drunk Monks · Google Flange · Gunhilda of Gorsemoor · Helena Ravenclaw · Merwyn the Malicious · Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington · Shepherdess · Temeritus Shanks · Valeria Myriadd · Witch in green · Witch in Pompadour hairstyle · Wizard in black · Wizard in red


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Xerox® Easy Translator Service
Xerox® Easy Translator Service is a comprehensive suite of cloud translation services that is ideal for mid-sized business that have the need to translate documents. Choose from an Express or a Professional translation.
Xerox® Easy Translator Service is owned and operated by ABBYY USA Software House, Inc. and its suppliers. ABBYY USA Software House, Inc. is a Xerox® Trademark Licensee. Xerox® is a trademark of the Xerox Corporation, used under license.
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Handcrafted Heart-Shaped Bone Pendant Necklace from Bali, "Untouched Heart"
Coming Back!
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Read more
Pre-Order Now!
This item is available for pre-order and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Read more
A timeless heart is hand-carved of bone, elaborated with fantastic swirling tendrils. This amazing pendant centers an adjustable length of leather cord for a lovely pendant necklace, designed by Balinese artisan Made Wardika.
- 4 grams
- 0.14 oz
- Cord length: 36 cm min L - x 75 cm max L
- Cord length: 14.25" min L - x 29.5" max L
- Cord width: 2 mm
- Cord width: 2 mm
- Pendant: 4.7 cm H x 2.4 cm W x 0.5 cm D
- Pendant: 1.9" H x 0.9" W x 0.2" D
Gift Info
- Email this item in advance of a gift.
- Email this item as a gift suggestion.
- Free Jewelry Packaging? Yes
- Premium Jewelry Gift Box? Yes
Reviews by Customers
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"Thumbs up"
I gave this as a gift and it was well received. I cant personally speak for it
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Untouched Heart, Handcrafted Heart-Shaped Bone Pendant Necklace from Bali
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"Love of my Heart"
This piece is as exquisite as the Woman it is going to. I anticipate my wife of 28 years is going to love it.
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Untouched Heart, Handcrafted Heart-Shaped Bone Pendant Necklace from Bali
Verified Reviewer
Got it for my boyfriend for Valentine?s Day, I can tell a lot of time and care went into it. A very lovely gift
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Gift Occasion:
- This was a gift for: Boyfriend
- Occasion: Valentine's Day
Purchased Item:
Untouched Heart, Handcrafted Heart-Shaped Bone Pendant Necklace from Bali
Verified Reviewer
"Beautiful earrings"
I have always been drawn to moons and these earrings are amazing!
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Verified Reviewer
"Exquisite Earrings"
The intricate design and craftsmanship on these earrings is excellent. With such a unique design, they were too delightful to pass up.
Best Uses
- These exquisite earrings will top off your outfit and garner an abundance of admiration
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Perfect detail. Stunning piece!
Best Uses
- I wear these all the time!
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Purchased Item:
Sibetan Woman, Bone Dangle Earrings of a Sibetan Woman from Bali
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Your Purchase Makes a Difference!
This artist has dramatically improved their livelihood by working with NOVICA.
Wardika comes from a village that specializes in bone carving, a traditional Balinese art that has been passed from generation to generation. When he was eighteen, he began to work as a bone carver and determined that he would become a master carver. Every day, he carefully studied and copied the techniques of the best carvers until he became their equal. Today, he earns a living and proudly supports his family with the sales of his unique carvings. He is able to give work to others in his community and hopes to teach this art to the next generation.
Wardika was a street vendor with an unpredictable income until he joined Novica and shoppers discovered his unique work. Now his Novica sales provide a stable income and he is able to employ artisan assistants to help produce his jewelry.
Made Wardika has received 4 microcredit loans with 0% interest from Kiva and Novica, the first for $600 and the most recent for $4000.
Wardika and his family and his four assistants and their families are dependent upon the steady income that Novica provides.
Made provides for his three children and is deeply attentive to teaching them respect for the elders and the natural world.
This artist striving to supporting their own or their family's basic needs and improve their livelihood.
Made Wardika provides for the education of his children.
Made Wardika
Bali and Java
Carved bone and leather jewelry
Cause Badges
Made Wardika Carved bone and leather jewelry
"My designs are inspired by the rich cultures and art of Bali traditions."
"I am the second of three siblings and I started working when I was 11 years old to pay for school due to my family's economic situation. While I was in junior high, I became a woodcarver and kept practicing that craft until I finished high school. After graduating, I painted and decorated carved wood pieces. Then I learned to carve horn, bone and wood.
"At 25, I got married and had two sons and a daughter. Being a father is not easy and we've gone through many happy and sad moments. We went through a difficult time when my daughter fell ill and had to be hospitalized while my wife was pregnant with our third child. I prayed to God and believed he had a wonderful plan for us.
"Being responsible for my small family has encouraged me to work harder. I decided to join Novica in the hopes that it would help expand my venture and help my children to go to school and provide for their daily needs. My wife and a few family members have helped me in this venture. We create jewelry like rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces from materials like horn, bone, bead and wood. We only use traditional tools like scissors, hammers, knives and chisels. My village also has artisans who make jewelry, but I design unique pieces which are inspired by Bali's art, culture and traditions."


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Jake B. Schrum offers some methods -- other than U.S. News rankings -- of examining liberal arts institutions.
Today, U.S. News & World Report will once again come out with its annual college rankings. Having worked as a college administrator my entire professional life, I often get questions about the usefulness of such rankings in the search process.
While rankings such as those published by U.S. News and World Report offer some useful data, I have developed a different set of five simple criteria or considerations for evaluating the value and for choosing one of the best educational experiences offered by our country's 600 liberal arts colleges. Were I to provide counsel to parents of students interested in attending one of these colleges -- or to educators wondering how their institutions are doing -- here are five lines of questioning I'd suggest they pursue:
1. Has the institution's faculty been granted a Phi Beta Kappa chapter? Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest and strongest academic honor society. Only those colleges or universities that meet the most rigorous academic standards are granted chapters. Criteria for membership include the number of volumes in the library, the number of faculty members who hold terminal (doctorate) degrees, and the number of faculty members who are members of Phi Beta Kappa. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is an icon for maintaining a faculty of high caliber. Of the more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the country, only 270 -- 7 percent -- have been granted Phi Beta Kappa chapters. Other measures of academic quality include accreditations by national organizations, honors and awards received by faculty, and participation of students in undergraduate research and related regional and national competitions.
2. Has the college or university earned a favorable rating (A or better) by Moody's Investors Service or another rating service such as Standard and Poor's? Moody's rates bonds issued to finance capital projects. Each series of bonds carries a different rating, but taken in aggregate, the bond ratings provide a meaningful and important gauge of institutional health. No institution can get an A or better rating if it does not have a history of balanced budgets. In Texas, for example, only five of our private colleges have an A or better rating from Moody's as of June 2005. Bond ratings show financial strength in the way Phi Beta Kappa membership shows an institution's academic strength. A good bond rating is an indication that an institution has the funding to sustain important academic programs. Other measures of financial health include the annual National Association of College and University Business Officers Endowment Survey and the college's annual report, which should include a financial statement that shows expenditures for instruction, library and technology, scholarship, maintenance and construction as well as income from tuition, endowment, and gifts and grants.
3. Do graduates of the college earn predominantly Bachelor of Arts degrees? Bachelor of Arts degrees, which often require mastery of a foreign language, are the "union cards" for people who truly pursue undergraduate study in the liberal arts. Generally, it can be said that the higher the ratio of B.A. degrees to pre-professional degrees such as the B.B.A., the greater the college or university's commitment to teaching. At the strongest liberal arts colleges and universities, at least 75 percent of the degrees awarded each year are B.A.'s as opposed to pre-professional degrees.
4. What percentage of students resides on campus? Living on campus is an important component of a student's education, as it helps develop a sense of community and civic duty and provides a more complete living and learning environment. Campus residency leads students to participate in campus organizations where they learn valuable leadership and teamwork skills. Ideally, 80 percent or more of a campus's full-time undergraduates should reside on campus to ensure a vibrant collegiate experience.
5. How diverse is the campus community? Diversity comes in many forms: racial/ethnic, gender, socio/economic, age, geographic, to name a few. A hallmark of a broad-based undergraduate education is consideration of a variety of perspectives based on the different experiences of diverse students and faculty. This type of rich and vibrant dialogue proves invaluable in students' future professional, civic and personal lives. As a threshold, campus communities of students, faculty and staff should include 20 percent or more who represent populations other than its dominant majority.
I'm not saying that we should throw out rankings such as those compiled by U.S. News. An unfortunate characteristic of our society is that we always want to know who is No. 1 – whether it be in the classroom or on the football field. But the problem with rankings is that they encourage institutions that are uniquely different to change their programs in an attempt to improve their rankings. This doesn't make sense for institutions that have specific missions that do not complement the rankings game.
For students who want to choose a great liberal arts college, I believe the above five questions are the ones that should be asked. You won't find a college in America that meets these criteria and isn't a great liberal arts college.
Jake B. Schrum is president of Southwestern University, in Georgetown, Tex.
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China economic figures shore up global markets
LONDON - A round of figures showing China's economy is in relatively good health helped buoy markets Monday, at the start of a week that could offer greater clarity on the economic fates of Greece and Spain.
Figures showing China's inflation rate fell to 1.9 percent in September from 2 percent the month before reinforced investor hopes for more stimulus in the world's second-largest economy.
Because economic stimulus can stoke inflation, worries about price increases have limited hopes that the country's monetary authorities will do more to shore up growth. Figures showing a 9.9 percent increase in the country's exports in September also helped ease concerns that the economy was heading for a hard landing.
"Data from China released over the weekend portrays the economy in a somewhat better light," said Rebecca O'Keeffe, head of investment at Interactive Investor.
After a lackluster trading session in Asia, the news on China encouraged investors in Europe.
Germany's DAX was up 0.8 percent at 7,293 while the CAC-40 in France rose 1.3 percent at 9,434. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was 0.5 percent higher at 5,823.
Wall Street was poised for a solid opening, with both Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures up 0.4 percent.
How the U.S. actually opens could hinge on the next round of earnings reports, particularly from Citigroup. The U.S. corporate earnings reporting season really gathers pace this week, with around 40 percent of the Dow's constituent companies due to unveil their latest results.
Beyond U.S. earnings, investors will this week monitor developments in Europe's debt crisis. EU leaders are due to meet on Thursday and Friday, with Greece and Spain likely to share the spotlight.
Investors want clarity over whether the Greek government's latest package of spending cuts has convinced debt inspectors to approve the payout of the country's next batch of bailout cash. They also want an end to the uncertainty over whether Spain will tap a new bond-buying facility from the European Central Bank.
James Hughes, chief market analyst at Alpari, said the summit in Brussels "could be a turning point for the eurozone."
In the currency markets, the euro continued to find support despite the debt-related headwinds, trading flat at $1.2958.
Softbank Corp. confirmed after the Asian market close that it has reached a deal to buy 70 percent of U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. for $20.1 billion. The deal has prompted some excitement as it will be the largest ever foreign acquisition by a Japanese company.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.5 percent to close at 8,577.93, snapping a four-day losing streak. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose less than 0.1 percent to 21,148.25. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.4 percent to 1,925.59.
However, mainland China's Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3 percent to 2,098.70 and the smaller Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.7 percent at 859.47.
Oil trading was fairly lackluster with the benchmark oil contract for November delivery down 29 cents to $91.57 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.


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Maker's Notebooks are the perfect place to write your own ideas, diagrams, calculations and notes.
The Maker's Notebook (10" x 7") contains 150 pages of engineering graph paper as well as 20 bonus pages of useful reference material from electronics symbols, resistor codes, weights and measures and basic conversions to the amount of caffeine in different beverages and how to say "Hello, World!" in various computer languages. Printed in cyan "Maker" blue with a white grid embossed front and back.
You might also like...


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Common Core Will Hurt School Choice
Earlier this week, school choice champion Doug Tuthill argued at RedefinED.org that Common Core can help school choice. In Tuthill's view, common standards merely "serve the same function as the operating systems in computers or smart phones" in that they provide a common platform that's open to an "endless supply" of different applications (curricula, lesson plans, activities, etc.) that can be customized by users.
Responding at the blog, I argue that Common Core it not just an open‐platform operating system. The Common Core‐aligned tests (particularly college entrance exams) will essentially dictate content: what concepts are taught when and perhaps even how. It's as though Apple told app‐designers they could make any kind of app they want so long as all the apps perform the same basic function, operate at the same speed, and cost the same amount. Of course, they're welcome to vary the color scheme.
In short, rather than complement school choice, Common Core undermines it.
You can read the entire argument at the RedefinED.org post.


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Saturday, June 12, 2010
Next up?
It was during my nightly ritual of scouring MiLB boxscores for the Jays minor league affiliates that it dawned on me - in the midst of a slump (and a corresponding Overbay hot streak), perhaps we've been too quick to anoint Brett Wallace as the next foam-at-the-mouth prospect whose recall we eagerly await.
What about that guy Arencibia (or Aaron Cibia, for all you DJF hounds)? Remember him? The Player whose initials the Jays Talk crowd hold against him? OK, let's get serious for a moment here....
After a fairly miserable 2009 campaign (.728 OPS) and a slow start to 2010, Arencibia has apparently found his groove and currently sports a much improved .848 OPS to rock along with his 12 HR/33 RBI. Here's the part where you say "yeah, but those are inflated by Vegas". So what if I told you that his home/road OPS split was .731/.991? Then what? PCL inflated? Yeah/sure/maybe, but at some point, you have to stop discounting players because of the league they play in, no? I mean, whaddya want, a 1.0+ OPS? C'mon. Arencibia may never reach that coveted foam-at-the-mouth status (yeah, I know - I made that up), but he can certainly become a legit major leaguer.
JPA is in a pretty tough spot for a recall, all things considered. John Buck is handling the starting duties as well as any of us could have expected, and you can't recall a hitting-first catcher to be your once a week backup. Seems inevitable he'll see big-league at-bats before the season is through, though. And hey, with his relative aversion to taking a walk, he'll instantly be a favourite of hitting coach Murph. Heyo! (yeah, it's good to be back.)
Oh, and about Wallace....let's not allow his recent statistical nosedive and negative reviews (insider alert! But here's the money quote: "First-base prospects are expected to hit for average, draw walks and hit for power. Wallace is doing one of those things, but his power is a bit of a myth, and the walks are something that might not have ever been there in the first place.") talk us off the kid.
Because sometimes, it's about more than the numbers. It has to be. He's going to hit.
Brett Cecil is an Ace in the making (if he isn't already).....
You're damn right he is. Go ahead and convince me otherwise.
No, seriously. Why can't he be? Because he doesn't throw 95+? Get the hell outta here with that.
.....and Brandon Morrow could make for a fantastic #4
Speaking of throwing 95+, Morrow seems happy to harness his filth instead of just whipping max effort fastballs past major league hitters (though that's always fun, too). I'm telling you....if Papi Walton can smooth out his mechanics and Morrow settles into a consistent delivery....wow. Just, wow.
With all the talk of the upside in the arms within the system and those the Jays just drafted (Deck McGuire - now that's a baseball name), Morrow might trump them all.
Just another reason this is a fun team to watch and follow. And that's enough for me, anyway.
10 comments:
- Peter Gentleman said...
re: Arencibia
An on-base percentage somewhere approaching league average would be a good start. Even the hacktastic Miguel Olivo had a .350 obp in the minors.
Brian Jeroloman is currently at .304/.460(!)/.511 in AA, and there's no reason to think he isn't a better hitter than Arencibia is.
- June 12, 2010 at 3:24 AM
- The Ack said...
You know what, Peter? That's a great call re: Jeroloman. I'm certainly not disocunting him, but I just can't wrap my head around his offensive explosion this season. I still think of him (wrongly?) as a defence first catcher.
Which isn't a bad thing, even if that's all that comes to pass.
and, re: JPA's OBP....he is what he is, I guess. He'll have to hit for average to put together any sort of respectable OBP, because he isn't going to walk his way to one.
But hey, he's up 30 points year to year. that's something, right? Right?? (ah, to hell with it. Just mash and I'll be happy.)
- June 12, 2010 at 3:36 AM
- Peter Gentleman said...
A quick glance at minorleaguesplits.com says that Jeroloman has gone from an extreme groundball hitter in years past, to an extreme flyball hitter this year. Seeing as that points to a legitimate change in talent, we should expect his future offensive output to be closer to this year's that to that of years' past.
- June 12, 2010 at 3:50 AM
- Roberto said...
Re: Arencibia vs Jeroloman
Why can't the team bring them up (separately, or together) and see which one has the least trouble adjusting to the majors?
Oh, right. The team is contending.
I get that the team is playing better than expected and that management is under pressure to not mess with the current winning formula. But there will come a time when everyone involved will regret not giving Wallace/Arencibia/Jeroloman (and others, probably) some playing time in 2010.
Or is 2011 now the year when they play all the youngsters and see which of them has the right stuff?
- June 12, 2010 at 8:04 AM
Unfortunately, it is probably 2011 before any of the youngsters get some playing time because that is when there will be a manager other than Cito "gotta get my veterans a good contract" Gaston will no longer be at the helm. To bring any of them up now would be to bring them up to the bench to sit.
- June 12, 2010 at 10:07 AM
Hmmm, a bit of a grammatical misstep in all the excitement, but I think you know what I was trying to say.
- June 12, 2010 at 10:08 AM
- Unknown said...
Comparing Arencibia and Jeroloman makes no sense. Arencibia is a level ahead and one year younger.
- June 12, 2010 at 10:29 AM
- Peter Gentleman said...
Jeroloman had more walks in 382 plate appearances in 2007 than J.P. Arencibia has had in 1496 PA's over his entire minor league career.
Age and level become completely irrelevant when your plate approach is THAT bad.
- June 12, 2010 at 12:42 PM
- Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...
Call them both up. And FUCK INTERLEAGUE PLAY.
- June 12, 2010 at 11:17 PM
- The Ack said...
^ funny, read this comment after posting latest above...
- June 13, 2010 at 12:04 AM


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Tag Archives: Tara Laskowski
SmokeLong News Digest, Issue 2
News from SmokeLong Contributors and Staff: Foust's story collection Sins of Omission will be released this May (2015) by Tidal Press. It's available for pre-order now. Themes of family, home, memory and disconnectedness dance with a quiet power through … Continue reading


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The Sitness Half Ball (SH17BB9E) is a gas lift stool with a yellow mesh seat with removable cushion. The Sitness Half Ball features a five point base with castors and gas lift mechanism.
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|University of California, Berkeley
|Directory News Site Map Home
Home · List of Genera · Key to Keys · Accepted Names · Synonyms · For Beginners · See also .... Subdivisions of CA — Jepson eFlora for CA Vascular Plants — Specimen records — Elevation by latitude plot — Tropicos nomenclature — Cal Photos images — Bryophyte Flora of North America — Google Scholar
|Grimmia longirostris W. J. Hooker [Grimmiaceae]
Mail a correction to Paul Wilson
Plants to 1.5 cm high, in hoary green to gray-green cushions, opaque-green to nearly black below. Leaves loosely imbricate when dry, loosely erect-spreading when moist, somewhat concave but not at all keeled, to 3 mm long with the awn constituting nearly 1/2 of that length, ovate-lanceolate from a loosely sheathing somewhat expanded base, 2.5–3.5: 1. Median leaf cells in regular longitudinal rows, unistratose in the expanded base but uniformly bistratose in the limb, smooth, to 7 µm wide, isodiametric with lumens irregular but without corner thickenings. Marginal cells not differentiated. Basal juxtacostal cells elliptical, to 3: 1, to 15 µm wide, with irregularly thickened lateral walls. Basal marginal cells transversely elongate, 0.5–0.7: 1, to 15 µm wide. Costa flared at the base and filling 1/3–1/4 of immediate leaf base, narrowed and obscure above, percurrent in the somewhat acuminate awn. Costa cross-section at leaf middle broad and flattened, less than 1.5 times as thick as the adjacent leaf, with a weak abaxial band of stereids or substereids and with a single layer of larger cells on the adaxial face. Margin of leaf limb plane to incurved, entire below. Awn strongly decurrent with its margin somewht serrulate, and with its surface spinose-prorate. Axillary hairs to 100 µm long, with 6–8 nearly isodiametric and thick- walled cells, without a basal brown cell. Rhizoids red brown, to 15 µm wide at base, smooth. Stem cross-section rounded-triangular with a large and well-defined central strand, and with leptodermous, hyaline and large inner cortical cells, and with the 1–2 cell-thick outer stereome composed of much smaller, thick-walled cells strongly pigment with yellow to yellow-brown.
Dioicous with male and female plants similar. Perichaetial leaves loosely sheathing base of seta, somewhat larger and with a relatively longer, less decurrent awn than the adjacent vegetative leaves. Seta to 2.5 mm long, yellow to pale brown, straight and smooth. Urn erect, symmetrical, smooth to lightly wrinkled when dry, to 1.2 mm long, 1.5–2: 1, not strumose. Operculum short rostrate, about 1/3 as long as urn. Annulus formed of 2–3 rows of relatively more thin-walled cells. Calyptra mitrate, covering about 1/2 of urn. Peristome red-brown, to 200 µm long, cribrose along median line near the apex, papillose to vertically striate-papillose. Exothecial cells to 25 µm wide, not in regular vertical rows, quite irregular in size and shape, rectangular 2–4: 1, rather thick walled. Stomata phaneroporous, restricted to base of urn. Spores smooth, to 12 µm.
|Muñoz 1998a.
|Allen 2002; Greven 2003; Ignatov and Ignatova 2003; Muñoz 1998a, 1999a. As Grimmia affinis Ireland 1982; Lawton 1971.
|Contra Costa Co.: north slope of Mt. Diablo, Hermann 11357 (determined by Muñoz); Marin Co.: Nicasio-Point Reyes Road, Weber & Rundel 48304 (MO); Orange Co.: Silverado Canyon, Gittins 679 (MO); San Diego Co.: Pacific Crest Trail about 9 miles from Warner Springs, G. Allen 648 (MO) [determined by Muñoz].
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Mickey and I have a fun tradition of getting dressed for dinner and having a mid-week date night. When he picks me up for our date we leave our stressful first part of the week behind us and relax with a light meal and a glass of wine. We visit with old friends or make some new ones and unwind for a couple of hours. This breaks up the week and relieves some of the stress of running our businesses and maintaining our homes. It also gives me the chance to wear the shoes I might not otherwise wear!
The three elements of my outfit are all from Coldwater Creek in the Peerless Shopping Center in Johnson City. The black and cream sheer blouse has an uneven hem which dips to a curve in the back. The cream tank has tiny straps which are adjustable. The cream linen type pants are the Natural Fit.
The secret to a happy relationship is to be with the one that makes you giggle!
Hair by Allison at Reflections Salon and SPA in Johnson City.
Earrings by me. All the components can be found on my web site VintageJewelrySupplies.com.
Always switch to a small bag for evening. You really only need lip gloss, tissues, business cards, cash and or a charge card. No need to lug your life around when you are only going to dinner. Evening bag by Kenneth Cole Reaction. I layered two fun "diamond" rings for drama.
A pedicure is a great time to relax and make sure you have healthy happy feet. For me those toes are an important summer accessory. The OPI nail polish is the color Dutch Tulips. Danielle at Austin Springs SPA is great at what she does.
Shoes by Impo.
Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great rest of the week.


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The unbelievably heavy rain that clobbered the Carolinas coast is proof once again that it doesn't take a Category 5 hurricane to create big weather problems.
Dying tropical storms, if given some help, can trigger deadly floods, tornadoes, and lots of other trouble.
In some ways, the situation Wednesday and early today on the coast looks similar to 1999, when Hurricane Floyd pushed ashore and set off flooding that killed 51 people. The similarities -- a tropical weather system was involved, and it moved into a stationary front.
Floyd was much, much more powerful than the wimpy Tropical Storm Nicole which died near Florida late Wednesday. But the energy from Nicole was absorbed by a pretty potent non-tropical storm system that formed off the South Carolina coast.
Meanwhile, a stationary front was along the Carolinas coast, separating humid air on the east from cooler air to the west. As low pressure neared the front, it set off very heavy rain.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington says rainfall totals will be in the vicinity of 21 to 23 inches (over a four-day period) when all is said and done.
You know how bad it was? It was so bad that CBS sent meteorologist Dave Price to Wilmington. And the Baron of Bad Weather, Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel, is on the coast.
Meteorologists told you the cut-off between heavy rain and lighter precipitation would be close to the Charlotte area, and they were right. Albemarle got more than 4 inches of rain. Charlotte, about 35 miles to the west, got about 2/3 of an inch. You could draw a line from Greensboro, down across Lexington, Albemarle, eastern Anson County, and then down to Florence ... and everything east of there got walloped by the storm.
Now what?
A taste of autumn, that's what! There's a weak low pressure system over Georgia that will push across our area during the day. The sun might come out at times this afternoon, but that weak low might trigger a few showers or thundershowers.
Clearing will follow tonight, and it'll be nice for a few days, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.
The computers can't agree on Sunday and Monday, with some signs that another coastal storm system could bring rain to the Charlotte area. But after that, it'll turn even more fall-like, with sunshine and highs only around 70 degrees by next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
What happened at the coast? And how about us?
The unbelievably heavy rain that clobbered the Carolinas coast is proof once again that it doesn't take a Category 5 hurricane to create big weather problems.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
11:45 update ... forget about Nicole
At 10:30 this morning, the tropical weather system south of Florida was expected to become Tropical Storm Nicole, cross southern Florida and head for the Carolinas.
Not so fast!
Yes, the tropical depression is now Tropical Storm Nicole, with top sustained winds of 40 mph. But forget about the storm crossing Florida and heading for the Carolinas.
This system has been poorly organized and, frankly, a bit weird from the start. Nicole's strongest winds are about 150 miles east and southeast of the center. And now there are two changes in the forecast:
1. Nicole is expected to pass east of Florida, cross the northwest Bahamas, and move into open waters.
2. It is forecast to dissipate within 36 hours. It will die at sea, maybe 150 or 200 miles east of Jacksonville, without ever reaching the Carolinas.
Does that mean none of the rain is coming to the Charlotte area and the rest of the Carolinas? No, not at all.
Nicole will dissipate because it will be gobbled up by a low pressure system forecast to develop later today off the South Carolina coast. If I may borrow a reference from the distant past, it's like the old Pac-Man game, where one of the little critters gobbles up another.
Once the low pressure system forms off the S.C. coast, it will spread rain inland.
However, this probably means we won't have to worry about flooding rains in Charlotte. Expect an inch or so, from later today until Thursday morning. It'll be great for the lawns.
Nicole: Trouble or relief?
Tropical Storm Nicole appears destined to pay the Carolinas a visit.
But how close will the storm's impact come to the Charlotte area? And how much of the Charlotte area?
The bigger question: Will Nicole be drought relief for Charlotte, or a troublemaker?
That all depends on the storm's track, and meteorologists are having a tough time with this system. On Wednesday morning, the disorganized center of the system was about 150 miles south of Key West. Steering winds will carry the storm northward, probably along or near the east coast of Florida.
So far, the depression's strongest winds have been on its eastern side, which means Florida could escape the worst of it (although "worst" might not be the right word, because Nicole won't be a strong tropical storm).
Then, as the storm moves toward anticipated landfall in the Carolinas, it is forecast to lose its tropical characteristics.
When that happens, the area of rainfall widens to all sides of the storm.
The computer models can't agree on how far inland the heavy rain will spread, but it could be very close to the Charlotte area.
Worst-case scenario ... Nicole (or whatever it is, at that point) makes landfall somewhere around Myrtle Beach on a north-northwest track. That would bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to Charlotte, especially along and east of I-77. The farther east you go, the heavier the rain. Places like Richmond and Scotland counties could get 5 inches.
The most likely scenario ... Nicole makes landfall around Wilmington, moving north. Rain moves into Charlotte, but about 1 to 1.5 inches falls. West of I-77, totals are even less. For example, Shelby might get only 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch. That much rainfall for Charlotte would be good.
We'd all get our lawns aerated and make a run on the garden stores for seed and fertilizer.
The rain that moved through the Charlotte area before daybreak was not connected directly with the tropical system. But the precipitation totals give a hint as to what we can expect later. About 1/5 of an inch fell at the airport. A gauge in Matthews measured about 1/3 of an inch. And nearly 1/2 of an inch fell in Monroe.
The farther east you go ...
So here's what to expect: We'll get a break from the rain for a good bit of the day. It might shower once or twice, but that activity will be scattered. Later this afternoon, precipitation from the tropical system will move up the coast and then inland.
Steady rain will begin falling this evening and continue overnight. By later this afternoon, we should have a better idea on what to expect in rainfall totals.
The rain should end Thursday morning, and partial sunshine could return by afternoon.
Look for clear and cooler weather the rest of the week, after a high around 80 Thursday. By Sunday, daytime highs will be near 70.
More later ...
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Coastal surprise headed our way
The Carolinas coast is in for a major rainstorm Wednesday and early Thursday, and some of the computers are "telling" meteorologists that heavy rain could spread far inland -- perhaps as far as Charlotte, or at least the eastern suburbs and counties on the east side of the Queen City.
This is a very complex situation, and if you put five meteorologists in the same room, you might get five different forecasts.
The basics:
1. The cold front that pushed through our region Monday has more or less stalled along the coast.
2. A low pressure system is predicted to form along that front Wednesday and move up the coast.
3. A tropical depression that formed today southwest of Cubs is forecast to move northward, perhaps merging with the low off the Carolinas coast.
That means a lot of rain for the coastal areas, where flood watches have been posted.
But over the past 12 hours, the computer-generated forecasts -- called models -- are pushing the heavy rain farther and farther inland. Some of the models predict the combined low pressure system (the regular low and the tropical low) will actually move northward on an inland route, crossing the coastal plain.
What does that mean for the Charlotte area?
For starters, it means you can kiss the earlier forecast of partly cloudy and cool weather for Wednesday and Thursday good-bye! Instead, look for rain to spread from the coast toward Charlotte during the day Wednesday.
By Wednesday night, heavier rain could be falling in the area.
Some computer models predict the heaviest rain (2 to 3 inches) will stay east of the Chesterfield-Anson-Montgomery county line. Other models bring the heavy rain into the Union County-Matthews-Mint Hill-Cabarrus County area. And forecasters are wondering if the models will push the low pressure system even farther inland -- which means heavier rain will reach Charlotte.
One thing's for sure ... the cut-off between rain and no rain will be very sharp. Wherever that cut-off is, you'll be able to drive 15 or 20 miles between dry conditions and rain.
Check back on Wednesday morning for a better idea of what might happen.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Carolinas have 2 seasons ... at once
Today's Carolinas' weather is featuring a situation seen almost nowhere else in the country.
It's called a cold air wedge (or cold air damming), and we'll talk about it a lot in the coming months, as it's usually seen in our area from late September into April or May.
It's the reason why we sometimes have two or even three different seasons' weather at one time in the Carolinas, depending on where you are.
Today, it's summer at the coast and fall inland, and the dividing line between the seasons could produce some stormy weather later this afternoon as it moves closer to Charlotte.
Cold air damming, or a cold air wedge, is created when cooler air is trapped against the mountains. Typically, the clockwise flow from high pressure over the Northeast sends cooler air into the Carolinas. Cold air is more dense than warm air, and it sinks. The cold air piles up against the mountains and becomes trapped across the foothills, Piedmont and even the sandhills.
When low pressure systems move northward -- sometimes along the coast, sometimes across the Piedmont, and sometimes (like today) across eastern Georgia and eastern Tennessee -- they have a counter-clockwise air flow that tends to drag warmer air from the southeast inland. That often creates a warm front.
Places to the east (coastal side) of the front have temperatures much, much warmer than inland.
At 10 a.m. today, it was 81 degrees in Beaufort and 59 in Asheville. Charlotte's 66-degree reading was 7 degrees cooler than at Myrtle Beach.
I've seen episodes when it was 80 degrees in Columbia and Fayetteville and in the 50s in Charlotte. Sometimes you can drive down I-77 or east on U.S. 74 and encounter a change of 20 degrees' temperature in 10 miles.
Normally, the warm fronts never make it all the way inland past Charlotte. Eventually, the trapped cool air (which is damp and creates clouds and precipitation) is washed out to sea by a stronger cold front.
Today, as the warm front moves slowly inland, meteorologists say it could trigger heavy thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., has put south-central North Carolina and much of central and eastern South Carolina in the "risk" area for severe thunderstorms and possibly even a weak tornado later today.
The warm front is a severe weather-producer, in part, because it creates a condition in which winds are spinning from different directions in the atmosphere.
It's something we'll be watching as the day progresses.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Flood watch up; heaviest expected tonight
Well, we've done it ... gone from talking about a drought one day, to worrying about flooding the next.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch until Monday evening for nearly all the Charlotte region. Technically, Lancaster and Chesterfield counties of South Carolina are not included, but they could be.
Forecasters say 4 to 6 inches of rain could fall by early Tuesday morning in our area, with the heaviest precipitation expected overnight. Despite the lack of rain for the past month, 4 to 6 inches of rain in a 48-hour period means possible trouble. Hence, the flood watch, despite our dry conditions in recent weeks.
There also is a chance for severe weather tonight, in a corridor from Monroe westward to near Spartanburg -- including Charlotte, Rock Hill and possibly Gastonia. But we'll worry about that later. For now, let's talk about the rain.
Going to the Panthers' game this afternoon. Bring a poncho. Rain moved into the Charlotte area about 11 a.m., and Doug Outlaw, of the National Weather Service's office in Greenville-Spartanburg, said all indications are the showers and thundershowers will increase in coverage this afternoon.
My guess is the highest probability of flooding will be from about midnight until noon Monday, especially in the overnight hours.
The morning commute Monday could be absolutely lovely.
One more thing ... temperatures will start falling this afternoon. The rain is cooling the atmosphere, so our mid 70s of this morning will turn into upper 60s and low 70s this afternoon.
More to come later today, I suspect.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
2 to 5 inches of rain? Really?
After weeks of hot, dry weather, it seems almost impossible to be talking about possible flooding concerns, but that's the situation this weekend in the western Carolinas.
Our stagnant weather pattern is not just coming to an end ... it's coming to a crashing halt.
Get ready for a very rainy Sunday, with much cooler weather.
Today will be the end of the summerlike conditions, with partly sunny skies and temperatures approaching 90 degrees this afternoon. It could be our 87th day of 90 degrees or warmer this year -- one short of tying the all-time record, set in 1954.
But the makings of a new pattern are approaching. A cold front is over eastern Tennessee on Saturday morning, and it is predicted to move into the Carolinas later tonight and stall for 24 to 36 hours.
At the same time, low pressure is forming over the Midwest and expected to move into Mississippi before drifting east or northeast on Sunday and Monday.
We could get a thunderstorm this afternoon or evening as the cold front approaches, but more widespread showers and storms are likely tonight, as the low pressure system sinks into the South.
On Sunday, temperatures will hold in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Meanwhile, the low pressure system will spread rain into our area -- not a here-and-there scattered shower situation, but more of a steadier rain. Best guess is that the rain will begin late Sunday morning. By later Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening, the rain could get heavy.
It could be a miserable day at Bank of America Stadium, for the Panthers-Bengals game ... from a weather standpoint. It could be miserable from a football standpoint, too, but that's another issue.
Justin Lane, of the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C., says 3 to 5 inches of rain is likely in the higher elevations of the foothills and in the Blue Ridge mountains, with 2 to 4 inches in the Piedmont.
"Current forecasts suggest that the rain will fall over a long enough period of time that widespread flooding is not likely, especially given the recent dry conditions," Lane said. However, Lane added, localized areas could have flooding problems, but it's too early to tell where that might happen.
Expect the rain to continue into Monday, with a few thunderstorms added in the mix on Monday. The precipitation probably will end Monday night or Tuesday morning.
By that time, all of our lawns should be soaked enough for us to get the aerating and seeding started.
Once the rain is gone, don't look for a return to the 90s. Forecast highs next week are in the vicinity of 80 degrees, which is still a degree or two above average for this time of year.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Adios, 90's. Hello, rain.
I like hot weather, so I say this with some sadness:
Kiss the 90's goodbye until next year.
Sure, it's only Sept. 24, and we've had 90-degree days well into October in the past, but it sure looks like the 90-degree-plus readings today and possible Saturday will be the end for this year. A dramatic change in the weather pattern is coming.
This doesn't mean warm weather is going away. In fact, you'd better prepare for plenty of above-average temperatures, because all signs are pointing to a mild winter.
But the 90's? They could be history, for this year.
It'll leave us just short of the all-time record of 88 days with 90 degrees or more, set in 1954. Today will be the 86th day this year with 90 or higher in Charlotte, putting 2010 in second place all-time. We might hit 90 again Saturday, for 87 days. Then the change comes.
An upper-atmospheric low pressure system will set up over the eastern United States this weekend, replacing the high pressure heat pump which has parked itself over the Southeast for weeks. That means high temperatures will be in the 70's and 80's for at least the next two weeks. By that time, we'll be well into October, and the latest 90-degree day on record in Charlotte is Oct. 13 (set in that miserably hot summer of 1954 ... we'll need to take a look at that summer one day in this blog).
Another change is coming this weekend -- rain.
We haven't had a major rainfall in Charlotte since the middle of August, but a stalled cold front and a low pressure system will be in the area from late Saturday into Tuesday. Showers and possibly thunderstorms are likely throughout that period.
In fact, Sunday could bring a steady rain, with temperatures only in the lower 70's in the afternoon. Sounds like a fabulous day at Bank of America Stadium, watching the Panthers and Bengals.
The rain is badly needed, and there are signs of additional rainy systems arriving in the area during the next two weeks.
Hurricane Update: Tropical Storm Matthew is moving westward at a pretty good clip at midday Friday, and the betting now is that it never will affect the United States. It is expected to move into Central America, perhaps delivering catastrophic heavy rains in Nicaragua and Honduras. But the system is forecast to dissipate in those countries.
Earlier, computer models indicated Matthew might curve back out to sea, slide northward, and take a run at Florida.
But the Southeast is far from off the hook. Low pressure remains in the Caribbean, and many meteorologist say another system probably will develop there in the next few days. And with the Southeastern U.S. high pressure system having moved offshore, there will be an opening for any hurricane in the Caribbean to push northward toward the Gulf coast of Florida and Alabama.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Matthew looms
Just a quick late-afternoon update, folks, on my morning blog post.
As expected, that low pressure system off the Central American coast has developed into a tropical depression, and nearly every meteorologist is expecting the system to be Tropical Storm or Hurricane Matthew by morning.
We now have some computer models to look at, and they take the hurricane into Belize and over the eastern edge of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico -- and then back into open water south of Florida, heading toward Florida.
This storm is developing in a hurry, and it appears as if the mainland United States will have something to worry about in several days. In the meantime, Matthew could spread devastating heavy rains across Central America this weekend.
Coming pattern change: Good or bad?
Meteorologists agree the weather pattern that has been locked over the Southeast since early to mid August is about to change.
That change will bring cooler weather and a good chance of rain to our area, starting later Saturday or Sunday. We need the rain desperately, and a lot of people are sick of the hot weather and looking for something cooler.
But will the change really be good for us?
Let's take a look at the pattern ...
Strong high pressure has been locked over the Southeast, but the computer models are predicting a changed situation -- high pressure over Texas, and another high over the Atlantic. In between, over the Southeast, will be a weakness in the atmosphere (a trough).
The problem is a weather system currently known as Invest 95L. That's the name given by the National Hurricane Center to an area of stormy weather it is investigating. On Thursday morning, that area was north of Colombia and drifting westward. Invest 95L probably will become a tropical depression later today, and most computer models predict it'll be a hurricane within a few days.
Then what?
It could plow into Belize or Mexico and dissipate -- or weaken so much that it never recovers. But some computer predictions show the storm being dragged northward, by that weakness in the atmosphere over the Southeast. Florida would be at risk, and if such a hurricane made landfall over the Florida Panhandle, its remnants could cause trouble in the western Carolinas.
I saw a report Wednesday from the Weather Channel, in which its meteorologists predict this changed pattern will put the Southeast at risk for the next couple weeks.
Something to remember ... tropical systems that make landfall around Pensacola often bring tornadoes and flooding thunderstorms to the western Carolinas as they move northward.
All of that is a lot of conjecture, and Invest 95L is still just a mass of showers and thunderstorms. But keep that in the back of your mind.
WEATHER TERM OF THE DAY ... Invest.
The National Hurricane Center uses that term for a system it is watching, for data-collecting reasons. The NHC says an "Invest" system isn't necessarily expected to become a tropical depression, tropical storm, or hurricane -- just a system it wants to study. But many "Invest" systems become organized storms. Systems are numbered in order, and the letter signifies the area it is in. The letter "L" is used for systems in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The letter "E" is used for systems in the eastern Pacific, off the coast of Mexico.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tired of Hugo stories?
I discovered last year, on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo's pounding of the Carolinas, that some people don't want to hear from those of us who lived through it. "We're tired of hearing about Hugo," I was told several times.
OK. I get it.
But on the 21st anniversary of the day when Hugo came through Charlotte as a Category 1 hurricane -- nearly 200 miles inland -- here's something that should be of interest to both Hugo veterans and those who were born or moved here after Sept. 22, 1989.
I'm betting Hugo was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
What happened was a complex series of events that isn't likely to happen again for a long, long time.
And what's happened this year in the Atlantic Ocean is an example.
In review ... Hugo was a Cape Verde storm. It developed off the coast of Africa, south of the Cape Verde islands. It retained its strength across the Atlantic and slammed into South Carolina without recurving (curving to the northwest and north). A low pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico and high pressure over New England created a sort of alleyway for Hugo to move -- at a high rate of speed -- inland across South Carolina and Charlotte.
This year has seen a series of powerful hurricanes form in the Cape Verde region. Meteorologists say it's been a busy season. Most people in the United States probably would scoff at that, since the hurricanes didn't hit the mainland.
That's because the storms curved northward. For most of the last two months, there have been two high pressure systems -- one over the central Atlantic, the other over the U.S. Southeast. Between them was a "weakness" area of low pressure.
Each of those Cape Verde hurricanes moved westward across the Atlantic but curved north when they reached that "weakness" area.
"What you're seeing this year is typical for Cape Verde storms," said Scott Krentz, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the Greer, S.C., office. He and other meteorologists say most of those hurricanes curve before hitting the U.S. They become what those of us who follow weather call "fish storms."
Occasionally, the Cape Verde hurricanes get close to the U.S. coast before curving -- a la Hurricane Earl. But having one of those powerful storms slam directly into the Carolinas coast at a 90-degree angle (or close to it) and retain its strength inland is a real rarity.
And my brother Michael, a Texas-based weather weenie who will be mentioned frequently by me, points out that a condition called a negative North Atlantic Oscillation has created a deep dip in the atmosphere over the Atlantic. That also curves storms northward.
Something to watch: Keep an eye on a system that the National Hurricane Center is watching over the southern Caribbean. On Wednesday morning, its center was a bit north of Aruba. Some computer models predict that system could become a strong hurricane next week in the Gulf of Mexico. Other models show the storm hitting Mexico or Central America.
As we learned from Hurricane Ike two years ago, Gulf hurricanes can mean big trouble here in the Carolinas, even if the wind and rain never get within 600 miles of us. A disruption in petroleum operations in the Gulf can translate into $5-a-gallon gas for us. We don't like Gulf hurricanes.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
My 'Twister' moment
At the beginning of the movie "Twister," there's a scene in which a young Jo Harding (played by Alexa Vega) watches as a tornado sucks her father from a shelter on their Midwest farm. That event fueled her fixation with tornadoes.
For me, it was a night at the Eastlake Drive-In, a few miles from my home in northeastern Ohio. It happened decades ago -- OK, many decades ago -- when my dad took me and two of my brothers to see a movie. A severe storm swept across the area, nearly overturning our Ford station wagon.
What normally was a 10-minute ride home took us hours, as we tried to find a street that wasn't blocked by downed trees. After that, I was a weather geek.
This if the first post of "Weather Guy," my new blog, and I want this to be a place for discussion between myself and other weather geeks -- and there are many of you out there. I also think this blog will be a chance to report weather news that otherwise wouldn't be a part of the Observer's main news coverage.
I'll share some weather trivia and tell you about some of the interesting websites I've discovered. And I'm sure you'll show me a few that I haven't found.
Let's set one thing straight. I'm not a meteorologist. Meteorology is physics and math. I don't know if my high school physics teacher, Mr. Murawa, is still alive, but he would cringe at the thought of my writing about something involving physics. I got a "D" for the year, and that was generous.
But over the last 10 or 15 years, I've asked meteorologists hundreds of questions, I've read dozens of books, I've attended seminars and workshops, and I've learned a lot.
Here are five of my core meteorological beliefs:
1. The greatest influence on me was Dick Goddard, a legendary Cleveland TV meteorologist since 1961. He's 79 and still on the air every day. If he can't get you interested in weather, nobody can.
2. I was here in Charlotte for Hurricane Hugo, but my most memorable storm was Jan. 26, 1978 -- an incredible blizzard that swept across the Great Lakes with winds and barometric readings low enough for a hurricane. I'll write about this storm in the future. Hugo was memorable, too, though. And Wednesday is the 21st anniversary. (Personal note: That blizzard was enough for me ... I moved to Charlotte five months later.)
3. Charlotte has an amazing number of truly talented meteorologists -- a lot more than you'd expect for a city this size. Some of them -- Eric Thomas, Brad Panovich, John Wendel, Mike Dross, Jeff Crum -- are good people who have been very helpful to me.
4. The scariest weather event for me isn't tornadoes or hurricanes. It's giant waves, and I even have nightmares about them. Other than Kate Gosselin, it's the scariest thing I see on my TV set. I'll write about waves, too.
5. I hate snow. I spent the first 28 years of my life in the snow belt of northeastern Ohio. That was enough snow for three lifetimes.
That's enough for one day. More on Wednesday.


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In with the new and out with the old. It seems Kelsey Grammer continues to stick it to his soon to be ex-wife Camille Grammer months after dumping her for a younger woman.
First came the news of Kayte Walsh's pregnancy (she has since miscarried), then came news of his $6.5 mil NYC apartment purchase for he and Kate that he tried to keep a secret from Camille, and today comes news that Kelsey is now engaged to Kayte!
According to RadarOnline, Kelsey, 55, and Kayte, 29 are officially engaged. Kayte was even spotted wearing a huge diamond engagement ring over the weekend.
Kelsey's rep also confirms the news to Radar. "They never really announced it, they are very happy and very much in love," his rep Stan Rosenfield stated.
Camille, 42, star of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is the one who filed for divorce back in July though it has been reported that Kelsey was the one who wanted to end the marriage.
Above is a photo of Kelsey and Kayte as they both attended The 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors over the weekend.
UPDATE – Kelsey's rep is also confirming the engagement news to PEOPLE. "Yes, they're engaged," the actor's rep states. "They're very happy and very much in love. They never announced it because he wanted to be discrete and enjoy the good news privately."


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Official Year 2 Update
I just got back from my 2-year check-up in Houston. Before I detail the results of my autologous (own) stem cell transplant at year two, I want to remind folks: 1) the purpose of HALT-MS is to stop disease progression, not reverse damage, 2) my experience may not be representative of all study participants, 3) HALT-MS included two major components: stem cell transplant and immune system ablation, meaning that one aspect or both could be responsible for my gains, and 4) MS is a disease that is unpredictable, so my gains could also, in theory, just be natural remitting.
Disease activity. My most recent MRI showed no new or enhancing lesions. I have had no relapses (after having several relapses in the nine months prior to the SCT). I continue to take no MS medication.
Walking ability. At year two, for the official test I logged over 500 meters again. My walking speed, tested over 25 feet, is about the same as it has been. Around the house I often use a single cane or sometimes nothing. When I'm out of the house, I use two forearm crutches. At year one my max was 45 minutes nonstop; it is now 75 minutes nonstop. My longest hike was 1.5 miles; it is now 2 miles. I only use my walker after exercise (legs need to recover), in the middle of the night (safety), when cooking (hot kitchen) or doing chores that require toting something (e.g., laundry).
Dexterity. I believe I improved in the "peg" test on my left hand, hitting around 28 seconds, but my right dipped a few seconds into the low 30s. Go figure, the reverse was true last year (and at the 6-month mark it was reversed again). My handwriting is getting better and my typing is much improved, probably at least 10-20 wpm.
Cognitive. Tested with the PASAT (basically oral math), I improved again. For background, I missed six questions at month six three at the one year mark, and only one at year two. I think I got excited toward the end and pooched, like, the last number.
Fatigue. Still zero.
Balance. This continues to surprise me. I'm walking and doing things standing without aid far more frequently and confidently. I put away dishes without thinking of holding onto something, a big change. I can walk for short distances on my heels and toes, and even do a grapevine walk and lunges, all without aid. I've had no falls, either.
Lower Body Strength. Solid and getting a little better. Nothing eye-opening at this stage.
Upper Body Strength. Still improving slightly.
Vision. 20/20 with glasses. Pretty much unchanged since month 6.
Bladder. This seems to be improved, and have had no major accidents over the past year. It might just be that I avoid coffee if I plan to be out on the town. And as an aside, I have had less constipation. More fiber in my diet?
Numbness. I've always failed that "is your toe up or down" test. Not this timepegged it. The difference I feel isn't huge in my feet and legs, but it's there.
Overall. The doc said he was going to bump up my score after my stellar testing, commenting that my gait was better. (I failed to ask him about my EDSS score, sorry.)
My next battery of tests will be at the three year mark. I have one more round of immunizations. Currently I am on zero daily prescription medications. I take Viagra for complications from my low testosterone (I wanted to avoid hormone replacement therapy) and pop the occasional half Ambien for sleep. Vitamin D (4000 IUs) is the only supplement I take.
So to sum up: There have been noticeable improvements, but they've happened so gradually that I haven't really realized all the gains until I just typed them here. I don't expect to see too much change over the coming year (with this treatment, gains usually peter out around this time), but I hope my body surprises me.
As always I'll post more about further gains and any speed bumps. I go to Houston next month for a Month 25 MRI and will post any news from that when I hear the results.
Dave Bexfield
That is very good news Dave. Since you have striven to keep your muscles in as good a shape as possible through out the course of your MS, what you may be facing now is neuronal regeneration necessary to regain lost muscle control resulting from previous nerve death. This article seems to be a good summary plus a little new information of the effect of exercise on neurogenesis. Basically it says that exercise is the main component to stimulate the development of neuronal stem cells and to prompt those stem cells to go on to perform multiple tasks from memory enhancement to muscle control improvement. Obviously it becomes more complicated in the case of MS as the rate of MS progression would certainly have an impact. And of course there are a plethora of other unanswered questions but, at the same time, there is no indication that the neurogenesis process would stop. At any rate, although not MS specific, it seems to be quite an encouraging article. Be sure to read the whole thing.
As an aside, my own MS seems to be in long term remission except for the odd drug related exacerbation and, even at 60+ years of age, I also find a slow recovery from what I believe is the neural death caused by the more active phases of the disease. Although the recovery is not universal, as there are areas of moderate continued deterioration, it has been noticeably positive overall, albeit, quite slow. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the result of a physically active lifestyle.
Indeed, "The human body is the only machine that improves with use".
Last edited by AMFADVENTURES; 04-21-2012 at 12:18 PM.
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Fla. woman jailed after flipping off judge during court hearing
(CBS) -- Penelope Soto, a Florida woman, was jailed on Monday after flipping off a judge during her court hearing, CBS Miami reports.
Soto, 18, appeared in bond court for a drug possession hearing and laughed when the judge asked her if she was under the influence.
The judge told Soto, "We're not in a club, be serious about it." Soto said she was being serious.
He initially ordered Soto to be held on $5,000 bond, to which Soto laughed again and said, "Adios."
The judge summoned her back to the podium and increased her bond to $10,000. At that point, Soto stopped laughing.
"Are you serious?" Soto asked.
The judge replied, "I am serious. Adios."
Soto flipped him off and blurted an expletive as she walked away. The judge then ordered her held in contempt of court and sentenced her to 30 days in jail.


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New and Used BMW 8 Series at Braman BMW West Palm Beach Near Boca Raton 33464
The Braman BMW West Palm Beach new and used car lot offers sales and promotions you can take advantage of on a new or used BMW 8 Series. You can drive off in a great new or used car of your choice in no time. We have some of the best deals near the Boca Raton area. If you are searching for a new car or a used car, the sales team at Braman BMW West Palm Beach near Boca Raton 33464 is committed to finding the best fit possible.
New car promotions and offers play a big part in buying a car. The Braman BMW West Palm Beach sales team makes you aware of all incentives and offers so you get a great price on a new or used car. It doesn't matter if you want a new 8 Series fully loaded with the latest technology or you want a used 8 Series that runs like brand new – we have new and used cars at affordable prices.
We do our best to stay fully stocked with the BMW 8 Series so you can find one that best suits you at Braman BMW West Palm Beach near Boca Raton 33464. We have hundreds of new and used cars available to test drive. We carry a wide range of makes and models and they've all gone through multi-point and safety inspections so you know you are driving away with a safe new or used car.
At Braman BMW West Palm Beach near Boca Raton 33464, we want you to receive friendly and helpful customer service from our sales team. Our welcoming and courteous staff wants to make sure you get the new or used car you want. We provide all the information you need on whichever new or used car you are looking to buy. If you want to buy a new BMW, check out our vehicle brochures.
At Braman BMW West Palm Beach we make sure you have current vehicle history reports and fuel mileage stats, and we make sure you know every inch of the car before you decide to buy it. We make sure you have all the information you need so you can make an informed decision about your next new or used car.
If you need a little extra help buying your new car, we have a great finance staff that will help you get a car loan with the lowest possible interest near the Boca Raton 33464 area. Our Finance Department wants nothing more than to help you get the car you want at a rate you can afford. Start by filling out our secure online pre-approval form and one of our finance team members will contact you as soon as possible.
For the best new or used BMW 8 Series, visit Braman BMW West Palm Beach near Boca Raton 33464. We have hundreds of new and used cars in a variety of makes and models at great prices. Our goal is to watch you drive off with a great new or used car at a reasonable price. Contact us or visit our dealership today!
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Braman BMW WPB
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Lisa joined Braman Motorcars in 2016 as a BMW Sales Manager in West Palm Beach. In May of 2017 she was promoted to General Sales Manager of BMW Jupiter where she assisted in elevating the boutique store to new levels of sales success. In March of 2019, she was again promoted to General Sales Manager of Braman's largest dealership – BMW West Palm Beach. Lisa began her automotive career in 1985 and has been with BMW since 2001, holding titles in both sales and finance, in New Jersey prior to moving to Florida.
Lisa holds a Degree in accounting. Some of her favorite things to do include traveling and spending time with frineds. Lisa has a son, Max who attends the University of Miami.
Jami joined the Braman organization in October of 2014 bringing 18 years of experience with him. With a wealth of merchandising and wholesale knowledge across all major automotive brands, he is dedicated to appraising and acquiring inventory through trade-ins, lease maturities, and wholesale auctions. In addition to leading our wholesale operation, he is instrumental in the reconditioning process for all certified and pre-owned vehicles for the Braman Motorcars dealerships.
Jami is a native of South Florida and graduated with a Hospitality Administration degree at Florida State University. Jami also enjoys spending his time as a father and husband, attending his daughter's lacrosse/soccer activities, playing a round of golf, and cheering on his Seminoles.
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Born in Guyana, raised in Far Rockaway NY. When my military base closed in 2011, I decided that I wanted to take up a career in car sales. I've always had a passion for cars so started my journey with Dodge Chrysler Jeep for a few years. Then we moved to Florida in 2016 and I've been working here at BRAMAN ever since. The best dealership I've ever worked for!


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A House by Any Other Name
Once the provenance of grand estates, names are becoming more casual—and much sillier. A look at how nomenclature can excite house buyers—or turn them off. Naming a beach house Melanoma?
Mar-a-Lago. Graceland. Fallingwater.
House names aren't what they used to be. Once lofty, associated with grand mansions and reflective of the physical environment or a family name, they're now just as apt to be quirky and to appear on little shacks. House names these days can be like vanity license plates: whimsical attempts by owners to communicate humor and personal identity.
"There's too much marching along, everyone looking alike. This is a way to differentiate yourself," explains Dan Lane, the owner of Jiggleitalittleitllopen. In Corolla, N.C., his six-bedroom, five-bathroom house is named after a character in an episode from the 1990s-era Steven Spielberg animated television show "Pinky and the Brain." (Mr. Lane says he preferred the name Melanoma because of the house's proximity to the beach—but he was overruled by his wife and children.)
Real-estate agents say the right name can help sell a house. A survey conducted last April of 4,000 consumers by the U.K.-based real-estate website Globrix found that one in 14 said they would be prepared to pay more for a home just because it had a name. Even those that were not prepared to pay more said their opinion of the property would improve, with 40% saying they would be more interested in viewing a named property.
If a house is tied to old-money heritage or an A-list celebrity, the premium on its price can be as much as 15% to 20%, says New York real-estate broker Barbara Corcoran. She points to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., as an example. Latin for "Sea to Lake," it was named by Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1927. When Donald Trump bought it for $10 million in 1985, he kept the name, rather than attaching his own name to the property. Mr. Trump says the name has "great pedigree and great history." He has since used the name for spas in his properties across the country.
But choosing the wrong name can create a liability. "It can turn buyers off and seem embarrassingly new-money," says Ms. Corcoran. Seattle-based broker Dean Jones, with Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, says a bad name erodes value. "Tongue-in-cheek names should be reserved for boats and beach bars—not luxury real estate," he says.
Many homeowners now use terms like "villa," "maison" and "crest" to try to add cachet. A recent search on website Zillow for homes currently asking $1 million and higher with the name "casa" turned up over 100 results across the country—names like Casa Pacifica in Newton Square, Pa. and Casa Loca (Spanish for "crazy house") in Key West, Fla.
Casa de Kraftmaid, a 15,000-square-foot mansion in Moreland Hills, Ohio, went on the market in 2011 for $3.7 million and is currently advertised as a "one-of-a-kind property" with an 8,000-square-foot swimming pool. The name comes from the current owner, Kraftmaid Cabinetry founder Richard Moodie—and it wasn't intended to be humorous, says listing broker Adam Kaufman of Howard Hanna in Cleveland. "It's unique. It sets it apart." he says (though he doubts a new owner will keep that name).
Ron de Salvo of Coldwell Banker is trying to convince a homeowner in Malibu, Calif., to take the name of his house, Elephant Rock, out of the sales brochure when it goes on the market this spring. "It's clunky," explains Mr. De Salvo, who sold La Belle Vie in Los Angeles's Bel Air area for $40 million in 2011. Elephant Rock will ask $16.5 million; Mr. de Salvo believes that unless a house is worth $20 million or more, a name can seem "presumptuous."
The name Elephant Rock, which refers to an elephant-shaped rock on the beach, came from actress Mary Astor when she bought the house in 1960. Its owner Michael Lee bought the house from the estate of late comedian Buddy Hackett, who informally renamed it the Love Shack for all the Rat Pack-filled parties he held. Though he jokes he hoped the house would continue to be a "love shack," Mr. Lee, a property restoration expert, brought back the name Elephant Rock because "it makes it more special to have a name." He adds that it will appear in the brochure over Mr. de Salvo's objections.
In the past, many houses, like Elephant Rock, were named after a landmark or the scenery. Family names were once popular, from the whaling captains in Martha's Vineyard to Graceland, which was named after the former owner's daughter before Elvis Presley bought it. There was some whimsy and humor in the past. William K. Vanderbilt named his Long Island estate Idle Hour in 1878; some historians say the Dakota apartment building in New York got its name as an ironic response to criticism that its Upper West Side location was remote.
These days, names associated with a physical landmark or scenery are more likely to belong to suburban housing developments. Now, "there are lots of little cottages with names and lots of puns," says Bert Lippincott, reference librarian at the Newport Historical Society. There's the Last Resort in Door County, Wis., the Dog House in Carmel, Calif., and Casa Sin Nombre ("House With No Name") in Palm Beach. Susan Barriball held a brainstorming session with her family to come up with a name for their Cordova Beach, N.C., house. The winner: Farfrumwerkn.
Names sometimes reflect an owner's identity. In Bel Air, Lois Mills named her nearly 5,000-square-foot house La Maison de la Souris, or "the House of the Mouse." She notes that she is petite and her nickname is "The Mouse," thanks to a former paramour who exclaimed one day when she was angry: "The mouse roars."
Even though there's a bronze sign with the name at the front gate, Ms. Mills didn't put the name on any advertising when she put the house on the market for $6.3 million. "The name is so much me, there's so much of my heart and soul in it," she says.
In some parts of the country, houses bought to rent out are given names because they attract attention and are more memorable. Glen Morgan, who rents out a couple of homes he owns in the Outer Banks in North Carolina, changed the name of the first house from Flip Flops to Surfdancer because he is a surfer—but noticed the number of rentals dropped sharply because past renters didn't recognize the new name. So when he bought a second house nearby, he kept the name Maestrale (Italian for northwest wind) even though he would have preferred Kite Dancer in honor of his recent passion for kite-boarding.
Eric Lee, who also rents out several homes in the Outer Banks, recalls buying one of three adjacent houses named Stumble Inn, Stagger Inn and Tumble Inn. He renamed his Shelter by the Sea. "That's much more soothing than Stumble Inn," he explains.
Write to Nancy Keates at email@example.com
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On his Code Diesel blog Sameer takes a look at creating and using barcodes in your PHP applications:
Brought into the mainstream by supermarket checkout systems, bar codes have become a ubiquitous element in our daily lives. Rarely will one come across any product that doesn't have a barcode. The idea of a barcode originated in 1932 from the thesis of Wallace Flint at Harvard.
He touches on a two types of barcodes - standard UPC and the matrix codes (like ShotCode and Semacode) - before looking at how you can create them with the PEAR Image_Barcode package. It supports multiple code types including Code 39, EAN 13, INT 25 and PostNet. Output examples are included.