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(Thoughts on the handling of snakes by naturalists)
In any nature outing, you will find at least one guy who decides that the hapless snake, accidentally discovered, is meant solely for showing off his courage, daring and virility. The poor snake is purloined, handled, twisted, turned into a garland and poked forward towards shrieking members of the fairer sex. No thought is given to the fact that the snake needs to held correctly without damaging its fragile bones.
Another characteristic of such encounters is the lamentable lack of proper knowledge by these "heroes", who consequently endanger their own and their friends' lives.
Besides juvenile immaturity, another reason for such acts is the emulation of the profusion of snake wrangler shows on TV! While they appear to popularise these creatures, many so-called snake experts mis-handle these snakes for the sake of "better cinema".
More importantly, the wranglers do very dangerous things and make it look safe and easy. You would not feel so impressed by some one who took great care in handling and cautioned you of the many dangers. The truth is that they are experts in handling snakes but it is very dangerous and foolish to emulate them in any manner.
Anyone truly interested in snakes is careful and considerate while handling these elegant creatures. Handling of snakes is to be avoided in general, and if necessary, is to be done for the right reasons such as rescuing them, for educating people, for captive breeding or conservation. It is never meant to be done to enhance one's own reputation.
Here is an interesting photograph – an acquaintance of mine is touching what he thought is a "Python". Except, that its an extremely lethal Russell's Viper.
The officer is innocent – he was told by a nature-loving friend that it was indeed a python. Apparently, his nature-loving friend who helped him overcome his fears of touching snakes was just as knowledgeable as he was. Amazingly, both had handled the "python" and had not been bitten. God protects the innocent sometimes.
A villager had brought them an "ajgar" (Hindi or Marathi for python) and they had foolishly believed in his store of native knowledge and his skills of identification. Fortunately, the handsome Russel's Viper belied the evil eye and cold sneer of his face and acted like a perfect gentle-python! It could so easily have been a more dramatic story.
These young men were basically photography buffs and interested, but inexperienced, in Nature. This incident is a caution to all photographers of nature – be a naturalist first then a photographer. You will be a much better photographer if you understand your elusive subjects. More importantly, you will not put yourself in such dangerous spots.
One should be highly circumspect about handling snakes. In India, we have a number of venomous snakes, some not only deadly to humans but also fairly common.
The "Big Four" venomous snakes in India are the Indian Cobra, the Common Krait, the Russell's Viper and the Saw-scaled Viper.
The Big Four snakes are responsible for more than 90% of venomous snake-bite deaths in our country. The Hafkinne Institute makes a polyvalent anti-venin which is effective in treating bites by the big four snakes. This anti-venin is freely available in Govt dispensaries and has saved the lives of many of our countrymen.
But there is no guarantee that this antivenin being available – makes the handling of snakes safe. If you are bitten in the wild, you could succumb before reaching medical aid. You could reach in time but not respond to the treatment or even be allergic to one of the active ingredients of the anti-venin. Alternatively, the Primary Health Centre may be out of vaccine. Keeping India's rural electricity in mind, the antivenin may be ineffective due to its not being stored at the right temperatures.
Earlier we used to be worried only about the "Big Four" – the four highly venomous snakes in the Indian country-side considered to be responsible for the majority of deaths due to snake-bite . But there are many others too, such as the King Cobra, the Banded Krait, Hump-nosed Pit Viper, the many green pit vipers (Trimeresurus complex) and many other vipers, the Rhabdobis group of poisonous colubrid snakes.
All these are venomous snakes of great medical importance, more so as no anti-venin is available in India for treating their bites. They are usually uncommon, some are found in deep forest, inaccessible places, or are rare or even extremely docile (sea-snakes). Naturalists would do well to remember that the Polyvalent serum is useless in treating the bites of these snakes.
As far as anti-venin is concerned, there is an added complication. Recent taxonomic studies using genome mapping have revealed that the Big Four snakes in India (except the Russel's Viper) are not one species but actually comprise more than one species.
The Saw-scaled Viper in the Deccan plateau is Echis carinatus while the saw-scaled viper found in Rajasthan and North-west India is Sochurek's Viper Echis sochureki (earlier a subspecies of Echis carinatus) .
The Common Cobra (Naja naja) has now been hived off into many species (see Wuster for an interesting account of Asian cobras). A total of four different cobras are found in India –
- The binocellate Indian Cobra Naja naja,
- The Monocellate Cobra Naja kaouthia,
- The Central Asian Cobra Naja oxiana,
- The Andaman Cobra Naja sagittifera,
- There is a possibility that the Burmese Spitting Cobra Naja mandaleyensis is also found in the general area of Manipur – Mizoram.
Wall's Krait (Bungarus sindianus), a subspecies of the Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) that is found in North West India and is known to extend down to Pune, has now been given separate species status.
So why should we bother that these snake species have been split?
Earlier, snakes were classified into species or types, by comparing physical characteristics such as shape, number and position of scales and on the shape of their bones, besides other things. While this helps us to classify them broadly, the fine graining or distinguishing between what constitutes a species or not was a subjective opinion of experts based on these morphological characteristics.
Genome studies map individual DNA sequences, genes and chromosomes. Since all life has originated once and the entire biodiversity of extinct and extant animals have evolved from the first forms of life created in evolution, the DNA of a species bears evidence of its evolution through the years. Through difficult science and advanced computational mathematics using very powerful computers, genome scientists have developed techniques of ascertaining the phylogeny of creatures. These studies help differentiate species from the differences in genes rather than from morphology alone. This permits us to classify and relate different species with much more accuracy and reliability.
Click to enlarge : part image or for the full image of phylogeny.
If the Cobra has now been classified as many different cobra species – it means that these were many different snakes to begin with. Not one common, found all over Asia cobra as we thought. That means each species of cobra found in Indian territory has its own set of characteristics including a different venom composition for which the anti-venin needs to be made separately. When we thought that these cobras were subspecies of the old Common Cobra (Naja naja) , we thought that basically their venom composition was similar – i.e. basically same but with small differences. Now we find that though they may resemble each other their venom could be very different. Just taking a binocellate cobra and making its antivenin, hoping it will work for the other three cobra species, will no longer do.
A recent study on Snakebite Management in Asia & Africa – A guide to snakebite in the key areas for mortality & morbidity by the Pakistan Medical Research Council clearly indicates that Naja oxiana and Naja kaouthia are not covered by availability of anti-snake-venom, i.e. the Haffkine Polyvalent Snake Venom is only good for Naja naja.
It appears from this website of the Haffkine Bio-pharmaceutical Corporation that polyvalent venom is being made for the old Big Four. No mention is made of the finer detail revealed by latest taxonomic advances.
So don't have blind faith that "since anti-venin exists, I can risk a snake-bite".
The entry and interaction of such terrible poisons as those contained in snake venom wreaks terrible damage even if life is saved by prompt treatment. Neelimkumar Khaire, a celebrated snake-handler of Pune, lost his arm to a saw-scaled viper bite. Romulus Whitaker, it is said, can no longer catch snakes because he has been bitten so many times, the next bite or its treatment will kill him! Bites from snakes having active haemolytic ingredients in their venom can cause loss of kidneys. Each snake-bite would involve necrosis, organ damage and many other horrible side effects. What kind of a life will that be – a cripple, an invalid, a dialysis patient – and all for the sake of an ego or carelessness or incompetence or all three?
If you still want to become a snake handler, first please see the destructive power of snake bites here :
And remember, these were those who LIVED!
Understand that this is a very dangerous business and then and then alone get involved with it.
If you or an acquaintance is bitten by a snake, what should be done?
First of all do not neglect it, even if you think or know the snake is non-poisonous, even if the skin does not appear to be broken. Don't even consider the old tourniquet thing, cut and suck, ice-therapy, the PIM method or "Jadi-buti" treatment. Get to medical aid as soon as possible.
While moving a snake-bite casualty to hospital, do it RIGHT by following the the latest national first aid treatment recommended – based around the mnemonic : "Do it R.I.G.H.T." : –
It consists of :
R. = Reassure the patient. Seventy per cent of all snakebites are from non-venomous species. Only 50% of bites by venomous species actually envenomate the patient.
I. = Immobilise the bitten limb in the same way as a with fractured limb. Use bandages or cloth to hold the splints, not to block the blood supply or apply pressure. Do not apply any kind of compression in the form of tight ligatures, they don't work and can be dangerous!
G.H. = Get the patient to Hospital immediately. Traditional remedies have NO PROVEN benefit in treating snakebite.
T. = Tell the doctor of any systemic symptoms such as ptosis that manifest on the way to hospital.
To read more :
- Indian National Snakebite Protocol 2007.
- Guidelines for the Clinical Management of Snake Bite in the South-East Asia Region. (Gives details of this protocol from WHO)
- Snakebite Management in Asia & Africa – A guide to snakebite in the key areas for mortality & morbidity.
None of this is meant to discourage you dear reader from being interested in snakes – we want all Indians to be educated about snakes.
If you are interested in snakes – that's great! Watch Animal Planet, Discovery and National Geographic channels on TV. Get a good book, learn about them, their habits, identifying the species and their wonderful way of life. If you would like to learn how to handle snakes, go to snake-parks where carefully supervised handling may be permitted. Get to know snake rescuers and accompany them to snake rescues.
Most important of all – be a "sarpamitra" i.e. a friend of snakes. Fight blind belief and educate your family, friends and neighbours that snakes do not drink milk or have jewels embedded in their heads. They do not have photography in their retinas that they retain after death and transmit to their mates who then search that person out for revenge in the best Bollywood tradition. Prevent the blind killing of snakes, help them escape to safety.
Snakes are dangerous creatures but not so much to the common Indian who fears snakes but more so to those who choose to handle them with inadequate knowledge and experience. It would be wise to heed the words of Dr. Ian D. Simpson of the W.H.O. Snakebite Treatment Group who is one of the prominent snake-bite treatment experts of South Asia :-
"India has no shortage of amateur expert snake catchers/handlers. India also has the world's highest mortality rate from snakebites. The two are not entirely unconnected. Its nothing like it is on the T.V. The snake has to be lucky just once. The snake catcher has to be lucky every time!"
See also
- Snakebite: it's not just about the victim – Vishal Santra (more…)


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|WARNING: This is NOT the True Godzilla™!
"I sent him to live in the Sydney Opera House!"
"I also send his ass to the Sydney Opera House!!"
"I knew that tuna-head wasn't enough to match!"
"You bastard! I already screwed New York!"
"He was our best agent."
"He's dead! Now's my chance!"
GINO (Gay Idiots No Orange juice), Zilla, French Godzilla Tuna-Head or Shitzilla (born in 1998, died in 2004) is the cheesy, load-of-crap ripoff of the real Godzilla. We don't know exactly where he came from, but we're pretty sure it was somewhere around the French Polynesian islands somewhere. We think he is the illegitimate child of either Oprah or Barney the Dinosaur. Yeah, it must be Barney. he's height over 60 meters and 90 meters long, But then again it could be just some stupid iguana. Imagine that, Billy Mays slapping an iguana. Oh... oh, wait...no. NEVER imagine that. Ever.
Zilla's conception occurred in the brains of those gay arch-idiots Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. Please note that this creature is NOT a fat guy in a rubber suit, or the original Godzilla, and he has subsequently been caught for his vile crime of impersonation. He is currently serving time in the Sydney Opera House, mopping the floors and getting his eardrums blown out by the sumo singers.
We really have no idea where on earth this stupid beast came from, but apparently some knuckleheads were really dissatisfied with the
fat guy in a rubber suit true lord of the universe himself, and decided to remake it with that load-of-crap CGI.
We're not even sure when he first appeared, but in 1996, after the much crapped-upon Independence Day came out, the two gay partner-director/producers Roland Emmerfuck and Drag queen Devlin decided they needed a better film, one with a lot more CGI and less cool special effects. After stowing away on a Japanese freighter, they landed in Japan, where they found Godzilla himself sleeping. Not wasting the opportunity, they quickly stole Godzilla's film rights and rushed back to America via a giant octopus.
Finally, with the stolen plans to the Death Star, they proceeded to produce the Greatest Film Ever Made in 1998, Godzilla, on the Polynesian Islands.
Zilla's abilities are few and far between, and probably the lightest in the galaxy. Here are a few:
- Radioactive Kaboom spray
- Tuna Breath
- Fire breath
- Champion of the featherweight wrestling championship
- Can run up to 40 mph
- Not being retarded as Batista
- Leaving a burning pile of OxiClean on your yard
- Having 20,000 illegitimate children with himself. Only one did not inherit his dumbass ability
- Buying 160 sticks of "Suicide Putty" after killing a bunch of people
- Being beaten by King Kong to New York
- No dick
Early life[edit]
American Godzilla was born from an egg on the Polynesian Islands, when Billy Mays and the ShamWOW guy discovered this 5 foot, 6 inch egg that was laid by a cannibal guy, or possibly Iggy the iguana. It pains us to have to write this, but it's the truth and we cannot suppress it. At first, they called him "French Godzilla", but when the U.S. media got a load of that, they decided to suppress it (unlike us, your perfectly honest newscasters) and called it "Godzilla", dropping "French" out of it. Later, followers of the original Godzilla gave him the name "American Godzilla", so no one would confuse him with Godzilla. But all those gosh-darn Americans did.
At first he was fairly small and very polite, but when Billy Mays let loose with a huge radioactive, 140-meter tall scoop of OxiClean detergent he caused all the iguanas on the island to mutated into gigantic, 70-meter tall, OxiClean-like copies of Jay Leno. Thus the beginning of French Godzilla.
Getting his first job[edit]
French Godzilla got sent to the local military school to learn how to handle a gun, but after he accidentally shot and stomped the head instructor, John Wayne, he was expelled, along with a lot of gas. Distraught, French Godzilla took a job at the local army base shovelling radioactive OxiClean piles (most of which was his fault, BTW). However, after he poured a 50-meter scoop of OxiClean on the head of the base, Napoleon Dynamite, he was immediately fired. Angry now, but still not too angry, he was hired as a lowly technician inside a radioactive plant. But when he leaned on the lever that said "Do not lean on lever", that was the end of that. Kablooey.
Angry now, French Godzilla swore revenge on all humanity. After coming into contact with the Al-Qaeda he trained vigorously in the art of buying 160 sticks of Suicide Putty after killing a bunch of people. After months of hard training and becoming a Nazi, French Godzilla returned to his home to show case his abilities to his friends and family. With one spray of Kaboom!, he caused a gigantic nuclear explosion which blew away the whole islands, and swam off seeking to destroy New York City.
Close encounter of the first kind[edit]
One dark, stormy night, a Japanese cruiser (which was later misidentified as an American cruiser) was out on the Pacific Ocean, lights and music ablazin', when suddenly the first mate spotted a gigantic wave headed toward the boat. He tried to turn, but the wave hit it side on. This was thought to be a rogue wave, but it was actually the result of turbulence caused the French Godzilla's big spray of Kaboom! cleaner. The boat tipped over and the cook was nearly stabbed to death by knives flying off the ceiling (what the hell were they doing on the ceiling, anyhow???)
The boat capsized and caused a bunch of passengers to have to band together to get to the "top", but that's another story.
Close encounter of the second kind[edit]
Later on, giant radioactive footprints (followed by giant radioactive great big piles of OxiClean detergent) were discovered in Costa Rica and Panama, and some little nerdy job named Kip Dynamite was sent to investigate. But by the time he got there, the radiation was so strong it mutated him, causing him to turn into the Incredible Hulk every time he ate hot dogs. So that was the end of that...
Besides, they turned out to be giant footprints from some big Brachiosaurus with a large tail, and we never knew what became of it, because Dug the dog destroyed the whole investigation just by talking nonsense... (he startled the commander while he was placing explosives, and he screamed and blew the whole shed and consequently all the vehicles apart)
Close encounter of the third kind[edit]
One dark night, in a cornfield right beside the ocean, a man is sleeping in bed when suddenly he hears the bench on the front porch start to rock. Then the windmill starts moving. Then the lawnmower starts up. Then he sprays Kaboom! on an entire building. Then, whaddya think happened? A big UFO came and beamed him up? WRONG! Suddenly his cabin exploded into flames, because French Godzilla had come along and dropped a gigantic bottle of Orange Glo on it.
Following this, he sunk three fishing boats (he thought they were transporting ice cream, his favorite food), and then pulled some poor little fisherman's pole into the water. French Godzilla didn't mean no harm, but when that blasted hook caught in his tongue he got so mad he tore that whole flipping dock apart.
French Godzilla actually attacked Tokyo (or some other obscure Japanese town), but this was once again misinterpreted as an American town, and was replaced with New York City. By this time, French Godzilla was really mad, so he started stomping all over the city, blowing up the World Trade Center and a bunch of other buildings with his fire breath and spraying Kaboom! all over the fish markets. However, things got really out of hand when our friend heard the OxiClean commercial going by. Since he just loved OxiClean, he had to follow it and consequently ended up blowing up more trucks and stomping more pedestrians and stepping on more Burger King restaurants and blowing up skyscrapers with his radioactive OxiClean scoops.
After this, French Godzilla overwhelmingly made people shocked, so he became the source of the 9/11 attacks and ruler of the fallen Twin Towers, forcing all the citizens to adapt to primitive ways, including worshipping giant statues shaped like the ShamWOW guy, and sacrificing their best ShamWOWs, Slapchops and cow poop to him. From then on, his title "French Godzilla" was dropped, and he became either "American Godzilla" or "Emperor Zilla".
Revolt and Overthrow[edit]
American Godzilla got so content drinking Duff Beer and chicken huffing and eating salmon he never realized that a revolt was being planned. One day, while talking with his famous ally, Chris Bores, American Godzilla heard the ice cream truck go past. Bores thought it was the Wii, so they both went after it. However, it was a trick: the truck took them to the Brooklyn Bridge, where the two got intertwined in the suspension cables. They were then forced to listen to the most horrible song on earth, "Crank Dat", (and who was behind it all? Ned Flanders!) and consequently both their heads violently exploded, blowing up the Brooklyn Bridge and the rest of New York.
However, it became apparent that at least American Godzilla survived somehow, but Bores died... Flanders definitely survived, as he is unkillable (he possesses the terrible "Diddly-izer G-1"), and he must have regenerated AG. When Godzilla found out about this cowardly evil who had been impersonating him all this time, he decided it was time to put a stop to it. And none too soon, for a Klingon invasion was underway. Commander Pteranodon sent hundreds of dinosaurs to attack major cities all across the globe, putting them all under his control.
American Godzilla was hesitant at first, but when the prospect of a world-dominating missile (the Omega-Genesis Missile) was presented, he fell for it at once and attacked Sydney. However, Godzilla was waiting for him there. With one great Tail Whip of Justice, he sent the drunken politician into the Sydney Opera House, where he was forced to listen to "Crank Dat", played by the actual rapper (yes, Ned Flanders was even responsible for the whole incident), and once again causing his head to explode. Pterodactyl, in a drunken rage, gave him the new name "Tuna-Head". A T-rex, who was also under Klingon control, came to his comrade's aid, but Godzilla and Flanders battled him before he could arrive. A re-animated Chris Bores tried to escape into space, but Godzilla followed and hurled the Dark One himself into the sun. He was never seen again.
How To Combat Giant Mutated Lizards (e.g. Zilla)[edit]
A giant mutated lizard is never an easy opponent, being about 400 feet tall, big, strong, and generally quite badass and better than you. But it isn't all doom and gloom, for giant mutated lizards are easily destroyed! The 1998 "film" Godzilla is in a fact an international educational video on what to do when giant lizards attack.
How to Combat The Lizard: by Majic Johnson
- Be confident; be strong. Remember, it's still a pathetic iguana underneath that great, radioactive, hulking exterior. You're a human, aren't you? You're better than every other failed species on this planet. Just because it's 400ft tall and could easily destroy you doesn't mean the battle is lost!
- Ensure you have trucks of fish nearby. Zilla may eat these fish, but the smell should really put it off attacking your city. After all, wouldn't you be put off attacking a city that stank of dead fish? And just remember, thats a lot of fish.
- Make it follow you onto a bridge. It's too stupid to fight it's way out of a suspension bridge, despite levelling half of New York.
- Mock his dick size. This will make him fall in to a depression which will cause him to killl himself.
- Failing all of the above, just bring along a BFG-9000; they can kill nasty demons in Doom, what's to say they won't destroy a hulking great lizard?
- Bring along a Cloverfield Monster and a deck chair. The two monsters should have a pretty awesome fight, and probably kill each other. (Two birds with one stone!)
- Or if all else fails, get Zilla's natural enemy, lawsuits.
And now you're all set. Using the advice above to the best of your ability, you will single-handedly save your city from massive, oversized lizards that would normally kick your ass.

subset: commoncrawl


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Attainable speeds
The attainable speeds listed in the product table are guideline values and are valid under certain conditions. For additional information, refer to Attainable speeds.
For bearings in the BTM series with a heavy preload (designation suffix DBB), the attainable speeds are 75% of the values for the same bearing with a light preload (designation suffix DBA).


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File:Dewan Plasma Dual Cannons icon.png
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- Adaptive Transphasic Torpedo
- Aux Phaser Dual Heavy Cannons
- Beam Array
- Bio-Molecular Photon Mine Launcher
- Bio-Molecular Photon Torpedo Launcher
- Bio-Molecular Warhead Launcher
- Bio-neural Warhead
- Breen Transphasic Cluster Torpedo
- Cannon
- Caustic Dual Plasma Beam Bank
- Caustic Plasma Beam Array
- Caustic Plasma Dual Heavy Cannons
- Caustic Plasma Turret
- Chroniton Flux Torpedo Launcher
- Chroniton Mine Launcher
- Chroniton Torpedo Launcher
- Crystalline Energy Torpedo Launcher
- Damage type (space)
- Dilithium Store/Reclaim
- Disruptor Quad Cannons
- Dominion Polaron Beam Array
- Dominion Polaron Dual Cannon
- Dual Beam Bank
- Dual Cannons
- Dual Heavy Cannons
- Elite Fleet Disruptor Beam Array
- Elite Fleet Disruptor Cannon
- Elite Fleet Disruptor Dual Cannons
- Elite Fleet Disruptor Dual Heavy Cannons
- Elite Fleet Disruptor Turret
- Elite Fleet Dual Disruptor Beam Bank
- Elite Fleet Dual Phaser Beam Bank
- Elite Fleet Phaser Beam Array
- Elite Fleet Phaser Cannon
- Elite Fleet Phaser Dual Cannons
- Elite Fleet Phaser Dual Heavy Cannons
- Elite Restorative Fleet Phaser Turret
- Experimental Flak Shot Artillery
- Experimental Hyperexcited Ion Stream Projector
- Experimental Railgun
- Hargh'peng Torpedo Launcher
- Herald Transphasic Torpedo
- Kelvin Timeline Phaser Emitter Array
- Kelvin Timeline Photon Torpedo Launcher
- Kentari Mass-Produced Missile Launcher
- Kumari Phaser Wing Cannons
- Mine Launcher
- Omni-Directional Antiproton Beam Array
- Omni-Directional Disruptor Beam Array
- Omni-Directional Phaser Beam Array
- Omni-Directional Plasma Beam Array
- Omni-Directional Polaron Beam Array
- Omni-Directional Tetryon Beam Array
- Omni beam
- Phaser Quad Cannons
- Photon Mine Launcher
- Photon Torpedo Launcher
- Piercing Tetryon Dual Beam Bank
- Piercing Tetryon Dual Cannon
- Piercing Tetryon Turret
- Piezo-Photon Torpedo Launcher
- Plasma-Disruptor Hybrid Beam Array
- Plasma-Disruptor Hybrid Dual Heavy Cannons
- Plasma Mine Launcher
- Plasma Torpedo Launcher
- Quantum Mine Launcher
- Quantum Torpedo Launcher
- Radiant Quantum Torpedo Launcher
- Rapid Reload Transphasic Torpedo Launcher
- Resonating Tetryon Beam Array
- Resonating Tetryon Dual Beam Bank
- Ship weapon
- Shuttle Weapons and Components
- Single Phaser Beam Array
- Solanae Dual Heavy Proton Cannons
- Temporal Defense Chroniton Torpedo Launcher
- Thermionic Torpedo Launcher
- Tholian Thermionic Torpedo-S
- Thoron Infused Quantum Mine Launcher
- Thoron Infused Quantum Torpedo Launcher
- Tractor Beam Mine Launcher
- Transphasic Mine Launcher
- Transphasic Torpedo Launcher
- Tricobalt Mine Launcher
- Tricobalt Torpedo Launcher
- Turret
- Twin Phaser Beam Array
- Vaadwaur Cluster Torpedo
- Vaadwaur Polaron Emitter Array Standard Issue-S
- Voth Transphasic-Chroniton Launcher
- Wide-Angle Quantum Torpedo Launcher
- Wide-Angle Voth Transphasic-Chroniton Launcher
- Wide Arc Antiproton Dual Heavy Cannons
- Wide Arc Disruptor Dual Heavy Cannons
- Wide Arc Phaser Dual Heavy Cannons
- Wide Arc Plasma Dual Heavy Cannons
- Wide Arc Polaron Dual Heavy Cannons
- Wide Arc Tetryon Dual Heavy Cannons
- Wide Arc cannons
- Withering Photon Torpedo Launcher


text:
Feb 02, 2016
Copper North Announces Private Placement
Vancouver, British Columbia - Copper North Mining Corp. ("Copper North" or the "Company") (TSX.V:COL) announces that it plans to raise up to $300,000 by way of a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement").
The Private Placement will consist of the sale of up to 10 million units (the "Units") at a price of $0.03 per Unit, each Unit consisting of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months from closing.
The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement toward completion of an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Carmacks Project, and working capital and general corporate purposes.
The Private Placement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and all securities will be subject to a four month hold period.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
On behalf of the Board of Directors:
Dr. Harlan Meade
President, CEO and Director
For Further Information
Dr. Harlan Meade
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 604.398.3451
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: www.coppernorthmining.com
About Copper North
Copper North is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company. Its assets include the Carmacks Project located in the Yukon, the Redstone Property located in the Northwest Territories, and the Thor Property in British Columbia. Copper North trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol COL.
This news release includes certain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the completion of the proposed Private Placement; the price of securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement; use of proceeds from the Private Placement; and proposed exploration and development activities and their timing. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, the timeliness and success of regulatory approvals, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, market prices, exploitation and exploration results, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and other exploration risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that the Private Placement will receive regulatory approval and will proceed as planned, the proposed exploration and development of the mineral projects will proceed as planned, market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and mineral prices, and any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
You can view the Next News Releases item: Thu Mar 10, 2016, Copper North Files National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for Carmacks Deposit
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text:
I'm Thinking of Suicide. How Can I Stop?
I'm thinking about suicide. With what is going on with my life, it seems to be the only choice I have. How can I stop?
– Jake*
If you have been thinking about suicide, get help right away.
When things are so bad that suicide seems like the only choice, it's a sign that depression, discouragement, or despair are strong. These feelings — plus a difficult life situation — can make it seem like there's no way out, and maybe even that suicide is the only choice.
Feeling depressed and trapped can make you feel like you have no other option when you really do have other choices. That's why you need support from someone who knows how to help people work through tough situations. A psychologist, psychiatrist, or other trained behavioral health professional can give you that support.
But how do you find one?
Talk to someone you trust as soon as you can, preferably a parent or other caring, responsible adult in your family. If you can't talk to a parent or relative, talk to someone like a coach, school counselor, religious leader, or teacher you trust. Start the conversation by saying, "I've been having a tough time lately, and I've been thinking about suicide. I need your help." Ask the person to help you find a counselor to speak with about your situation and your feelings.
If you need help finding someone to talk to right now, or if you are thinking about suicide, call a suicide crisis line (such as 1-800-SUICIDE) or a local suicide helpline. These toll-free lines are staffed by trained professionals who can help you without ever knowing your name or seeing your face. The calls are confidential. If you feel you're in immediate danger of hurting yourself, you can also go to the emergency department at your local hospital.
Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD
Date reviewed: May 2013
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.


text:
Longtime Garmin CEO Min Kao Steps Down
Min Kao, the co-founder and CEO of navigation company Garmin, is stepping down at the end of the year. The new head honcho is Clifton Pemble — who joined Garmin as an engineer in 1989, and has most recently been president and COO. Shares of Garmin were trading up slightly this morning. As Arik Hesseldahl recalled this summer, Kao had long resisted the encroachment of smartphones, dismissing them as a commodity business.


text:
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Need For Speed III
While Troy was practicing football I went to the High School track, right next to his football field and hammered out 800's. Man they are hard for me.
I lifted weights last night. I worked legs. DOMS was taking hold this afternoon so I was worried about my speed session.
I've been doing Yasso 800's:
After a 1600 warm up I was ready to roll. My goal: 8x800 @3:50.
The 1600's are warmup miles, the 400's are recovery laps. I kind of tried to aim for one recovery lap roughly the same speed as the speedy 800.
1600: 8:30
800: 3:40
400: 2:58
800: 3:43
400: 3:31
800: 3:45
400: 2:38
800: 3:48
400: 3:40
800: 3:41
400: 3:34
800: 3:52
400: 3:45
800: 3:51
1600: 8:30
I'm very happy with the workout.I did it! Yippee!! I kept on saying 'don't think about 8 x 800; think about one lap at a time' That thought worked well. Otherwise it was too overwhelming and too big and too fast for me.
I'm just not a fast runner. That's why I'm doing these speed workouts. So I can become faster..and damn, it's happening!
The bad part: the parents saw me on the track doing the workout. A few women asked some questions about my running, my favorite distances, etc. When Steve told them I run ultras their eye's glazed over and now I think they think I'm freakish. Hmmm..don't know that I've felt so strange about it before. I felt like I had to defend the fact that I run. It felt weird. They were asking how I can fit it in with everything else? Well, by running now, at football practice, while you are sitting in your chair. I still caught an hour of the practice. It is not like Troy was neglected in any manner. See, I'm becomming defensive..strange..
Maybe it is just the mood that I am in..my carb depleted brain that must have some food .. NOW!
5 comments:
Julie your 800's just ROCK! Zooming you are.
I suspect these folks are just jealous/insecure that they are not 1/2 as fit as you are. The amount of running (and other training you do) is virtually inconceivable to someone who can't even do the recommended 30 minutes a day of walking. They can't even say it's because you don't have kids or a job since you have both and still find the time. So....there just must be something wrong with ya! How dare you be just so much, well, BETTER. Else you could be getting hit with the ... do I need to run 50 miles a week to have HER body?! yikes. They maybe haven't seen the years you have invested in this or how hard you have worked to get where you are.
Definitely one perk of being in CO. People look at you funny if you DON'T prioritize fitness.
And finally, try not to take it personally. The US has a serious over-weight/obesity epidemic going on and our media is choosing to criticize our president for his daily EXERCISE habit. He is one of our most fit presidents ever. This is bad why?!
I cannot wait to see how fast your next marathon is....
- rachel86deborah said...
damn good blog, check out mine http://juicyfruiter.blogspot.com, comments always welcome!
- :) said...
Speedy, speedy...
Screw the people who look at us weird for what we do. I get the same looks here at the office when I am talking about a marathon. Maybe I should tell them, "At least I am not running ultra's like this girl I know..."!
Nice workout by the way!
- Tracy said...
OMG! You can go long AND fast. Awesome!!! Seriously, that's really impressive, way to go!
Awesome Yassos! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a BQ for you during Twin Cities!!!
They just don't know how to get out of their chairs, maybe they are the freakish ones ;)


text:
Ceglia v. Zuckerberg, — F.Supp.2d —, 2011 WL 1108607 (W.D.N.Y. March 28, 2011)
Well, maybe that title is a bit of an oversimplification. Technically the court said that Facebook's founder is domiciled in California. The issue came up in a breach of contract case against Zuckerberg and Facebook in federal court in New York.
Last year, one Paul Ceglia sued in New York state court, claiming he owns 84 percent of Facebook. Zuckerberg and Facebook removed the case to federal court. Defendants can do that if the court would have subject matter jurisdiction over the case. Since a breach of contract case arises under state law, there needed to be diversity jurisdiction in the case — that is, the parties must be domiciled in different states. (The amount in controversy must also be above $75,000. An 84 percent cut of a multibillion dollar company would seem to meet that criterion.)
Zuckerberg claimed that California had become his domicile since 2004. Ceglia challenged that assertion. In the ConnectU v. Facebook litigation, Zuckerberg had claimed New York as his domicile. And Zuckerberg had the burden of proving his change in domicile by clear and convincing evidence. The court found that such evidence existed, including the following biographical tidbits:
- He currently resides in California and has done so continuously since the summer of 2004.
- He has no other residences.
- He does not own real property in New York, California or elsewhere.
- In 2007, he purchased and registered a vehicle in California.
- He does not own or lease any other vehicles.
- Zuckerberg has paid California resident income taxes since 2004.
- He lists his California residence on his federal income tax returns.
- He has not filed taxes in any state other than California since 2004.
- Since at least 2007, he has been registered to vote in California and has voted in California.
- He possess a valid California driver's license issued in 2006.
- His bank and brokerage accounts list his California residence and his investment advisors are located in California.
- Zuckerberg receives his mail at a California post office box and at his Facebook office.
- Most significantly, however, he is the owner, founder and CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation with over 1,600 employees and a principal place of business within walking distance to his current residence in Palo Alto, California.
The court found that these facts overwhelmingly showed that as of June 2010 (when Ceglia filed the lawsuit), Zuckerberg had changed his domicile to California and intended to remain there indefinitely. Since diversity jurisdiction existed, the court ordered the case to remain in federal court.


text:
The short weekend is done. The "Sandy Watch" is on for what could be -- for our northeastern friends -- a storm event to be remembered for many years to come. So comes a pile of security/forensic and utility-minded links spill out below for the curious and information hungry.
Forensics and Security
Girl, Unallocated: Be Very Quiet... I'm Tracking Emails Through Headers - Girl, Unallocated Blog. The Girl has a great post looking at email headers and their bits and perils. One gem is a report (PDF) from Stroz Friedberg and a particular focus on email headers. The report as a whole is a great read and again provides a lesson in technical report writing and presentation as well as some forensics pushback on anti-forensics techniques. At 102 pages, it isn't a brief, but well worth the time to download and study.
The Girl's post reminded me of another great publicly-available report that addressed emails in a forensic investigation. In my GSD post Interesting Malware in Email Attempt - URL Scanner Links, I wrote the following bits at the end:
A recent Digital Forensics Case Leads post has mention of a super-fantastic investigation/forensic report involving anonymous emails. This is must-read material, not just in terms of the investigative methodology but also the way the report was composed and presented. Very clearly done! I'm keeping a saved copy of the report for future reference; both technically and as a report template. From the post via the link above:
"University of Illinois recently released a detailed investigation report (PDF) regarding anonymous emails allegedly sent by its Chief of Staff to the University's Senates Conference. The report is an interesting read, and also serves as a potentially useful model for those looking for report samples and templates."
How a Google Headhunter's E-Mail Unraveled a Massive Net Security Hole - Threat Level @ Wired.com. I almost overlooked Kim Zetter's post on how Mathematician Zach Harris -- as an exercise -- discovered a flaw in some providers user of a weak DKIM key to sign emails originating from them. Fascinating and short read.
DEFT 7.2 and DEFT english manual, ready for download! DEFT Linux - Computer Forensics live cd . New DEFT version out. Last one in x32 bits. Future versions will be strictly x64 flavored.
Xplico – Xplico 1.0.1 - Xplico new version release just dropped. From the brief post:
- nDPI integration
- performace improved
- FTP dissector improved
- Added the prism dissector
- CLI execution bug fixed
- PCAP-over-IP SSL encryption
- IRC dissector improved
- File reconstruction from Fragmented Payloads improved
- FaceBook Chat updated
- FaceBook Message (partial)
- HTTP without initial packets (packets lost)
- RTP dissector improved
- PCAP2WAV, RTP2WAV interface added
And don't forget! Now you can update/get via apt-get! for Ubuntu 11.04 and higher. Sweet!
sudo bash -c 'echo "deb http://repo.xplico.org/ $(lsb_release -s -c) main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 791C25CE
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xplico
LastActivityView - Nirsoft brand new utility! - Use this new tool to view the latest computer activity in Windows operating system. Nir Softer has some more details on his NirBlog: New utility that shows general computer activity. Could be useful for incident response and analysis and other "quick peeks" for key system activity indicators to narrow down the search.
FileAlyzer Portable 126.96.36.199 (detailed file analyzer) Released -PortableApps.com
Hacking KeyLoggers - Open Security Research has a great post that not only identified a USB keylogging device, but takes it to the next level in hacking it to determine the impact of the device and when it might have been dropped. Clever stuff.
Attacking TrueCrypt - The H Security: News and Features. Another interesting post that almost slipped by me. Interesting by itself but also shows the benefit of using "cascaded algorithms" in TrueCrypt to thwart current attacks…for now.
Restoration of defocused and blurred images - Yuzhikov.com. This is super cool. Vladimir Yuzhikov hasn't just done a proof of concept for de-fuzzing blurred imaged (either out of focus or those blurred with a mathematical algorithm), no, he has actually released a free Windows app to demonstrate the possibilities. Besides images, text that is out of focus can be unblurred as well. This is very fascinating and could assist investigators facing images and other digital files with blurred faces or content. It's not exactly easy or guaranteed to work, but it is very promising start and Vladimir notes he is continuing development and refinement. Read his work please and snag the download.
Google Drive opens backdoor to Google accounts - The H Security: News and Features . Quoting from the post, "The Windows and Mac OS X desktop clients for Google's Drive file storage and synchronisation service open a backdoor to users' Google accounts which could allow the curious to access a Drive user's email, contacts and calendar entries." read the post for more info. As usual it seems to be a convenience versus security trade-off again. Choose your cake wisely. I stick with using only the web interfaces and pass on the client versions of these cloud-based storages services…for now.
The TinyApps bloggist has been hard at work digging out great tips and techniques for importing the virtualized "Windows XP Mode" into popular virtualization software. As always, the posts are impeccable with lots of details and supporting source documentation for additional study and research.
- Import Windows XP Mode into VMWare Player - TinyApps.org blog
- Import Windows XP Mode into VirtualBox - TinyApps.org blog
- Must-have tool for VirtualBox users - TinyApps.org blog.
Oracle VM VirtualBox - Version 4.2.4 just dropped…by the way. I almost missed it were it not for my RSS feed filters. See the changelog for more details. And be sure to grab the 4.2.4 VM VirtualBox Extension Pack as well.
Miles' posts reminded me of an earlier GSD summer post Virtual Solutions and his great post comment guiding me to getting MS's IE VirtualPC images running in Virtual Box.
How to run Microsoft's IE VPC images in VirtualBox
ievms - Automated installation of the Microsoft IE App Compat virtual machines
Browser Plugin Update Time…Again.
Yes dear readers, it is "Jack and Jill" time again. Bother.
Adobe Shockwave got updated, as of this post, the newest (Windows) version of Adobe Shockwave is currently 188.8.131.528.
- Adobe - Adobe Shockwave Player - direct download
- Adobe - Security Bulletin: APSB12-23 - Security updates available for Adobe Shockwave Player - Adobe
- Adobe patches 6 critical security flaws in Shockwave - ZDNet
- Adobe fixes critical Shockwave vulnerabilities - The H Security: News and Features
Adobe Flash was updated as well. Newest (Windows) version is currently 11.4.402.287.
- Adobe - Flash Player - version information
- Adobe releases 25 critical Flash patches - The H Security: News and Features
- Adobe - Security Bulletins: APSB12-22 - Security updates available for Adobe Flash Player - Adobe
Java also got a quick update to both build versions. Windows Java updates are available in 1.6.0_36 and 1.7.0_09.
- Java SE 6 Update Release Notes - Oracle
- Java SE 7 Update Release Notes - Oracle
- Java SE Downloads - Direct download
Trying to figure out if all your browser plug-ins are current can be a super-pain for the inexperienced and geekless.
My go-to recommendation remains to pop over to Qualys BrowserCheck in each of your installed web-browsers, be it Chrome, Windows IE, or Firefox. Alas, Opera, Safari, and other browsers are not currently supported, however a check in one of the supported browsers may quite likely uncover a outdated plug in, patching it may fix the others in the process. For a backup check, hope over next to The Secunia Online Software Inspector for a second opinion.
If you want a good all-in-one location to manually download your plugs, check out Browsers and Plugins Downloads over at FileHippo.com.
Utility and SysAdmin Finds of the Week
Defrag Tools: #13 - WinDbg - Defrag Tools @ Channel 9. New video on Sysinternals tool usage; specifically integrating Debugging Tools for Windows.
Case of the CertUtil Import Refusing The Correct Password - chentiangemalc. Great practicum post on troubleshooting a strange password error where the password was correct but not being taken.
SpeedyFox - Boost Firefox,Skype,Chrome,Thunderbird in a Single Click! - CRYSTALIDEA Software . It has been forever…like dinosaurs roaming the earth eras ago…since I last saw any post anywhere on speeding up a pokey Firefox browser by "optimizing" the JSON databases. This is a dead-simple process to improve launch-time for a well-used Firefox browser. It's been months since I last optimized mine. When I went to run SpeedyFox, my favorite tool to do so, I wondered if there had been an updated release. My version was at least a year old. Happily I found there was a newer version, and that it now supports optimizing Chrome-based browsers as well. It remains available as a free edition. Current version is 2.0.3 but while I was sleeping, the developers have been adding support for Skype, Chrome (including SRWare Iron and Pale Moon), Mozilla Thunderbird, and Firefox (including Epic Browser). There is a Mac version (Firefox only) also.
If you use Firefox/Chrome/Thunderbird, stop, drop and run right now! Did I mention it supports custom paths to your browser profiles so you can optimize portable versions on your drive/disks? Sweet baby Jebus!
CR2 Converter - I shot a lot of photos for Lavie and her family last weekend with the Canon 5D Mark II. Pops asked for copies and when I was getting ready to pass them off, I realized I had not changed the setting from "RAW" only to RAW+JPEG. So I had over 300 digital images in RAW .cr2 format that his computer cannot read and that are not really a practical format for him anyway to use. Sure, I could batch-convert them in Lightroom/Photoshop, but I really just needed to get them quickly on a CD for him. I have more than a few RAW freeware tools for tweaking individual RAW file images but that was too time-consuming to use. Luckily, with just a bit of Google diving, I found the freeware Canon RAW Image Converter "CR2 Converter". It supports batch-conversion and did an acceptable job for this task. My i7 x64 8 GB RAM system chewed through converting the files in no-time. To my eyes the resulting images were a bit lightly purple-tinted…not bad or unpleasant but definitely noticeable when compared to the RAW file. Nothing that some simple color correction can't fix if really important. For Pops it wasn't but YMMV. I wouldn't use it everyday for batch processing but for quick-n-dirty RAW .cr2 to JPEG/JPG/GIF/BMP/PNG/TIFF conversions it is a super time-saver. Tuck it away for when needed in a pinch.
Cheers and hopes and prayers for the very best across the north-east seaboard as Sandy rolls in.
--Claus V.


text:
Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 / Bombay)
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The restless soul to open sea aspires,
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text:
A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
3 Up, 3 Down: Minor League Edition
3 Up...
1. Travis Wood
No one in the system had more helium this year than Travis Wood. He already had the best change-up in the system, but when he scrapped his curveball in favor of a cut-fastball his performance went to the next level. Even the word "dominant" doesn't seem to do justice to Wood's double-A performance. In 119 innings he posted an epically low 1.21 ERA. At triple-A, his performance wasn't quite as strong, but he still acquitted himself nicely.
While there has been talk of Wood challenging for a rotation spot right out of spring training, he would likely benefit from the Reds conservative development philosophy. Sending him back to triple-A to gain more experience against advanced hitters and ensuring that he can repeat his success is what is in the best interests of the organization.
Wood stepped up at the right time and provided another potential impact pitcher in a system in need of them. His emergence also alleviates some of the pain generated by the departure of Zach Stewart.
2009 was a make or break year for Wood and he made the most of the opportunity. He is definitely the biggest mover up the prospect ranks.
2. Chris Heisey
Heisey was the second biggest mover in the system in 2009. He exploded at double-A Carolina, posting a slash line of .347/.426/.572/.998 and slugging over .500 for the first time in his career. Heisey also posted the best K/BB ratio of his career at double-A, walking as many times as he struck out (34/34).
Heisey didn't fare as well as Wood upon his promotion to triple-A, as his performance fell off the table. His K/BB ratio fell to 43/14 and his slash line to .278/.323/.465/.789.
Prior to the 2009 season, I had Heisey pegged as a likely fourth outfielder type. He struck me more as a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type player whose age worked against him.
At this point, I'm not entirely sure what to make of him. Was it a true breakout season? Or was there just something in the water at double-A Carolina this year?
Despite Heisey's breakthrough season, part of me still pegs him as a 4th outfielder type. However, it's difficult to overlook his defensive ability, which may be his ticket to a starting job at the MLB level. If his glove were to relegate him to a corner slot, then his offensive game might not be enough to earn him consideration for a starting job.
It remains to be seen whether Heisey has a future as a starter or even in the Reds organization, but he certainly has redefined his prospect status heading into 2010.
3. Alexis Oliveras/Josh Ravin
No one else leaps easily to mind, so I'll go with two personal favorites in this slot. While neither was an unqualified success in 2009, both took steps forward.
Oliveras was coming off of two consecutive seasons in the Gulf Coast League and needed to show that he could handle more advanced competition. He hit a respectable .270/.326/.352/.678 for the Billings Mustangs and was subsequently promoted. The promotion was part of the chain of events that resulted from the promotion of Yorman Rodriguez. When the move was announced, I had my doubts that Oliveras was ready or actually earned it. Still, he quickly proved up to the task, hitting .307/.317/.443/.760 for low-A Dayton. The obvious question on Oliveras is whether he'll hit for enough power or develop enough on-base ability to become an impact prospect. The jury is still out.
As for Ravin, he finally took a step forward in 2009. In 81.0 innings for low-A Dayton, Ravin posted a stellar 3.67 ERA to go along with a 7.3 K/9 and a much improved 4.4 BB/9 mark. He was really having a fine season and showing marked improvement with his command and control when he was derailed by elbow soreness. It was a much needed positive step for Ravin who reestablished his prospect status, but one that could have been significantly better if he had managed to avoid injury. Still, he could be in line for a breakout 2010 season.
3 Down...
1. Chris Valaika
It was a disastrous season for Valaika in all respects. He has always been an aggressive, early count hitter, but his K/BB ratio fell to 76/16 and his slash line down to .235/.271/.344. He rebounded a bit in August, but his prospect status undoubtedly took a hit in 2009.
There is now a cloud of uncertainty hanging over his offensive game, which when added to his positional uncertainty makes 2010 a huge season for Valaika.
2. Neftali Soto
Soto experienced his first taste of adversity at the professional level in 2009. After consecutive impressive seasons in 2007 and 2008, Soto simply didn't produce at high-A Sarasota, posting a pedestrian slash line of .248/.281/.362/.643. His walk rate actually improved over his performance at Dayton. In addition, his line drive rate was a stellar 23%, which likely means his BABIP of .286 was too low and rather unlucky.
Personally, I don't view his struggles in 2009 as indicative of future performance. I see it as a young player facing more advancing pitching in a very tough environment for hitters. Soto still has the sweet swing, the impressive hand-eye coordination enabling him to make consistent hard contact and square up the ball, and the substantial raw power to be a big time hitting prospect.
I expect better things in 2010, even if the Reds send him right back to Sarasota.
3. Daryl Thompson
Thompson may have completely sunk his prospect status in 2009. After a strong 2008 in which he managed to reach the majors, Thompson struggled with performance and injury issues in 2009. Given his unorthodox, very funky mechanics and max effort pitching style, his injury problems shouldn't be a surprise.
Still, if he can't demonstrate greater durability, then he'll likely never receive much of an opportunity at the MLB level. He's still young enough to carve out an MLB career, but he needs to get back on track in 2010.
4 comments:
good post, i think you could throw logan ondrusek into that oliveras/ravin spot. He went from non prospect to possibly the best rhrp prospect we have. he absolutly dominated AAA.ReplyDelete
Also you could put matt klinker in there, i think he improved very well also
o and for the down section, you could mention lotzkar. He was top 3 pitchers in our system, and now who knows where he is.ReplyDelete
also you could throw in juan duran, although he is still very young. also alex bucholz had a very disappointing season.
Just a few guys i figured we could talk about, not trying to criticize your list or anything.
Hey Smitty,ReplyDelete
Thanks for the comment. I do appreciate the feedback and other ideas on the topic. The back and forth discussion always helps flush out the issue a bit more.
I agree on Matt Klinker, who had a nice season and could be a good pick for the 3 slot on the list. As for Logan Ondrusek, I'm just not sold quite yet. I'll need to see him do it again before I'll be convinced. An undeniably successful season, but I'm not sure it amounts to a true breakthrough to a new level of performance.
As for Alex Buchholz, he could certainly have been on the list. I suppose I'm willing to give him a pass because of his struggles with injury. Still, I was expecting much more than he showed at the plate in 2009.
As for Juan Duran and Yorman Rodriguez, both had noteworthy seasons, though for very different reasons. Still, I have a hard time making any kind of judgment, good or bad, on a 16 year old ballplayer, so I left them off the list. Given their circumstances, I'm just not sure either season is enough to give a clear picture of their prospect value. Both still have a long way to go before they reach the majors, so let's hope they keep improving.
im not worried about the young guys(duran/rodriguez)i think they will be fine.ReplyDelete
Im pretty excited that Leake pitched today and alonso hit one out. they had cozart playing second which was wierd


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Gotta love the web..
Just a quick update: Andy Lester read the original Combining ack-grep and xargs post and was so kind to point out a much better way to ignore unwanted files while searching i.e.
$ ack-grep --python --ignore-dir=tests/ -C 3 -w 'Message\('
as opposed to
$ find . -name \*.py | grep -v tests/ | xargs ack-grep -C 3 -w 'Message\('


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Self-shaded picture and blank piece of Pellon each measuring 11"x17". Iron transfer onto Pellon and still be able to iron two more images onto other surfaces.
Suggested SoftlyFlo colors used:
3121 White
3126 Brown
3137 Black
3142 Pine
3145 Lavender
3175 Egg Shell
3177 Army Green
3182 Golden Yellow
3185 Pale brown
3191 Deep Blue
3195 Baby Blue


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scathe (sk)
tr.v. scathed, scath·ing, scathes
1. To harm or injure, especially by fire.
2. To criticize or denounce severely; excoriate.
Harm or injury,
I have been to SubRosa and enjoyed it. Maybe the chef and you were both having a bad day.
For the record, I was speaking only in verbal terms! I'm a lover, not a fighter. Unless you talk in movie theater. Then I'll lose it.
If anyone was having a bad day on this particular visit, it certainly wasn't me. I was with my favorite group of friends, and we were all having a great evening drinking beer and wine, until the food arrived.
With the exception of the pudding, everything we tried was colossally bland. Even the meatballs, mushrooms, and spinach my gluten-free-eating friend ordered. Just not good food by any standard. As with all restaurants, chefs sometimes have an off night, and I always plan to go back and try a place I disliked again to see if it was a one-off or a true problem in the kitchen. If the next meal I have at SubRosa is good, I will certainly mention it in this write-up (which is an Impression, not a full Review, as I don't write those unless I've eaten almost everything on the menu).
But it really bugs me that SubRosa charges so much for their pizzas. Why would I spend $16 on their Margherita (which isn't even a Margherita at all) when I can go spend $12 on a fantastic one at Firehouse?
I agree with the author, the pizza here is just plain awful by any standard. As upscale pizza, it is inedible and disgusting.ReplyDelete
Good food I like very much !ReplyDelete


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Head softball coach Jeff Franquet has added Breanne Gleason to the Central Connecticut coaching staff for the upcoming year. She comes to Central following a pair of seasons on the coaching staff at the University of New Haven.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the CCSU softball program," said Gleason. "Coach Franquet has done amazing things here at Central and I'm very excited to have the opportunity to coach with him. From the moment I came to campus I knew this was where I wanted to be. I'm looking forward to working with the student-athletes here and being a part of the great tradition of Blue Devil Softball."
"Having Breanne on board is a great addition to our program," Franquet said. "We are looking for knowledge, commitment, loyalty and a great work ethic from our assistant coaches and Breanne fits the mold perfectly. She has a great knowledge of the game, she was a great pitcher and now is a great teacher."
Gleason, a 2010 graduate of New Haven, has spent the last two years serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater. During that time, she worked extensively with New Haven's pitching staff, while also assisting with recruiting and the day-to-day administrative duties of the program.
Gleason also served as the softball team's academic coordinator at New Haven. In that role she was responsible for overseeing the academic success of new student-athletes, weekly team monitoring and serving as a liaison with academic support staff.
During her playing career, Gleason was a standout in the circle and at the plate. She led the Chargers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program's best postseason run in 2010.
Individually, Gleason finished her career as the Charger's all-time leader in at-bats, doubles, pitching appearances, strikeouts, wins and innings pitched, and also finished within the top-10 in six other statistical categories. She was a two-time Third Team All-America selection, a four-time Daktronics All-Region selection and in 2010 won both the Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year Awards from the Northeast-10 Conference, becoming only the second player to earn both honors in the same season.
Also, she was the 20th Division II pitcher to record 1,000 career strikeouts and the 22nd to reach 100 victories. She also threw a perfect game during her career.
She began working toward her masters in business administration, while coaching at New Haven.
Gleason is a Connecticut native and attended Bristol Central High School.
Franquet added, "Breanne's excitement to be a part of our program and her energy and passion for the game are awesome and that is exactly what we are looking for on our staff. She will be a great addition to our Blue Devil family."


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To the untutored eye, it looks a red alligator handbag. Ah, that is where a Dallas auction house says you missed your mark.
Heritage Auctions announced that it has sold an Hermes Diamond Birkin handbag for $203,150 in bidding that ended Tuesday.
Heritage spokesman Noah Fleisher said the bag went to a collector who wished to remain anonymous.
Fleisher says the bag is made of crocodile hide and features 18-karat white gold, diamond-encrusted hardware. He says a similar bag without the jewels and in lesser condition was sold for $77,000 at auction in England a year ago.
Fleisher says the vivid red color, diamonds and mint condition enhanced the value of the bag auctioned Tuesday.
In all, four Hermes handbags sold at auction Tuesday for a total of $432,938.
More: HA.com


text: MILWAUKEE -- No confrontations. Duke Johnson Jr Jersey . One hit batter. Two stars on the bench. The Milwaukee Brewers withstood the early exits of outfielders Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun by pounding out 12 hits against Gerrit Cole and two Pittsburgh Pirates relievers in the teams first meeting since a benches-clearing brawl last month. Jonathan Lucroy hit a bases-loaded, two-run single and Marco Estrada had eight strikeouts through six choppy innings in the Brewers 5-2 win Tuesday night. "The other guys are getting on base," manager Ron Roenicke said. "When everybodys contributing it means were getting a lot of people on base through the lineup." Gomez scored the second run on Lucroys single in the third after getting hit by a changeup from Cole (3-3). No heated exchange of words on Tuesday, unlike April 20 when Cole and Gomez got into it on a play at third in Pittsburgh. Gomez and both managers had signalled they were over the ill will left over from a brawl that led to suspensions. Gomez even smiled at first after getting hit by the off-speed pitch in the third, and he scored three batters later on Lucroys bases-loaded single. Cole said he hasnt spoken with Gomez since the brawl, but that they did exchange nods before Gomezs first at-bat. "I think pretty much everybodys on the same page about this. I think weve all moved on," Cole said. Gomez left after the fifth with a tight back that began bothering him Monday. Braun was activated from the disabled list earlier Tuesday, and his departure after the sixth was planned as he gets acclimated in his return from a right oblique injury. Earlier Tuesday, third baseman Aramis Ramirez was placed on the disabled list with a pulled left hamstring. All those players down and the Brewers still scratched out five runs and the dozen hits throughout the lineup. Five came from reserves, including two apiece from the guys who replaced Braun and Gomez -- Khris Davis and the newly called-up Elian Herrera. "Everybodys contributing ... Its important to have that depth on the bench and have guys step up and get it going," Lucroy said. Neil Walker hit a solo homer that landed on the concourse beyond left-centre in the first to extend his hitting streak to five for Pittsburgh. It was one of six hits allowed by Estrada, who looked like he was having trouble much off the night locating his off-speed stuff. He needed 112 pitches to get through his outing, though Roenicke liked how Estrada missed low instead of instead down the middle when getting into trouble. "Threw some great pitches but just couldnt get it locked in where he could just go through an easy inning," Roenicke said. "He did a great job of making the pitches when he needed to and finished up with a real nice ballgame. Jean Segura added two hits, the second after a shot up the middle deflected off the mound and squirted in between first and second to allow Lucroy to score from second for a four-run lead in the seventh. Francisco Rodriguez tossed a hitless ninth for his 16th save, bouncing back from his first blown save on Sunday. Pitching has played a crucial role with Milwaukee racing out to a 25-14 mark and the NL Central lead -- all while enduring injuries to key hitters. Braun finished 0 for 2 with a walk, striking out swinging in the fifth with runners on second and third. Cole allowed seven hits, three walks and three runs in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander with a fastball that reached 100 mph struck out six. "He had to do some yard work tonight in a couple of those innings with men on base and he showed up well," Hurdle said about his developing young hurler. Notes: The Brewers challenged an out call on Lyle Overbays grounder that deflected off the mound with one out and a runner on in the seventh. The call stood after a review of roughly 3 1/2 minutes. ...... Gomez and Pirates OF Travis Snider, who exchanged shoves during last months brawl, ran into each other at a Milwaukee steakhouse during an off day Monday. "We shook hands, he gave me a hug and everything is cool. ... No hard feelings," Gomez said before the game. ... Pittsburgh sends Francisco Liriano (0-3) to the mound Wednesday against Milwaukees Wily Peralta (4-2). Kendall Lamm Jersey . This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. Drew Forbes Jersey . It all would have been for naught, however, had it not been for some clutch shooting in the fourth quarter by Kobe Bryant and a couple of equally critical hustle plays by Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol in the final minutes. http://www.cheapbrownsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-tigie-sankoh-jersey . He also had some help Monday night.Hibbert scored a season-high 29 points to help Indiana beat the Utah Jazz 97-86 Monday night, ending the Pacers six-game losing streak. HOUSTON -- Garrett Richards followed the worst start of his career with one of his best. He also a truly special inning, striking out the side on just nine pitches. Richards fanned nine to match his major league best, helping the Los Angeles Angels snap a season-worst four-game skid with a 4-0 win over Houston Astros on Wednesday night. Richards (5-2) bounced back from a terrible outing in his last start when he allowed five runs while getting only two outs. It was the shortest non-injury-related start of his career. "I definitely came into this game with a little chip on my shoulder," Richards said. "Last one was embarrassing. And thats not the pitcher I am." In the second, he joined Nolan Ryan as the only Angels pitchers to strike out the side on nine pitches.


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Monday, March 13, 2006
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Students will create a diorama that recreates a scene from one of the Native American regions. Students will create dream catchers. Students will simulate a teepee village on the playground using canvas fabric and bamboo stalks. Students will choose a Native American leader and research a biography and draw an illustration. Students will read various trade books regarding Indian tribes. The chapter in the text will be read. Students will color a map depicting Native American regions. Questions at the end of the chapter will be answered. Students will take the test provided by the text publishers. A culminating activity will be a celebration of Native American foods (corn?) that everyone can sample.
When are we going to learn that activities are not learning. Activities without content don't meet the standards/objectives. They are disjointed activities that are fun but have no learning value for the student unless accompanied by other components of instruction.
Every year it seems we have new catch phrases in education jargon. Some of the phrases are simply gussied up versions of edu-speak that have cycled through before. This year I am considered educationally literate if I can converse with other educators regarding differentiated instruction. This idea is taking a victory lap because it WORKS!
I was recently handed an article to review in our leadership meeting. My job is to review the article and pass it around to my team for their review. We are then to discuss the article at a team meeting. "Mapping a Route Toward Differentiated Instruction" by Carol Ann Tomlinson was first published in Educational Leadership in September, 1999.
In the article Ms. Tomlinson states that differentiated instruction is necessary to achieve equity and excellence in education. She also poses several questions that educators should ask themselves about the ways that we "do school" such as "Is it reasonable to expect all 2nd graders to learn the same thing, in the same way, over the same time span? Can we reconcile learning standards with learner variance?"
Differentiation occurs naturally in the classroom. We create seating charts based on the needs of the students. We group students for reading activities. We allow students choices in center type activities and choices of research topics. According to the educators in the ivory towers this is only scratching the surface of what is meant by differentiated instruction. As you can tell from my scenario I posed above I agree with them.
Ms. Tomlinson's articles goes on to present two very different types of classrooms. One teacher is very linear in use of the textbook, notes, study sheet, and test. Another teacher uses graphic organizers along with text. Visual aides such as pictures and diagrams decorate the room to add to the unit. Special celebrations are included in the unit where students can dress to emulate the time period and certain foods are brought in.
Neither of these classrooms are using differentiated instruction. The methods employed do not include the two main ingredients for successful teaching---student understanding and student engagement. They must truly understand what they are learning and they must achieve satisfaction in what they are learning. In the first classroom described above students are getting content but are not engaged. In the second classroom students are getting some satisfaction, but they do not understand what they are learning.
In a true classroom where differentiated instruction is occurring careful planning has taken place to support student success. The learning styles of each student should be taken into account. At the beginning of each year I utilize a learning styles inventory like the one found here (look in the right top corner) to assess the learning styles of my students. Teachers should plan for what students should know, understand, and be able to do at the end of a sequence of learning. Learning is differentiated to facilitate the goal. After assessment further differentiation strategies may be needed. Students use the adopted text as well as additional resources. Students take notes using graphic organizers and review games are utilized. Questioning in classes should range from the familiar and concrete to the abstract and unfamiliar. Other "activities" should include whole group planning, working, reviewing, and debating. Students are given projects to complete that include tasks that are completed at home and in class that can related to the cultural and social interaction of a particular time period. Not only do teachers work with students on data collection for these projects they also work with students on the correct manner in which to synthesize the data into a manageable project.
Find out more information on your own regarding differentiated instruction here, here, and here. The website, "A Different Place", provides performance based assessments here while these sites here and here provide reading ideas.
And remember…no more activities just because they're cute!
3 comments:
- "Ms. Cornelius" said...
I had a lot of fun today asking some teachers from a different building asking them how they differentiate instruction with the little checklists showing that they've done x number of minor assessments ("checklists") each week. I suggested they ask the administrators who have mandated this system the same question. The other question would be, "When do you actually teach anything if you have to checkpoint 7 times a week?"
Heehee. Feelin' snarky before spring break.
- kontan said...
clapping for you yet again!!! have I mentioned how much I love your writing? thanks SO much for the learning styles link! great stuff, GREAT stuff!
- Dan Edwards said...
Differential Instruction takes MUCHO time to prepare.....and is a real difficult thing to try to do with about 200 students per day. (I teach JHS)......ELL, RSP, behavior problem kids, regular kids, GATE kids......all in one happy class period


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Australia says more planes added to search for jet
PERTH, Australia — Search crews hunting for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 headed back out to a remote patch of the Indian Ocean on Friday, a day after leaders of the two countries heading multinational efforts to find the missing jetliner vowed that no effort would be spared to give closure to the families of those on board.
More resources were committed to the search Friday, with 14 planes and nine ships planning to scour a 217,000 square kilometer (84,000 square mile) expanse about 1,700 kilometers (1,100 miles) northwest of Perth, the Joint Agency Coordination Center overseeing the search said. Ten planes were involved in Thursday's search.
On Thursday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak flew to Australia for briefings on the search for the Boeing 777 and to meet with his Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott, whose country is overseeing the hunt in a desolate expanse of the Indian Ocean.
"It is a very difficult search — the most difficult in human history. But as far as Australia is concerned, we are throwing everything we have at it," Abbott said in a media appearance with Najib.
No trace of the jetliner has been found nearly four weeks after it vanished in the early hours of March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.
The coordination center overseeing the search described weather in the search area on Friday as fair, with visibility about 10 kilometers (6 miles) and cloud above the optimum search altitude of 1,000 feet (305 meters).
Najib, whose government has been harshly criticized by some victims' families for giving sometimes conflicting information about the flight and for the slow pace of the investigation, said everyone involved in the search is thinking of the families of victims who are waiting desperately for news.
"I know that until we find the plane, many families cannot start to grieve," Najib said. "I cannot imagine what they are going through. But I can promise them that we will not give up.
"We want to provide comfort to the families and we will not rest until answers are indeed found. In due time, we will provide a closure for this event," he said.
Najib met with Abbott at the Australian base near Perth that is serving as the hub for the search effort. They were briefed by Angus Houston, the head of the agency overseeing the search.
Although Australia is coordinating the ocean search, the investigation into the tragedy ultimately remains Malaysia's responsibility. Najib said Australia had agreed to be an "accredited representative in the investigation," and would work with Malaysia on a comprehensive agreement on the search.
Earlier this week, officials warned the investigation may never fully answer why the airliner disappeared. A dearth of information has plagued investigators from the moment the plane's transponders, which make the plane visible to commercial radar, were shut off.
Military radar picked up the jet just under an hour later, way off course on the other side of the Malay Peninsula. Authorities say that until then, its "movements were consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane," but have not ruled out anything, including mechanical error.
Police are investigating the pilots and crew for any evidence suggesting they may have hijacked or sabotaged the plane. The backgrounds of the passengers have been checked by investigators and nothing suspicious has been found.
On Thursday, the British navy's HMS Echo reported one alert as it searched for sonic transmissions from the missing plane's flight data recorder, but it was quickly discounted as a false alarm, the search coordination center said.
False alerts can come from animals such as whales, or interference from shipping noise.
The Ocean Shield, an Australian warship carrying a U.S. device that detects "pings" from the plane's flight recorders, was expected to arrive by Saturday.
No confirmed trace of the plane's wreckage has been found. Houston has said there is no timeframe for ending the search, but acknowledged a new approach will eventually be needed if nothing turns up.
Spotting wreckage is key to narrowing the search area and ultimately finding the plane's data recorders, which would provide a wealth of information about the condition the plane was flying under and the communications or sounds in the cockpit.
The data recorders emit a ping that can be detected by special equipment in the immediate vicinity. But the battery-powered devices stop transmitting the pings about 30 days after a crash. Locating the data recorders and wreckage after that is possible, but becomes an even more daunting task.
Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Associated Press writers Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, and Kristen Gelineau and Rohan Sullivan in Sydney contributed to this report.


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- Community Innovation Challenge: Lt. Governor Murray announced the second round of Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) Grants for FY 2013. $4 million will be made available to support local governments. The CIC grants will provide financial support for one-time or transition costs related to innovative regionalization and other efficiency initiatives in local governments. The application deadline is Friday November 30th. Website
Cape Cod Commission, Cape Cod towns and Nantucket received $500,000 grant for Digital Regionalization: Permit, License, and Inspection Automation (see application attached - 1st attachement). The Cape Cod Commission is planning to apply for a expansion grant in the second round of the Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant. They agreed to include interested towns on Martha's Vineyard in the application. If there are multiple towns interested they asked for a single point of contact. The County agreed they would provide the administrative help necessary to coordinate the application process with the towns. If your town is interested please contact Martina Thornton, County Manager asap.
The Cape is developing a software that would allow the towns to have some licenses and/or permits be processed by applicants on-line. They can fill out the form, submit, pay the permit fees on-line and track what is happening with their application and finally be notified that the application has been processed and print their permit or license. (see presentation attached - last attachment). Some are simple one department one stop -shop applications, like for dog licenses. Some are more complicated like building permits - where multiple boards and committees get involved. The software allows for it to be moved along without the need for the individual to go to town hall and submit with the next board... It would also check for unpaid taxes etc. so it would not allow for them to receive let's say building permit until they pay their taxes that are overdue.
Some towns are planning to use it for conservation commission, some for Boards of Health. Some technically advanced building inspectors are talking about using Ipad they would bring to the site and work with the system on-site for notes, pics etc. They already picked a developer of the software and now they are making sure that the system interacts with difference software that the towns are using - for finances (like Munic), for assessing (Vision) etc. so all data will be fed to the system and can be integrated as necessary. They will have standard forms available as part of the system, but there will be ability for each town to "personalize" it or change as necessary.
- More information about the Cape Cod e-permiting efforts is attached (second attachment).
- Priority Development Fund: DHCD Priority Development Fund grant program is a Notice of Funding Availability for planning activities related to expanding housing opportunities. The Priority Development Fund is a rolling application with no application deadlines. This program could be useful for towns considering development of affordable housing on town-owned property since the grant covers some preliminary planning activities such as engineering and site design. Website.