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The real power behind the
New World order lies with the
Bilderberg group. A consortium of
political, media industry and financial elite from around the world, the
Bilderberg group meets annually to make decisions that affect us all. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is a fact that this group exists, and it
is also a fact that they are having their annual conference in , right now, May 31- Chantilly, Va. June
3, 2012.
The true origins of the group go back further than most people realize. James P. Tucker, author of The Bilderberg Diary and pre-eminent expert on the group, has dedicated more than 25 years of his life to researching and exposing the group. According to Tucker:
"The roots of Bilderberg go back centuries, when international moneychangers would secretly manipulate the economy to enrich themselves and enslave ordinary people.
The Rothschilds of
and Britain Europehave met secretly with other financiers for centuries, as did the Rockefellers of . America
In the beginning, the Rothschilds were "Red Shields" because of the ornament on their door and the Rockefellers of
were " Germany Fields" because of their crops. Rye
One of the most significant pre-Bilderberg meetings took place in Jekyll Island, Georgia in 1908, when Nelson Aldrich (whose family later married into the Rockefeller family) Henry Davidson, of J.P. Morgan and Co.; Frank Vanderlip, of the National City Bank; Paul Warburg, of Kuhn Loeb and Co., and A. Piatt Andrew, assistant secretary of the treasury got together and hatched idea of pressuring Congress into creating the Federal Reserve.
By1954, the global elite decided a regular annual meeting was necessary. The first of these meetings was held at the Bilderberg Hotel in the
. The stated goal at the
time was to promote better cultural understanding between the Netherlands and United States Western Europe.
The annual conference is said to be the only Bilderberg event held. It is by invitation only and is generally less than 150 people. Most of the attendees are wealthy white males. Only a few women have attended. Some of the most notable: Hillary Clinton attended in 2008, Queen Beatrix of the
has been a frequent
attendee since 1998, and Queen Sofia of Netherlands was present from
2008-2010. Margaret Thatcher attended
once, in 1975, didn't like it, and was summarily removed from her office as the
Prime Minister of Britain. She later
told a reporter, that it was "a tribute to be denounced by them". Spain
Click HERE for a more complete accounting of the conference participants in the past and HERE for the roster of people currently attending the conference in
. Chantilly, Virginia
Click HERE for a more complete accounting of the conference participants in the past and HERE for the roster of people currently attending the conference in
Edited to add: Those whose names appear on these lists, especially more than once, are ENEMIES of freedom and FRIENDS of the
New World Order. It is
important that they be recognized as "the bad guys". Their word cannot be trusted. Their
intentions, no matter how noble they appear, are geared towards ushering in the
NWO. Expect to be manipulated and you will be immune to manipulation.
Intense security surrounds the conferences. Entire hotels are closed to any guests not on the Bilderberg roster. There has never been an official record or transcript of the meetings released to the public, and all attendees are completely sworn to secrecy. The mainstream media, as with all things juicy, controversial, and actually meaningful, has completely blacked out coverage of the events.
When the CEOs and owners of the major media outlets are invited to the party, of course, it makes it much easier to squash any story that tries to sneak out into the public eye. David Rockefeller thanked the press for their circumspection after the 1991 conference in
. "We are grateful to the Baden-Baden, Germany Post, the New York Times,
Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our
meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It
would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had
been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is
now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government." You
really can't announce your intentions for a New World Order much more blatantly
than that. Washington
Doesn't all this secrecy make you wonder what the wealthiest, most powerful 150 or so comrades are discussing in those conferences? These people have the power and money to make decisions that affect every person on the planet. This cartel of the "elite" is full of public eugenicists and depopulation proponents, like Bill Gates, David Rockefeller and Henry Kissinger. They are "king-makers, hand-choosing presidents and prime ministers, in order to fulfill their secret plans. In 2008, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama attended the conference. Days later,
dropped out of the race
for the presidency, Obama was elected, and Clinton subsequently became his
Secretary of State. Clinton
George H.W. Bush attended in 1985. He became president in 1988. Bill Clinton attended in 1991. He became president a year later. Tony Blair attended in 1993. He became prime minister of
in 1997. Romano Prodi
attended in 1999. Later that year he became president of the European Union
Commission. In 2004, Sen. John Edwards spoke to the group. He was later
anointed the Democratic vice presidential nominee by presidential candidate
John Kerry. England
Also well-represented are the thirteen old aristocratic families of the Illuminati. These families are called "bloodlines" in the NWO arena. They include the Astor, the Bundy Bloodline, the Collins Bloodline, the DuPont Bloodline, the Freeman Bloodline, the Kennedy Bloodline, the Li Bloodline, the Onassis Bloodline, the Reynolds Bloodline, the Rockefeller Bloodline, the Rothschild Bloodline, the Russell Bloodline and the Van Duyn Bloodline. Their purpose is to gain control of the economy, the religion and the governments of the world, allowing one group of "elites" to be in charge of the world's decision making, thus making those decisions benefit said group of "elites". For a look at the incestuous web of banking, politics, media and religion click on the names above.
Two "spin-off" groups with close ties to the Bilderbergers are the Trilateral Commission, a "discussion group" founded by David Rockefeller, and the Council on Foreign Relations, a foreign policy think tank and publishing company, geared to end national sovereignty. Nearly every
president has been a
member of the CFR, as has nearly every Secretary of State. US
Even more important than "who" the members are is what the goals of the Bilderbergers are. According to an article by Steven Lendman:
The Group's grand design is for "a One World Government (World Company) with a single, global marketplace, policed by one world army, and financially regulated by one 'World (Central) Bank' using one global currency." Their "wish list" includes:
-- "one international identify (observing) one set of universal values;"
-- centralized control of world populations by "mind control;" in other words, controlling world public opinion;
-- a New World Order with no middle class, only "rulers and servants (serfs)," and, of course, no democracy;
-- "a zero-growth society" without prosperity or progress, only greater wealth and power for the rulers;
-- manufactured crises and perpetual wars;
-- absolute control of education to program the public mind and train those chosen for various roles;
-- "centralized control of all foreign and domestic policies;" one size fits all globally;
-- using the UN as a de facto world government imposing a UN tax on "world citizens;"
-- expanding NAFTA and WTO globally;
-- making NATO a world military;
-- imposing a universal legal system
-- a global "welfare state where obedient slaves will be rewarded and non-conformists targeted for extermination."
So, basically, 150 people want to take over the world. They want to reduce the population by killing a huge percentage of us, and exercise iron control over the remaining "servant class." (Hint: that's you and me, assuming we survive the killing-off phase.) They intend to have one huge military to enforce their will, one huge treasury to handle all of their riches and one huge government to tax the peasants, feed the peasants and train the peasants.
Shamelessly, David Rockefeller, (again) a prominent Bilderberger and Illuminati family member, wrote about the Bilderberg Group in his memoirs.
"Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure – one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it."
The Bilderberg Group is said to have been responsible for the creation of the Euro. They promoted the European Union and are now working on their goal of North American Union between Mexico, the US, and Canada. The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) between the
and US was contrived at a 2005
Bilderberg meeting. Lenden called the agreement "another step toward global
integration… (that) won't stop until the entire world is unified under the
auspices and the political umbrella of a One World Company, a nightmarish
borderless world run by the world's most powerful clique." (The SPP has now
morphed into the North American Perimeter Security Agreement.) Canada
Whatever the plans are for this year's shindig, you can bet that Bilderbergers won't be trying to figure out ways to help their fellow man. When the working class suffers, the elite class prospers. When regular people are economically devastated, they are easier to control. When huge segments of the population die or are sterilized, there are more resources available to the elite. Conjectures as to the 2012 agenda include a planned pandemic, the presidential election, the Greek collapse and its effect on the Euro, and the world economic crisis. If those subjects aren't enough to keep you up at night, I'll leave you with yet another quote from Rockefeller.
"We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the
New World Order."
NinaO: Thanks :)


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The Golden Globes will air on NBC at 8 p.m. ET Sunday Jan. 13, but the fun begins long before.
"1st Look" goes behind the scenes with two special editions Saturday Jan. 12, taking a look at the excitement and craziness leading up to the Globes. "Talk Stoop" even leaves its Brooklyn perch to interview stars in Hollywood on Sunday, too.
Then, catch "1st Look LIVE on the Red Carpet" to see the stars as they arrive Sunday Jan. 13. "Access Hollywood's" Shaun Robinson hosts.
You can play along at home for "1st Look LIVE on the Red Carpet", using the second-screen app, zeebox. Download zeebox to your iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Then book to watch "1st Look LIVE on the Red Carpet."
You can vote on the night's best looks, see the night's best tweets; and go to photos of the stars in all their fashion hits and misses from years past. You can share with your friends and watch together.
Until then, visit our special Golden Globes section every day to keep up with news about the nominees.
Here's what to look forward to on this station before the Golden Globes begin:
- "1st Look: Red Carpet Ready:" What will this year's red carpet bring? Hear predictions and go behind the scenes with host Ali Fedotowsky, and hear from experts like Elle creative director Joe Zee; Fandago's chief correspondent Dave Karger; and EW's senior editor Meeta Agrawal. Watch: 7 p.m. ET Saturday Jan. 12 (check local listings in other markets).
- "1st Look: "Hollywood's Biggest Party:" The Golden Globes are months in the making for the folks who hand out the awards and the stars who win them. See the preparations for the Golden Globes dinner at the Beverly Hilton and see some of the wacky red carpet beauty regimes that make those stars shine. Watch: After "Saturday Night Live," Saturday Jan. 12.
- "Talk Stoop Goes Hollywood:" Cat Greenleaf leaves her Brooklyn stoop to talk with Golden Globes nominees. Watch: 5:30 p.m. ET, Sunday Jan. 13.
- "1st Look LIVE on the Red Carpet:" The big moment finally arrives and "Access Hollywood's" Shaun Robinson is on the red carpet, counting down with the biggest TV and movie stars as they make their way into the Beverly Hilton. Watch: 6 p.m. ET, Sunday Jan. 13.
At 7 p.m., red carpet coverage continues on NBC until show hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey kick off the Golden Globes telecast at 8 p.m.

subset: commoncrawl


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Q. Our family lives on a tight budget, but we always make ends meet. We have a wealthy relative who wants to give us charity. I don't want to take charity, but the money could help with the children's education.
A. Your reluctance to accept charity is easy to understand. Rabbi Yakov ben Asher, an authoritative 13th century rabbi, writes:
A person should always distance himself from [accepting] charity. He should afflict himself with discomfort rather than become dependent on others. And thus our sages commanded: Make your Sabbath like an ordinary weekday rather than becoming dependent on others. And even if he was an honored scholar and became impoverished, he should engage in his trade, even a less respected trade, and not became dependent on others. (1)
Likewise, perhaps your relative could have been more sensitive. The Tosefta (a collection of legal aphorisms from around the time of the mishna) teaches: (2)
Two brothers, or two partners, or father and son . . . can give their poor tithe one to another. Rebbe Yehuda said, misfortune befalls someone who gives poor tithe to his father.
A family member is a permissible and even a preferred recipient of charity; Judaism certainly affirms that "charity begins at home". Based on the verse that we should help "the poor person with you" (Exodus 22:24), the Talmud learns: "your poor take precedence over the poor of your city". (3)
However, any needy person should preferable be helped without giving charity directly, and this applies a fortiori to a parent. If at all possible, the father should be supported by the regular family budget, not from the charity budget which relates to him like a beggar. Maimonides writes that any poor person should preferably be helped by giving him a gift, or a job, so that he does not fall into the need for charity. (4)
While there is no reason for you to accept charity, there is no shame in having your son accept a gift from a relative for his education. Even the wealthiest people trade gifts. I think the best suggestion is to ask your relative to deem the money a gift to your son for his education, rather than as a charity donation. Since your relative can no longer take the money from his charity budget, that may make it impossible for him to help. But if the money can be given in a non-demeaning way and it can help you son's education I think that is the best solution.
SOURCES: (1) Tur Yoreh Deah 255 (2) Tosefta Maaser Sheni 4:7 (3) Babylonian Talmud Bava Metzia 71a; see also Babylonian Talmud Nedarim 65b; Bereshit Rabba on Genesis 2:18. (4) Maimonides' Code, Gifts to the Poor chapter 10.


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Grundfos offers pump solutions and system know-how that can help you design and build the most efficient commercial buildings, whether you need air conditioning systems, fire protection, wastewater handling, pressure boosting, or heating.
Whatever you need, call Grundfos as soon as you start designing.


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Seawater floods highways and low-lying communities near California beaches.
The cause: so-called "king tides" pulling the Pacific Ocean farther ashore than normal.
What is a king tide?
King tide is a layman's term used to describe one of the highest tides of the year. Besides producing higher-than-normal tides, experts say such an event -- scientifically known as perigean spring tide -- also results in some of the lowest tides.
What causes them?
King tides are natural phenomena. They occur when the Earth, moon and sun align and cause increased gravitational pull on the Earth's oceans.
How often do they occur?
King tides occur several times a year, repeating over several days, and can be predicted ahead of time. If a coastal storm hits during a king tide event, "the effects would be worse. You would have more coastal flooding in low-lying areas," said Stephen Gill, a senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
What is the origin of the name?
It's believed to have been coined in Australia and the South Pacific by locals to refer to an especially high tide. Its usage has crept into the United States and Canada.
Why the fuss?
In addition to the nuisance and potential damage, coastal residents in recent years have been encouraged to take photographs during king tides and share them on social media sites like Flickr. Environmentalists say this may help people visualize what rising sea levels might look like if predictions about the Earth's climate come to pass.


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Sideshore, with a touch side off.
pro rider rob kidnie on best wind directions for kitesurfing
Wave height is only one ingredient in a great wave session. Another is wind direction and it can turn an OK session into an epic everlasting memory. Everyone has their own preferred wind direction and mine is an 18 to 25 knot side shore wind.
I often dream about those sunny days pumping up my 7m Section and ...
heading out with my buddies on a Ripper 2 looking for those perfectly shaped, long, peeling waves. There is nothing better than parking my kite to focus on riding the waves like a regular surfer. On those perfect days, my sunscreen will be caked on an inch thick and I will ride for five or more hours before calling it a day. Unlike surfing, though, kiting saves me paddle time, let' me ride more of the wave and gets me on ten times the number of waves. And my trusty Section gets me out of those sticky spots like a poorly timed top turn off the lip.
And sometimes, I enjoy a wind with a touch offshore in it.
You are probably asking yourself whether kiting in offshore winds is safe and the short answer is no. So what attracts experienced riders to side-off and offshore conditions then? Well, an offshore wind grooms the face of the wave taking out the bumps. Kiting on butter smooth wave faces is not normal as strong wind, inevitably, brings choppy, messy, waves. It's a pretty special feeling very much like snowboarding in powder. And that is why people do it. If you do decide to search out side-off wind and glassy smooth waves, you must be prepared and have an escape plan.
Kiting in any offshore wind is potentially very dangerous and you really need to have a backup plan ...
should things not go the way you intended. For example, having a watchful boat or Jetski patrol is ideal. At One-Eye, in Mauritius, most of the local wave riders rid with a cheap mobile phone in a waterproof bag so they can call the local kite school for a rescue.
If you don't have a safety or rescue plan and the wind is blowing offshore, don't go out!
Leave side off conditions for highly experienced locals and enjoy onshore wave riding.
The most common wind direction is onshore or cross-onshore.
It is a safe wind direction that pushes you back to shore when you have kite issues. I really enjoy riding strapless in onshore 20+ kt winds because the wind pushes the board against my feet when I jump. Perfect! Light onshore wind and fast waves can be challenging because the wave will take power away from your kite. My tip for onshore kiting is fly a fast kite like the GTS4 or Section.


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Ben H.
Dec. 24, 1879
Feb. 15, 1925
Dec. 24, 1879
Feb. 15, 1925
Buried Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 31 December 2011.
According to his death certificate, Benhart Schneider was born in Kentucky and was the son of Benhart Schneider and Dena Univerzagt, who were both born in Germany. A news article in the Henderson Gleaner on Sunday, 15 February 1925, states that Ben Snyder, 45, died the day before in the store of Ivo Griffith in Henderson. Survivors included one brother with whom he lived and three half brothers and one half sister.
The 1900 Henderson County census shows Ben H. Schneider living with his parents and siblings at 1001 Clay Street, Henderson. He and his father were listed as coal miners.


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Román Sarmiento-Ana Canarias Ancestral House
(AKA Tisa) Sta Catalina St. Erected: 1859 (present owner: great-great-grandson Manuel Valencia Castro)
At the side of the interior stairway going up is etched 2 February 1859. The house has sometimes been described as a manor house, but there's no evidence now of a manor being around it. It looks simply like any big house in the town residential center, however imposing as it may have been compared to the others around it. The Sarmiento lands, or manor, must obviously be elsewhere.
And tisà is simply how the townspeople of Carcar refer to the house of Don Roman Sarmiento and his wife, Doña Ana Canarias since the red tile roof (tisà) identifies the house right away. While the second story wall are wood panels, the ground floor is all coral stone blocks, the same material as the church and very few other houses in the town. The coral stone base protected it from predictable floods and termites.
Termites must be the cause why no older houses of all wooden material, of which there must have been many in the centuries-old town, can no longer be found still standing in Carcar. The coral stone, too, must have distinguished the very rich people from the rest of the folks. Imagine, in the 1800s, living in a house that approximates the power of the church?
But while the stone blocks thus evoked power, the wooden intricacies on the second floor better displayed the wealth. The floor's alternate dark red and light wood planks greet a visitor coming up the stairs and his eyes are then led to the woodwork that are the ceiling panellings, the carvings on the doors to the rooms with the ventilation fretwork. Power and wealth. The furniture, the furnishings and the collections in the house, as these could only be selected and acquired through sophistication and travel, made up the culture.
His house alone confirms Sarmiento (c.1812-1885) as one of the most prominent persons in Carcar from the mid-1800s. Records indicate he was born in Cebu City (more specifically Parian), a mestizo Sangley with the pre-Claveria name of Roman Protacio (wife's was Ana Maria). He must already have had an ongoing business in Carcar before settling in the town for good since his son was already baptized here in 1839 at 3 days old (thus, probably born in Carcar) even while Roman was still considered a parishioner of Parian and still did not belong to any Carcar cabeza de barangay. His parents were Antonio and Dorotea Maria and had a known brother, Severo, also living in Carcar with his own family.
Roman Sarmiento became gobernadorcillo (mayor) himself of Carcar before 1857, probably the first mayor of the town (certainly the first in recorded history) to have come from Cebu City. Churchgoers to Carcar will not miss the marble lapida on the floor on the left nave from the main portal (near the door to the staircase leading to the loft) memorializing his and wife Ana Canarias's donation of the church organ.
The family itself has heard of reports that Roman's wife, Ana, came from Luzon. But there was a Canarias family in Carcar at around the same time, although a direct confirmation of Ana's being related to them has not been found yet. Furthermore, a contemporary of Ana, a Martina Canarias, was the wife of Mariano Sagolili, also a mestizo Sangley from Cebu City (presumably Parian), who must also have been the patriarch of the Sagolili family in Carcar. For all we know, the entire Canarias family of Carcar could have come from Luzon, although not with the surname yet, but the likelier story would have been Roman's getting smitten by a Carcar lass. As was Sagolili.
Anyway, Roman and Ana had four[1] grown children: Gregorio (married to Gertrudes Villanueva); Telesfora (married to Francisco Base Urgello); Manuela (married to José Carballo Osmeña) and Licerio (married to Severa Ybáñez)—and maybe all of them already born in Carcar, with Gregorio in 1839.
Manuela's husband, Jose Osmeña, was a son of Guillermo Osmeña and Manuela Carballo, both said to be already deceased by the time of Jose's marriage to Manuela in Carcar (1888). In the marriage, Jose was said to have been born in Binondo.
His father, Guillermo, was a lawyer and had a bufete at 18 calle Joló[2] (now Juan Luna) in Tondo. He figured in historical accounts first as a lawyer with other Cebu personages fighting for the retention of Parian as a parish and town, and also as the teacher of Andres Bonifacio in his (Guillermo's) Tondo escuela. The Osmeña lands in Carcar were managed by Guillermo's brother, Tomas, and presumably after Tomas by Jose himself. President Sergio Osmeña's mother, Juana, was a younger half-sister of Guillermo and Tomas and other siblings.
The Tisa house descended to Manuela, and then to her and Osmeña's only child, Catalina. Nyora Taring, as Catalina was called by the townspeople, was married to Dr. Pío Enríquez Valencia, from Paombong, Bulacan. The Valencia household was quite large and remarkable in that the children were named alphabetically from the eldest Alberto, then Benjamina, Caridad and so on, down to youngest Nilo.
Roman and Ana can be proud of their descendants some of whom, other than the Valencias, are the Gregorio Line–Air Force Col. Cesar Alegarbes, Roman (II) the sculptor and the Cacafranca and Varga families; the Urgellos of Cebu City and Carcar (including former Philippine army chief Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello who was himself born in Carcar) and Licerio's descendants.
In 1888, Don Gregorio Sarmiento declared a property for a house situated on the road to the pantalan of Carcar. Don Gregorio, stated as married, 47 years, hacendero, born and resident of Carcar with Cedula Personal (CP) No. 7, notarized his ownership of this house in the poblacion of Carcar; that the house was composed of "madera en piso y paredes de tabique principales con bajos su cocina alcobas" that he had constructed at his own expense. The purpose for the declaration was to obtain a title to the property. He also presented as witnesses persons he hired for the construction, in order to confirm his statements: Segundo Alesna (?), casado, 41, carpintero, born and resident of Carcar, CP No. 9; Lito Alesna (?), casado, 55, albañil [mason] y carpintero, born and resident of Carcar, CP No. 9; Pelagio Gutierrez, casado, 45, cantero [stone-cutter], born and resident of Carcar, CP No. 9.
The property was physically described as located on a solar (that he owns) and is bounded by: the lot of Ruperta Alegrado; Pedro Reyes; at the rear (detras) by lots of Gregoria Alcoseba and D. Mariano Paneda [sic]; he also stated that the construction costs were 500 pesos, including "empleados, materiales, and mano de obra"; the official witnesses and signatories were: D. Nicolas Veloso and D. Tomas Avila, both residents and principales of Carcar; and D. Rafael Lopez, resident of San Nicolas (Cebu Protocolos, Doc 142, 6/8/1888; 1386: S45-S47).
The present owner is Caridad's architect son, Manuel Castro. It was the determined efforts of Manny and his cousin Marc Van Zwoll (Leonora Valencia's son) that restored the house back to its glory days, and more. What the two did for their great-great-grandparent's house became the signal for the town to wake up and become more conscious of its cultural heritage. Power, Wealth, Culture. And the almost frantic care given to the restoration is appreciation for and appointment with History.
The Year 2009 celebrates both 150 years of the house and Gregorio Sarmiento's 170th birth anniversary (November 28). Something memorable is in order.
[1] At least three children died in childhood: Aquilina (d. 1850), Juan (1851-1851) and Sabas (1851-1851). A Eusebio was born 1853 and I have no detail for him after that.
[2] Manual del Viajero de Filipinas, 1875.


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Yanks Top Phils in Tune-Up, Burnett Perfect Through Three
Through 5 2/3 innings, the Yankee pitchers kept the Phillies off the bases. That is until Wilson Valdez smacked a line drive homer off Hector Noesi, a shot that landed over the left field fence at Steinbrenner Field. That blow ended the combined perfect game the Yanks' hurlers were compiling and plated the only run for the Phillies, as the Bronx Bombers went on to beat them 7-1 this afternoon in an exhibition.
In the bottom of the second Eduardo Nunez crushed a three-run home run deep to left field off starter Roy Oswalt, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead. Curtis Granderson came up to the plate the next inning and pulled a two-run shot over the left field fence, and the Yanks took a 5-0 lead.
Oswalt was pulled after 2 2/3 innings pitched, and he gave up five runs (three earned) on four hits. He walked no one and struck out three.
In the bottom of the fifth, Jorge Posada singled to plate Brett Gardner. Later in the frame, Granderson scored on an RBI single off the bat of Eric Chavez, giving the Yankees seven runs.
A.J. Burnett started for the Yankees and did not give an inch. The lanky right-hander tossed three perfect innings without allowing a walk. He only had one strikeout, but it was a big one. Burnett whiffed brand name first baseman Ryan Howard.
So far this spring Burnett has tossed five scoreless innings.
Notes & Things to Look Out For
· Obviously A.J. Burnett is doing something right, at least to this point. I mentioned after his first start that he looks like a different pitcher, and it's the truth; his delivery and arm angle are not the same. His different look gives me a sense of confidence in him, because he didn't have a good spring like this last year. In fact, I believe I made a remark last spring saying, "His numbers this spring are worse than Joe Biden's mouth."
· On a side note about Burnett, he tossed 45 pitches and 30 were strikes. He is demonstrating command – another positive. He looks as though he will be OK, but he is still a work in progress and he's got a long way to go. Baby steps.
· Jorge Posada laced a double in the bottom of the third, and came around to score on a single by Eric Chavez. Oh wait…he actually didn't. Posada missed the base and pitcher Vance Worley (who relieved Roy Oswalt) appealed at third and Posada was called out. It helps to touch the base when you're running. It's a general rule.
· Nick Swisher made a stellar catch in the top of the fourth to rob Placido Polanco of a hit. In foul ground, Swisher bent over the bullpen railing to make the catch, then front-flipped into the Yankee bullpen. He held on for the catch. It kind of reminded me of July 22, 2009 – the day Swisher ran up the right field wall at Yankee Stadium to make a fantastic catch, worthy of the highlight reel. I was at that game and the crowd went nuts. Everyone loves Swisher.
· Right after Swisher's catch, Jimmy Rollins chopped a ball off Chavez's glove at first. He stayed with it and flipped the ball to Joba Chamberlain, who actually covered the base. The big man got to the bag in time, getting Rollins out. Score that crazy play 3-1. It looked more exciting than it sounds.
· Speaking of Joba Chamberlain, he had a good line today: one inning pitched, no hits, no walks, and no strikeouts. It was a step up from his outing on Saturday against the Washington Nationals: one inning pitched, two earned runs on two hits, two walks, and no Ks. I hope this isn't another up-and-down year for Chamberlain. Whatever Burnett is doing, he needs to do the same. Chamberlain's ERA this spring is now 4.50.
· Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, and Alex Rodriguez did not play. Today was a split squad day (meaning there are two games; some players play in the first game and others play in the second). The regular infielders will play later tonight at the Orioles.
· What happened to Roy Oswalt today? He couldn't get through the third inning. I think it was just an aberration for him, much like CC Sabathia's poor start on Saturday vs. the Nationals (five runs in 2 2/3 innings). Against National League hitters this year, he'll hold his own.
· Brett Gardner was 1-for-3 today with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. He was hitting from the leadoff spot today and seems capable of that role. He will most likely have to improve his bunting if he wants to hit in the number one hole.
· I have the feeling the fifth infielder spot is going to come down to Chavez and Nunez. Today Chavez had three hits in three at-bats, knocked in a run and came around to score once. He is batting .471 as of press time. Nunez showed a great amount of power with his home run and he is averaging .286 at the plate so far. Ramiro Pena might be the odd man out, only hitting .063 so far. He will have to turn on the jets if he wants to make the team right out of camp.
· "Perpetual" Pedro Feliciano tossed a perfect fifth inning with two Ks. I get the feeling he will be the primary lefty specialist. Sorry Boone Logan.
· Curtis Granderson is batting .357 this spring and has hit two homers so far. He hasn't even played in every game, and if his numbers are any indication, he is primed for a big season.
· Mark Prior pitched around a Pete Orr double in the eighth, not allowing a run. He didn't walk a batter and he fanned one. As I wrote a few days ago, I am pulling for him and I want him to be this year's big comeback story. He is a hard worker and I get the feeling he wants nothing more than to bounce back and help the Yankees. So far he is proving he can do it.
· Jesus Montero went 0-for-1 at the plate today and struck out, leaving a man on base. He hasn't really had the opportunity to break out, yet he is still hitting .250. His counterpart Austin Romine will get the start at catcher in tonight's exhibition vs. the Orioles.
· Former Yankee Nick Johnson signed with the Cleveland Indians today. I feel sorry for them.
· Tomorrow afternoon the Yanks will travel to the Wide World of Sports to visit the Atlanta Braves (the game will be broadcasted on the YES Network). Freddy Garcia will make the start for the Bombers.
· The Yanks are now 4-5-1 in Grapefruit League play. (Subject to change, pending the outcome of the game vs. Baltimore tonight)


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"One thing I've noticed is now that I'm having less sex my body isn't as toned. The more sex I have, the more defined my arms and stomach get."
In her single life, she commented:
"I'm dating. I'm loving it," the mother of one, 30, told the British mag. "Two happy parents are better than two unhappy parents. This is my time to explore and have some fun. I'm not looking to fall in love again quickly."
all pics are from GQ UKAs being a fun, exploring, single lady:
"I appreciate both men and women," she professed. "I love the female body and truly appreciate the female form. I really enjoy sketching women, especially their backs. I definitely need a man in the bedroom, however -- a nice strong chest to lie on. Still, I want to explore. Never say never."
On another note, she's admittedly reveal that she's a member of the mile-high club:
"Let's put it this way," she stated. "I've had an orgasm in the air before. Alone. And together."
So what do you think? The magazine will hit stands on Thursday....


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One of the fun parts of the baseball offseason is that we get a break from the day-to-day grind of the season, which affords us some time to reflect, clean out the closet, and dust off old thoughts for re-examination. So, it's probably a good time to revisit my "shadow draft picks" of the past.
Starting in 2005, when draft time rolled around, I began to analyze the draft eligible prospects and determine which one I would select if I was in charge of the Reds draft. It was a fun exercise and an intellectual challenge.
In short, these picks are what I would have done at the time of each draft, not what I would have done with the benefit of perfect hindsight. So, not surprisingly, there are both significant hits and misses, but the picks are what they are. No sense trying to sweep the bad ones under the rug, rather I've tried to learn from my missteps and use that experience in the future.
Of course, I didn't start this blog until 2007, so my draft thoughts existed only on message boards until the 2008 draft rolled around, but I'm including those early message board picks anyway for posterity sake. Besides, it makes the post that much more fun.
Anyway, the Reds' picks are in red, while my picks are in orange. The comments on these picks are based on thoughts, impressions, and evaluations at the time of each respective draft. Basically, historical snapshots from the time of those respective drafts. Given how the fortunes of minor league prospects can change substantially from year-to-year, that's really the only way to do it. The 2005, 2006, and 2007 drafts happened prior to the existence of this blog, so I have tried to recreate my thoughts and industry evaluations as they existed at the time of those drafts.
Anyway, all that said, away we go.....
2005: Jay Bruce vs. Ricky Romero
This was the first time I really looked into the draft and picked the player I wanted the Reds to select. Of course, those with a sharp eye and a keen memory will recall that Ricky Romero was selected 6th by the Blue Jays, while the Reds didn't select Jay Bruce until their 12th overall pick rolled around. So, in my first effort, there were clearly a few kinks to be worked out, as I selected a player the Reds couldn't possibly have drafted. In future years, I only selected a player that was actually available to the Reds with their first pick, but I'm including this one anyway.
The 2005 draft was an epic one, filled with potential impact talent from the top of the first round all the way down to the bottom. You couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting at least a couple of legitimate impact prospects.
I followed Ricky Romero at Cal State Fullerton and loved his bulldog mentality and offspeed offerings. He had a nice curveball and a quality changeup. He also had a good understanding of how to pitch. He was the guy I wanted the perennially pitching-starved Reds to land. Of course, Romero was already off the board by the time the Reds went in another direction.
The Reds selected Jay Bruce, who seems a quality player on the field and a quality person off it. He had very good bat speed and was viewed as a potential impact hitter from the state of Texas.
2006: Drew Stubbs vs. Tim Lincecum
In the 2006 draft class, there was only one player I wanted the Reds to draft and that was Tim Lincecum.
For me, despite his short stature, Tim Lincecum was head-and-shoulders above the rest. Baseball America rated him as having the best fastball and the best offspeed pitch among all the draft eligible college pitchers. Additionally, he struck out everybody at the University of Washington, posting strike out rates of 12.9, 11.3, and 14.3 respectively in his three years there. He was clearly the most electric pitcher in the draft and had a massive upside.
There were two main knocks against Lincecum heading into that draft: his mechanics and his height. Personally, I've always loved his mechanics. They're complicated, but he throws with his body better than the vast majority of pitchers. And, as for height, I'm not a fan of the scouting bias against short righthanded pitchers. If you can pitch, then you can pitch, regardless of height. Lincecum is the guy I wanted and he was on the board when the Reds picked. Unfortunately, the Reds went in another direction, selecting Drew Stubbs with the 8th overall pick.
Stubbs had a lot of tools and very good athleticism. It was easy to see the Reds buying into the notion that he could develop into a dual threat, impacting the game on offense and defense. While Stubbs had a full toolbox, he was somewhat lacking in baseball specific skills.
2007: Devin Mesoraco vs. Pete Kozma
The Reds used the 15th overall pick on Devin Mesoraco, the Cardinals selected shortstop Pete Kozma with the 18th overall pick.
Heading into the draft, few prospects had as much helium as Devin. Coming from a cold weather region and off a TJ surgery, Mesoraco wasn't projected to be a first rounder due to a lack of experience and limited exposure, but a strong senior season propelled him up the ranks.
Kozma was more of a high floor, low ceiling type player. He lacked any real plus tools, but had some nice skills and a good feel for the game, which in a somewhat less than inspiring draft class seemed to be a decent option.
2008: Yonder Alonso vs. Casey Kelly
In the first shadow pick of the blog era, I selected Casey Kelly here and here. I prefer Kelly as a shortstop and want to see what he can do with a couple of years as a full-time position player. He has good baseball bloodlines, plus athleticism, plays plus defense at short, and has solid pop in his bat.
That said, the hit tool is in question and he'll need to demonstrate the ability to consistently barrel-up pitches. However, the heightened risk in the hit tool can be mitigated, to a degree, by his ability to pitch. To me, having pitching as a fallback plan is a nice way to manage the performance risk that comes with his hit tool. There is an old scouting adage that you don't gamble on a questionable "hit tool" in the first round, but I'm clearly breaking that rule here.
It's not easy to find a potentially plus defensive shortstop who can hold his own on offense. Kelly already has decent pop, so it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibilities that he could develop into a capable hitter at the professional level.
The Reds drafted Yonder Alonso with the 7th overall pick.
As it stands, Yonder looks like a nice, well-rounded hitter with good on-base skills and solid power potential. He seems to be a polished, rather low risk selection. Clearly, he's the player the Reds deemed the "best available", but it remains unclear how exactly he fits into the organizational plans.
Obviously, Joey Votto has already emerged as a good, young first baseman with a strong offensive profile. Clearly, first base isn't an area of need and Yonder isn't a realistically going to switch defensive positions. So, there's a chance that he's blocked as soon as he steps into the organization, which might be a problem given that he might be able to climb the ladder quickly.
2009: Mike Leake vs. Shelby Miller
Shelby Miller was, without question, the guy I wanted the Reds to take, as he struck me as being the pitcher with the best combination of stuff and mechanics in the draft. I loved the velocity and how cleanly he generated it. In fact, I have him pegged as the third best prospect in the draft behind Stephen Strasburg and Dustin Ackley. There were other high school pitchers who were rated, and ultimately drafted, higher, including Zach Wheeler (6th SFG) Jacob Turner (9th DET), Tyler Matzek (11th COL), and Matt Purke (14th TEX), but I prefer Miller to all of them. His upside is just too massive for me to view anyone else as a legitimate option.
The Reds went a different direction with the 8th overall pick, drafting Arizona State RHP Mike Leake. I still prefer Miller, but the pick has started to grow on me. Leake had very good success at ASU, based on his plus athleticism and feel for pitching, which combine to give him good polish.
The Reds, it seems, valued Leake's higher floor/lower ceiling over Miller's lower floor/higher ceiling. In the end, it comes down to the likelihood that Miller will reach his ceiling and be significantly better than Mike Leake at the MLB level. If he can, then he is clearly the better pick, but there's more development risk with Shelby.
2010: Yasmani Grandal vs. Chris Sale
In the 2010 draft, Chris Sale was actually the first prospect on whom I did in-depth research and a full write-up, and he was ultimately the guy I wanted the Reds to land.
His fastball and changeup were both rated among the very best of the draft eligible college pitchers. His strikeout and walk rates were among the very best in the country, so you had both upside and polish. There were/are some questions about his arm action, but I never saw anything overly worrisome. Some thought there was too much snap in his arm action, but I don't really see it. Some thought his higher-back elbow, which rises above shoulder level, would be problematic, but I thought the increased injury risk created by that time of move would be nullified by his lower arm slot. I would like to see him incorporate more leg drive, but overall I was comfortable with his mechanics. After I was done looking into the draft pool, Sale was still sitting comfortably atop my list.
The Reds used the 12th overall pick on Yasmani Grandal, who is the second Miami Hurricane the organization has selected with its first pick in the last three drafts. Obviously, they feel comfortable with their scouting coverage down there.
The selection of Grandal gives the Reds some of the best catching depth in all of the minor leagues, as he could develop into a solid defensive catcher and an impact switch hitter. It'll be interesting to see how he performs in full season ball and where he fits into an organization where Devin Mesoraco is making a big splash much farther up the ladder. Given Grandal's polish, his career is very likely to overlap with Mesoraco's at the Major League Level. Once again, the Reds could have a blocked Hurricane in the system.
2011: Robert Stephenson vs. Jason Esposito
Well, for the first time since I've started doing these draft write-ups the Reds had a pick outside the top 15. In fact, they had number 27 overall, which makes it more challenging to find impact talent. However, given the impressive depth of talent in the 2011 draft class, the Reds were able to land a high upside arm that undoubtedly would have gone higher in the typical draft class.
Stephenson stands 6-2 and tips the scale at 190 lbs with a wiry frame and plus makeup/intelligence. He features a big time fastball that tickles 97 mph on the radar gun and a biting, 12-to-6 curveball that is inconsistent. And, like seemingly all power arms coming out of high school, he has a mediocre change-up.
The only potential red flag on Stephenson is his pitching mechanics, which are somewhat inefficient due to a shorter stride, less than ideal hip rotation, and an occasionally cutting short the deceleration of his pitching arm.
That said, Stephenson has a great deal of positives going for him and the Reds probably did very well, as you don't frequently get this type of upside so late in the draft. The stuff and makeup are there, but he'll need to refine his mechanics and continue to polish his secondary offerings as he climbs the ladder. Still, hard to argue with, or be disappointed by, this pick by the Reds and, frankly, it'll be difficult to top.
My shadow pick, 3b Jason Esposito, will be seen as a stretch by many and admittedly it may well be, but he was behind RHP Tyler Beede, LHP Chris Reed, and RHP Jose Fernandez on my draft queue and I was fully expecting one of those pitchers to be available.
Esposito's junior season was a bit of a step backward and he slipped down in the draft, which serves as a cautionary tale that you can't expect linear improvement/development from college players. The knocks on Esposito were two fold: (1) his swing was mechanical and (2) he added weight to the lower half.
Admittedly, I can see the reason for concern on both issues. Esposito has a well balanced, fundamentally sound swing, but it can look mechanical at times. He also did look slightly stockier in his junior season than he did as a sophomore, but the added weight to the lower half doesn't diminish his potential to be a plus defender at third with a very good arm.
Overall, Esposito's potentially above average to plus defense at the hot corner might offset the higher risk in his bat.
2012: Nick Travieso vs. Matthew Smoral
Southpaw Matthew Smoral was not only at the top of my wish list for the Reds (which also included shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder David Dahl), but also one of my favorite pitchers in the draft class. So, he was my clear choice when the Reds' 14th overall pick rolled around, but the organization ultimately went with a different high school pitcher, righthander Nick Travieso. So, this one boils down to a battle of the high school pitchers, which makes it far too early to call, especially since Smoral didn't throw a pitch in anger in 2012.
Smoral slipped in the draft because he missed his senior season due to a stress fracture of the foot, limiting the time for organizations to get a feel for him. Regardless, I was sufficiently impressed by the combination of stuff, clean pitching mechanics, and physical stature. All of those factors struck me as giving him a very high ceiling. Although, it didn't factor into my decision, another thumb on the scale in Smoral's favor is that he was drafted out of an Ohio high school.
As for Nick Travieso, he had quite a bit of helium heading into the draft, largely as a result of a spike in velocity. That spike drove his fastball velocity up into the mid-90s, but velocity spikes aren't always sustainable and occasionally are precursors to injury. His secondary offerings are largely unrefined, which, when coupled with the high degree of effort in his delivery, led many to project him as a reliever at the upper levels. Even so, he's an intriguing arm to add to the quality stable of pitching prospects in the system and a bit more development time could bear out the organization's decision to select him with the 14th overall pick.
As high school pitching prospects, Travieso and Smoral both come with significant inherent risk (injury and performance), but both also have significant upside.
2013: Phil Ervin vs. Aaron Judge
My shadow draft pick for the Reds in the 2013 draft was Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge. Judge was third on my draft queue, which consisted of RHP Chris Anderson, OF Billy McKinney, OF Aaron Judge, 3b Eric Jagielo, and OF Austin Wilson. The Dodgers grabbed Anderson and the A's snatched up McKinney, making Judge, a mountain of a man with tremendous athleticism, my shadow pick for the Reds.
Judge's height was a concern, but it was a concern mitigated by his plus athleticism (a three sport star in high school with offers to play tight-end at the collegiate level) and the fact that his approach was contact-oriented. The question on Aaron Judge wasn't, as it usually is with taller hitters, whether he would make enough contact, but rather whether he'd hit for power. Instead of needing to cut down on his swing to improve his contact rate, Judge almost needed to lengthen his swing to carry his power from batting practice into game action.
I'm happy to gamble on plus athleticism, a (relatively) compact swing with good plate discipline, and massive power potential, even if it comes packaged along with a very large, and difficult to protect, strike zone. Judge felt like a prospect who could provide positive value on both sides of the ball with the potential to be a true impact hitter at the plate with the type of power that is getting more and more difficult to find.
Instead of Judge, the Reds rolled the dice on another righthanded hitting outfielder, Phil Ervin from Samford University. Ervin headed into the draft as a player who had hit .300 pretty much everywhere he played. He seemed the type who could roll out of bed and hit .300 without much difficulty. In addition, he brought good speed and athleticism to the table.
I wasn't as high on Ervin as the Reds because it felt like there was a real danger of him being a tweener (not enough bat for a corner outfield spot and not enough glove for centerfield). I like the idea of adding a plus hit tool to the system, but without power or the ability to stay in center Ervin would fall short of being an impact player.
If Ervin can stick in centerfield and continue to hit around .300, then the Reds will likely reap a nice return on this investment. However, I still feel like Judge has a higher upside and is the more likely of the two to be a true impact talent.
2014 (Round 1): Nick Howard vs. Forrest Wall
2014 (Round 1): Alex Blandino vs. Joe Gatto
My shadow draft picks in 2014 were 2b Forrest Wall at 19th overall and RHP Joe Gatto at 29th overall.
Forrest Wall had one of the best hit tools in the draft class. He patterns his hitting after Robinson Cano and it shows in his swing mechanics. Wall uses a lot of movement in his setup and swing, describing himself as a "rhythm hitter". He uses a double pump with his hands during his load, which is what Cano does, and has incorporated that as a timing mechanism.
Wall is a very unique combination of plus hit tool, disciplined plate approach, plus speed, and premier defensive position. He seemed like the clear best option on the board when the Reds turn to pick rolled around. However, Wall slipped down some teams' draft boards due to a torn labrum he suffered in his throwing shoulder that hadn't fully recovered by draft day. It raised questions about his future arm strength and whether he could effectively handle second base. So, there was some uncertainty, if not increased risk, surrounding Wall, but it's difficult to pass up such a unique and valuable bundle of attributes. Somehow, the Reds managed to do just that.
With the 29th overall pick, I shadow drafted RHP Joe Gatto. I looked at a lot of the pitchers in the top 100 prospects who were likely to be available when the Reds picked and Gatto was the most electric.
Gatto throws a heavy fastball from a largely over-the-top arm slot. His fastball sits 90-93 and touches 95, it has good downward plane, and very good movement (sinking and tailing). He also a 12-to-6 curveball with good power and depth, a pitch that is inconsistent but flashes plus.
Gatto also had some of my favorite mechanics in the draft, which should help his performance level, consistency, and injury risk. He's an interesting arm, though high school pitchers generally pack more development risk than most other prospects.
Instead of Joe Gatto at 29, the Reds drafted Stanford infielder Alex Blandino.
For the Cardinal, Blandino played primarily third base, but the Reds felt he profiled well in the middle infield spots. He's exactly the type of professional hitter the Reds should prioritize. At the plate, he has an easy swing with active, effective hands. He does a nice job of controlling the strikezone through a solid combination of pitch recognition and plate discipline. He has a number of potential value-drivers and he immediately felt like a good pick for the Reds.
2015 (Round 1): Tyler Stephenson vs. Garrett Whitley
2015 (Round 2): Antonio Santillian vs. Dakota Chalmers
2015 (Round 4): Miles Gordon vs. Brendon Sanger
My shadow draft picks in the 2015 draft were OF Garrett Whitley at 11th overall, RHP Dakota Chalmers at 49th overall, and OF/INF Brendon Sanger in the 4th round.
The Reds held the 11th overall pick in the 2015 draft and I used that pick to select OF Garrett Whitley. I was very high on Whitley, as I absolutely love his swing mechanics, bat speed, and athleticism. He is a very exciting prospect with the type of fast twitch athleticism that leads to a massive ceiling. As a cold weather high school prospect, he also brings some risk to the table, as he doesn't quite have as much experience as some and he hasn't always faced the toughest competition. I was thoroughly disappointed that the Reds didn't draft Whitley and I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be the best player in this draft class.
Instead of Whitley, the Reds drafted catcher Tyler Stephenson. The Reds are very comfortable drafting and developing catchers. Stephenson is a giant of a man behind the dish. His physical stature really defines him as a prospect, as it creates raw power in the form of leverage, increases the risk in his hit tool, and raises the question of whether he'll be able to stick behind the plate. Stephenson's size gives him a larger strike zone to protect and gives him added length in his swing. Not only does he have longer levers to wield, but he also sets his hands somewhat deep during his load, which further increases the distance the bat has to travel to reach the point of contact. So, Stephenson is certainly a justifiable selection, but he'll need to make enough consistent contact to reach his plus raw power.
In round two, I shadow drafted high school RHP Dakota Chalmers at 49th overall. I was surprised Chalmers lasted that long. He features a mid-90s fastball that has touched 98, above average curveball and slider, and a developing changeup. His mechanics are pretty clean, though there is some effort to his delivery that can lead to some command issues. He has good height and a slender build, so ideally his command will improve as he fills out physically and can reduce the amount of effort in his delivery. Some are concerned about a "head whack" movement in his delivery, but I don't see that to any significant degree. Overall, there's a lot to like with Chalmers.
The Reds drafted high school RHP Antonio Santillian. Santillian was a two-way player in high school and doesn't have a ton of experience on the mound. That said, he has electric stuff and very high upside. Santillian might be even more of a boom/bust pick than your typical high school pitcher, but if he pans out he could be a true impact arm.
Finally, I shadowed drafted Florida Atlantic OF/INF Brendon Sanger in the 4th round at 115th overall. I don't usually shadow draft that deep, but Sanger is a prospect that really caught my eye leading up to the draft. I absolutely love Sanger's pitch recognition and plate discipline, just as much as I love Garrett Whitley's swing mechanics and bat speed. There might be hitters in the draft class who can match Sanger's combination of pitch recognition and the ability to control the strike zone, but I find it hard to believe there are any who exceed him. Add to that mix a very good hit tool and the type of athleticism that may enable him to convert back to an infield spot (2nd base? 3rd?) on defense and Sanger was a prospect I really wanted the Reds to draft. To my mind, the organization doesn't focus enough on disciplined hitters, an area that Sanger would definitely have addressed. Whether he has enough upside to be more than a 4th outfielder remains to be seen, but he was a very worthy gamble with a number of potential value-drivers. It seems like there were a number of development paths that would have resulted in a Sanger selection paying off.
The Reds used the 115th overall pick to draft high school OF Miles Gordon. The Gordon selection hewed to the organizational draft philosophy of focusing on good athleticism and up-the-middle defensive positions. A centerfielder with good speed and pitch recognition, questions linger over whether his short, compact swing will generate enough hard contact and power. The ability to stick in centerfield would lower the offensive bar he'll have to hurdle to reach the big leagues. Still, Gordon comfortably fits the mold favored by the Reds in the draft process.
2016 (1.2): Nick Senzel vs. Zack Collins
2016 (1s.35): Taylor Trammell vs. Drew Mendoza
2016 (2.43): Chris Okey vs. Lucas Erceg
My shadow draft picks in the 2016 draft were 1.2 c Zack Collins, 1s.35 ss/3b Drew Mendoza, and 2.43 3b Lucas Erceg.
The Reds held the 2nd overall pick in the draft and had a unique opportunity to add an impact talent, the type of impact talent, especially among position players, that was curiously missing from all of their rebuild trades. The Reds selected University of Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel, regarded by many pundits as the top position player in the draft. I went with my favorite bat in the draft class, University of Miami catcher Zack Collins.
Senzel, a comparable bat and offensive profile to Collins, brings a higher defensive performance level and more certainty in defensive position, but the Reds seem like the ideal organization to develop Collins' questionable defense behind the dish. The Reds have developed so many catchers (i.e. R.Hanigan, D.Mesoraco, Y.Grandal, T.Barnhart, etc) over the years, that it might have become a "core competency" of the organization. There are real questions about whether Collins can stay behind the plate, but reports on defense improved during his 2016 junior season at Miami.
While I love Collins' bat (disciplined hitter, controls the heck out of the strikezone, strong swing mechanics, hits for big power, etc.), part of the reason for drafting him is to go "under slot" with the 1.2 pick to allow the team to make a bigger splash in later rounds. The assigned pick value at 1.2 was $7,762,900 and the Reds signed Senzel for $6,200,000 ($1,562,900 savings). Zack Collins was ultimately drafted by the Chicago White Sox at 1.10 and signed for $3,380,600, which was also the pick value.
Based on where Collins was projected to be drafted, if the Reds had drafted him at 1.2, then it seems reasonable to think he would have accepted a signing bonus of ~$4,500,000, saving the Reds $3,262,900. Those savings would have come in handy for making my next pick, high school shortstop/third baseman Drew Mendoza.
Drew Mendoza was ultimately not drafted, a nod to his strong commitment to Florida State, his bonus demands, or both. Whatever the reason, it wasn't related to his ability. Given that there were rumors that he wanted a ~$3.0-3.5M signing bonus to sign, I'm guessing he wasn't an impossible sign, just a pricey one. His bonus demands created a perfect opportunity for the shadow Reds and the savings generated by drafting Zack Collins.
Mendoza has the type of sweet swing and athleticism that could make him an impact hitter at the professional level. The pick value at 1s.35 is $1.837,200 and I would gladly pay him something in the range of ~$3.5-4.0M to get him to sign on the dotted line. The Reds need upside in the draft and they need impact hitters. Mendoza has the type of tools and skills that would give the Reds both. He looks like a pure hitter. The chance to add a second potential impact hitter is too good to pass up, so ss/3b Drew Mendoza is my selection.
Instead, the Reds drafted high school centerfielder Taylor Trammell at 1s.35 and signed him to an over-slot bonus of $3,200,000. The Reds love toolsy, athletic, up-the-middle players in the draft and that's what they landed with Trammell. Trammell was a high school football star, so he doesn't have quite as much experience at the plate as other high school prospects who focused exclusively on baseball. As a result, there are some questions about his hit tool (par for the course for the Reds), but the Reds liked the overall package.
Finally, at pick 2.43 the Reds selected University of Clemson catcher Chris Okey, who was among the top catching prospects in the country, though his tools/skills across the board seem more solid-average than above average-plus. The Reds signed Okey for $2,000,000 while the slot value for the pick was $1,497,500.
At this point in the draft, I was still on the hunt for potential impact hitters, so at 2.43 I shadow drafted Menlo College 3b Lucas Erceg. Erceg also looks like he could develop into an impact type hitter at the big league level. But, he brings a bit more performance risk to the table than Drew Mendoza, as he has a bit more movement in his swing and likely a few more questions about his hit tool and contact rate, which is why he slipped lower than Mendoza for me. That said, the power potential looks legitimate, he's a baseball rat, and the upside is intriguing.
In the end, I drafted three hitters with good upside and the potential to be impact hitters: Zack Collins, Drew Mendoza, and Lucas Erceg. I wanted to focus on hitters and the way the draft fell enabled me to do just that. When compared to the Reds actual draft class, I took on a bit more positional risk with my first pick (Z.Collins over N.Senzel), but I prefer the upside/risk of my next two picks (D.Mendoza over T.Trammell; L.Erceg over C.Okey). Time will tell.


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Cloud NineVisit Website
A Creative Emporium; conceptualized in 1987 and established in 1988. We carry a vast assortment of beads, findings, jewelry making supplies, sea glass and fantastic sterling silver jewelry. We also showcase local and regional paintings, prints, pottery, and art. A local favorite for over two decades, and an annual must-do for summertime visitors.


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Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forwards Peter Regin and Pierre-Marc Bouchard from the New York Islanders on Thursday in exchange for a 2014 fourth-round draft pick. Regin has registered two goals and five assists in 44 games this season with New York. Over 222 career NHL games with Ottawa and New York, the 27-year-old has racked up 21 goals and 41 assists. Bouchard, 29, has recorded nine points in 28 games this season with the Islanders, while adding 17 points in 20 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Selected eight overall by Minnesota in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Bouchard has tallied 110 goals and 246 assists over 593 NHL games with the Wild and Islanders. Regin will join the Blackhawks, while Bouchard will report directly to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. The Blackhawks also reassigned forward Brandon Pirri to Rockford on Thursday.
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Need for Short‐Term Loans Is No Joke
I'm a little behind on my comedy watching, as I get a regular dose just living in Washington DC, but last week comedians John Oliver and Sarah Silverman focused an entire segment on payday lending, which are short‐term advances against a future paycheck. Matt Yglesias at Vox has posted the video, as well as making the important point "people end up at payday lenders because stuff happens." Yglesias is correct here: there is an undeniable need for short‐term credit products. Even Dodd‐Frank recognized this need by creating a government subsidized payday loan product (Section 1205 of Dodd‐Frank).
The alternative to payday proposed by Oliver and Silverman? Do anything else but payday. I'm sympathetic to such. A payday loan should never be your first choice. I hope to never have to use a payday lender. But then, I hope my car never breaks down either. Silverman goes as far as suggesting just steal instead. I'd hope she was joking but it seems so many in Washington have already taken that advice to heart.
Yglesias's alternative is at least a little more thoughtful than stealing: he suggests allowing the postal service to offer short term loans, because apparently he believes the USPS could offer payday "without taking nearly as big a cut". Now "big" is subjective but scholars have examined this question. In research reported in 2012 in Regulation, UC‐Davis Professor Victor Stango compared the performance of traditional payday loans to those offered by credit unions. Some of his conclusions: "there is little to suggest that credit unions can offer a payday loan with competitive terms. Existing credit union payday loans often have total borrowing costs that are quite close to those on standard payday loans." Maybe the USPS has a better cost structure than the typical credit union, but that seems unlikely as the USPS isn't exactly known for its efficiency.
Professor Stango also reports survey evidence that payday borrowers highly value the convenience of payday lender's hours and locations. Yglesias doesn't address this, but last time I went to a Post Office, the hours were about as convenient (or less so) than that of a traditional bank. And of course USPS isn't exactly known for its consumer friendly approach. In all, it seems highly unlikely that without a major revamp and cultural change that the USPS could be a serious competitor to payday. Perhaps as important, the USPS would likely be viewed as "too big to fail", so that allowing USPS to make high risk payday loans could easily result in a taxpayer bailout. Getting USPS into payday makes about as much sense as getting Fannie Mae into subprime mortgages.
Oh wait, we did that.


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From: thomas ness <user654308@w...>
Date: Sun Feb 6, 2000 12:04 am
Subject: Hello, Larry
Not many folks home on the acoustics list. :^(
How far along are you on your construction? What kind of music do you
do? How much have you budgeted? Where are you?
I have only had R-25 installed in the ceiling joists to thermally
isolate the basement from the rest of the house. This has also cut down
on incidental noise transmission and changed the resonance of the
upstairs floor for the better.
I have a quote to have the HVAC modified to heat/cool the area in the
basement ($2500). The existing first floor system already has electronic
air filtration and a humidifier so the air quality in the new area
should be very good. I am in Atlanta, so my heating needs are modest.
Also, since the basement is half underground, my cooling needs are also
modest. The HVAC expense is mostly the electronic diverter valves and
control system.
I intend to stiffen the walls as suggested by Auralex. Seems like a
simple project and they claim that it is well worth doing. Otherwise, I
am in the planning stage.
My overall budget is US$30,000.
Thom Ness


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It's no secret that we have some amaze talent up here in Canada, especially when it comes to fashion. From everyday wear to red carpet-worthy gowns, we constantly spot A-list celebrities wearing Canadian designers.
Take Kate Middleton, for example. It's a well-known fact that she has a love affair with several Canadian labels. She's been spotted wearing her Smythe blazer so many times that the brand has appropriately renamed the jacket the "Duchess Blazer." For more formal affairs, she'll often wear Erdem, whose delicate prints and feminine silhouettes are practically made for royalty.
But brands like Aritzia, Mackage, Sentaler and Soia & Kyo are also gaining quite the famous following, and it doesn't stop there. Check back often as we update the gallery below when we spot our fave celebrities wearing Canadian designers—and link out to items still available so you can shop 'em!
Alessandra Ambrosio in Lamarque
On October 5, Alessandra Ambrosio was seen in L.A. wearing a black patent leather skirt from Montreal-based brand Lamarque.
Homegrown: 10 Canadian Fashion and Beauty Brands We Love
Up-and-Coming Canadian Fashion Designer Lesley Hampton Just Set the Bar for Runway Diversity
Hold the Hell Up—Is Versace's Latest Collabo with a…Canadian Hockey Team?!


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- People
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Our Firm
Not only do the attorneys of McKee, Voorhees & Sease provide assistance in technical areas of intellectual property law, we strive to build meaningful relationships with our clients. By truly appreciating a client's identity, their business, and their goals, we can truly be their intellectual property partner to better fulfill our client's needs. This is extremely important to the long-term success of our clients' intellectual property assets. Whether you are a first-time inventor or a global operation with a significant intellectual property portfolio, we are prepared to build a relationship with you to help satisfy your needs.
To learn more about the MVS attorneys capable of assisting you at every level of the legal hierarchy, visit our Attorneys page.
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa
The U.S. Marine Corps is arguably one of the most revered institutions within the U.S. Department of Defense. So, when Combined Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) leadership recently welcomed members of the Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) into the U.S. Marine Corps Corporals Course, it was a distinct honor.
Initiated by the Japanese military, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) supported a joint-nation noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) exercise and training here, Sept. 29.
The Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa's 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion (CAB) Functional Specialty Group (FXSP) veterinarians spayed, dewormed and immunized the cats of Caritas Djibouti here, Aug 30.
Within hours of being notified, CJTF-HOA's East Africa Response Force prepared dozens of Soldiers and tons of supplies for takeoff during an emergency response exercise, validating the EARF's rapid response capabilities.
The African Union Mission in Somalia's capabilities to provide security in Somalia were recently strengthened when U.S. military members of U.S. Africa Command and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa delivered nearly 20 vehicles and two storage containers to the Uganda People's Defence Force here, Sept. 25.


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) -- There is a relatively easy answer to the financial troubles of Europe, America and Asia.
The answer lies in so-called "tax havens." A consensus is emerging among the world's major taxing powers that tax evasion may not be a good thing.
(SBUX) - Get Report
is being grilled over its avoidance of European taxes,
, and anger is sure to grow over a
Los Angeles Times
report that
(AAPL) - Get Report
paid just 2% in taxes on its profits.
Tax evasion can be a simple matter of moving money around various tax havens around the world. They exist everywhere. The system's defenders insist it's all perfectly legal. Maybe it is, but laws can change.
In some ways, according to the
, the U.S. is a tax haven.
Our treatment of assets held by foreigners and shell corporations, which actually became better for those foreign entities under George W. Bush, put us on the list. Bush himself was speaking in the Caymans a few days before the election. What he said isn't known, but
Jurisdictions specializing in the financial secrecy needed to avoid taxes exist in or near every major financial power. There's Switzerland in Europe, the Cayman Islands off the U.S., Hong Kong in China, Bahrain in the Middle East and Jersey between the U.K. and France. But none has the military force to maintain secrecy against concerted outside pressure.
The question has always been whether the pressure would be applied, and there is now some reason for hope. China and Russia seem upset with their oligarchs, while the U.S. and Europe have sound fiscal reasons for acting.
One thing we can do right away is make the U.S. less of a tax haven by passing the bipartisan
Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act of 2011.
But most of the heavy lifting has to be done by the State Department, the
Federal Reserve
and the Treasury. We need to negotiate the equivalent of a disarmament treaty among the major financial powers.
The good news of this year is that there may be consensus on that. The Cold War is over. China may beat Japan in the South China Sea through the simple expedient of its consumers preferring American over Chinese goods,
Economic might can do what military might cannot.
One mechanism for action is the
OECD Model Tax Convention
, which is where most of today's biggest loopholes live.
The OECD proclaims innocence in the tax scheme game. Their Global Forum is moving toward more cooperation on exchanging tax information, even with such tax havens as
More than 50 countries have signed the OECD's deal on tax matters, and more could if China, Europe and the U.S. made it a priority.
The OECD is now pressing the Obama administration to avoid the "fiscal cliff" that could occur if tax increases and spending cuts planned for January actually take effect, as
. Money needs to be found.
There is a lot of it in the Cayman Islands.
At the time of publication, the author was long AAPL.
This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.


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I'd love to be able to tell you this debut trailer for MechWarrior Online gave us a first look at how it plays, but of course, it doesn't. It gives us a first look at a man climbing into a giant walking tank.
First revealed last year, the game's already got a few people concerned simply for the fact it's a free-to-play title.


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Bays and Estuaries
Texas bays and estuaries are some of the most biologically productive places in the marine environment. Most of the fish and invertebrate species people are familiar with spend large parts of their sub-adult periods in the sea grass areas or near the shorelines. The wetlands areas are also sources of food and protection for shore birds, small mammals, and terrestrial invertebrates like crabs. Artificial reefs in both bays and offshore provide food and protection functions similar to wetlands on shore.
Information about locations (either maps or more general area locations), species abundance and access points along the coast are provided by the Beach and Bay Access maps and the Minor Bays Fish Abundance database. Both of these tools are intended to assist anglers or boaters in locating launch points and likely areas to catch various fish.