10-10 International
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The Pioneer Anomaly, a 30-Year-Old Beloved Cosmic Mystery, May Be Resolved At Last
[Science] (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now)Pioneer 10 Flies By Jupiter NASAWhat is the mystery force slowing down the Pioneer spacecraft? Do we know the answer at last? Thirty years ago, NASA scientists noticed that two of their spacecraft, Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, were veering off course slightly, as if subject to a mysterious, unknown force. In 1998, the wider scientific community got wind of that veering-termed the Pioneer anomaly-and took aim at it with incessant, mind-blowingly detailed scrutiny that has since raised it to the ph ...
Pioneer 10 Flies By Jupiter NASAWhat is the mystery force slowing down the Pioneer spacecraft? Do we know the answer at last?Thirty years ago, NASA scientists noticed that two of their spacecraft, Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, were veering off course slightly, as if subject to a mysterious, unknown force. In 1998, the wider scientific community got wind of that veering-termed the Pioneer anomaly-and took aim at it with incessant, mind-blowingly detailed scrutiny that has since raised it to the physics equivalent of cult status. Now, though, after spawning close to 1000 academic papers, numerous international conferences, and many entire scientific careers, this beloved cosmic mystery may be on its way out.
Slava Turyshev, a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., and Viktor Toth, a Canada-based software developer, plan to publish the results of their strikingly comprehensive new analysis of the Pioneer anomaly in the next few months. Their work is likely to bring a conclusion to one of the longest and most tumultuous detective stories of modern astrophysics.
NASA launched Pioneer 10 in the spring of 1972 and Pioneer 11 one year later. The spacecraft' joint mission was to gather information about the asteroid belt, Jupiter, Saturn (in the case of Pioneer 11), and their moons. As they hurtled past those various celestial objects, the probes measured previously unknown properties of their atmospheres and surfaces; they also photographed Jupiter's Red Spot and Saturn's rings up close for the first time. Then, after completing their "flyby" missions in the mid-1970s, the Pioneers kept going. Carrying identical plaques depicting a man and a woman, the atomic transition of hydrogen, and the location of our planet within the galaxy-a message to aliens-the probes became the first manmade objects ever to plunge beyond the solar system into the inconceivable cold and dark of interstellar space.
JPL scientists continued Doppler tracking the Pioneers far into deep space. They sent and received a continuous stream of radio transmissions to and from both Pioneers, logging the velocity of each everywhere along its trajectory. An astronomer named John Anderson led the analysis of the Doppler ranging data. He and his team intended to use the data to study subtle gravitational effects in the outer solar system, far from the overwhelming influences of the sun and larger planets. It was thought, for example, that the Pioneers might oscillate in tune with low-frequency gravity waves.
Of course, in order to detect such curiosities in the motion of the spacecraft, the scientists needed to know exactly what to expect in the first place; this required the construction of an algorithm of truly staggering complexity. Contributing factors to the predicted Doppler shift included: the deceleration experienced by the Pioneers as they struggled against the gravitational pull of the sun, planets, moons, asteroid belts, and comet clouds, the positions and thus gravitational fields of which move constantly; the tiny push on the spacecraft by the sun's radiation, which weakened with time as the spacecraft moved progressively farther away, and also changed as the angle of the spacecraft changed; the increase in the delay time between the bounce of a radio wave and its reception back at Earth as the spacecraft grew more distant; the gravitational drag on the radio waves from the sun; the additional frequency shift in the radio transmissions caused by the rotation of the Earth… and the list goes on. Anderson synthesized that headache's worth of cosmic influences into a single algorithm. But unfortunately it didn't seem to work.
In 1980, he noticed a small discrepancy between the Doppler shifts he expected to receive based on his algorithm and the actual, measured shifts of the radio signals coming from the spacecraft. Their expected and actual motions weren't quite matching up. As they moved outward against the gravitational pull of the sun and planets, the spacecraft were, of course, slowing down. But the problem was they were slowing down too much. Each year, both of the spacecraft were a few hundred miles farther behind where they should have been on their respective paths, according to the algorithm. That isn't much in the context of space travel, to be sure, but it isn't trivial either. The constant, extra acceleration amounted to 8.74 x 10-10 m/s2 directed toward the sun- a factor ten billion times smaller than the acceleration due to gravity, but still, undeniably, there.
Anderson's first reaction was to think his algorithm must have been missing something. Some tiny influence on the motion of the spacecraft must not have made it into the mathematical mix. A few years of thinking and discussing led him and his immediate team to the conclusion that the anomalous acceleration must have been caused by "outgasing" - fuel dripping from the thrusters, exerting a recoil force against the spacecraft as it dripped. Since by that point the craft were cruising through interstellar space without propulsion, the scientists thought the fuel drops would soon finish dripping and the effect would go away. But perplexingly, it didn't: Over the next decade, the spacecraft racked up billions of frequent flier miles--but thousands less than they should have.
In 1994, Anderson received an email out of the blue from Michael Martin Nieto, a cosmologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory near Santa Fe, NM. Nieto had lately become interested in alternatives to Newton's inverse square law for gravity, including a new theory called MOND (modified Newtonian dynamics), and so he contacted Anderson to find out how sure NASA was about the strength of gravity based on their observations of the motions of spacecraft. Anderson replied that, as a matter of fact, gravity didn't seem to be working right for the Pioneers.
When Nieto read the exact value of the small, anomalous acceleration experienced by Pioneers 10 and 11, he almost fell off his chair. (In typical physics-speak: "My office had a hard floor and my computer chair had wheels, so when I arched my back in a "wha?" reaction the chair started rolling.") There was a profound cosmic coincidence afoot: As Nieto immediately noticed, the value of the Pioneer anomaly almost exactly equaled the so-called "cosmic acceleration"-the speed of light ‘c' multiplied by the Hubble constant ‘H'-suggesting the anomaly's cause lay within the foundation of physics.
Right then and there, Nieto signed on to work with Anderson at JPL, got a major investigation of the Pioneer anomaly off the ground, and has spent most of his energy studying it ever since. Why? "The Pioneer anomaly could be the first evidence that gravity deviates from an inverse-square dependence," he said recently. "It could be huge."
Slava Turyshev, who had just arrived at JPL from Moscow, soon joined Anderson and Nieto. Together with three others they launched a detailed investigation of all the available Pioneer Doppler data. At the same time they also checked out data from other missions, and found tentative evidence of anomalies in the trajectories of Ulysses and Galileo as well. In 1998 they announced their findings to the world in a can-of-worms-opening article in Physical Review Letters.
Mayhem followed. "1998 was a very interesting year, because right when we made the Pioneer anomaly known, there was the discovery of dark energy," Turyshev explained. "So basically we realized that the universe accelerates because of dark energy, and people were ecstatic, saying, ‘look, we see something very exciting in the solar system, and maybe we need to modify gravity and all of that will go away, and Einstein and Newton will be, you know, dethroned.'"
Small anomalies in celestial motion have led to upheavals in physics before, after all. It was the famous "anomalous" precession of the perihelion of Mercury that helped prove Einstein's theory of general relativity in 1915. In 1998, comparisons to that historical precedent undoubtedly raised the profile of the Pioneer anomaly, as well as the profiles of many "outsider" theories that tried to account for it. Of these, one example is the aforementioned MOND, which posits that gravity does not follow an inverse square law at great distances from a massive body, but something slightly different. Hundreds of physics papers published since 1998 assert that MOND offers a viable explanation for the Pioneer anomaly.
Hundreds more hypothesize that the presence of huge quantities of as-yet-undetected "dark matter" pervading galaxies' outskirts might be exerting a frictional drag force on the Pioneer spacecraft and slowing them down.
Yet another horde of physicists picked up on the coincidence Nieto had noticed four years earlier, when he almost fell out of his chair. In the context of the contemporaneous discovery of dark energy and the accelerated expansion of the universe, it seemed highly significant that the value of the Pioneer anomaly equaled that of the cosmic acceleration. Perhaps, scientists thought, NASA had been measuring the cosmic expansion of space for years!
More conservative physicists pointed out quite rightly that if dark matter or MOND were causing the anomalous acceleration of the spacecraft, then they ought to affect the motion of the outermost planets as well, yet nothing of the kind is observed. In their opinion the Pioneer anomaly was either nonexistent (i.e. the JPL scientists had misinterpreted the Doppler data) or it derived from plain old equipment malfunctions. The most likely culprit was deemed to be heat emission on board the spacecraft.
A Thermal Anomaly?
The plutonium inside the Pioneer's generators gave off 2,500 joules of thermal energy per second at the height of its powers. Some of that heat got converted into electricity and ran the instrumentation. The rest simply radiated into space. If for whatever mechanical reason the heat radiated out from the generators unevenly, the extra heat radiating in one direction would exert an unbalanced recoil force, causing the spacecraft to accelerate. In fact, as the physics community was quick to point out, just five percent more heat radiating in one direction than the other would cause a recoil force large enough to account for the Pioneer anomaly.
Duly noting that point, the JPL team spent the next few years investigating all heat-related evidence. They came back with their verdict in 2002. Heat: not guilty. For one thing, they said, as the plutonium inside the generators decayed, the heat they gave off decreased, and so if heat were its cause then the anomalous acceleration of the spacecraft ought to have lessened with time as well. But it didn't - it seemed constant. Secondly, the generators were positioned quite far from the body of the spacecraft on the ends of long poles. From that remote distance, they calculated that very little heat would hit the spacecraft and exert a recoil force - an order of magnitude too little to cause the observed effect. Third and fourth, there was the tentative evidence offered by Galileo and Ulysses, both of which employed quite different power systems from that of the Pioneers.
Their arguments persuaded hordes of physicists, who began vying with great gusto for the thrones of Einstein and his non-relativistic assistant Newton. At conferences and meetings in Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and elsewhere around the world, they pronounced from the podiums such theories as: The anomaly really reflects a cosmic acceleration of time itself! The anomaly shows that Riemannian geometry, from which Einstein's spacetime is built, is incomplete! We have discovered a new force! The solar system is expanding! The solar system is a hologram! String theory dimensions are tugging on the spacecraft! The lively joust of ideas-or as Viktor Toth describes it, "wild speculation"-has not died down since.
Back on Earth
Viktor Toth's hobbies include old computer games, unsolved math and physics problems, data processing, outer space, and vintage electronics equipment. Smack dab in the center of the Venn diagram linking all of those things lies the Pioneer anomaly, and so it isn't surprising that Toth ended up where he is now: in the thick of it. Skeptical from the outset, Toth began by conducting an independent analysis of the publicly available Pioneer Doppler data using his home computers in order to see for himself whether an anomaly actually existed. (By all accounts, Toth's data-handling skills are phenomenal, and he seems politely suspicious of everyone else's. "A lot of the shall I call it 'homework' doesn't get done," he said.) After constructing his own algorithm of celestial influences, processing the data in light of it and confirming that there really and truly was a discord between the two, he then set out to discover why - again, with little regard for past analysis.
In particular, he didn't think the study completed by Anderson and his team in 2002, which dismissed thermal effects as the cause of the anomaly, was even close to thorough enough. "The realization that there was never a proper, detailed thermal analysis of the Pioneer spacecraft, well that was of course a huge motivation for me," he said. "I mean let's get something done, you know?"
In search of a more complete data set to work with, Toth started corresponding with Turyshev at JPL. They agreed that an analysis was needed of the Doppler data spanning a much longer period of time than the decade-long segment analyzed previously. "The Pioneers were launched on punchcards back in the 70s," Turyshev explained. "Then they used Fortran, then C, and now we use C++, so we needed to get all that older data converted to modern navigational software." Alongside the Doppler data, they also decided to analyze the telemetry data from the spacecraft, which Turyshev described as "housekeeping information" collected by 114 sensors covering the surface of each Pioneer and transmitted back to Earth during radio communications. Most importantly, the telemetry data contained information about the temperature everywhere on each spacecraft at every moment for the entire duration of their missions.
It was 2005. Toth drove down from his home in Ottawa and met Turyshev for the first time, at Ames Research Center, where all the old data was stored. When they arrived, they found large dumpsters parked outside the building's entrance. All 30-plus years of Pioneer Doppler data and corresponding logbooks were due to be thrown out in two weeks. Funding at Ames was skeletal at that time, and it couldn't afford to archive anything. "When we realized that things were that bad, we were yelling and screaming and dancing and smiling and cheering, and all that led to a little funding left given to the guys at Ames so that they would be able to archive all the materials and all the project information," recalled Turyshev. "It was very exciting." As for the telemetry data, most of it was long gone from Ames at that point, but fortunately a retired Pioneer mission control engineer named Larry Kellogg happened to have saved all of it. In hopes of someday building computer simulations of the Pioneer missions and streaming them online, he had copied all the old files onto his laptop before retiring and leaving Ames. When the logbooks got tossed, a former colleague dug them out of the dumpster and sent them to Kellogg as well. Kellogg met up with Toth and Turyshev in the Ames parking lot and handed everything over.
Then their work began in earnest. How did Turyshev feel about Toth's criticisms of the analysis done previously by him and his JPL team? It seems he agrees that mistakes were made. "If we knew in 2002 what we know today, we would have done the analysis in a slightly different way," he commented. "In the meantime people spent years studying this. Now, I feel responsible for bringing closure."
Five years have passed. Using the telemetry data, the two scientists created an extremely elaborate "finite element" 3-D computer model of each Pioneer spacecraft, in which the thermal properties of 100,000 positions on their surfaces are independently tracked for the duration of the 30-year mission. Everything there is to know about heat conduction across the spacecraft's surfaces, as well as the way that heat flow and temperature declined over time as the power of the generators lessened, they know. The results of the telemetry analysis? "The heat recoil force accounts for part of the acceleration," said Turyshev. They wouldn't tell me how significant a part. (Turyshev: "We'd like to publish that in the scientific literature.") But according to Toth, "You can take it to the bank that whatever remains of the anomaly after accounting for that thermal acceleration, it will at most be much less than the canonical value of 8.74 x 10-10 m/s2, and then, mind you, all those wonderful numerical coincidences people talk about are destroyed."
But the results of thermal simulations don't stand alone; after all, they show a decline in thermal acceleration over time, and in the past, the Pioneer anomaly was always believed to be constant. The simulations must match up in time with the Doppler tracking data, the analysis of which is not yet finished. Multiple conversions over the years severely corrupted the Doppler files, and it took two years to read them. More time was spent locating some crucial logbooks (found in the mementos of another retired mission control person). Additional time was spent accounting for the way 30 years of earthquakes had shifted the locations of antennas that received Doppler data from the Pioneers. Actual analysis of the data finally began one year ago, and Toth and Turyshev expect to publish their results in about six months.
I asked for a sneak peek. "Though the constant acceleration idea is a valid model, we have begun to see that it is equally valid or a better yet if we assume that there is some decay - that the acceleration is slightly decaying with time," said Toth. Furthermore, he told me, he and Turyshev have been re-addressing the question of which direction the anomalous acceleration points in. It may not be sunward after all, as was always assumed. And a non-sunward acceleration would suggest a non-gravitational cause. "Our results are very suggestive, but I want to wait until we're completely finished before saying anything more about it. There is a community of physicists interested in the Pioneer anomaly, and I have become quite aware of how desperately sensitive this thing can be."
After decades spent thinking, arguing, hoping, and in the words of Turyshev, "making a career off of it," these scientists' interest in the Pioneer anomaly has, understandably, accumulated psychological baggage; in the case of many of them, a cloud of emotional investment has formed around the core of objective scientific inquiry. And clouds obscure things.
"Is the Pioneer anomaly just caused by the spacecraft? You get a cross section of feelings if you just declare it," said Larry Kellogg, the engineer who rescued the telemetry data. "That's why Viktor and Slava are being very careful about what they're saying right now. If they ever come to the point where they say, 'we've proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that the spacecraft were just heating up and pushing backwards,' then you can bet that all the people who've ever said anything are going to say something else."
For Nieto, who stands solidly among the ranks of the "people who've ever said anything," this will be the case. "I encourage their work," he said, "but I'll be skeptical of the results. And of course, they won't be entirely sure either. We might just argue back and forth forever."
Other physicists are more combative. "Heat? That's simply not the right explanation. They are wrong," commented Johan Masreliez, an independent researcher in Washington who supports the expanding spacetime model of cosmology, for which it is crucial that the value of the Pioneer anomaly equals c times H. "But then I'm biased," he added.
In April, Turyshev and Toth published a comprehensive 165-page review article on Arxiv.org called, simply, "The Pioneer Anomaly" to set the stage for the forthcoming publication of their reanalysis. The review begins with two historical anecdotes of obvious pertinence. One is the story of the anomalous precession of Mercury's perihelion, the seed that 60 years later blossomed into Einstein's general relativity and the end of physics as it stood. The other is a lesser-known tale of anomalous celestial motion. Around the turn of the 19th century, astronomers noticed that the distant planet Uranus had a funky orbit; it deviated from the path prescribed for it by Newtonian gravity. "Some prominent astronomers suggested that perhaps Newton's laws break down at great distances from the Sun," wrote Toth and Turyshev. Speculation of that kind lasted until 1846, at which point another distant planet was discovered right where it needed to be to perturb the orbit of Uranus in just the way it was perturbed. That planet was Neptune, and "Newton's law was safe."
Though Turyshev's and Toth's results can't possibly hope to be as rock solid as a new planet, by the sound of things, they themselves have become convinced of the thermal cause of the anomaly, and the sanctity of Newton's law. "Let me tell you this," said Turyshev, as I begged him for details about the analysis. "Physics as we know it worked well."
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Now That Phillies Are Pitch Perfect, Washington Nationals Must Get Offensive
[New England Patriots, Sports, Fantasy Football] (Bleacher Report - Front Page)There are many glum faces along the National League East corridor this morning. The best starting rotation in the league just became the best in all of baseball, perhaps the best in the last half-decade or so. Suddenly, moves made by the other four teams—the Braves, Marlins, Mets and Nationals—seem to have gone for naught. Instead of being just a few games better than the other contenders, the Philadelphia Phillies are in a division all their own. And the cackling can be heard straig ...
There are many glum faces along the National League East corridor this morning. The best starting rotation in the league just became the best in all of baseball, perhaps the best in the last half-decade or so.
Suddenly, moves made by the other four teams—the Braves, Marlins, Mets and Nationals—seem to have gone for naught. Instead of being just a few games better than the other contenders, the Philadelphia Phillies are in a division all their own.
And the cackling can be heard straight down I-95.
Many are suggesting that the Nationals immediately stop their pursuit of pitching upgrades, that adding Carl Pavano through free agency or trading for Zach Greinke or Matt Garza is fruitless.
Cliff Lee could beat John Lannan 5-2 and Zach Greinke 3-2. A loss is a loss, regardless of its beauty.
Moreover, the cost for those other pitchers just increased, as Lee’s suitors now turn to those four or five available top pitchers, driving up their cost.
What’s a moribund franchise to do?
The first problem is that the Jayson Werth signing will make little sense if it ends up being the only major change the Nationals make over the winter. Those $18 million dollars just can’t be justified as a stand-alone contract.
But I agree with the pundits that it doesn’t make much sense to bring in those hotshot starters if they give you only a minimally better chance to win the game.
If the Nationals open the 2011 season with just the pitchers they now have, this is how the rotation might look with projected statistics based on how they’ve performed the past two or three seasons and based on a 162-game season:
1. John Lannan: 10-14, 4.10, 9.4/3.3/4.6
Lannan’s 2010 season hurt his career numbers, but a sore elbow certainly hurt his performance last season. He was one of just a handful of pitchers to have an ERA below 4.00 in 2008 and 2009.
On a good team, Lannan could be counted on for: 12-10, 3.75 ERA
2. Jordan Zimmermann: 6-10, 4.71, 9.3/2.9/8.8
Zimmermann’s numbers are deceiving. He’s had many great starts over his two seasons but a few rookie-roughed-up debacles skewed his stats. He’s a borderline number one starter or a top number two.
Zimmerman’s good team stats with a little experience: 15-11, 3.44 ERA
3. Jason Marquis: 14-12, 4.37, 9.1/3.5/4.9
The above numbers are Marquis’ actual statistics from 2007-2009. After elbow surgery and time on the disabled list last season, there is no reason to believe that Marquis cannot return to his solid though not stellar performances of the last five or six seasons.
4. Livan Hernandez: 10-12, 3.66, 9.2/2.7/4.8
After a few difficult seasons, Hernandez returned to form last season (see above). He is nothing more than a number four or five starter, but he does his job effectively, pitching 200 innings, shortening the game and giving his team a chance to win.
There are a few players who might secure the final spot in the rotation:
Ross Detwiler: 3-14, 4.74, 10.3/4.2/5.2
Those numbers are ugly, but good rookie pitchers sometimes pitch ugly. Last season, heading into his final start against the Phillies, Detwiler—the Nationals' first-round pick in 2007—had a fine record of 1-2, 2.52. He has shown he can be a starter in the National League. It’s just the matter of if he will.
Projected record for good team with some experience: 10-10, 4.10
Yunesky Maya: 0-3, 5.88, 10.4/3.8/4.2
Signed last summer as a free agent, Maya was one of Cuba’s best pitchers on their international traveling team. He started five games in the minors and did well, winning a game and crafting a 3.38 ERA. He allowed just 7.6 hits per nine innings while striking out nearly eight.
This winter, he was even better. Pitching in the Dominican Winter League, Maya went 4-1 with a 0.56 ERA, striking out a batter an inning while allowing less than four runners per game.
With the Nationals last fall, he looked nervous during his first four starts but settled down in his last game against the Mets, allowing two earned runs while striking out four in six innings.
Maya could be the key for the Nationals rotation. He dominated during the World Baseball Classic in 2009, finishing with a 1.23 ERA. He has the talent to be a true number three starter, and that will happen once he gains experience. The question is whether he gains that experience in the minors or with the Nationals in 2011.
And if Stephen Strasburg follows fellow teammate Jordan Zimmermann, he will return from Tommy John surgery sometime in August, further solidifying the rotation.
To be clear, the Phillies will win a lot games against a lot of different teams next season, the Nationals included. Nothing is going to change that. Adding pitchers like Carl Pavano or Matt Garza will make the Nationals better, but not better enough to succeed within the division.
The only way the Nationals can improve now is to spend their available contract dollars—dollars that would have been spent on Cliff Lee or Matt Garza—on productive hitters.
Adam LaRoche has to be the club’s new first baseman. He can be counted on to provide 25 home runs and 100 RBI. His defense is good. Here are my offensive projections for the team:
1B—Adam LaRoche (assuming): .265-25-90
2B—Danny Espinosa: .250-20-70, 25 steals
SS—Ian Desmond: .270-15-65, 20 steals
3B—Ryan Zimmerman: .300-30-110
LF—Josh Willingham: .265-24-75
CF—Nyjer Morgan: .270-2-40, 40 steals
RF—Jayson Werth: .290-30-100
C—Pudge and Ramos: .265-8-50
That’s a very good offense, again assuming the Nationals can sign LaRoche. But there are some power-hitting center fielders out there. What if the Nationals were able to trade three or four prospects—like they would have for Zach Greinke—and replace Nyjer Morgan with a .280-25-75 kind of hitter?
Better yet, Jayson Werth has shown he can play center field. Move him over and let Mike Morse (15 home runs in 266 at-bats last year) play right field every day with Roger Bernandina as his backup.
That could be a formidable offense.
I believe in this team. It is one or two more good players from crossing that elusive .500 finish line. But the Cliff Lee to Philadelphia move just increased the cost of those remaining top pitchers by 20 or 30 percent.
Forget the pitching and go with the offense, Nationals, and let all those arms culled during “The Plan” help lead you through the beginning of “Phase Two.”
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Coutts wins Fleet Race RC44 Worlds at Puerto Calero - Spithill overall winner
[Boating] (Valencia Sailing)[Source: RC44 Class Association] Yacht 17 takes overall title after BMW ORACLE Racing wins feet racing Australian Jimmy Spithill, Anders Myralf of Denmark and the international crew of the yacht 17 concluded a banner week in the Canary Islands by winning the inaugural RC 44 World Championship for the Islas Canarias Puerto Calero Cup. After three days of match racing at the outset of the week, the regatta wrapped up today with the conclusion of the fleet racing, which counted 10 races in total ...
[Source: RC44 Class Association] Yacht 17 takes overall title after BMW ORACLE Racing wins feet racing
Australian Jimmy Spithill, Anders Myralf of Denmark and the international crew of the yacht 17 concluded a banner week in the Canary Islands by winning the inaugural RC 44 World Championship for the Islas Canarias Puerto Calero Cup.
After three days of match racing at the outset of the week, the regatta wrapped up today with the conclusion of the fleet racing, which counted 10 races in total. The yacht 17 won the match racing and finished second in the fleet racing to claim the championship.
Highlights from the closing of the first ever RC44 World Championship. Puerto Calero, 16 October 2010. Video copyright RC44 Class Association
Spithill, Myralf and the 17 crew entered the day in the lead, but an early start in one race and penalties in the other two nearly scuttled their regatta.
“We’re feeling great,” said Spithill, 31, of Sydney, Australia. “It was a tough day on the water for us. We tried to stay clean but got tangled up a couple of times. It was really unpredictable on the water, but at the end of day we hung tough and got it done.”
Heading into the final heat of the fleet racing portion of the regatta the top three boats – No Way Back, BMW ORACLE Racing and 17 – were within 1 point of the title.
No Way Back and 17 each had to perform penalty turns in the race, which allowed BMW ORACLE Racing, led by tactician Russell Coutts and local helmsman Jose Juan Calero to claim the win.
“I’m very grateful to Russell Coutts and Mr. Ellison for giving me an opportunity to steer the boat,” said Calero, whose family hosted the regatta at the Puerto Calero Marina. “It means a lot for me because we organized the event as well. It was very stressful at times, but big fun at the end of each race.”
No Way Back, led by owner Pieter Heerema of The Netherlands and tactician Ray Davies of New Zealand, finished third in the fleet racing with 55 points. Coupled with their sixth-place finish in the match racing, they placed third overall.
“It was a great event. I love Lanzarote and Puerto Calero,” said Heerema, last year’s RC 44 season champion. “Being third makes me very happy. We’ve struggled a bit this season. We’ve just never sailed to our level. We were feeling we were sliding down, but to be a strong contender before the last race makes us feel good.”
Top honors on the final day of racing went to Chris Bake’s Team Aqua, with New Zealander Cameron Appleton calling tactics. Team Aqua posted the low score of 6 points on finishes of 1-1-4, a welcome day after two days of struggles.
“We redeemed ourselves a bit; finally figured out the racecourse and got our boat figured out,” said Bake, who swept all three titles at the previous RC 44 event in Valencia. “It was massively difficult out there with the shifts and the bias in the course. It felt good to be leading the pack again.”
With just the Miami RC 44 Cup remaining on the schedule, BMW ORACLE Racing leads the season standings with 8 points, followed by No Way Back with 10 points, 17 with 12 points, Artemis with 12 points and Team Aqua with 15 points. The Miami RC 44 Cup is scheduled Dec. 7-12.
RC 44 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ISLAS CANARIAS PUERTO CALERO CUP
Final Standings (including match and fleet racing)
1. 17 1-2 – 3 points
2. BMW ORACLE Racing 3-1 – 4
3. No Way Back 6-3 – 9
4. Katusha 4-5 – 9
5. Artemis 2-7 – 9
6. Sea Dubai 8-4 – 12
7. Ceeref 7-6 – 13
8. Aqua 5-8 – 13
9. Mascalzone Latino 9-9 – 18
10. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team 10-10 – 20
11. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero 11-11 – 22
12. Peninsula Petroleum 12-12 – 24
13. Synergy 13-13 – 26 -
Coutts wins RC 44 fleet race Worlds at Puerto Calero - Spithill overall winner
[Sailing] (SAILKARMA.COM - Sailing News, Videos and Photos!)Yacht 17 takes overall title after BMW ORACLE Racing wins feet racing LANZAROTE, Canary Islands (16 October 2010) – Australian Jimmy Spithill, Anders Myralf of Denmark and the international crew of the yacht 17 concluded a banner week in the Canary Islands by winning the inaugural RC 44 World Championship for the Islas Canarias Puerto Calero Cup. After three days of match racing at the outset of the week, the regatta wrapped up today with the conclusion of the fleet racing, which counted 10 r ...
Yacht 17 takes overall title after BMW ORACLE Racing wins feet racing
LANZAROTE, Canary Islands (16 October 2010) – Australian Jimmy Spithill, Anders Myralf of Denmark and the international crew of the yacht 17 concluded a banner week in the Canary Islands by winning the inaugural RC 44 World Championship for the Islas Canarias Puerto Calero Cup.
After three days of match racing at the outset of the week, the regatta wrapped up today with the conclusion of the fleet racing, which counted 10 races in total. The yacht 17 won the match racing and finished second in the fleet racing to claim the championship.
Spithill, Myralf and the 17 crew entered the day in the lead, but an early start in one race and penalties in the other two nearly scuttled their regatta.
“We’re feeling great,” said Spithill, 31, of Sydney, Australia. “It was a tough day on the water for us. We tried to stay clean but got tangled up a couple of times. It was really unpredictable on the water, but at the end of day we hung tough and got it done.”
Heading into the final heat of the fleet racing portion of the regatta the top three boats – No Way Back, BMW ORACLE Racing and 17 – were within 1 point of the title.
No Way Back and 17 each had to perform penalty turns in the race, which allowed BMW ORACLE Racing, led by tactician Russell Coutts and local helmsman Jose Juan Calero to claim the win.
“I’m very grateful to Russell Coutts and Mr. Ellison for giving me an opportunity to steer the boat,” said Calero, whose family hosted the regatta at the Puerto Calero Marina. “It means a lot for me because we organized the event as well. It was very stressful at times, but big fun at the end of each race.”
No Way Back, led by owner Pieter Heerema of The Netherlands and tactician Ray Davies of New Zealand, finished third in the fleet racing with 55 points. Coupled with their sixth-place finish in the match racing, they placed third overall.
“It was a great event. I love Lanzarote and Puerto Calero,” said Heerema, last year’s RC 44 season champion. “Being third makes me very happy. We’ve struggled a bit this season. We’ve just never sailed to our level. We were feeling we were sliding down, but to be a strong contender before the last race makes us feel good.”
Top honors on the final day of racing went to Chris Bake’s Team Aqua, with New Zealander Cameron Appleton calling tactics. Team Aqua posted the low score of 6 points on finishes of 1-1-4, a welcome day after two days of struggles.
“We redeemed ourselves a bit; finally figured out the racecourse and got our boat figured out,” said Bake, who swept all three titles at the previous RC 44 event in Valencia. “It was massively difficult out there with the shifts and the bias in the course. It felt good to be leading the pack again.”
With just the Miami RC 44 Cup remaining on the schedule, BMW ORACLE Racing leads the season standings with 8 points, followed by No Way Back with 10 points, 17 with 12 points, Artemis with 12 points and Team Aqua with 15 points.
The Miami RC 44 Cup is scheduled Dec. 7-12.
RC 44 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ISLAS CANARIAS PUERTO CALERO CUP
Fleet Racing (after 10 races)
1. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) Jose Juan/Russell Coutts – 2-5-2-3-5-4-11-10-4-3 – 49
2. 17 (USA) Anders Myralf/Jimmy Spithill – 3-11-1-1-7-3-2-7-12-7 – 54 points
3. No Way Back (NED) Pieter Heerema/Ray Davies – 5-6-8-2-4-1-10-4-6-9 – 55
4. Team Sea Dubai (UAE) Harm Müller-Spreer/Markus Wieser – 4-1-12-10-1-9-7-9-3-2 – 58
5. Katusha (RUS) Guennadi Timtchenko/Paul Cayard – 13-7-10-5-2-7-3-5-5-1 – 58
6. Ceeref (SLO) Igor Lah/Rod Davis – 11-8-3-6-3-10-4-3-7-6 – 61
7. Artemis (SWE) Torbjorn Tornqvist/Terry Hutchinson – 10-3-5-4-8-8-6-2-9-8 – 65*
8. Team Aqua (UAE) Chris Bake/Cameron Appleton – 6-10-7-8-13-12-9-1-1-4 – 69*
9. Mascalzone Latino (ITA) Vincenzo Onorato/Francesco Bruni – 1-9-9-9-10-5-14-13-2-5 – 79*
10. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team (AUT) René Mangold/Christian Binder – 8-13-4-11-6-13-1-11-8-11 – 86
11. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) Daniel Calero/Jose Maria Ponce – 7-2-13-13-9-6-8-8-11-12 – 89
12. Peninsula Petroleum (ESP) John Bassadone/Inaki Castaner – 12-4-6-7-12-2-14-12-13-10 – 92
13. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS) Maxim Logutenko/Evgeniy Neugodnikov – 9-12-11-12-11-11-5-6-10-13 – 100
(*Points total includes 2-point penalty for on-water infraction)
Final Standings (including match and fleet racing)
1. 17 1-2 – 3 points
2. BMW ORACLE Racing 3-1 – 4
3. No Way Back 6-3 – 9
4. Katusha 4-5 – 9
5. Artemis 2-7 – 9
6. Sea Dubai 8-4 – 12
7. Ceeref 7-6 – 13
8. Aqua 5-8 – 13
9. Mascalzone Latino 9-9 – 18
10. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team 10-10 – 20
11. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero 11-11 – 22
12. Peninsula Petroleum 12-12 – 24
13. Synergy 13-13 – 26
Photo Copyright: Nico Martinez / RC44 Class.
1. BMW ORACLE Racing, helmed by José Juan Calero, had to wait until the last race to grab the RC 44 fleet race world championship title
2. James Spithill, Anders Myralf and their team 17, winners of the RC 44 World Championship overall title (fleet and match combined)http://www.sailkarma.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss -
Tony's 10-metre band report
[Ham Radio] (Southgate Amateur Radio News RSS Feed)Another pretty good week on the 10-metre band. Tony has news of the 10-10 International Sprint Party - a rather special event, as this year it will be held on 10/10/10. There's also details of the North Georgia Laryngitis net ...
Another pretty good week on the 10-metre band. Tony has news of the 10-10 International Sprint Party - a rather special event, as this year it will be held on 10/10/10. There's also details of the North Georgia Laryngitis net -
Hammering in Some Climate Hope This Fall
[Green] (Change.org's Environment Blog)Bill McKibben is a member of Change.org's Changemakers network, comprised of leading voices for social change. He is the founder of 350.org, an international climate campaign, and has led the organization of the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history. It’s been a brutal summer, obviously, from smoke-shrouded Moscow to flood-soaked Pakistan—the summer when we really saw what global warming looks like in its early stages. But we plan on making it a remarkable fall— ...
Bill McKibben is a member of Change.org's Changemakers network, comprised of leading voices for social change. He is the founder of 350.org, an international climate campaign, and has led the organization of the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history.
It’s been a brutal summer, obviously, from smoke-shrouded Moscow to flood-soaked Pakistan—the summer when we really saw what global warming looks like in its early stages.
But we plan on making it a remarkable fall—the fall when we really see what people taking action can start to accomplish.
The stark failure of the U.S. Congress to even vote on climate legislation (for the 21st straight year) means that people around the world are going to have to start taking matters into their own hands. On 10-10-10, people in almost every nation will be doing practical things: putting up solar panels, digging community gardens, planting mangrove forests along rising shorelines. In Auckland, squads of bike mechanics will try to repair every cycle in the city; in Bolivia they’ll be handing out solar ovens; in Ann Arbor, Michigan they’re building raised-bed gardens in the front yards of low-income areas.
But we know we can’t actually solve climate change one bike path or farmer’s market at a time. So the day will also send a sharp political message—at day’s end, people will put down their shovels and pick up their cellphones. They’ll call their leaders and say: ‘We’re getting to work, what about you? If I can get up on a roof and hammer in a solar panel, I expect you to get up on the Senate floor and hammer out some legislation.”
Some leaders have already heard that message: in the low-lying (and entirely Muslim) nation of the Maldives, for instance, President Mohammed Nasheed has pledged to turn his official residence solar-powered on 10-10. But we need everyone to hear it, before the UN reconvenes in Mexico in December to take up where they left off at Copenhagen last year.
If the pictures from Russia and Pakistan saddened you, then 10-10-10 is the moment to make that sadness count. I urge you to sign this pledge to get involved and look for an event taking place near you here. Many thanks for joining in!
Photo credit: 350.org
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Northair Intersects 7.26 Metres of 68 g/t Silver at La Cigarra's La Boracha Zone, Mexico
[Sailing] (Latest News from Yacht Vacations & Charters)International Northair Mines Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: INM) (the "Company" or "Northair") is pleased to announce final assay results from the last 4 holes of the drill program recently completed at the La Cigarra silver project, located in north central Mexico. Previous drill results form the San Gregorio and Las Carolinas Zones were released on July 13, 2010 (see INM Press Release #10-10). The phase I drill program, totaling 1,455 metres in 15 reverse circulation drill holes, successfully tested three ...
International Northair Mines Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: INM) (the "Company" or "Northair") is pleased to announce final assay results from the last 4 holes of the drill program recently completed at the La Cigarra silver project, located in north central Mexico. Previous drill results form the San Gregorio and Las Carolinas Zones were released on July 13, 2010 (see INM Press Release #10-10). The phase I drill program, totaling 1,455 metres in 15 reverse circulation drill holes, successfully tested three known mineralized targets on the property. Drill highlights of the program at the La Boracha Zone include near surface intercept of 7.26 metres of 68.0 g/t silver in Hole CRC-10-13 and an intercept of 7.26 metres of 67.0 g/t silver in Hole CRC-10-15 beginning from surface. Highlights from the San Gregorio and Las Carolinas Zones include near surface intercepts of 32 metres of 132.4 g/t silver in Hole CRC-10-06 and 10.7 metres of 172.5 g/t silver in Hole CRC-10-01. -
Soldiers medal at 2010 U.S. National Boxing Championships
[Citizen Journalism, News] (CNN iReport - Latest)First image: Spc. Jeffrey Spencer; second image: Spc. Carrie Barry; third image: Sgt. John Franklin. Photos and Story by Tim Hipps COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program boxer Spc. Jeffrey Spencer won a gold medal and teammates Sgt. John Franklin and Spc. Carrie Barry struck bronze at the 2010 U.S. National Boxing Championships July 12-17. The Saturday night finals inside the ballroom of the Crown Plaza Hotel opened with a 10-count salute to the late George Steinbrenner ...
First image: Spc. Jeffrey Spencer; second image: Spc. Carrie Barry; third image: Sgt. John Franklin.
Photos and Story by Tim Hipps
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program boxer Spc. Jeffrey Spencer won a gold medal and teammates Sgt. John Franklin and Spc. Carrie Barry struck bronze at the 2010 U.S. National Boxing Championships July 12-17.
The Saturday night finals inside the ballroom of the Crown Plaza Hotel opened with a 10-count salute to the late George Steinbrenner, who died earlier in the week, for his support of the U.S. Olympic Committee and Team USA athletes. The mood quickly turned upbeat as Outkast's "Hey Ya" blared through the speakers, signaling that America's best amateur boxers were ready to rumble.
Four hours later, Army supporters from nearby Fort Carson had reason to celebrate.
"It's been a while since we've had a national champ so it's a good feeling again, that's for sure," WCAP head boxing coach Basheer Abdullah said. "We should have placed one, two and three."
Spencer, 28, dedicated his 10-9 victory over Robert Brant in the light middleweight finale to his late grandfather, a former Marine Corps boxer and youth boxing coach who died of a sudden heart attack last New Year's Day. Spencer was visiting his mother in Texas for the holidays when his grandfather dropped to the floor."My mother called 911 and I was trying to do CPR on him and revive him," Spencer said. "My grandfather was the whole reason I started boxing. That was his dream, for me to become a champion. If he was here, he would say he's proud of me - and keep my hands up."
An avid basketball player, Spencer began boxing at age 18 when someone saw him win a brawl at Atterbury (Ind.) Job Corps Center and suggested that he climb between the ropes.
"When I went back home to Gary, Indiana, I told my grandfather, 'I want to box now.' And he said, 'Alright, we're going to take you to the gym and we'll see how you do,'" Spencer said. "When he saw what I could do, he said I had a natural talent for it, and I went from there. I've been boxing ever since. It was his dream for me to be a national champion and an Olympian, and I'm going for that. Anything that gets in my way, I'm barreling over it.
"This means everything to me because I've worked so hard - grinding blood, sweat and tears in the gym - and this is my reward. This is the fun time. This is what we work for. This is what we share blood for - what I get beat up and down in the gym for right here. We're an Army of One, baby. I'm going to go out fighting until I die."
After winning a couple of brawls in his first two bouts on Monday and Wednesday, Spencer relied on his "quick hands and slickness" for the rest of the tournament.
"My speed is my biggest gift," he said. "Speed first and power second."
Spencer came from Fort Hood, Texas, to join the Army's elite boxers in the World Class Athlete Program at Fort Carson. Andrew Maynard, a former Army boxer who won the light heavyweight Olympic gold medal at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea, climbed into the ring to hang the hardware around Spencer's neck.
Franklin, 26, won the bronze medal when the referee stopped his lightweight contest against power puncher Adam Lopez of San Antonio. Franklin broke a 10-10 tie by dropping Lopez with a straight right hand in the third round.
"I thought I went up one [point] or maybe I tied it up," Franklin said. "He caught me with a hook and I came back up and tried to go to the body with a straight right hand and 'bam.' All I know is he caught me first with a hook, and I was like, 'Aw, he just got a point.' So I just came back as hard as I could with the right hand and it connected right on the chin and put him down."
"I love my hook so much. I'm strong in both hands, but I get hook happy and me and coach talk about that all the time. ... This time, I switched it up and came right back with the right hand. Coach has been telling me it's open all week and I did it this time. It was open, and it worked."
True knockouts are rare in the 114-kilogram amateur ranks. Franklin can recall posting only seven KOs in his 108 bouts, 89 of which he won."You don't see too many knockouts in that weight class unless it's Rau'shee Warren," Abdullah said of the four-time national champion who is attempting to become the first three-time Olympic boxer in U.S. history.
In the semifinals one day earlier, Franklin was leading by two points when he got stopped by a strong right overhand from Miguel Cartagena, the 2009 national light flyweight champion from Philadelphia. Franklin was floored by the punch and quickly bounced to his feet, but his legs were wobbly and the referee stopped the contest, much to the dismay of Franklin, Abdullah and an Army partisan crowd at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
"That was a heartbreaker," Abdullah said.
"He didn't hurt me the whole fight," Franklin said. "I was dominating him. I didn't even see the punch. He hit me on the top of the head, right above the headgear, and that was the only punch I felt from him all night."
Franklin thought the referee should have stopped the fight when he staggered to his feet, if at all - but not after he jumped up and down and said he was ready to resume boxing.
"You've got to let the elite guys go with what they know," Franklin said. "If this was the first day of the tournament, I could definitely understand, but we're going for the gold medal - you've got to let it go sometimes."
One day later, Franklin regrouped and fought for third place.
"I've been bitter all day and trying to get my mind right for this fight," he said after securing the bronze. "Right before I went into the ring, a referee came up to me and said he was sorry about what happened last night. He said he didn't believe that it should have been stopped, that he thought I was showing that I was OK, but everybody has their perception of how it looked."
"I wasn't even going to fight today," Franklin continued. "A lot of other boxers were telling me they wouldn't do it if they were me. They felt like it would be too hard to come back from something like that, but I felt like if I was a pro and I got knocked out, that's exactly how I would want to come back and avenge myself. It was definitely well worth it."
Barry, 29, holder of nine national crowns, had all but retired from the ring and was taking up the triathlon when it was announced that women's boxing would debut at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. After taking a one-year hiatus from the ring, she returned in Colorado Springs and lost 16-9 to eventual national champ Queen Underwood of Seattle in the 132-kilogram semifinals.
"After a year off and having limited time to train for this competition, I was really happy with my performance this week," Barry said. "All of the rounds I felt really good. She caught me with a nice clean shot in that first round and I was able to recover. I caught her with some good shots. In the end, she got me with more than I got her."
Barry already has captained U.S. national teams in numerous international competitions. She joined the Army to pursue her Olympic dream.
"I was ready to start coaching," she said. "Flip around and give back to the sport that's given me so much. The moment I found out about the Olympics, the first person I called was coach Abdullah. ... Coming into the military was a big choice. ... Now I've just got that one last goal of being an Olympian."
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School of Seven Bells: Active Child Tour, A Place to Bury Strangers Remix
[Music] (Pitchfork: Latest News)Photo by Matt Taplinger Next month, New York bliss-pop trio School of Seven Bells will release their new album Disconnect From Desire; it's due July 12 from Full Time Hobby in Europe and a day later from Vagrant/Ghostly International in the U.S. Click here to stream their song "Windstorm", and click below to stream a remix of the track from New York noisers A Place to Bury Strangers. Around the time the album drops, the band will play a few shows in Europe and Australia. In September, they' ...
Photo by Matt Taplinger
Next month, New York bliss-pop trio School of Seven Bells will release their new album Disconnect From Desire; it's due July 12 from Full Time Hobby in Europe and a day later from Vagrant/Ghostly International in the U.S. Click here to stream their song "Windstorm", and click below to stream a remix of the track from New York noisers A Place to Bury Strangers.
Around the time the album drops, the band will play a few shows in Europe and Australia. In September, they'll launch a pretty huge North American tour. Onstage, School of Seven Bells sound every bit as woozy and ethereal as they do on record. And the same is also true of their opener, the Rising L.A. bedroom pop project Active Child. All their dates are below.
School of Seven Bells:
07-07 Brighton, England - Resident Records (in-store)
07-08 London, England - Pure Groove (in-store)
07-12 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
07-13 Hamburg, Germany - Molotow
07-17 Suffolk, England - Latitude Festival
07-18 Bristol, England - Thekla
07-19 Manchester, England - Ruby Lounge
07-20 London, England - Scala
07-30 Woodford, Australia - Splendour in the Grass Festival
09-09 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl *
09-11 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs *
09-12 Burlington, VT- Club Metronome *
09-13 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa *
09-15 Toronto, Ontario - Mod Club *
09-16 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig *
09-17 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
09-18 Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre *
09-19 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry *
09-20 Iowa City, IA - Blue Moose Tap House *
09-21 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room *
09-23 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar *
09-24 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
09-25 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
09-27 Seattle, WA - Neumos *
09-28 Vancouver, British Columbia - Biltmore Cabaret *
09-29 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *
09-30 San Francisco, CA - Independent *
10-01 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex *
10-02 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar *
10-03 San Diego, CA - The Loft *
10-05 Tucson, AZ - Plush *
10-06 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad *
10-08 Denton, TX - Hailey's *
10-09 Austin, TX - Mohawk *
10-10 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live *
10-11 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon *
10-12 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder *
10-13 Tampa, FL - Crowbar *
10-14 Orlando, FL - The Social *
10-16 Miami, FL - Grand Central *
10-18 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
10-19 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
10-20 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar *
10-21 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel *
10-22 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas ** with Active Child
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Game 1 Recap: Blazers 105, Suns 100
[NBA Basketball] (Blazersedge)More photos » Christian Petersen - Getty Images Too late. Too slow. Too bad. Browse more photos » Long Story Short: The Blazers play a see-saw game with the Suns--crawling ahead by virtue of the inside game, falling back under the onslaught of three-pointers and second-chance points--until strong guard play in the fourth period against weaker Suns defenders p ...
Long Story Short: The Blazers play a see-saw game with the Suns--crawling ahead by virtue of the inside game, falling back under the onslaught of three-pointers and second-chance points--until strong guard play in the fourth period against weaker Suns defenders puts them far enough ahead that they can weather the final run.
The Game
Portland came out in this one showing that they meant business. They exploited three Phoenix weaknesses from the opening tip. First they ran LaMarcus Aldridge inside and he responded with some of the prettiest post play of the season, spinning around defenders for controlled short shots. Second Andre Miller and crew employed busy hands to poke away turnovers. These led to quick, easy shots on the other end as Phoenix proved tardy in getting back. On the other end Portland forced the Suns outside, kept a man on the shot, and rebounded well. Throw in a couple of sweet Nicolas Batum shots and you had a near-perfect start for Portland.
That lasted until mid-quarter when Alvin Gentry started subbing in his sweet-shooting bench. All of a sudden Phoenix was doing the exploiting. Simple high screens lost Portland defenders, requiring perimeter wings to collapse to stop penetration. One or two passes later (literally) and Phoenix was presented with wide-open three-point shots. That would be like Kobayashi being presented with a hot dog. Between the 5:00 and 2:50 mark of the period the Suns shot nothing but threes, making 3 of 5. A 17-8 Portland lead shrank to 19-17 in the blink of an eye. Portland's bench manufactured a few points but the Blazers couldn't contain inside or out. Offensive rebounds and Nash drives closed the quarter for the Suns. The score was 25-24, Portland.
The second period started with Portland's second unit trying to make amends by offensive rebounding. They were all over the boards on that end, stalling the Suns' scoring by denying them possession. Unfortunately offensive rebounds by definition follow missed shots and the Blazers were still providing plenty of those. On the other end of the floor the Blazers still had no containment. Three of the Suns' first four scores were layup, three-pointer, dunk. The Blazers, meanwhile, were turning the ball over and missing jumpers. Phoenix snagged a 33-28 lead before Martell Webster stopped the bleeding with a three of his own. Andre Miller had come back in the game to calm things down but he couldn't get the offense cranked either. However the return of Marcus Camby from a seemingly eternal rest did the trick. All of a sudden Phoenix wasn't open anymore inside and the secure lane allowed the Blazers to venture farther out against the deep shooters. Phoenix started missing mid-range jumpers just as Portland had earlier. Behind Camby the Blazers continued to pound the offensive boards. LaMarcus Aldridge scored four late and Batum hit a three off of a sweet Miller pass to put the Blazers up 4 before Leandro Barbosa finished the half with a three off of an equally sweet pass from Nash. Each team had surged forward and fallen back throughout the half. The Blazers took a 44-43 lead into the locker room. The 1 point looked marginal but it was clear that through it all Phoenix was playing Portland's game instead of the reverse.
At the top of the third period each team made a compact with each other that the quarter would be decided by jump shots and only jump shots. One Andre Miller layup accounted for the only paint points the Blazers scored in the first 7 minutes of the period. Amare Stoudemire made one layup for the Suns during that stretch. Other than that it was a jumper-fest. Surprisingly the game was tied 60-60 when Batum slam-jammed after a baseline curl drive with 5:09 remaining. Amare Stoudemire was becoming more and more active as the quarter progressed. Between that and the Suns shutting off Portland's flow of offensive rebounds things were actually looking up for the home team. They were aided and abetted by a couple of raunchy bad fouls from Rudy Fernandez on Jason Richardson, one as he shot a three and another less than a minute later as the Suns inbounded with but 2 seconds remaining on the shot clock. The second gaffe got Rudy pulled and Jerryd Bayless inserted. The Law of Unintended Consequences reared its beautiful head as Bayless got aggressive and scored Portland final 4 points of the period. Despite that the Suns had managed to shoot and rebound well enough during the quarter to claim a 72-70 lead going into the fourth. The Blazers had given themselves a chance but momentum was trending Phoenix's way.
As the fourth quarter began Jerryd Bayless looked momentum right in the face and promptly spit in its eye. He came out blisteringly aggressive, putting in 2 layups, the second with an extra foul shot attached. Phoenix, meanwhile, discovered a pony they'd ride all quarter long. After LaMarcus Aldridge put a sweet block on Amare Stoudemire on Portland's first defensive possession Phoenix responded by going deep again. But Leandro Barbosa missed his three. Good for Portland, you say? Not so fast. Since the Blazers' defense was stretched thin trying to catch up with the shot attempt Amare Stoudemire calmly scooped up the offensive board and got fouled, converting both free throws. And DING! The light goes on. For the rest of the period the Suns would spread the court with shooters and dare Portland to both cover them and get the board. LaMarcus Aldridge, who otherwise was having a decent game, couldn't grab a board to save his soul. Marcus Camby could only be three places at once, not all five. The Suns ended up pounding the Blazers again and again, either converting or rebounding.
Was this the end of the line for Portland? Hardly. The Blazers had discovered their own "DING!" moment. It started with Bayless and his driving. Then Andre Miller got into the act. Basically whoever Steve Nash guarded drove. They either got the layup or created so much pressure that somebody else was open. Shooter, rebounder...it didn't matter. Portland started converting EVERYTHING. The two teams remained incredibly close on the scoreboard but two trends were becoming clear. First, Marcus Camby was gaining energy again as the game wound to a close, much like a vampire sucking the life out of a dainty maiden. Amare Stoudemire, on the other hand, looked daintier and more maidenly with every possession. He got slower, grabbed more instead of defending, and couldn't get inside to save his life. He did hit a couple jumpers but he might as well been sitting at a tea table making bon mots for all it mattered. Second, the Blazers were doing most of their scoring inside out while the Suns went outside in. There are only so many offensive rebounds you can get off of missed threes. Never was this proven so clearly as during a sequence at the 3:30 mark wherein Steve Nash missed a three which was rebounded by Grant Hill. Three seconds later Jason Richardson missed a three which was rebounded by Grant Hill. Hill figured enough was enough and just went up with the shot himself. Marcus Camby swatted him like a fly.
With three minutes remaining the Blazers were clinging to a 3 point lead. That's when the collapse of Amare Stoudemire reached its tragic conclusion. He finally decided that some aggression was in order. When he caught the ball extended on the left side he spun and drove baseline on LaMarcus Aldridge. That's when Andre Miller, who had already played Superman in the quarter with his layups and passes, jumped right in front of him and drew the charge. Amare shook his head. Then Jerryd Bayless missed an 18-footer (despite his good lane work not his strength) and Stoudemire had a direct bead on the rebound. He reached...and reached...he's got it...he's getting it....might want to leave your feet sometime soon Amare...GREAT LEAPING ZAMBONIS! LaMarcus Aldridge flies past Stoudemire and tips the ball home! OK...now Amare is mad. He takes the ball down low on the next possession, spins...and gets stripped by Marcus Camby. 8 seconds and 2 shot attempts later it mercifully came to an end. Stoudemire committed his 6th foul and sat. The Blazers were up 7 with 1:21 left at that point. Ballgame.
Well...not quite. Portland tried to be charitable and give this one back to the Suns. First Camby missed 2 free throws. Then Nicolas Batum committed a foul early in the clock, allowing the Suns 1 point back. Then the refs helped out by calling Aldridge for a moving screen when Steve Nash stepped on his big toe and fell. Nash made a layup with 54 seconds left and the Suns were within four. But what's this? They fell asleep entirely on the ensuing inbounds play! Marcus Camby leaked out deep all alone, he got the pass, went to the basket completely unopposed with the nearest Sun a good 10 feet behind him...AND HE MISSED THE DUNK! ARRRGH!!! But never fear, Blazer fans. Phoenix would attempt 6 threes in the final 50 seconds of the game. They'd make but 1. Whatver problems Portland had earlier with guarding screens and recovering had eased. Plus the Suns just dropped them short. The Blazers, meanwhile, made 6 of 10 free throws. Granted, those 4 misses plus that single made three for Phoenix made it look close, but in reality neither team was able to seize the game when it was offered. When neither team can take it the win goes to the team that was already ahead. By virtue of their interior play in the prior 47 minutes the Blazers had earned that honor over the jump-shooting Suns. 105-100, Portland. Blazers win Game 1.
Portland won this game by outshooting Phoenix in general(46.9% to 41.8%) and outscoring them in key areas. The first key was the foul line, where Portland shot 23-31 to Phoenix's 13-16. The physical nature of Portland's game and the resulting fouls obliterated any notion Phoenix had of capitalizing on their three-point advantage. The Suns ended up gaining 5 points from the arc but they lost 10 at the line. In addition the Blazers did an excellent job of beating the Suns down the floor both ways. Portland had plenty of early offense and scored 10 actual fast break points to just 4 for the Suns. One thing Portland did NOT do is dominate the boards. Phoenix had 17 offensive rebounds, scoring a full quarter of their points on second chances. Phoenix also committed more costly turnovers. Portland had 10 but they were of the dead clock variety, leading to only 12 points for Phoenix. The Suns had 12 but they committed more live-ball mistakes, leading to 20 points for the Blazers. More important than any of that, though, was the hard-nosed play of the Blazers and the poise they showed weathering every Phoenix run. The first couple of Suns surges scared you, but by the fourth quarter you figure that was just the pattern of the game. Portland would get up a couple points to earn some padding, then Phoenix would torch the nets for a while. But when the Suns looked proudly at the scoreboard they were only up 3-5 points. The Blazers would just reel them back in and the Suns couldn't keep shooting their way back. Credit Coach McMillan's strategy of calling timeout in the midst of every significant Phoenix run for some of that.
And speaking of credit...
Individual Observations
Andre Miller was the star of this game. He was Mr. Everything. He got the run started at the game's opening and finished it at the end. He shot 10-17 on the evening, mostly layups but a few controlled stop-and-pops plus one dagger-like open three late in the game to make the Suns hang their heads. He also went 10-10 from the line. He drew that charge from Amare to break his spirit. He got 5 rebounds. He dished 8 assists. He stole the ball 3 times. He committed only 3 turnovers. He scored 31. The Suns could not stop him. He was free to be everything he wanted to be because of the Blazers' needs and he responded.
Marcus Camby smacky-doodled the Suns to the tune of 17 rebounds and 3 blocks. Most of the Blazer runs coincided with his high-energy times. He popped out willingly on every switch and stayed in front of Steve Nash or whoever else he got matched up with. They hit shots on him but at least they were jumpers instead of the layups they were getting against Portland's guards. Marcus Camby's uniform...where amazing happens.
Nicolas Batum had 18 points plus some critical threes but what really deserves attention is that he did a decent job watching Steve Nash when called upon. The freedom to employ Batum for stretches against the opponent's all-world player gave Portland's guards a rest and allowed them to focus on what they did best. It's not like Batum made Nash look stupid but if you look at that 5-point victory margin it's a pretty safe bet Nic kept Steve from a couple of shots that Miller, Bayless, or Fernandez couldn't have prevented.
LaMarcus Aldridge played 40 minutes but got only 3 rebounds. He scored 22 but shot 8-20 to do so. He had 3 assists but committed 5 turnovers. Razz him up, right? Not so fast. He was pulling a yo-yo string on his jumper all night. That accounted for the poor-ish shooting. Had his form been normal you could tack 6 points onto his total easily. By contrast his inside moves were as sweet as a butterscotch-coated caramel. He couldn't get down there in the second half because the Suns decided to bum rush him when he caught the ball. But that allowed other players openings. Also LaMarcus did a decent job on Amare when Camby wasn't on him. He didn't shut Stoudemire down but he did affect his game. It wasn't a perfect game for LMA but it was enough. He will play better.
Jerryd Bayless had a rough first half but when Rudy Fernandez sat in the second Bayless...was...ready. He fell an eyelash short of full B-Rex treatment but he was at least a Komodo Dragon tonight. He hissed, the Suns jumped, and he walked wherever he wanted after that. Before 'Dre took over the fourth quarter Bayless finished the third strong and paved the way. 6-10 from the field, 5-9 from the foul line, 4 rebounds, 18 points in 23 minutes. We would not have won this game had Jerryd not stepped up.
Speaking of not stepping up, Rudy seemed to be inside his own head all night. At the risk of offending our international fans, his second-half performance was stinky bad. It almost looked like he gave up out there. 2-7 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 points in 28 minutes. He'll bounce back, I'm sure.
Martell Webster played some decent defense including an incredible stand with 35 seconds left in the third when he single-handedly sent back two straight shots air mail direct to the Suns at I Just Served You Lane. He had 4 rebounds to go with those 2 blocks and 5 points besides.
Juwan Howard held the fort as best he could in his 13 minutes but the second unit needs more help than he can provide right now.
So...here we are. The Blazers have won Game 1. I don't think it's time (nor safe) to be banking on the homecourt getting stolen or quoting Portland's record of never losing a series after having won the first game. In fact Phoenix has more than plenty of chances to win this series. They may still be favored simply because this is probably the way Portland has to win...close, gritty, coin-flip outings. Phoenix, on the other hand, has more in their repertoire than this. Plus they, too, have a chance to win Portland's close games. But I will say this: This is the playoffs. This has absolutely nothing to do with "since the All-Star break", as folks just found out. This is Suns-Blazers right here, right now. And if the Blazers are going they are not going quietly. They may not be going at all. Whatever you thought this series was going to be, you better re-think. You...us...48 minutes. Let's fight.
The Phoenix Suns Sweep Memorial Boxscore
Check out the ranting, flailing, and general hair loss at BrightSideoftheSun.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)P.S. Late in the game the TNT cameras panned past a kid in a full-on Suns costume with a big old three-foot wide sun sphere as the head. I do admit I felt a twinge seeing that knowing the Blazers were going to win this one. I remember what that feeling is like when you're so into it as a kid and your team loses. I can't in good conscience wish for the Suns to win the series. But if the Suns do pull it out, kid, I hope they do it for you.
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Invincible Nevermore: Frankie Edgar Takes Astonishing Decision At UFC 112
[New England Patriots, Sports, Fantasy Football] (Bleacher Report - Front Page)If I've learned anything in my life up to this point, it's that when an MMA event happens and a consensus can be reached on the outcome of most of the fights, expect upsets. The line "The minute you think you know, you find out you don't" immediately entered my mind as Kevin Iole began live-tweeting results from the impromptu arena they erected specifically for the event. The last time the UFC put on a card this seemingly lopsided was UFC 104. At that event most felt an over-matched Maurico "Sho ...
If I've learned anything in my life up to this point, it's that when an MMA event happens and a consensus can be reached on the outcome of most of the fights, expect upsets.
The line "The minute you think you know, you find out you don't" immediately entered my mind as Kevin Iole began live-tweeting results from the impromptu arena they erected specifically for the event.
The last time the UFC put on a card this seemingly lopsided was UFC 104. At that event most felt an over-matched Maurico "Shogun" Rua would have nothing for a then-anointed Lyoto Machida. Joe Rogan did his karate pose in selling Lyoto pre-fight and it felt as if a lamb was coming out to the slaughterhouse as Rua made his way to the cage.
Twenty five minutes later, I was calling “The Dragon” a paper champion, and now at UFC 113 we'll be seeing the rematch to arguably one of the most heinous decisions in UFC history.
As the preliminary card finished and no discernibly large upsets happened, I had pretty much resigned myself to the idea that one of the top three fights on the bill was going to end in a way totally unexpected. So, when Renzo Gracie won a lackluster first round, I was far from surprised, thinking surely this was the upset of the night. The mortal lock who would find himself erased by a heavy underdog...not so much.
As Renzo asked the man who was brutalizing his leg to help him up, I wrote off my gut feeling as nothing more than Pavlovian conditioning. "The minute you think you know, you find out you don't," right?
BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar entered the cage at approximately 3 p.m. my time. As soon as the fight started it became apparent what Frankie Edgar's game plan was going to be in this fight. Circle hard, pop the jab, get out of dodge, and tire BJ out by making him consistently move. Then finish strong and win the fight late.
It was visually impressive and there was no doubt who the faster, more conditioned man was in this fight. However MMA isn't distance running, speed and conditioning are merely supplemental aspects of the sport, not bedrocks of it.
When watching the fight, hope never really built up that this would be the upset of the night. While Edgar's boxing was crisp and tactical, it was rarely effective. He'd circle like a cat cornered by a very large dog, with all the grace and athleticism that entails. However, the fact of the matter remained every time they traded punches BJ Penn was the winner of virtually every exchange of the first two rounds.
Towards the end of the third round, things began to swing. Weather it was the Abu Dhabi heat, a mismanagement in jet lag, or him, again, neglecting his cardio training. BJ Penn hit the wall as he's characteristically been know to in the past. With about 90 seconds left, and Penn cruising to what I felt was closing the door of an Edgar victory on points, Edgar held his pace, while Penn began to slow down.
It wasn't incredibly noticeable at first, a left counter that was landing now was just missing. A grimace here, a puff of air there but Frankie Edgar was succeeding in doing what only the few that have bested Penn ever have. He began to suck the will from the eyes of the champion.
As the horn sounded, perhaps against my better judgment, I wrote in 10-10 on my fictitious scorecard.
In the fourth round, BJ Penn appeared to know the fight wasn't going the way it usually does. At this point typically, he has his opposition in a state of bewilderment and is ready to give them the sweet release of a quick nap.
Noticeably upset at the fact Edgar refused to break, Penn winded up on every counter strike, leading to a few instances of embarrassing flailing at a spot where Edgar once stood, but now no longer.
Frustration crept in, and the fade was on. Every one of BJ's steps seemed labored and slow, but nevertheless his laser-like jab continually found its home.
At the end of round four, BJ's eyes were swelling shut and when "Stitch" asked, "Are you ok?" it was fairly clear he wasn't.
I saw the round again as even. I saw what Edgar was hoping to accomplish with his strategy come into complete focus in that fourth round. BJ seemed ready to quit on his stool, and judging as the unified rules intended, the "effectiveness" of Frankie's attack was clear to me. 10-9 Edgar.
The fifth round opened with Frankie Edgar putting his stamp on the fight. Just 27 second into the round, the small lightweight took "The Prodigy" down. However, Edgar lacked the ability to hold him down.
Edgar became overconfident as Penn landed a flurry in a dull, final round that was again fairly even, but the takedown was enough to give him the fifth round.
The fight went to the judges' hands, with my card reading 48-48—a draw.
As Joe Rogan tried to sell that Frankie Edgar had won the fight, I looked back over my card, and determined BJ Penn would likely win a split decision. The third round was probably his, based on things I've heard from regional MMA blogger Paul Miles, that some commissions actually instruct the judges not to turn in 10-10 rounds.
Bruce Buffer hit the mic. BJ Penn looked dejected, Frankie Edgar looked like he had another 10 rounds in him.
"Judge Doug Crosby scores the bout, 50-45." I sat stunned knowing immediately what was about to be read. "Sal D'Amato scores the bout 48-47, and Andy Roberts scores it 49-46, for your winner...AND NEW UFC Lightweight Champion of the World. Frank 'The Answer' Edgar!"
My first thought as I watched Frankie Edgar crumple to the canvas in elation, wasn't wow, what a great moment, or where does BJ go from here? It was what a gong show we have here tonight. I then asked the question, who selected these clowns?
With no commission set up in the UAE, the UFC hand-selected the judges, as it does with all its unregulated international roadshows.
Let me make this clear, selecting Doug Crosby, a man with a sordid judging record (Neer 29-28 over Diaz for example) in big fights to oversee a card with two of your champions is a disgrace. No two ways about it.
With the talk of TUF 12 being about Tito Ortiz and if or when he's going to be replaced by Rich Franklin, many have missed the most important inanity that has entered the brain of Dana White. "Never leave it in the hands of the judges" is the motto, stenciled above the doorway of the locker rooms at the UFC's gym in Nevada.
The implication is clear. Judging shouldn't matter because you should finish every single fight. When you have that stated goal, and you're incensing your fighters monetarily towards such a goal, you can quickly understand that MMA judging selection for foreign events isn't exactly a high priority for them.
And maybe that's for the best long term, as they run a prominent sports company and must keep away the appearance of impropriety that haunts other sports like the NBA. However, if they want to go to unregulated areas, they have to make sure the judges they select are of the highest quality, to reflect the product they're trying to sell.
In the end, any way you try and spin it, Shogun will get a rematch immediately because of the outrage following his bout with Machida.
There's no silver lining coming for Penn. All because one lanky Brazilian decided to turn his fight into an impromptu dance recital.
Color me a shade of disappointed, MMA community.
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Summary of Solar News 03-16-10
[Solar] (Solar Energy)Dallas, Texas Named as Location for Solar. Power International 2011: The Board of Managers of Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC (SETS) today announced that the Solar Power International (SPI) 2011 conference and trade show will take place in Dallas Europe’s Largest Solar Plant Planned for Italy: Italy is set to get Europe’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) Related posts:Summary of Solar News 03-13-10 Dallas, Texas Named as Location for Solar. Power International 2011:Scotland Leader in Marine ...
Dallas, Texas Named as Location for Solar. Power International 2011: The Board of Managers of Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC (SETS) today announced that the Solar Power International (SPI) 2011 conference and trade show will take place in Dallas Europe’s Largest Solar Plant Planned for Italy: Italy is set to get Europe’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) [...] Related posts:- Summary of Solar News 03-13-10 Dallas, Texas Named as Location for Solar. Power International 2011:...
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Huddersfield Giants 10-14 Warrington Wolves | Super League match report
[Guardian] (Sport: Rugby league | guardian.co.uk)Huddersfield Giants 10-14 Warrington WolvesThere have been times over the past two years when Warrington's investment in the former Australia international Matt King has been questioned. , he produced an outstanding performance to help his side to victory. The powerful three-quarter scored two tries and laid on the match-winning effort for one of his countrymen, Chris Hicks, as the Wolves edged a hugely entertaining match.Both sides, who contested last season's Challenge Cup final and have eyes ...
Huddersfield Giants 10-14 Warrington Wolves
There have been times over the past two years when Warrington's investment in the former Australia international Matt King has been questioned. , he produced an outstanding performance to help his side to victory. The powerful three-quarter scored two tries and laid on the match-winning effort for one of his countrymen, Chris Hicks, as the Wolves edged a hugely entertaining match.
Both sides, who contested last season's Challenge Cup final and have eyes on breaking the Super League dominance of Leeds and St Helens, showed a willingness to keep the ball alive. Although it led to plenty of handling errors, such an approach ensured the contest was never dull, even during the 36 minutes in which the sides were locked at 10-10.
"I thought Matt King was absolutely unbelievable," said the Warrington coach, Tony Smith, who was without the talismanic Lee Briers at stand-off. "Matt was the best player on the field by a country mile. He has been playing well for us for some time but went up another three notches today and took some handling."
It was 10-10 at half-time, after King had given the visitors the perfect start by bouncing off two Huddersfield defenders for the opening try after three minutes. The Giants hit back to lead, with the stand-off Kevin Brown, who caught the eye throughout the first half, creating the position and then finishing their first try, before kicking to help set up a second for the centre Paul Whatuira.
Warrington were level when King – who had switched wings after an early injury to Chris Riley – finished a smart handling move in the opposite corner to his first try. Huddersfield's Shaun Lunt and David Faiumu, plus the Wolves half-back Richie Myler, all dropped the ball over the line, before King's pass allowed Hicks – on his first appearance of the season – to cut inside three Giants defenders for the crucial score.
"This time last year we would have been nowhere near being as good as that in a contest like that," the Huddersfield coach, Nathan Brown, said. "But when the pressure is on and we're a touch behind on the scoresheet we still come up with similar problems to last year. We need to find a way to beat the good sides when the heat is on, and today we probably came up a fraction short."
Huddersfield Giants B Hodgson; Cudjoe, Lawrence, Whatuira, D Hodgson; Brown, Robinson; Griffin, Faiumu, Raleigh, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Aspinwall. Interchange Crabtree, Lunt, Patrick, Horne.
Tries Brown, Whatuira Goal B Hodgson.
Warrington Wolves Mathers; Hicks, King, Atkins, Riley; Grix, Myler; Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, L Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Interchange Higham, Wood, Solomona, V Anderson.
Tries King 2, Hicks Goal Myler.
Referee I Smith (Oldham) Attendance 8,567.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds -
Filmmaking » Student filmmaking competition gets underway (Santa ...
[Filmmaking] (FILM MAKING - Google Blog Search)Local student filmmakers and screenwriters paired up with film industry professionals yesterday during the kickoff of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's annual 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking Competition.
Local student filmmakers and screenwriters paired up with film industry professionals yesterday during the kickoff of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's annual 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking Competition. ... -
10-10-10
[Filmmaking] (Fest21.com blogs)It goes something like this. Seven years running, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has made dreams come true with a themed student competition that pairs industry professionals with student filmmakers. Appropriately, this year’s theme is Twenty-Five. Final Draft and Business First Bank sponsored the competition with The Riordan Foundation providing a grant. To start, both high school and college student writers submit a ten page sample of their best work be it stage play, screen ...
It goes something like this. Seven years running, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has made dreams come true with a themed student competition that pairs industry professionals with student filmmakers. Appropriately, this year’s theme is Twenty-Five.
Final Draft and Business First Bank sponsored the competition with The Riordan Foundation providing a grant. To start, both high school and college student writers submit a ten page sample of their best work be it stage play, screenplay or short story. Finalists are assigned a storyline and provided a mentor in the industry to assist with the creative process.
The filmmaking competition requires finished products. Each school has a representative. Student filmmakers submit five minute shorts or five minute clips from a feature they’ve directed to these reps. From this group, five submissions are selected by these representatives and then presented to the festival judges who know the films only by numbers, no names or school affiliations are given.
Screenwriter finalists are then teamed up with filmmaking finalists at a press conference making five pairs of high school students and five pairs of college students, hence the first “10" from each category. Participating schools are Santa Barbara High School, San Marcos High School, Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont, University of California Santa Barbara.
Students have “10” days to create a “10” minute film. On Sunday, February 14th The Lobero Theater will host screenings of all the films at 1:00 pm where the films will be judged for both screenwriting and filmmaking criteria. All participating finalists will receive a copy of the screenwriting software Final Draft. The four winners will have their films screened at the Arlington Theater on Closing Night along with a $500 gift certificate for Samy’s Camera.
Screenwriting mentors include Glenn Leopold, a three time Emmy nominee whose written hundreds of animated episodes such as The Smurfs and Scooby-Doo. Josh Conviser, the Executive Consultant on Rome and has published a novel Echelon. Jeff Arch is the Academy Award nominated writer for Sleepless in Seattle. Robert Lewis has worked as a film editor, director and producer on The Mod Squad, Macmillan & Wife to name a few. Mashey Bernstein teaches writing in film at UCSB. Rob Sternin and Prudence Sternin Fraser are best know for their television work, like Who’s the Boss and The Nanny. Peter Seaman has written many audience favorites, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Doc Hollywood, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Teresa Tucker Davies wrote Chain Reaction, A Perfect Murder and Collateral Damage. Glenn Gers an Emmy winning writer for Off Season as well as the feature Disfigured.
Filmmaking mentors include cinematographer Chuck Minsky, Pretty Woman, Raising Helen, Valentine’s Day. Mike Stinson teaches and is the Chair of Film Studies Department at Santa Barbara City College. Artie Schmidt is an Academy Award winning Editor of Forrest Gump, Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Birdcage. Director Perry Lang has worked on ER, NYPD Blue, Dawson’s Creek.
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Ken Garduno Interview
[Fashion] (SLAMXHYPE)I had the opportunity to to chat with Kan Garduno this week. He’s a good dude with amazing work. Ken was born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Art Center College of Design with honors in illustration. Since graduation, Ken has gone on to have his work shown in galleries internationally, as well as working as a commercial illustrator on various projects. Ken’s work has been in publications like LA Weekly, Village Voice, Clandestine Industries, Gnarled Skateboards, Fal ...
I had the opportunity to to chat with Kan Garduno this week. He’s a good dude with amazing work. Ken was born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Art Center College of Design with honors in illustration. Since graduation, Ken has gone on to have his work shown in galleries internationally, as well as working as a commercial illustrator on various projects. Ken’s work has been in publications like LA Weekly, Village Voice, Clandestine Industries, Gnarled Skateboards, Fall Out Boy, and Shane Jones’ “Light Boxes” book just to name a few.
SXH- Where are you from, and what can you tell us about your hometown?
KG- I was born, and raised in Los Angeles. I wish I came from a small town, so I had something interesting to say about my hometown. I don’t think there is much to say about L.A. that hasn’t been said millions of times. I do have to say that I can’t find a decent burrito in my hometown.
As a kid, what did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to make cartoons, comics, and children’s books. I had no real interest in anything else. I don’t think there was any point in my life that I felt like I didn’t want to do something involving drawing. It’s a good thing that I was introduced to the world of illustration. Without it, I think I would be clueless as to what I wanted to do.
SXH- Who or what do you like at for inspiration?
KG- I get lot’s of my inspiration from my daily life, but even more from dreams. I’ve always had strange experiences with sleep. There is a moment just before I fall asleep that I get crazy inspiration. I’ll never run out of ideas as long as I keep having strange dreams.
SXH- Where’s your studio?
KG- Anywhere, and everywhere. I’m very nomadic in my work habits. Fortunately, with the medium I choose to work with, I can easily set up wherever I want. I don’t know if I could get used to having one place where I do all of my work, but I’m going to try it out this coming year.
SXH- Describe a typical work day?
KG- My day starts around 10-10:30a.m. I check/respond to emails and go for a hour walk around my neighborhood. This helps to wake me up and plan out the day. It’s also a way for me to get inspired. Most days, I head over to a tattoo shop that my friends own, and work on stuff there. It’s a fun work environment. I get most of my work done after I get home in the evening. I work best from about 10p.m. until about 5a.m.
SXH- What materials do you usually work in?
KG- A few years ago, I was introduced to the wonders of acrylic-inks and I haven’t wanted to work with anything since. I may stray, but I will always come back.
SXH- What’s is your favorite painting of all time?
KG- I have to go with the first painting that came to mind. It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite, so I have to go with that method of choosing.
It’s called “Jupiter and Io” and it’s by Correggio. It’s always been one of my favorites. It’s creepy, and amazing all at once. Though if I had to answer this question again, it would probably have a different answer.
SXH- What do you do when you’re not making art?
KG- I go to the movies a lot. I like to go for walks. I spend time with good friends. I think about making art. Those things make me happiest.
SXH- Is there any artist/ Illustrator you would like to collaborate with?
KG- I think collaborations are fun for sketchbooks. Rarely do I see finished products that I think flow well together. I enjoy collaborating with friends, but I have no real desire to collaborate unless it were with some other kind of media they were using like animation or film.
SXH- What are you working on now, what’s in the future for you?
KG- I’m just finishing up some new pieces for a show I have coming up in early January with my good friends Tom Haubrick and Eric Davison at Subtext Gallery in San Diego.
I’m hoping to get lucky with some cool projects this coming new year. I had some great projects this past year, and it would be nice to continue with other cool stuff. I enjoy doing both gallery, and commercial work so I’ll continue working in both fields.
SXH- Sabbath or Zeppelin
KG- That’s a tough one. I’m going to have to pick Sabbath. I love Zeppelin, but “Iron Man” started playing in my head when I read that question, so the jukebox in my head chose for me.
SXH- Coffee or tea?
KG- I’m going to go with tea. It has to be a relaxing tea, though. I don’t really get along too well with caffeine.
SXH- Music, talk radio, books on tape or golden silence
KG- Talk radio. I typically have the tv on in the background while I work, but if I have the radio on, I try to find some kind of entertaining talk radio.
To see more of Ken’s work, please visit his website www.kengarduno.com
For Complete Story and More Visit SLAMXHYPE
Ken Garduno Interview -
Shocking U.S. Senate Hearing Confirms Dangers of Cell Phones
[Health] (Healthier Talk)About 4 billion people are now using cell phones around the world, despite the fact that their safety is being increasingly called into question. In fact, there are no safety standards for testing cell phones before they are released to the market. Meanwhile, government agencies, similar to their stance on tobacco before the evidence became overwhelming, have essentially ignored all the danger warnings. Just like smoking tobacco, they fail to realize that it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 years ...
About 4 billion people are now using cell phones around the world, despite the fact that their safety is being increasingly called into question. In fact, there are no safety standards for testing cell phones before they are released to the market.
Meanwhile, government agencies, similar to their stance on tobacco before the evidence became overwhelming, have essentially ignored all the danger warnings.
Just like smoking tobacco, they fail to realize that it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 years for brain tumors to develop from cell phone exposure, so we are just now beginning to see some of the tragic effects of heavy cell phone use. The truth is, we are on the verge of a brain cancer epidemic. It could grow to 500,000 cases worldwide in 2010, and there may be over a million cases in the U.S. alone by 2015.
Sadly, children and teens are at an even higher risk, as their thinner skull bones allow for greater penetration of cell phone radiation. The radiation can enter all the way into their midbrain, where tumors are more deadly. In addition, children's cells reproduce more quickly, so they're more susceptible to aggressive cell growth. Their immune systems are also not as well developed as adults. Lastly, children face a far greater lifetime exposure.
Professor Lennart Hardell of Sweden has found that those who begin using cell phones heavily as teenagers have 4 to 5 times more brain cancer as young adults!
Increasing evidence is pouring in that cell phones are not only a risk factor for brain tumors, but also salivary gland tumors, eye damage, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
Your Safety is Now Riding on a Severely Flawed $30-Million Cell Phone Study
You may be wondering why, if there is so much data showing the risks of cell phone use, no warnings are being made. First, the telecommunication industry is even BIGGER than drug industry, and they have far more influence in Washington.
This is compounded by the fact that a large percentage of retirement funds from several powerful lobbying organizations are invested in telecommunications.
Second, institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission have cautioned that conclusions about possible cancer risks from cell phones cannot be drawn until the INTERPHONE study is published.
The INTERPHONE Project -- a massive 13-country epidemiological study of tumors among users of mobile phones -- is already lagging years behind its scheduled completion date.
Part of the delay in putting together the final report now appears to be internal strife, as scientists are reported to differ in their interpretation of the results.
The GSM Association, a global trade organization of mobile operators, and the forum, which includes Nokia and about a dozen other manufacturers, contributed more than $3.5 million to the $30-plus million project. The European Commission also helped fund it with contributions passed through the International Union Against Cancer in an effort to create a barrier between the mobile phone industry and the scientists.
Further, a team of international EMF activists -- the International EMF Collaborative -- has released a report detailing 11 serious design flaws of the INTERPHONE study. They say a ‘systemic-skew’ in the study is greatly underestimating brain tumor risk, and they pointed out the following flaws, among others:
- Categorizing subjects who used portable phones (which emit the same microwave radiation as cell phones) as ‘unexposed’
- Excluding many types of brain tumors
- Excluding people who had died, or were too ill to be interviewed as a consequence of their brain tumor
- Excluding children and young adults, who are more vulnerable
You can read the full report Cellphones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern, Science, Spin and the Truth Behind Interphone here.
If the wrong conclusions are drawn from the Interphone studies, the resulting lack of public warnings could have disastrous consequences for the generations to come. And this is why I urge you to take action NOW. Do not wait for the results of more studies to come in or for the final conclusions of this meta-analysis, and please do not be swayed by cell phone safety spin.
As Lloyd Morgan, lead author of the report and member of the Bioelectromagnetics Society says:
“Exposure to cell phone radiation is the largest human health experiment ever undertaken, without informed consent, and has some 4 billion participants enrolled.
Science has shown increased risk of brain tumors from use of cell phones, as well as increased risk of eye cancer, salivary gland tumors, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia.
The public must be informed."
Are There “Safe” Cell Phones on the Market?
As the dangers of cell phones slowly trickle out to the mainstream media, there have been some reports of “safer” cell phones, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) even released a new database for consumers ranking over 1,000 cell phones by the Specific Absorption Rate, known as the SAR value.
The SAR value is a measure of the power of the cell phone and its potential for heating tissues.
Within days of the EWG launching the new SAR value database, almost 500,000 people had accessed the database, indicating very encouraging new interest by consumers in cell phone safety.
But simply choosing a phone with a lower SAR value does not at all mean the phone is safe. Camilla Rees, founder of www.Electromagnetichealth.org and co-author with Magda Havas, PhD of “Public Health SOS: The Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution,” explains:
“It is important consumers realize that the SAR value, while providing information for comparison purposes between phones, is very limited in its usefulness as a measure of ‘safety.’ We are greatly concerned that people may be turning to the EWG database in droves not understanding just how limited a measure the SAR value is.”
Why is the SAR value not an accurate measure of safety?
- The SAR value is only comparing the isolated heating effect of different phones and does not give an indication that a cell phone is ‘safe.’
- The power, or heating effect, of the phone is only one of many possible factors impacting cell phone ‘safety.’ Exposures to the radiation from the cell phone at non-heating levels have been linked to many serious biological effects, and the SAR value is not capturing anything about these harmful non-thermal exposures.
- SAR values are reported to the FCC by the manufacturer and have been known to vary from the reported number by a factor of two across models of the same phone.
- The SAR value varies with the source of exposure and the person using the phone. For example, if you are in a rural area or in an elevator or a car, where the cell phone uses more power, your brain will get a greater exposure from the higher power required in these instances. Under certain conditions, the SAR value can be 10-100 times higher than reported.
- Holding the phone in a slightly different way can actually render the worst SAR value phone better than the best SAR value phone.
- SAR values have been created based on simulations of exposure in a plexiglass head filled with fluid, not a human head, and many scientists consider them to be inaccurate and irrelevant at determining actual biological effects.
One of the worst deficiencies of the SAR value is that it only considers the thermal impact of cell phone usage, and it is very likely that the non-thermal effects of chronic cell phone exposure are more biologically damaging.
As Rees points out, and I wholeheartedly agree:
“Physical distance of the phone from your brain, and less usage of the cell phone overall, more so than simply choosing a phone with a lower SAR value, is probably a far better insurance policy.”
I would also add to Rees’ statement -- do not use a cell phone within an enclosed area, such as a car, train or plane, or within three feet of small children.
Remember, the damage from cell phone exposure can take many years to surface. There are rarely any initial symptoms, just like smoking and lung cancer. Are you really willing to risk the chance of developing brain cancer because you don’t want to sacrifice the minor inconvenience of using your cell’s speaker phone, or using a safe headset?
This should be of particular concern if you have children, since, just like smoking, WI-FI does not discriminate between user and bystander.
I have written more in-depth about how to reduce your cell phone risks before, and as a refresher, I strongly urge you to review some of that information now.
As Cell Phone Use Increases, So do Cell Phone Towers
The good news is that you can take steps immediately to reduce your radiation exposure from your own cell phone use.
Unfortunately, WI-FI is all around us, including in the form of cell phone towers that are now being placed on churches and even schools.
Municipalities can receive upwards of $1 million a year for allowing these antennas to be placed on water towers or near schools, often at the expense of residents’ health.
In Bayville, Long Island, for instance, it’s estimated that as many of 30 percent of teachers, staff and employees at a local school that is across the street from a water tower covered with cell phone antennas are suffering from illnesses such as cancer and leukemia.
Overall, it’s been estimated that living near a cell phone tower may lead to cancer rates that are up to 10 times higher than the national average!
These structures have also been found to interfere with bees’ ability to return to their hives, leading to a concerning disappearance of honeybees throughout the world, and causing the death of migratory birds.
So if the research alone isn’t enough to motivate you to think twice before holding your cell phone up to your ear, then perhaps these “canaries in the coalmine” will be. The increasing rates of brain tumors and cell-phone-linked diseases, along with the not-so-subtle interferences with nature that these cell phone antennas are already causing, are signs that the very fragile ecosystem we all depend on to survive is not quite balanced.
If you want to learn more about the major deceptions going on right now in regard to your cell phone’s real impact on your health, check out Cellular Telephone Russian Roulette, by Robert Kane. It’s a great resource for those of you who are interested in learning the truth.
Later this spring a report will be issued laying out scientists' understanding of biological disruption from cell phones in great detail for world governments to review. I hope the U.S. government will study this and the Bioinitiative Report carefully, appreciate the known links to many diseases, and modify the wireless components of the National Broadband Plan so Internet connections are hard-wired for our safety.
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John Kilroy's 'Samba Pa Ti' Wins Key West Race Week
[Sailing] (SAILKARMA.COM - Sailing News, Videos and Photos!)Photos by Joy - Megles Class John Kilroy's 'Samba Pa Ti' Wins Key West Race Week Melges 32 Division, Named 'Boat Of The Week' After completing the full ten race series at Premiere Racing's Key West Race Week, John Kilroy wins by a substantial margin over, Joe Woods in second and third place finisher Lanfranco Cirillo. Key West, Fla. - Congratulations to John Kilroy (Malibu, Calif.) on USA-13131 Samba Pa Ti is 2010 Key West Race Week Melges 32 Champion. Along for the sweet ride was Stu Bannatyne ...
Photos by Joy - Megles Class
John Kilroy's 'Samba Pa Ti' Wins Key West Race Week Melges 32 Division, Named 'Boat Of The Week'
After completing the full ten race series at Premiere Racing's Key West Race Week, John Kilroy wins by a substantial margin over, Joe Woods in second and third place finisher Lanfranco Cirillo.
Key West, Fla. - Congratulations to John Kilroy (Malibu, Calif.) on USA-13131 Samba Pa Ti is 2010 Key West Race Week Melges 32 Champion. Along for the sweet ride was Stu Bannatyne calling tactics, Morgan Reeser, Sam Rogers (back-to-back winner), Shana Rosenfeld Phelan, Eric Dorman, Alan Nakanishi and Justin Smart. The energy was pure electricity as Samba accepted honors at tonight's Premiere Racing Yachting awards.
Adding feathers to Kilroy's cap, true icing on the cake, Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti was also named Boat of the Week, a prestigious award at Key West Race Week.
Kilroy simply crushed the competition with an unprecedented 18-point advantage over second place finisher Joe Woods (Torquay, UK) on GBR-700 Red. For Woods, second place is bittersweet. This is the second year in a row that Woods has found his Red team, comprised of Paul Goodison on tactics, Dave Lenz, Shane Hughes, Simon Hughes, Jamie Binmore, Chris Cooper and Conner Myant, in second overall at the end of the day. Woods is an extraordinary competitor and a definite class favorite. Without a doubt, sooner or later it is certain he’ll find the winner’s circle in Key West.
In third overall is none other than Italy’s Lanfranco Cirillo (Torri del Benac, Italy) on ITA-212 Fantastica. Cirillo had a tough start to the week, but worked his way steadily up the leaderboard for a great finish. Sailing with Cirillo is tactician Michele Paoletti, Daniele De Luca, Claudio Celon, Riamondo Tonelli, Manuel Giubellini, Eros Paghera and Enrico Verdinelli.
On the final day of racing the fleet was more than content with the warm temperatures and sunshine, however longed for the Thursday’s breezy conditions. Instead, they were forced to deal with light and fickle air that progressively got lighter and trickier. The first start dealt only 5-8 knots with Kilroy looking to have a nice lane upwind. Kilroy’s next closest challengers Rod Jabin (Annapolis, Md.) on USA-201 Ramrod took the pin end, and Marty Kullman (Tampa, Fla.) on USA-131 New Wave looked to get a jump up the middle. Jabin assumed the early lead, with a full court press from Woods. On the final upwind leg, Woods overtook Jabin’s lead and won. Jabin was second and Alex Jackson (Riverside, Conn.) on USA-174 Leenabarca was third. Cirillo finished fourth, Kilroy held fast in fifth.
The second race of the day only provided further unsettled breeze as the race committee was continually squaring up the course. In addition, as the wind diminished the course was shortened. Race two, the final race in the ten Key West Race Week Series, started out at 210 with a length of 1.6 nm. Yukihiro Ishida (Toyko, Japan) on JPN-203 Yasha Samarai rebounded from their dissappointing 20th in race one of the day to lead the fleet around the first mark. Kilroy rounded in a solid second position, confirming that his team was the one to beat. Carlo Alberini (Pesaro, Italy) on ITA-186 Calvi Network pulled up into second. Stuart Simpson (London, UK) on GBR-84845 Team Barbarians had an impressive day trying to secure the third place position. Ishida held on for the win with Alberini in second and Simpson holding in for third.
Special thanks to all the teams who were able to travel to Key West this year! If you weren’t here — you missed out on one of the best Key West’s ever!
A very special thank you to Premiere Racing, in particular Peter Craig, Jeanne Kleene and Alison Snipes who go above and beyond the call of duty to accommodate the fleet while in Key West, most especially to PRO Ken Legler.
The International Melges 32 Class Association is grateful for the keen support and ongoing generosity of Melges Performance Sailboats and Melges Europe. MELGES ROCKS!
Last, certainly not least, the IM32CA is extremely grateful to owner John Taylor on Ninkasi for the allowing the class onboard his support rib Hops, and the very careful and courtious hand of driver Jim Condon. Access to the racing all week has delivered not only the details of each day's racing but also provided the class the ability to bring everyone back home daily images of all the fun and fast racing in Key West! Thank you John and the entire Ninkasi Racing Team!
Top Ten Results
1.) Samba Pa Ti, John Kilroy; [14]-1-4-1-11-1-3-6-5-4 = 36
2.) Red, Joe Woods; 9-6-[19]-6-5-10-1-5-1-11 = 54
3.) Fantastica, Lanfranco Cirillo; [18]-8-12-9-4-4-4-2-4-10 = 57
4.) New Wave, Marty Kullman; 2-13-13-3-14-3-2-1-14-[21] = 65
5.) Leenabarca, Alex Jackson; [20]-2-7-11-3-15-10-10-3-5 = 66
6.) STAR, Jeff Ecklund; 1-9-[15]-10-7.4RDG-2-15-8-7-9 = 68.4
7.) Calvi Network, Carlo Alberini; 12-5-1-8-10-7-16-[19]-9-2 = 70
8.) Ramrod, Rod Jabin; 3-3-11-4-[18]-9-8-17-2-18 = 75
9.) Heartbreaker, Robert Hughes; 5-12-6-2-12-[14]-14-3-15-7 = 75
10.) Yasha Samarai, Ishida Yukihiro; 11-16-8-7-1-5-17-18-[20]-1 = 84http://www.sailkarma.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss -
Upcoming conference at NYU Law School on financial institutions
[Taxes] (Start Making Sense)Rethinking the Taxation of the Financial Sector in the Light of the Recent Crisis A Workshop co-sponsored by the Office of Tax Policy Research at the University of Michigan and the UNC Tax Center Co-organizers: Douglas Shackelford, University of North Carolina Daniel Shaviro, NYU Law School Joel Slemrod, University of Michigan February 5, 2010 NYU Law School [room assignment TBA] Agenda Revised as of 1/15/10 Session 1: The Basic Rules: Accounting, Regulation, and Taxation 8:30-9:20 Acco ...
Rethinking the Taxation of the Financial Sector in the Light of the Recent Crisis
A Workshop co-sponsored by the Office of Tax Policy Research at the University of Michigan and the UNC Tax Center
Co-organizers:
Douglas Shackelford, University of North Carolina
Daniel Shaviro, NYU Law School
Joel Slemrod, University of Michigan
February 5, 2010
NYU Law School [room assignment TBA]
Agenda Revised as of 1/15/10
Session 1: The Basic Rules: Accounting, Regulation, and Taxation
8:30-9:20 Accounting
Presenters:
Stephen Ryan, NYU Stern School of Business
Douglas Shackelford, University of North Carolina
9:20-10:10 Regulation
Presenters:
Viral Acharya, NYU Stern School of Business
Douglas Elliott, Brookings Institution
10:10-10:25 Break
10:25-11:15 Taxation
Presenters:
Edward Kleinbard, USC Law School
Timothy Edgar, University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law
Session 2: Issues with Existing Regimes
11:15-12:05 Are the objectives of the three regimes compatible and the consequences in harmony?
Presenters:
Daniel Shaviro, NYU Law School
Joel Slemrod, University of Michigan
12:05-1:00 Lunch
1:00-1:50 Taxes, regulation, and financial sector externalities
Presenters: Michael Keen and Victoria Perry, International Monetary Fund
Discussant: Mihir Desai, Harvard Business School and NYU Law School
1:50-2:40 Cross-border mobility, tax and regulatory havens
Presenter: Michael Devereux, University of Oxford
Discussant: Julian Alworth, Bocconi University and EIC, Milan
2:40-2:50 Break
Session 3: Rethinking Taxation of the Financial Sector in Light of Crisis and Reform
2:50-3:40 Transaction taxes
Presenter: Isaias Coelho, Consultant
Discussant: Len Burman, Syracuse University
3:40-4:30 Observations from practice
Presenters:
Douglas Breeden, Duke University
Tom Brantley, Bank of America
4:30-4:40 Break
4:40-5:30 International coordination issues
Presenter: Jack Mintz, University of Calgary
Discussant: Geoffrey Lloyd, OECD -
ICAS Fast Facts -- January 12, 2010
[Aviation] (Indy Transponder©)BRADY PASSES Long-time ICAS member and pioneering air boss Jim Brady passed away at his home in Wisconsin on Saturday, January 9 from complications related to the chemotherapy that he was undergoing for throat cancer. Jim’s family is hosting a wake at the Haase-Derrick-Lockwood Funeral Home in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16 at St. John's Catholic Church in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. For ...
BRADY PASSES
Long-time ICAS member and pioneering air boss Jim Brady passed away at his home in Wisconsin on Saturday, January 9 from complications related to the chemotherapy that he was undergoing for throat cancer. Jim’s family is hosting a wake at the Haase-Derrick-Lockwood Funeral Home in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16 at St. John's Catholic Church in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. For additional information, contact Haase-Derrick-Lockwood Funeral Home at 262-877-3013 or on the internet at hdlfuneralhomes.com.
DOOLEY PASSES
Long-time air show performer and ICAS member Joe Dooley passed away on Christmas day at his home in Minnesota after a long battle with cancer. Known as the Flying Irishman, Dooley performed in his Pitts S1S for 17 years, primarily in the upper Midwest. Joe was 56 years old.
ICAS LAUNCHES AUTOMATED SAC APPLICATION PROCESS
After several months of development, ICAS has launched its automated statement of aerobatic competency application process. Developed to help simplify and streamline the process by which pilots apply for their SAC cards, the new web-based application tool is easy to use and understand. But, like any significant change to a long-established process, ICAS members should anticipate a brief learning curve as they use and become familiar with the new process. For obvious reasons, anybody using the new system – member or non-member, applicant or evaluator – must be logged in on the ICAS website to use the system. Pilots using it for the first time to apply for or renew their statement of aerobatic competency should click here for simple, clear instructions. Aerobatic Competency Evaluators using the system to evaluate and recommend issuance of a SAC card to an air show pilot should click here to get a set of graphically-illustrated directions.
REGIONS PLAN ANNUAL CONFERENCES
The SWAN conference has been scheduled for February 5-6, 2010 at MCAS Miramar in San Diego. For more information, visit the SWAN website at www.swansafety.com.
The Northeast Council of Airshows conference has been scheduled for February 19-21, 2010 at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Niagara Falls, New York. For more information, please visit the NECAS website at http://www.necas.org/conference/index.asp.
The Northwest Council of Airshows conference has been scheduled for March 5-6, 2010 at the SeaTac Marriott Hotel in Seattle, Washington. For more information please visit: www.nwcas.org.
SANBORN MAKES OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS AVAILABLE TO CONVENTION DELEGATES, ICAS MEMBERS
In response to the many requests ICAS received following his presentation, Mark Sanborn, the opening keynote speaker for the 2009 ICAS Convention, has agreed to make his keynote address to ICAS Convention delegates available to all ICAS members. Held on the morning of Monday, December 7, Sanborn’s presentation was among the most well-received in ICAS Convention history. To order your copy of Sanborn’s 60-minute presentation, send credit card information or your $35 check (payable to ICAS) to ICAS headquarters, 750 Miller Drive, Suite F-3, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, Fax: 703-779-8511, e-mail: icas@airshows.aero. Please also include your shipping address. You should receive your DVD within ten days to two weeks.
ASB.tv NAMES HINTON PERSON OF THE YEAR
AirShowBuzz recently named Steve Hinton as the recipient of the AirShowBuzz Person of the Year Award. The youngest ever Unlimited Gold Champion at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, Hinton was recognized by ASB as a “prodigy in the air show arena.”
Previous winners of the ASB Person of the Year Award include U.S. Air Force Major Paul “Max” Moga who was the first Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Pilot, and Advanced World Aerobatic Champion Rob Holland.
ICAS FOUNDATION SILENT AUCTION A SUCCESS
The ICAS Foundation reports that its 2009 Silent Auction and convention activities raised just over $21,000. These annual fundraising activities allow the Foundation to carry out their programs, including the Air Show Hall of Fame, the Scholarships program, and the Family Fund.
Tax receipts and statements were emailed to both donors and high bidders on December 20. If you did not receive your statement and need a replacement, please contact Caroline Trinkwalder at caroline@icasfoundation.org.
MARKETING IN THRILL ZONE DEMOGRAPHIC BROCHURES STILL AVAILABLE
For ICAS members trying to explain to prospective sponsors precisely who attends air shows, ICAS has bulk quantities of its 12-page, custom-designed demographics brochure available for purchase. “Marketing in the Thrill Zone” presents the results of the most recent ICAS spectator survey, including detailed demographic information on spectator household income, education levels, age, gender, home ownership, and more. Produced as a tool to help air shows and air show performers underscore the attractiveness and unique demographic make-up of air show audiences, the brochures are available for $3.00 each. For more information or to order your copies, contact ICAS headquarters.
STAFF RECAPS 2009 ACTIVITIES
At the end of each month, the ICAS staff provides the ICAS Board of Directors with a summary of staff activities during the previous 30 days. Recently, several members of the Board asked that staff provide a summary of these monthly reports to the entire ICAS membership to provide you with a clearer idea of what the ICAS staff does on a day-to-day basis on behalf of ICAS members and the air show industry. As we begin the new year, this seemed to be a good time to share some of those details.
· The ICAS staff works on issues related to the ICAS Convention throughout the year. >From education programming, booth sales and sponsor solicitation to hotel logistics, registration and social event planning, the annual convention is a very large event that requires staff attention for twelve months a year. Planning for the 2010 Convention has, literally, already begun.
· The ICAS staff writes and distributes approximately 18 issues of Fast Facts and 16 issues of the ICAS Operations Bulletin each year.
· The ICAS staff publishes a 300-page Industry Guide each summer.
· In cooperation with professional freelance writers and an award-winning graphic artist, ICAS staff produces four quarterly issues of Air Shows Magazine each year.
· ICAS Conducts 6-8 member surveys each year that provide a snapshot of facts, figures and member opinions on a wide range of issues throughout the year. The results of these surveys are published in Air Shows Magazine.
· Members of the ICAS staff speak on behalf of the air show industry at air show and non-air show seminars, workshops and conferences throughout the year.
· Members of the ICAS staff periodically write columns or editorials for magazines and newsletters looking for the perspective of the air show industry.
· Throughout the year, ICAS staff interacts with other aviation-related trade and professional associations on issues of common interest.
· During the last two years, ICAS has committed considerable staff time and resources to the challenge of changing the culture of air show safety. In 2009, that included finalization and implementation of our new incident response process.
· ICAS staff is responsible for continuously adding new materials and new updates onto the ICAS website.
· Each year, the ICAS staff processes nearly 400 Statement of Aerobatic Competency applications for air show pilots who fly aerobatics at U.S. and Canadian air shows.
· For the last several months of 2009 and over and above the day-to-day processing of statement of aerobatic competency applications, ICAS staff spent considerable time on developing and fine-tuning a system that will automate the statement of aerobatic competency application process.
· Throughout the year, ICAS staff works closely with federal regulatory officials in the United States and Canada to represent the interests of ICAS members.
· In 2009, ICAS worked closely with the U.S. Air Force on issues related to Air Force Instruction 10-1004, a document being developed to help provide Air Force project officers with clearer guidance on how to conduct air shows and open houses at Air Force facilities.
· In 2009, with the help of numerous ICAS members, the staff organized and conducted an ICAS Academy in conjunction with the Vectren Dayton Air Show in July and a new ICAS Air Boss Academy in conjunction with the MCAS Miramar Air Show in October.
· In the last three months of 2009, the staff coordinated a multi-faceted membership development campaign.
· ICAS staff coordinated and facilitated development of an Air Boss Safety De-Brief Checklist during 2009. To see the product of that work, click here.
· In 2009, ICAS staff testified via video link on a New Zealand criminal case involving a con man who bilked thousands of people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a small town in New Zealand.
· During the spring and summer of 2009, ICAS staff coordinated a nation-wide public relations program developed to highlight the trend toward increased attendance at air shows throughout the United States and Canada. Designed to highlight the low cost of air show attendance during difficult economic times, the campaign generated national media coverage, including a three-minute segment on the CBS Evening News in August.
· Each year, ICAS staff plans two different one-day seminars in which we provide instruction and guidance to FAA Flight Standards inspectors on how to most effectively monitor air shows.
· In cooperation with ICAS members, the ICAS staff completed work on the rewrite of the jet vehicle best practice document.
· Each year, the staff prepares an initial draft of the annual $1.4 million budget and submits it to the ICAS Board for discussion and approval. Throughout the year, the ICAS staff manages ICAS finances.
· The ICAS staff prepares meeting reports and briefing books for each of the association’s four board meetings and three executive committee meetings each year.
© International Council of Air Shows, Inc.
750 Miller Drive, Suite F-3
Leesburg, Virginia 20175
Phone: 703-779-8510
Fax: 703-779-8511
Website: www.airshows.aero
E-mail: icas@airshows.aero
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Price / Halak - The Stats - December 2009
[Montreal, Quebec] (Habs Eyes On The Prize)While watching the movie "The International", I came across the following quote by the New York DA, trying to explain the layers of bullshit that make the truth almost impossible to uncover. "There's what people want to hear, there's what people want to believe, there's everything else, THEN there's the truth! When I heard the quote, I couldn't help but think of the nonsense surrounding the ongoing Price / Halak debate. It was onsense that boiled to the surface once again on the strength of 24 ...
While watching the movie "The International", I came across the following quote by the New York DA, trying to explain the layers of bullshit that make the truth almost impossible to uncover.
"There's what people want to hear, there's what people want to believe, there's everything else, THEN there's the truth!
When I heard the quote, I couldn't help but think of the nonsense surrounding the ongoing Price / Halak debate. It was onsense that boiled to the surface once again on the strength of 243 great minutes by Jaroslav Halak in mid- December. This debate continues to be driven by individual ego, bias and agenda and based very little on substance.
It is very easy to understand how it happens. An individual makes a declaration that Price is better at a pub or on a message board and watches intently hoping to have their opinion proven right in order to trot out their prediction to prove their wealth of knowledge (EGO). Said individual now watches each game looking for flaws in Halak's game to justify their statement (BIAS) then pushes forth those flaws in order to make his or her point (AGENDA). At this point the opinion has become skewed and the quest for the truth has dissipated. He or she ignores what they do not want to hear or believe and search out those with an agreeable perspective.
The result? Sides are formed and you have Team Price and Team Halak.
Ego, agenda and bias constantly lead to intelligent individuals making nonsensical statements. When Team Price brings up lack of goal support, Team Halak's response is "the team plays tighter in front of Price and does not take chances because they are worried he will let in a bad goal". Team Price's counter argument? "The Canadiens play a looser game in front of Halak because they know they will need 3-4 goals to win the game". Neither of these statements is based in reality and are the rationales seem to have been created in order to push forth and back up individual agendas.
Everybody has a personal preference that skews their perspective, but it is a shame that the internet has devolved into a giant pissing match of "I told you, I was right, therefore I win and hence you are dumb" arguments. At the end of the day does it really matter if you are right? Does anybody keep score? The loudest opinion is not the most insightful and succinct. All that matters to me is that I provoke thought and provide you a window into my mind to see what I am thinking. It is then up to you to figure out whether you want to continue to peer through that window or not.
Bill Simmons is diametrically opposed to almost every pro sports team I support. He is a Bruins (Habs), Red Sox (Yankees), Celtics (Raptors) and Patriots (Jets) fan. I read him because I appreciate his perspective and look past his admitted bias. In his 700 page "Book of Basketball" his thesis revolved around "the secret", a secret he discovered while watching the 1986 Boston Celtics perform. The team was an integral element in the foundation of his love of the game. Should I then be surprised that he spent the first 650 pages praising the "the secret" of the 1986 Celtics and the players who embraced this secret, then finally come to the conclusion that the greatest team of all-time was the 1986 Celtics? Of course not, but he sure made a damn good case and I admired his opinion because he poured over every book written about the legends of the game, watched endless video and did not rely solely on statistics to come up with his opinions alone. At the end of the day, I read 700 pages and didn't care whether he was right or wrong, he succeeded in moving the gears of my mind.
When individuals try to discredit my perspective as having a Price bias, ultimately they are correct. Like Simmons and the Celtics, I got my goaltending Ph. D watching Patrick Roy. I watched him take a position that was being played in a nonsensical manner and improve it to unparalleled levels. From his evolution of using equipment not only to protect himself, but stop the puck, to his work in exploiting percentages to his advantage, Roy began the lineage that lead to today's goaltender. Because of this, my idea of the ultimate goaltender resembles Carey Price more than Jaroslav Halak. Does that cripple my credibility? That is up to you to decide. I am not skewing numbers, nor am I basing my opinion on numbers alone. The point of these articles is to provide the reader with nuggets of information hidden beneath the surface for the reader to either buy into what I'm selling, or pass on it. It is of little significance to me whether or not you come to the same conclusion as I.
I cannot provide you with the truth because I cannot break through your personal bias, agenda or ego. Your truth is always going to remain what you want to hear and believe. It will exist in your influences and your preferences. These articles are the truth that I believe, ultimately it is up to you to peer through the window or pass it by.
All told, these balanced and fair number comparisons and scenarios make their own case.
Price / Halak December 2009
December was an interesting month in this ongoing debate. Just when everybody thought Price had solidified the starting job in November, Halak rebounded and added fuel to the fire with a dominant December showing.
During a 243 minute span, Halak faced 186 shots while surrendering only 6 goals for an obscene .967 SV%. WIth one of the best young goaltending tandems in the NHL, a large number of Canadiens fans however, chose not to appreciate their contribution in saving a lost season, but rather chose to simplify the teams struggles in their eyes by turning their frustration towards the last line of defense.
With the images of Halak's dominant stretch fresh in everyone's mind, it seemed as though he had finally distanced himself from Price. As Price struggled while allowing a couple of brutal softies that cost the Canadiens a pair of games, the perception began to emerge that Halak had outplayed Price in the month of December.
However, a look at their stats over those 17 games does not back up that perception.
On the whole, the overall mental imagery of Halak's strong performances bypasses the 3 games in which he gave up 14 goals on 100 shots.
Not contrarily, the visual impact of Price reaching over his head and deflecting two pucks into his own net is too powerful to offset the memory of the 4 games in which he gave up only 5 goals.
The biggest difference maker in the perception of the month, was that Halak's four great games took place in succession. Watching Halak's sustained greatness over that streak tends to work as a sort of blinder for some other individual game performances for the rest of his month The strong streak also masks the fact that in four of his five December starts, Halak registered mediocre save percentages of .838, .852, .889 and .889.
Price's month was full of bad goals (5 by my count), three of which were crucial mistakes in losses against Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Minnesota. These mistakes overshadowed five strong but unconsecutive starts with save percentages of .971, .926, .927, .933 and .974.
Taken all togeher, these easily overlooked factors lead to their save percentages being essentially one goal apart.
Looking strictly at their win totals can also lead to incomplete conclusions. Last month I introduced Win Threshold in order to emphasize that wins are essentially a byproduct of goal support and that they are in fact a team-based statistic.
Halak produced 4 of his 6 wins against Toronto, Carolina, Florida and the New York Islanders (who own a combined 51-70-29 won / loss record) with his most impressive win coming against the Atlanta Thrashers. During the month, the winning percentage of the teams he faced was a combined .520. Price faced only one team below the .500 level, the Maple Leafs. Seven of his eight opponents were at .500 or better. Halak's win threshold during December was .914 as the Canadiens provided him with 31 goals in his 9 starts. Price's win threshold in December was .930 as the offense produced 17 goals in 8 starts.
Halak enjoyed plenty of goal support in December. A goals against average of 3.18 and a save percentage of .914 would have produced a .500 record. His play was exemplary against the Senators, Islanders, Thrashers and Hurricanes, but in those 4 games he had 16 goals in support. As Robert pointed out, the return of Markov helped to rejuvenate the powerplay and Halak was a definite beneficiary.
Price's December was a stark contrast to Halak. In order to salvage a .500 record, Price would have had to produce league-leading numbers, as his goal support was almost non-existent. Shockingly, he almost did. The Canadiens produced only 17 goals in 8 games and 5 times registered less than 2 goals
Through all this research, I have begun to ignore a goaltender's won / loss record when I assess a goaltenders play. Halak's record during his career in games in which the Canadiens scored 2 goals or less is 3-23. His record in which they register 3 goals or more is 38-2-2. Looking at current stars Ryan Miller, Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur (the league leader with 27 wins) further illustrates this point.
Ryan Miller's record in games where the Sabres register 2 goals or less in 2010? 4-10.
Roberto Luongo's record in games where the Canucks register 2 goals or less in 2010? 2-10
Martin Broduer's record in games where the Devils register 2 goals or less in 2010? 5-9-1
After viewing the threshold and goal support numbers, it becomes pretty clear that wins are a team based statistic and should not be used to solidify any argument in regards to the effectiveness or value of a goaltender.
Looking at Halak's December opponents, I wondered if his statistics had been influenced by the strength of his schedule? Have his statistics been earned under the same conditions as Price?
Over the last 3+ seasons, Halak has faced 25 teams with sub .500 records in his 70 career starts. Parity reigns supreme in the new NHL as only 5 of 30 teams finished below .500 In the last 2 seasons. Halak has faced a sub .500 team four of every 10 starts when less than 20% of the league has a losing record. Contrast that to Price who has faced 21 teams below .500 in 116 starts.
(Note: all records referenced were through January 4th, 2009, by the time this is posted borderline teams like the Isles, Panthers and Lightning might move above or below the .500 level altering the figures slightly, but when Halak faced them, they were on the south side of .500).
The results paint a striking portrait. Halak has certainly benefited from an easier workload. It is shocking to see how dominant Halak has been against the bottom 5 in the league and how mediocre Price has been. Is this a function of poor focus on Price's part? Should this be viewed as a negative against Price? Or do you assess that it is better to excel against the teams that you will face more often? Personally, I want the goaltender that produces against the majority of the league because only 16% of the league is below .500. This is a telling statistic in terms of assessing the future and the reason that the emotion and euphoria of Halak's 243 minutes cannot be overstated in regards to his overall body of work.
You do not trade the 5th overall pick who has compiled a resume at age 22 that only 3-4 players in modern history can equal at the same age, especially when the bulk of your secondary option's success has occurred against the bottom five teams in the league. Unfortunately, Halak has placed a gun to Gainey's head in regards to a decision, He can no longer wait to see who is better. He has to base his decision on their whole body of work and choose. So that means their junior careers (Price), their AHL careers (Price) and their NHL careers (statistically even) are the basis for his judgement. Add in that he has groomed Price and laid the brickwork of his foundation and Gainey would not be doing his due diligence if he chose Halak over Price. It would be a pure gamble based on guesswork and hope.
Gainey is perhaps counting on one of his peers overstating a month or two of work and overpaying for Halak's services. At this point, his overall body of work does not warrant a top six forward, but the combination of his potential and his recent play might shake one loose. Halak has played great, but I also don't think it is a coincidence that since Gainey went to the media about the shopping Halak on Dec 10th that Halak has started 5 of his 8 games against teams below .500 while Price has faced zero in his seven starts.
Halak's numbers since November 1st have been fantastic. The biggest difference that I have noticed between Halak and Price over the last two months is the gaps between spectacular and concentration lapses. They are less pronounced with Halak. Outside of his rebound control, his play has been remarkably efficient. His positioning has been strong and remains one of the reasons that his saves seem less spectacular. His focus has allowed him to remain efficient and as an undersized goaltender this is critical. The video below shows Halak at his best.It is as though he has a rope attached from his pants to the center bar of the net allowing him to square up the shooter at all times.
The result?
Pucks acting like magnets to the CH logo on his chest.
In almost every instance he has maintained the proper depth in his crease and his gap control on breakaways has removed the option of the deke, forcing the shooters into low percentage shots that he easily contains. Approaching 25, he is beginning to figure out the pace and tendencies of the league and mature as an NHL goaltender, there is no doubt that he has become a number one NHL goaltender, the question is can he become a dominant franchise changing goaltender?
Price's numbers represent to me why statistical analysis alone is unreliable. I have watched every game, viewed every goal and charted shot position and watched him play great hockey in October and produce terrible stats. In October he simplified his game and returned to the economical beast he was when he entered the league. He used his size to his advantage, moved away from strictly butterfly towards a hybrid style that allowed him to remain non-committal (allowing him to wait out the shooter), he avoided concentration lapses and with that allowed less poor goals.
In November he took his game to the next level with sprinkles of athleticism to his game while maintaining an economy of movement. Price looked like he had many figured things out. Then the concentration lapses began to creep back into his play. With these lapses came bad / questionable goals in December (8 of the18 by my count) and although he provided plenty of highlight reel saves, to me these represented a slight regression as he was relying on instinct and athleticism to bail himself out.
If you watch the highlight reel below, almost all of his spectacular saves are born of questionable positioning. Over pursuing the play and scrambling back, average gap control on breakaways that force him to rely on his length and quickness to make the save. The positive being that he has the ability to make these remarkable recoveries. The negative aspect being some of them are unnecessary. His stats present somewhat of a paradox, they suggest a goaltender that is getting better every game even though his consistency and positioning have regressed. This is the tease of his youth, watching all the tools flash their brilliance individually, coming tantalizingly close to coalescing into the dominant goaltender we all expect, then back to the tantalizing flashes.
GOALS AGAINST
This is the one area where Halak blows away Price in December. Strength of opposition and goal support have no bearing on the softies that Price has allowed. They were concentration lapses of the highest degree, long shots that he misjudged and point shots that he failed to track properly, plays that he should complete regardless of the situation. It also cannot go without mention that the perception continues to be reality in regards to his weakness high glove side, half of the poor goals he allowed were high glove side and two were back breakers.
Most of Halak's transgressions were from failure to control his rebounds or born of Huet disease (drop in the butterfly, don't battle to track the puck and assume you have your percentages covered and the puck will hit you). All goals that can be argued as faultless, but goals that most likely were reassessed in the following day's practice.
Bad or suspect goals indicated in bold.
1. Long shot, big rebound cashed in by Clarke MacArthur as he beats Halak high stick side. 15 ft.
2. Backhand, Halak struggles with rebound, Jason Pominville beats Halak low stick side. 10 ft.
3. Pominville out of the corner, cross crease for Roy who taps it in beating Halak low stick side. 13 ft.
4. Vanek shot, Halak struggles with the rebound as Tim Kennedy beats him high glove side. 9 ft.
5. Slapshot from the blueline seems to beat a screened Halak low stick side. 56 ft.
6. 2 on 1. Thomas Vanek feeds Mike Grier for a cross crease tap-in that beats Halak low glove side. 8 ft.
7. Michalek shot from the slot picked up by Mike Fisher as he lifts it over Halak high stick side. 6 ft.
8. Andrej Sekera slap shot from the point beats Halak low stick side. 58 ft.
9. 2 on 1, shorthanded. Tim Connolly sends Patrick Kaleta in alone as he beats Halak 5-hole. 6 ft.
10. Scramble in front as Tim Kennedy finds the puck and beats Halak low stick side. 11 ft.
11. 5 on 3 PP. Drew Stafford cross crease for MacArthur for a tap-in beating Halak low glove side. 5 ft.
12. Ron Hainsey shot from a bad angle deflects in off Ilya Kovalchuk beating Halak low glove side. 3 ft.
13. Point shot by Kubina handcuffs Halak and Nik Antropov slides the puck into an empty net. 6 ft.
14. 5 on 4 PP. Point shot stopped , rebound slid home by Antropov beating Halak low stick side. 7 ft.
15. 5 on 4 PP. Point shot stopped, Brandon Sutter on the rebound beats Halak low glove side. 10 ft.
16. Ian White point shot knuckles by Halak beating him low stick side. 59 ft.
17. Scramble, Jason Blake makes an attempt as the puck hits him and beats Halak low glove side. 5 ft.
18. Chris Campoli point shot stopped, rebound to Peter Regin beats him high glove side. 18 ft.
19. 5 on 4 PP. Point shot by Ryan Shannon that beats Halak high glove side. Possible screen. 55 ft.
20. Fisher out of the corner, stopped, rebound batted in by Chris Neil, beating Halak over his head. 4 ft.
21. Keith Ballard end to end gets in alone on Halak and beats him high stick side. Odorous. 8 ft.
22. Nathan Horton clear cut breakaway beats Halak high stick side. 6 ft.
23. 3 on 2. Horton feeds Michael Frolik in the slot as he beats Halak low glove side. 15 ft.
24. Radek Dvorak beats Halak high stick side through a screen from a poor angle. 10 ft.
Bad or suspect goals indicated in bold.
1. Price makes initial save, Colton Orr hops on the rebound and beats Price low stick side. 7 ft.
2. Jeff Finger slapshot from the point beats Price low stick side. Very odorous. 45 ft.
3. Matt Stajan on a breakaway beats Price high glove side. 23 ft.
4. Matt Hunwick point shot deflected in the slot by Vladimir Sobotka beating Price high stick side. 24 ft.
5. Daniel Briere fights off a check and chips the puck over Price, beating him high glove side. 16 ft.
6. Bill Guerin from the corner finds a pinching Gonchar who beats a transitioning Price 5-hole. 13 ft.
7. Sergei Gonchar shot from the point tipped in by Matt Cooke beating Price high stick side. 7 ft.
8. Pascal Dupuis slapshot deflected, misplayed by Price beating him high glove side. 38 ft.
9. Wrist shot from the point by Christoph Schubert beats Price cleanly high glove side. 56 ft.
10. Scramble as Colby Armstrong slides the puck into an empty net beating a scrambling Price. 18 ft.
11. Nik Antropov from the bottom of the circle beats Price high stick side through a screen. 12 ft.
12. 4 on 3 PP. Ilya Kovalchuk off the wing beats Price from the face-off dot high glove side. 27 ft.
13. Iikka Pikkarainen shot handcuffs Price and the puck bounces off the post, his pad and in. 38 ft.
14. Patrik Elias sneaks in behind the D and puts home his own rebound beating Price low glove side. 9 ft.
15. Robbie Earl off the wing beats Price 5-hole. Odorous. 21 ft.
16. 5 on 4 PP. Corner feed from Martin Havlat to Mikko Koivu deflected beats Price low stick side. 12 ft.
17. Shot wide, Price slow to get across the crease as Cal Clutterbuck beats him low glove side. 5 ft.
18. Kurtis Foster slapshot from the point beats Price high glove side. 57 ft.
Halak has been fantastic on mid range shots, allowing only two goals all season between 21'-39'. HIs save percentage in each zone has also risen from an early season low of .712 to his current mark of .842. The Canadiens improved penalty kill continues to benefit both goalies as Halak carried an obscene .962 SV% while shorthanded in December, when added to his elite level .935 even strength percentage the results lead to a monster month in which he was honoured with the Molson Cup and the NHL 1st star of the week during the last week of December. I can picture Bob Gainey sitting at his desk, feet up, hands clasped, smoking a stogie as he places Paul Holmgren on hold.
Bombardment would be the proper verb to describe what Halak faced in December. WIth the Canadiens consistently surrendering 40+ shots per game, Halak was relied upon to remain flawless in order to keep the Canadiens season alive. When adding in attempts at the goal (missed shots + blocks), Halak's nightly menu consisted of over a shot attempt per minute (67). It is not a recipe for long term success and when coupled with the stronger teams on the schedule and little goal support, it lead to unsatisfactory results. The shot quality is decreasing as the season progresses, and with Halak's superb work beyond 20 feet, if the Canadiens can continue to improve and limit shots to the perimeter, both goaltenders will continue to provide big numbers.
While Price's numbers continue to improve seemingly across the board, two numbers are concerning. His even strength save percentage continues to drop from the elite levels he produced in October, it is the only statistic that is consistent with my perceived drop in his level of play. His overall numbers were masked early by an inept penalty kill and his decline is now being masked by the dominance of the same unit. Price was also unbeatable early in the season from beyond 40 feet, but that number is also beginning to slip. Am I greatly concerned with these trends? Not really, it comes with the gamble of rolling the dice with a young goaltender and judging by his history we are in for another peak and decline over the next 3 months.
After hanging Price out to dry over the first 2 months, the Canadiens have begun to show signs of limiting scoring opportunities. His shot attempts have finally dipped below a shot per minute and he was rarely hung out to dry like he routinely was during the first two months of the season. Let's just call it the Andrei Markov factor. When Jacques Martin makes the required tweaks to his "give up 40 shots per night and rely on the goaltender" system, the Canadiens should be in good position for a strong second half surge.
The December verdict: I will preface this by mentioning that this whole discussion should be a non-starter, both goalies have been a godsend in 2010 and the Canadiens would be in the Taylor Hall sweepstakes without them, but the controversies never seems to go away. I made mention of Larocque / Dryden and Hayward / Roy in my pre-season article, but their is really no excuse for this debate in today's environment. 20-30 years ago the casual fan did not have access to player game logs, shot logs, previous years standings, strength of opposition, the SI vault or highlights at your fingertips to develop an educated opinion. Their opinion was based on what they saw with their own eyes, what the weekly Hockey News statistics told them and the hyperbole they were spoon fed by local media. That was and remains understandable, but watching what the fanbase is doing to these kids is not. This whole debate is raging over individual egos and has nothing to do with what is happening on the ice or in the locker room. Mentioning either of their names in blame for a loss is uninspired, unimaginative and just plain lazy.
The simple answer to the question is that both goaltenders have been great in 2009-10. I deemed them equal in October, Price ran with the ball in November and Halak outplayed Price in December. A boxing scorecard would read 10-10, 10-9, 9-10 for a three round score of 29-29. When factoring in win threshold/goal support, quality of competition and future potential, my opinion from October remains unchanged. Neither goaltender is significantly outplaying the other and the things I see from Price foretell a higher ceiling.
Little did I know that when I prefaced the season by asking god to bless the irrational nature of Hab fans that they would in turn provide me with an excuse to blather on for 4000+ words about a goaltending controversy based entirely on hyperbole.
So in honour of unearned obscene hit counts, God Bless us all.....again!
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Internship Opportunities with Dreams for Kids (Chicago Downtown)
[Jobs] (craigslist | all jobs in chicago)Internship Listing Dreams for Kids 501 (c)-(3) is looking for talented interns to join its Chicago office immediately. Internships will be part-time and unpaid. You will report directly to the Projects Director, Triecia Dolan. Company Overview: Dreams for Kids: Changing Lives One Kid at a Time Dreams for Kids is a place where young people of all abilities are empowered to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world. Dreams for Kids is rooted in the ...
Internship Listing
Dreams for Kids 501 (c)-(3) is looking for talented interns to join its Chicago office immediately. Internships will be part-time and unpaid. You will report directly to the Projects Director, Triecia Dolan.
Company Overview:
Dreams for Kids: Changing Lives One Kid at a Time
Dreams for Kids is a place where young people of all abilities are empowered to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world. Dreams for Kids is rooted in the belief that every person has the ability to help make change possible. If we come together as one compassionate force and support our youth in every way, we can eliminate isolation and inspire an army of goodwill ambassadors to transform the world.
Our dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities include:
Dream Leaders - A leadership program that unites children of diverse backgrounds through community service and service learning
through our Dream Leaders Conferences.
Extreme Recess- An adaptive sports program offering children with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity to
participate in adventure activities, often for the very first time.
Holiday for Hope - A holiday celebration that provides food, entertainment, gifts, and most of all, hope for over 2,000 children in Chicago
and ten other participating countries.
Dream a Thon!!! The Dream-a-Thon is a global movement empowering youth living in poverty and those with disabilities to unite with
others to change the world on 10-10-10. On Sunday, October 10, 2010 thousands of inspired children and adults of all abilities will work
together on various service projects to improve their local and global communities! This global event is the first of its kind in magnitude,
and Dreams for Kids is currently looking for interns to help execute this phenomenal day of service.
This is a fabulous opportunity for enthusiastic, organized, and positive individuals. Interns will be able to contribute and collaborate with our organization of insightful, creative, and exceptional philanthropic leaders.
Detailed internship descriptions are listed below:
If you are interested in any of these positions and would like to inquire further, please contact:
Triecia Dolan
Projects Director
tdolan@dreamsforkids.org
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All positions listed below are Part-time and Unpaid positions. These positions are non-exempt positions and report to the Projects Director, Triecia Dolan.
Qualifications and Attributes for all Intern Positions:
Strong written and oral communication skills
Computer proficiency in word processing and other Microsoft Office applications
Team player with the ability to work both independently and in a group setting
Excellent organizational abilities, detail oriented, promptness, and dependability
Able to work with a high degree of self-direction and flexibility, especially with respect to taking initiative, prioritizing multiple tasks, and
using good judgment to resolve problems
Excellent time management skills and the ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
Enthusiastic and professional
Available Internships:
1) Project Manager.
This position is an exciting opportunity to work with prominent non-profit and academic leaders. You will be responsible for attending and processing information and following up with tasks derived from meetings with the founders of Dreams for Kids, Manna International, and Kellogg Innovation Network. This is an unprecedented opportunity to be involved in an extraordinary innovation project. This candidate must have knowledge in microfinance and be business oriented.
2) Website Technology Manager
This individual will be responsible for maintaining our website, designing our Facebook and Twitter home pages, uploading videos on youtube and goodtube, as well as assisting with in-house IT needs. You will also enhance and develop our Dream-a-Thon webpage. You must have experience with Drupal, HTML, designing Twitter and Facebook, google analytics, and database experience
3) Dream Leaders Conference Outreach Coordinator
This individual will work closely with the Dream Leaders Director to enroll more schools and organizations in the Dream Leaders Conferences, a one-day conference that brings middle school and high school aged youth together from every different background and ability to learn essential leadership skills, the most pressing global issues of our time, and how they can make a positive impact on their local and global community! The Dream Leaders Conference Outreach Coordinator will build relationships with new organizations and schools by attending networking events, arranging face-to-face meetings, and following-up with existing contacts. This person will have a large role in managing the recruitment for the monthly Dream Leaders Conferences. This candidate should be outgoing, well-organized, and interested in youth development.
4) Dream Leaders Mentor Coordinator
The Dream Leaders Mentor Coordinator will have a unique opportunity to assist the Dream Leaders Director in developing and implementing a new phase of the Dream Leaders program. This person will be responsible for reaching out to existing contacts as well as building new contacts to find candidates to serve as mentors for our Dream Leaders youth. In addition, the Dream Leaders Mentor Coordinator will collect and analyze all Mentor and Mentee applications, assist in making matches, and following up with all participants. This person should be self-motivated, high-energy, innovative, well-organized, and interested in the process of implementing a new initiative.
5) Dream Leaders Community Service Coordinator
The Dream Leaders Community Service Coordinator will be in charge of planning and promoting monthly service projects for the Dream Leaders participants. Not only will this person have the opportunity to organize community service in all sectors of the non-profit world, but he or she will also be responsible for engaging the Dream Leaders participants in the different initiatives. The Dream Leaders Community Service Coordinator will also support the other Dream Leaders sites in developing service projects. This is a great position for someone who has a strong interest in youth, community service, and building relationships with Chicagos non-profit organizations.
6) Dream Leaders Conference Expansion Coordinator
The Dream Leaders Conference Expansion Coordinator will work with the Dream Leaders Director in expanding the Dream Leaders Conference to other cities. This individual will be the main liaison between the Dream Leaders Director and coordinators in other host cities. This person will come to learn everything there is to know about the Dream Leaders Conference and be able to answer any questions about its implementation. This person should have an interest in youth, non-profit management, and project implementation. The ideal candidate would be well-organized, personable, and self-motivated.
7) Dream-a-Thon Recruitment Coordinator
The Dream-a-Thon Recruitment Intern will be responsible for developing creative ways to reach out to potential Dream-a-Thon participants. In doing so, you will create a large database of schools, nonprofit organizations and community groups both locally and globally. Upon recruiting youth and community groups, you will work with the Dream-a-Thon director to build relationships with them, as well as provide motivation and information to help build the most successful Dream-a-Thon projects. This position requires an individual who is enthusiastic, personable and outgoing!
8) Dream-a-Thon Marketing Coordinator
The ideal candidate for the marketing coordinator will have educational and practical experience in marketing. You will be responsible for finding new ways of promoting the Dream-a-Thon, and in increasing awareness about the Dreams for Kids. You will have the freedom to create and distribute marketing materials to gain exposure in local and international markets. This is a very exciting opportunity for an individual looking to expand his or her portfolio.
9) Dream-a-Thon Project Coordinator
This candidate must be experienced and enthusiastic about creating service projects. This person will be responsible for meeting with local agencies in the Greater Chicagoland area to establish community needs and potential projects for up to 250 volunteers. Once needs are established, this individual will work with the Dream-a-Thon director to create service projects for our corporate sponsors. This internship will be focused on creating logistics and requires a very organized and detailed oriented individual.
10) Online Auction Coordinator
This candidate must be enthusiastic about creating something completely new for Dreams for Kids in the fundraising arena-an online auction platform. This person will be responsible in researching and investigating Mission Fish, establishing an online auction account for Dreams for Kids, procuring auction items, and continued management of the platform.
11) Grant Writer
This ideal candidate for this internship is creative, well organized, and has an interest or experience in grant writing. This person must also have excellent writing skills. This person will work directly with our Grant Coordinator.
12) Social Networking Coordinator
This ideal candidate for this internship will have great interest and experience with Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, and other means of social networking. This intern will have the following responsibilities: maintain our Facebook and Twitter pages, will find new ways of promoting our upcoming events, will notify others about the organization by dropping links and writing blogs, and will update Dreams for Kids pages on other websites such as www.weare.org, www.change.org, www.greatnonprofits.org, etc.
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Indy Transponder 04-JAN-09 0500z
[Aviation] (Indy Transponder©)BLUE ANGELS PLANNING RETURN TO DAYTON - Lancaster Eagle Gazette The six Boeing F/A-18 Hornets last flew for the Vectren Dayton Air Show in 2006. The group performs various aerobatic maneuvers and formations. Thunderbirds Dream Of A Lifetime from Welcome to ThunderbirdsAlumni.com In keeping within the spirit of the "Thunderbirds Alumni Association, Inc., (TBAA) the "Heritage Thunderbird Foundation", the Thunderbirds Alumni "Dream Of A Lifetime" web site exists to promote the comradeship of forme ...
BLUE ANGELS PLANNING RETURN TO DAYTON - Lancaster Eagle Gazette
The six Boeing F/A-18 Hornets last flew for the Vectren Dayton Air Show in 2006. The group performs various aerobatic maneuvers and formations. ...
Thunderbirds Dream Of A Lifetime from Welcome to ThunderbirdsAlumni.com
In keeping within the spirit of the "Thunderbirds Alumni Association, Inc., (TBAA) the "Heritage Thunderbird Foundation", the Thunderbirds Alumni "Dream Of A Lifetime" web site exists to promote the comradeship of former and current members of the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, The Thunderbirds, and to insure "Once A Thunderbird, Always A Thunderbird" is a continued commitment from each member and that excellence remains the benchmark by which we measure all we do.
The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially-marked USAF jet aircraft.
Officers serve a two-year assignment with the squadron, while ...
Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour 2010 - Shady Whiskers
THESE ARE THE DATES FROT THIS 2010 WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR SHOWCASING THE B-17 NINE O NINE ,B-24 WITCHCRAFT, AND TP-51C BETTY JANE...
Arrows Tricolore in 2010 celebrating 50 years - Daedalus News
Arrows Tricolori celebrate in 2010 the half century of activity with a season that opens on May 1 Rivolto and will end on 11-12 ...
Airsports.tv | Aerobatics, Aerobatic Flying and Other Air Sport Videos by Jacqueline Warda
Aerobatics and other air sport coverage from Airsports.tv, the leading video news air sports site. Airsports offers coverage of all major air races from around the world
Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2010 will be held from 27 to 30 of January 10 in UAE, Al Ain.
Airsports.tv will broadcast live from the event starting with 28th of January 2010.
Stay tunned on our official website http://airsports.tv and the Al Ain Aerobatic Show website http://alainaerobaticshow.com for more details. Don't forget to access www.airsports.tv to watch our exclussive promo for the Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2010.
Best Of 2009 - EAA AirVenture Museum - Bruce Cantrall from Diamond Pilots
The EAA AirVenture Museum is a great place to learn about airplanes, helicopters and other experimental aircraft. This is the Eagle Hanger and has many World War II aircraft.
Prepare for a razzle dazzle summer in Oshkosh - Oshkosh Northwestern
Country music, airplanes, pageant pizzazz and family fun are there for the taking every summer in Oshkosh as locals and visitors choose from among numerous annual events sure to please every taste.
Summer 2010 will be no different.
The Waterfest 14-week Thursday night concert series, which brings roughly 50,000 people to the Leach Amphitheater on the shores of the Fox River each summer, kicks off June 17.
Oshkosh Irish Fest, with its toe-tapping, foot-stomping music and numerous other events is back this year. It'll be held June 11-13 at Leach Amphitheater. ...
2009 Air Show Review Video – "Turn up the Volume" from Mike Goulian Airshows by Karin
After just digging out from under a foot of snow here in Boston, I can't wait to get back in the air. Our first race in Abu Dhabi is just around the corner and we'll start practicing for the 2010 air show season in the newly re-branded ASB EXTRA 330 in just a couple of weeks.
As a little diversion from winter, here is an awesome video recap of the 2009 air show season in the USA. ASB.TV made this short piece, which was shown at the most recent ICAS Convention in Las Vegas. The video played at the beginning of the award's banquet.
On a frigid day in Boston, it brings a smile to my face and I am sure it will yours too.
Turn up the volume!!
Mikey G
Matt Hall Positive About Team Changes For 2010 - Air Race News Watch
MEREWETHER, Australia - Just weeks after ending his debut Red Bull Air Race World Championship season in third place Australian pilot Matt Hall has announced two changes to his team for the 2010 season. Both veteran Technician Dennis ...
Explorer's plane in Antarctic ice - Sydney Morning Herald
Parts of the first aeroplane taken to the Antarctic by Australia's most famous polar explorer, Douglas Mawson, has been discovered. ...
Remains of Mawson's Vickers found in Antarctica from Flightglobal Events
This day in history - CXO
1941 – Pioneer aviatrix Amy Johnson goes missing flying over the Thames, she was never found. 1964 – Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Benedictos of Jerusalem meet ...
RAF pilot is saluted for his courage under fire from The Kathryn Report
A PILOT from RAF Odiham who helped save the lives of 12 injured US soldiers in Afghanistan has stepped into the limelight to receive a national award. Flight Lieutenant John Walmsley, of 18 Squadron, won Most Outstanding Airman at The Sun Military Awards. ...
Orbis "Flying Eye Hospital" DC-10 from Flight Image of the Day
The coming year will serve as a sort of long goodbye for Orbis International's current "Flying Eye Hospital".
Operated by the non-profit organisation since 1994, the 1970-built McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 - which has a state-of-the-art surgical suite and teaching facility - is nearing the end of its projected lifespan and will be replaced by an MD-10 in early 2011.
But while retirement may be around the corner for the near 40-year-old ambassador of goodwill, it cannot rest its wings just yet. ...
Dam Busting from Neptunus Lex [video]
Formation flight Sunday from Planeshots
EXTREME FLYING: Pilot Pulls 11.2G! Cockpit View from OneRiot.com
Best Pictures of the 2009 Airshow Season from FenceCheck Forums
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Standout performers to be honored at Santa Barbara
[Filmmaking] (Fest21.com blogs)The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues its tradition of honoring the year's standout performers by presenting The 2010 Chopin Virtuosos Award to Carey Mulligan, Saoirse Ronan, Gabourey Sidibe and Michael Stuhlbarg, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Award presentation, sponsored by Chopin Vodka, will take place Sunday, February 7 at the Lobero Theatre at the 25th edition of the festival, which runs February 4-14, 2010. The Virtuosos Awa ...
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues its tradition of honoring the year's standout performers by presenting The 2010 Chopin Virtuosos Award to Carey Mulligan, Saoirse Ronan, Gabourey Sidibe and Michael Stuhlbarg, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Award presentation, sponsored by Chopin Vodka, will take place Sunday, February 7 at the Lobero Theatre at the 25th edition of the festival, which runs February 4-14, 2010.
The Virtuosos Award was created to recognize a select group of actors who have distinguished themselves through performances in film this past year. Last year's recipients for this award were Viola Davis, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Melissa Leo and Michael Shannon.
Comments Durling, "These four individuals not only gave us standout breakthrough performances, but they all carry their own individual films - and they all do it virtuosically. We salute their achievement."
Those actors who were selected to be recognized for their exceptional performances are: For making her theatrical debut in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire", Gabourey Sidibe brings a genuine truth and vulnerability to the role of Precious. Carey Mulligan's brightness and wit allow her to believably portray the wisely naive Jenny in "An Education." Best known for his talents on the Broadway stage, Michael Stuhlbarg's performance in "A Serious Man" as a suburban father in 1967 whose life crumbles right before him is thought-provoking and allows us to laugh at life's seemingly insurmountable troubles.Saoirse Ronan delivers an exceptionally mature and yet hauntingly gracious performance as Susie Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." While her territory is both calming and uncharted, she guides us with an expertise indicative of actors with a much more extensive resume.
The SBIFF Virtuosos are the latest to join previously-announced 25th Anniversary Honorees James Cameron, Julianne Moore, Sandra Bullock, Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard and Christoph Walz.
The Chopin Virtuosos Award Tribute will take place at the Lobero Theatre on Sunday, February 7. Tickets for the event will go on sale today and can be purchased at a 20% discount through December 31 at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102879184078&s=278&e=001-7SmKgR1sS3GyXMmglEGCfhi-zHFreAmLW2iCL59xNusjH3kYhg-dwXIBvgQdQIk0W5hdfgicdRi8DRtJ3CEDY18j0MDU2dxgWL9PgFgnD_7SuNE5c_pug== or through the Lobero Box Office, 805.963.0761 and the Arlington Theater Box office, 805.963.4408. Festival Platinum and Cinema Passes are currently on sale exclusively at the Lobero Box Office. Box Office fees will apply for all Film Festival Passes, Mini-Paks, and event tickets.
Chopin Vodka embodies purity, independence, authenticity, and distinction, qualities which clearly inspired the striking bottle design and which are reinforced by the brand's uniquely creamy, full-bodied flavor from naturally grown potatoes. 2010 will be the third year of Chopin's partnership with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It will also be the 200th Anniversary of Frederic Chopin's birthday, and to celebrate, the brand will be debuting on the red carpet a 200 Liter bottle -- the largest bottle of vodka ever produced. For recipes and more information about Chopin, please visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102879184078&s=278&e=001-7SmKgR1sS1sgmk95OIOtaJvtmB-86p0YrzU_gOEr3icKexBjrXHqho65ZUjnK-HavPgNlWCunWfyrD4XqeylZt7LjlBk29jMBuYGPAZfpSIytxpsEf47sDNyUcpj2H4 and follow our Twitter feed at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102879184078&s=278&e=001-7SmKgR1sS0gyj6uvo-ZaLAv3kLHZBvoH6PTGGeebnO_5Tptdi3qi23QurE8J1JZChJ4WX1O6RnNMTD9hudXqEfOVJ7eDWv3enfoKyzX9YlPAUoh5f_I3QTRFmElS7m4
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, set to run February 4 through February 14, 2010, is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching local culture and raising consciousness of film as an art form. SBIFF presents quality American and world independent films, Latin American and Asian sidebars as well as documentary cinema within the beautiful setting of downtown Santa Barbara, a premier tourist destination. The SBIFF is also committed to education through its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Field Trip to the Movies, and educational seminars. With a projected audience of over 70,000 viewing more than 200 films over its eleven-day run, the SBIFF attracts an affluent local and national consumer base, while maintaining strong ties with the entertainment industry in nearby Los Angeles. For more information, please visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102879184078&s=278&e=001-7SmKgR1sS3GyXMmglEGCfhi-zHFreAmLW2iCL59xNusjH3kYhg-dwXIBvgQdQIk0W5hdfgicdRi8DRtJ3CEDY18j0MDU2dxgWL9PgFgnD_7SuNE5c_pug==.
