Category: News

New Jersey is going a shade greener, this time with an all green port. A new container port is being built in Bayonne, New Jersey. Being constructed together by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the port will consume energy equivalent to that used to power up 2,000 homes! But fear not! Put your skin back on, the wind will do the work of powering up this port, without exhausting the grid. The port is currently being chiseled out, and the wind turbines will follow suit. Five 288 foot tall turbines will be built on a 70 acre area just east of the Global Terminal. The port will play host to huge cargo ships increasing the cargo intake above its current 323,000 containers annually. After all, there isn’t a better way to power up a port than the wind itself, earlier responsible for powering up old sail-boats too.
Source

If you use Ubuntu (or other Linux distribution) and you wish to download some video from youtube.com into .flv file you can try using youtube-dl command line utility. It just downloads videos without any online applications, converters or etc. Type the following command in terminal to get it installed:

sudo apt-get install youtube-dl
Let’s imagine you would like to download the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2leg8mUE9rs (this is part of Military Parade at Red Square in Russia at 9th of May 2010). Just run youtube-dl download utility as follows:

youtube-dl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2leg8mUE9rs

and in a few minutes you will get 2leg8mUE9rs.flv file that could be viewed using almost any video player like my favorite one VLC.

Researchers at Rice University have developed a diagnostic tool to detect heart attacks using a person’s saliva. The technology is being tested at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston. John T. McDevitt, PhD, professor of chemistry and bioengineering at Rice, and his team at Rice’s BioScience Research Collaborative, developed a microchip sensor called the Nano-Bio-Chip that analyzes saliva and looks for cardiac biomarkers of injury implicated in the heart attack. “We find salivary tests, when combined with electrocardiograms (ECG), can provide more accurate information than the ECG alone for patients with chest pain,” McDevitt explains.

Typically, when a heart attack occurs, emergency medical technicians or hospital staff use an ECG machine to review heart activity. If the ECG is abnormal, the patient is immediately moved to an area to be treated. Unfortunately, ECGs fail to correctly diagnose about one-third of patients having a heart attack. These patients are monitored carefully in the emergency room using additional blood tests to look for certain biomarkers to verify whether a heart attack has occurred. “We follow this same procedure but include the saliva test to determine whether salivary biomarkers will perform similar to blood markers in diagnosing a heart attack,” says Biykem Bozkurt, MD, professor of medicine at BCM and chief of cardiology at the MEDVAMC. “It is anticipated that saliva will be an alternative or complementary technique to blood drawing for early diagnosis of heart attacks — ultimately, for testing in the ambulance before arrival in the emergency room.”

To obtain a saliva sample for the Nano-Bio-Chip, health care providers swab a patient’s gums with a cotton-tipped stick. The saliva is transferred to the disposable diagnostic microchip, which is then inserted into an analyzer. Within a few minutes, the saliva sample is checked and results delivered. Manufactured with techniques pioneered by the microelectronics industry, the chips have the potential to analyze large amounts of biomarker data at significantly lower cost than traditional tests, McDevitt says.

Source:  EurekAlert!

Pennsylvania’s department of community and economic development (DCED) is partnering with the federal government to help commercialize emerging technologies and expand the commonwealth’s research opportunities, according to DCED Secretary George Cornelius. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Pennsylvania Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority inked the five-year Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) to increase the flow of ARS technologies to Pennsylvania’s small businesses, colleges and universities, and research institutions. The authority is one of nine economic development agencies nationwide chosen to partner with ARS as part of the agricultural technology innovation partnership program network.

The agreement is designed to enhance product development, commercialization, and economic development opportunities for Pennsylvania companies. It also will help Pennsylvania’s companies and researchers access ARS’ national network of research labs, and IP. “Up-and-coming technology companies, entrepreneurs, and researchers are critical to Pennsylvania’s future,” Cornelius says. “This agreement will expand Pennsylvania’s research and intellectual property base.”

Source:  PR Newswire

Who said beer drinking is bad for the environment? It might have been, but beer manufacturing is clearing up its act, and choosing to go green, to produce the world’s favorite alcoholic beverage. Well, Anheuser-Busch have decided to use solar energy help them aide beer manufacturing. The brewery at Newark, NJ brewery will generate about 525,000 kilowatt hours a year of solar power. The array will be set up on the roof of the brewery and will power up the machinery used to make that cool glass of golden frothing liquid. The system, designed and installed by Orion Energy Systems is just another green initiative taken by the company. Anheuser-Busch also uses wastewater-to-biogas recovery systems at 10 of its 12 U.S. breweries. Cheers to the green beer!
Source

(DISCLAIMER: This guest post comes courtesy of OilPrice.com. BusinessInsider has not independently verified any of the report)

In an exclusive for Oilprice.com, the Wayne Madsen Report (WMR) has learned from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sources that U.S. Navy submarines deployed to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast have detected what amounts to a frozen oil blob from the oil geyser at the destroyed Deep Horizon off-shore oil rig south of Louisiana.

The Navy submarines have trained video cameras on the moving blob, which remains frozen at depths of between 3,000 to 4,000 feet. Because the oil blob is heavier than water, it remains frozen at current depths.

FEMA and Corps of Engineers employees are upset that the White House and the Pentagon remain tight-lipped and in cover-up mode about the images of the massive and fast-moving frozen coagulated oil blob that is being imaged by Navy submarines that are tracking its movement. The sources point out that BP and the White House conspired to withhold videos from BP-contracted submersibles that showed the oil geyser that was spewing oil from the chasm underneath the datum of the Deep Horizon at rates far exceeding originally reported amounts. We have learned that it was largely WMR’s scoop on the existence of the BP videos that forced the company and its White House patrons to finally agree to the release of the video footage.

The White House is officially stating that it does not know where the officially reported 10 miles long by 3 miles wide “plume” is actually located or in what direction it is heading. However, WMR’s sources claim the White House is getting real-time reports from Navy submarines as to the blob’s location. We have learned that the blob is transiting the Florida Straits between Florida and Cuba, propelled by the Gulf’s Loop Current, and that parts of it that is encountering warmer waters are breaking off into smaller tar balls that are now washing ashore in the environmentally-sensitive Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas.

Corps of Engineers and FEMA officials are also livid about the cover-up of the extent of the oil damage being promulgated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its marine research vessel in the Gulf, RV Pelican. NOAA stands accused by the aforementioned agencies of acting as a virtual public relations arm for BP. NOAA is a component of the business-oriented Department of Commerce.

Similarly, the Coast Guard, which takes its orders from the cover-up operatives at the Homeland Security Department, is denying the tar balls washing up on the Florida Keys are from the oil mass. WMR has been told the Coast Guard is lying in order to protect the Obama administration, which has thoroughly failed in its response to the disaster. The White House’s only concern is trying to limit political damage to its image in the electorally-important state of Florida while the Pentagon has spent between $25 and $30 billion on oil spill operations in the Gulf and the Atlantic to date.
 
WMR sources also report that the oil mass has resulted in dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico that have cut off oxygen and killed massive numbers of marine creatures and plant life. Seafood wholesalers from the Gulf Coast to New Jersey and New York have been told that the supply of shrimp, oysters, and other seafood from the Gulf is severely in short supply and that they can expect a possible total cut-off as the situation worsens. The shortage will also affect the supply of seafood, especially shrimp, to national seafood restaurant chains like Red Lobster and Long John Silver’s.

There is also evidence that BP, Halliburton, and Transocean sank a drill to a depth of 35,000 feet at the Deep Horizon site some six months ago without the required permits from the federal government. WMR has learned from U.S. government sources that the drilling at 35,000 feet caused a major catastrophic event that required the firms’ oil rig personnel to quickly pull up the drill and close the drill hole.

However, the Deep Horizon re-sank the drill some six months after the unspecified “catastrophe,” resulting in another, more destructive chain of events following the explosion that destroyed the rig, killing eleven workers. When the Deep Horizon blew up, WMR has been told it also “blew down,” cracking the the sub-seabed pipe that may have been re-drilled to a depth of between 25,000 to 30,000 feet, again, without a government permit.

Government sources also report that BP is intent on recovering as much oil as possible from the undersea geyser rather than simply plugging and capping the well, which would then place it off-limits to further drilling. The Corps of Engineers reports that BP is playing a game with Obama, convincing him of the feasibility of “shooting junk” into the subterranean pipe, which would stop up the pipe with a manufactured chemical compound called “MUD.” However, WMR has been informed that BP actually intends to shoot cement into the pipe in an attempt to cap the well with the later intention of digging a trench for side drilling from the pipe to recover as much oil as possible. The technology that would be employed by BP is the same technology that was used by Kuwait to conduct slant drilling of Iraq’s Rumallah oil field — an event that helped trigger Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

Corps of Engineers and FEMA sources also give a failing grade to both Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who stands accused of being woefully incompetent in handling the disaster, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Government sources say both secretaries should immediately step down or be fired.

This is a guest post by The Wayne Madsen Report from Oilprice.com.

Join the conversation about this story »

Two timely distance learning events are on tap next month, addressing two key challenges for licensing, tech transfer, and IP marketing professionals.

On Tuesday, June 8th, join an outstanding panel of experts for Use Social Media to Effectively Market Your Innovations. They’ll reveal how they are successfully utilizing social media to garner attention for their technologies, create an active community surrounding their innovations, and bring more licensees in the door. The webinar will be chock full of best practices, online examples, and dozens of planning techniques and execution strategies that are guaranteed to successfully showcase your IP to a highly targeted audience. CLICK HERE for complete program and faculty details.

The following Tuesday, June 15th, The Perfect Elevator Pitch: Sell Your IP in 3 Minutes or Less! features veteran VC exec Eric Nicolaides, managing partner of Wildcat Venture Management. Nicolaids, who’s given and heard hundreds of elevator pitches, will share his know-how and provide a blueprint for grabbing your prospect’s attention and securing that all-important first meeting. CLICK HERE for full details.

Also coming soon:

• SPECIAL 6-PART SERIES! Start-Up Boot Camp for University TTO Professionals and Inventors — Every Thursday, June 3rd – July 8th
• Prevent Faculty Disputes from Turning Into a Declaration of War — Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A while back I asked for submissions from theme developers. I feel like we go back to the same developers in this feature. While that’s not a bad thing — we go back to them because they consistently create useful themes — I also like to vary the pool from which we choose. While there’s one mainstay featured in today’s post, we also have something from John Konduros, who emailed me regarding his Groovy theme. We’ll lead off with that one.

(more…)

The titans meet, and produce enough of green energy to power up 1,800 homes. If you’re wondering what we’re talking about, get a hold of this. The giant 2.5-megawatt dynamometer at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory supplied 12.6 million inch pounds of torque at Samsung’s 185,000-pound wind turbine drive train. When a giant meets a giant, the earth is bound to rumble and roar. And that’s exactly what happened at this largest full-scale dynamometer test of a wind turbine drive train ever done in the United States. The NREL 2.5-megawatt dynamometer is powerful enough to produce speeds up to 30 revolutions per minute. The test enabled the Samsung guys understand just how well their 250-foot-high “baby” would survive in harsh weather conditions for 25 years. One hell of a test, this one sure will help Samsung’s green dream fulfill.

Source

Materials: IKEA PS SPRAKA Spice Mill Black Qty 3

Description: Inspired by the modern design aesthetic of Marcel Wanders‘ New Antiques Collection and Front Design Group’s IKEA PS SVARVA Lamp, I realized that there is really Great design in Ikea’s latest Collection. So I decided to apply my own spin and create a coffee table.

1) Qty 3 Ikea PS Spraka Spice Mills in Black
2) One 33 inch round by 1 inch thick white laminate top
3) One 36 inch round Ogee edged glass top
4) 2 feet by 2 inch unfinished wood crown molding with a slight angle cut into 8 inch pieces (The angle helps to tilt the Spice Mills out just a bit to take the table from ordinary to inspired.)
5) Three 2 1/2 inch wood or mdf screws
6) Twelve 1 inch wood or mdf screws
7) Three clear silicone self-adhesive bumpers
8) 120 grit sand paper
9) Gorilla Glue
10) Permanent Black Marker

Process
1) Pre-drill one hole in each spice mill 1 1/2 inches from the bottom end of the mill. Drill at approximately 60 degree angle in order for the drill bit to exit near the center of the base. Touch up drill holes with the permanent marker. (You will have to allow for countersinking the screws)

2)Take the 3 – 8 inch pieces of crown molding and center them on the bottom of the Spice Mills, apply a little glue if you like. Then take 2 – 1 inch screws and attach the molding angle side down to the spice mills.

3) Measure and mark placement of each of the 3 Spice Mills on the underside of the white table top.

4) Now sand the laminate table where attaching the three 8 inch pieces of crown molding. Apply a line of glue to molding then place them unfinished side down and screw into place with 2 – 1 inch screws equally spaced. Then secure each leg with a 2 1/2 inch screw into the bottom of the laminate table.

5) Leave table upside down to allow for the glue to dry.

6) Invert newly constructed table, mark placement of the silicone bumpers and attach them.

7) Place the 36″ clear glass top inverted on the table.

~ john b

The University of Pittsburgh (PA) has signed a global licensing deal with Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of Madison, MS, covering a series of monoclonal antibodies for cancer. The antibody portfolio targets a variety of cancers through the cell surface chondrotin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), which plays an important role in signaling pathways regulating tumor cell survival, growth, and motility. Melanoma, triple negative breast cancer, head and neck cancer, leukemia, bone and joint cancer, and brain cancer are some indications present within the scope of the antibodies.

Research indicates the CSPG4 surface antigen is intensely expressed in multiple cancer types and affects downstream signaling. The antigen also is detected on tumor cells with stem cell-like phenotypes, indicating its role in cancer stem cell immunotherapy activity. Under terms of the agreement, Hawthorn will receive an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize the antibody portfolio. “The CSPG4 surface antigen represents a significantly untapped therapy approach which is intensely expressed in a variety of cancers and affects a whole host of downstream signaling activities,” says Rob Lewis, chief scientific officer at Hawthorn.

Source: News Blaze

A tiny silicon chip that works a bit like a nose may one day detect dangerous airborne chemicals and alert emergency responders through the cell phone network. If embedded in many cell phones, the new type of sensor could map the location and extent of hazards like gas leaks or the deliberate release of a toxin, according to Michael Sailor, PhD, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). “This technology could map a chemical accident as it unfolds,” he says. In collaboration with the San Diego start-up Rhevision, Inc., founded by Yu-Hwa Lo, PhD, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UCSD’s Jacobs School of Engineering, Sailor’s research group has completed the first phase of the sensor’s development and begun to work on a prototype that will link to a cell phone.

The sensor, a porous flake of silicon, changes color when it interacts with specific chemicals. By manipulating the shape of the pores, the researchers can tune individual spots on the silicon flake to respond to specific chemical traits. “It works a little like our nose,” Sailor explains. “We have a set of sensory cells that detect specific chemical properties. It’s the pattern of activation across the array of sensors that the brain recognizes as a particular smell. In the same way, the pattern of color changes across the surface of the chip will reveal the identity of the chemical.” The chips already can distinguish between methyl salicylate, a compound used to simulate the chemical warfare agent mustard gas, and toluene, a common additive in gasoline. Potentially, they could discriminate among hundreds of different compounds.

“The beauty of this technology is that the number of sensors contained in one of our arrays is determined by the pixel resolution of the cell phone camera,” Sailor says. “With the megapixel resolution found in cell phone cameras today, we can easily probe a million different spots on our silicon sensor simultaneously, so we don’t need to wire up a million individual sensors. We only need one. This greatly simplifies the manufacturing process because it allows us to piggyback on all the technology development that has gone into making cell phone cameras lighter, smaller, and cheaper.”

Source:  Science Daily

Un rumor que ya tiene algún tiempo, los 1.200 caballos prometidos para el Bugatti Veyron, podrían ser realidad si tomamos al pie de la letra a Ferdinand Piëch, presidente de Volkswagen. En una conferencia que dio en la universidad tecnológica de Viena, hizo mención a que era posible que pudiéramos ver un Veyron de 1.200 caballos. Como si fuera poco, leo un comentario en Autoblog que pudieran ser 1.250 caballos (un dato aportado de oídas, de cierto piloto de pruebas de Bugatti).

Un Bugatti de 1.200 HP no es nada descabellado, teniendo en cuenta que les mostramos hace tiempo un buen ejemplo con un modelo especial llamado Pegaso, preparado por el dueño ruso de un Veyron que no estaba muy conforme con los 1000 caballos.

Todo es una cuestión de orgullo de la legendaria marca italiana, lo cual no significa que semejante bestia no sea bienvenida (y de apresurar a los poderosos poseedores actuales de Veyron, que lo cambien por “el 1200″). Seguramente, desde el momento mismo en que el SSC Ultimate Aero hizo su aparición en ese reducidísimo círculo de los que se acercan a los 420 km/h, los de Bugatti sueñan con quitarse de encima esa espinita clavada en el talón: superar, si es posible al SSC Ultimate Aero y sus 410 km/h.

Vía | Motorline

By Joe Wilcox, Betanews

Today, Gartner released first quarter 2010 worldwide mobile phone sales data, and it’s the set that matters. Unlike IDC or manufacturers like Apple, Gartner tracks actual sales to users rather than shipments to carriers or retailers. Shipment data is less accurate, because of unsold inventory in the channel. Based on sales, Apple ranked No. 7 in worldwide mobile handset sales, just behind sagging Motorola. That’s for all phones, not just smartphones.

For smartphones, Android and iPhone OS made huge gains, with Gartner describing them as the “winners” for the quarter. Android rose from 575,300 unit sales to 5.2 million year over year, pushing Windows Mobile down into the fifth position. Because there already is a fair amount of misreporting, such as Apple pushing ahead of Motorola, I will continue the main portion of this post with some quick — and in some instances — corrective facts:

1. Nokia is not in rapid decline. While the manufacturer’s market share dipped 1.2 percent, to 35 percent, unit sales rose by 12.7 million to 110.1 million.

2. Apple did not outsell Motorola. But I’ve been reading this heresy for weeks based on unit shipments. Based on actual sales, Motorola is No. 6 worldwide.

3. Motorola is rapidly declining, however. Year over year, unit shipments plunged from 16.6 million to 9.6 million.

4. Research in Motion moved into the top five, at No. 4, for worldwide phone sales. That’s while competing against cheaper handsets from competitors like Nokia. While growing less than Apple, 45.9 percent year over year compared to 112.2 percent, RIM sales are much stronger.

5. White box competition is sucking sales from major manufacturers. Combined top-five share dropped from 73.3 percent to 70.7 percent year over year. White box manufacturers are mostly shipping from Asia, and some are mimicking handsets like iPhone, while offering more features, such as dual-SIM capabilities.

6. Like early early iPhones, Android-based phone sales are strong in North America — up 707 percent year over year.

7. Distribution mattered to Apple. “Growth came partly from new communication service providers in established markets, such as the UK, and stronger sales in new markets such as China and South Korea,” Carolina Milanesi, Gartner research vice president, said in a statement.

8. Only Android and iPhone OS made year-over-year market share gains among the top-five smartphone operating systems.

9. The quarter’s best performers controlled hardware, software and services — essentially an end-to-end stack, except for carriers. Apple, Nokia and RIM are end-to-end providers.

10. Windows Mobile market share declines are somewhat deceptive. While smartphone OS market share fell from 10.2 percent to 6.8 percent, unit sales were flat year over year. Windows Mobile is more standing still than moving backwards, as competitors race by.

Now for some additional data points and quotes from Gartner analysts. Mobile handset sales rose 17 percent year of year to 314.7 million. Smartphone sales rose 48.7 percent to 54.3 million. Smartphones accounted for 17.3 percent of all mobile phones sales in first quarter, up from 13.6 percent a year earlier.

“Increasing sales of white-box products in some emerging regions, in particular India, also drove sales of mobile phones upward. We expect sales of white-box products to remain very healthy for the remainder of 2010, especially outside of China,” Milanesi said in the statement.

What this means: India is one of Nokia’s strongest markets worldwide. Increasing white box popularity could drive down Nokia’s share in India. For all major manufacturers, there will be increasing pressure to stay ahead of white box phone makers and, related, those imitating big-five designs.

“To compete in such a crowded [smartphone] market, manufacturers need to tightly integrate hardware, user interface, and cloud and social networking services if their solutions are to appeal to users,” Roberta Cozza, Gartner principal research analyst said in a statement. “Just adding a qwerty keyboard will not make a device fit the communication’s habits of today’s various consumer segments.”

What this means: Apple, Nokia and RIM have potentially stronger positions, the latter two only if they pull together weak services strategies. Google needs to standardize all Android handsets on one OS version and set of supporting services; even then, Google doesn’t control enough of the stack.

Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010

Carrying a wind turbine around to power up your trips outdoors hasn’t really been a great option before. Well, things are changing, for the better. Here’s a green product that will make sure all your gadgets are powered on while you spend time out, away from home and grid connectivity. The device designed by Cheng Peng, this little look alike of a full scale wind turbine keeps you powered up outdoors. No longer do you need to fear running out of charge on your mobile phone, when you’re camping out there, far away from civilization. The device, known as With The Source, powers up gadgets by harvesting solar and wind energy. With The Source also incorporates a LED torch, just incase you need a bit of light out there. This thoughtful little device is sure to keep you powered on outdoors.
Source

Posted by John Byrne at 12:42 p.m.

Democratic Cook County Board President candidate Toni Preckwinkle said today that she won’t eliminate the rest of a controversial county sales tax increase until 2012 at the earliest.

That’s because budget experts told her next year’s shortfall could reach $500 million due to a poor economy, elimination of federal stimulus cash and the already-approved half-cent sales tax reduction.

 

"I see ahead a very, very difficult budget year," Preckwinkle, the city’s 4th Ward alderman, told reporters at a news conference with Mayor Richard Daley to discuss a trial health care program for city schools.

Preckwinkle, who won the Democratic primary over Board President Todd Stroger and two others in February, campaigned on a pledge to eventually get rid of the entire one-percentage-point sales tax increase. The total sales tax rate in Chicago is 10.25 percent, but that will drop to 9.75 percent on July 1 after commissioners voted to roll back part of the tax hike.

Preckwinkle said she would cut the rest of the sales tax increase over time as she found new sources of revenue and ways to reduce costs. She said one possible way to cut local tax costs is to secure more federal funding for the jail and health system.

The 2011 county budget year starts Dec. 1 — before Preckwinkle would take office if she is able to defeat Republican Roger Keats and Green Party candidate Tom Tresser in the Nov. 2 election. The winner is expected to have a hand in shaping the new budget, which does not have to be approved until after the start of the next president’s term.

Preckwinkle said today she will do away with the rest of the Stroger increase, but added that the sharper picture she now has of the county’s financial trouble will cause her to proceed with caution.

 

"Since (the) February 2nd (primary election), we’ve put a lot of energy into figuring out what we’re going to be heading into, and the short answer is, we’re heading into a buzz saw," Preckwinkle said. "So – given the loss of revenues in the way I’ve described… we’re just going to try to get a handle on things when we walk in the door, and look down the road for opportunities to make further cuts in the sales tax."

 

The earliest that could happen would be 2012, she said.

"I’m not sure (I’ll be able to repeal it in 2012)," Preckwinkle said. "I’m hopeful that the economy will pick up, and that a rising tide will lift all boats, and that the finances of local government and state government and national government will improve in part because the economy is improving. We’ll see what happens."

Preckwinkle also reacted to Tribune and Fox-32 reports that the Stroger administration recently awarded a series of census outreach contracts at just below the $25,000 threshold that would require approval from the county board. That’s "not the choice I would make in his place," Preckwinkle said.

Want to slam the Noise for his Clayton Kershaw(notes)
analysis or misguided projections? Humiliate him in 140 characters or
less on Twitter. And click
here to follow
Roto Arcade on Facebook.

Setting and following lofty expectations for previously
unseasoned commodities is typically a dangerous practice. Hype trains routinely
derail. Just ask the guy in your league still waiting for the Chris
Davis’(notes) 50-homer binge (The Noise reluctantly raises hand).

But the Dodgers’ John Ely(notes) is one such product worth licking
a poisonous frog to acquire.

In a city known for cultivating buzz, and
Rookie of the Year candidates, frenzied Dodger fans have again reached a
fevered pitch. Move over Fernando and Manny, Elymania has officially arrived in
Hollywood.

Acquired last December from the White Sox in the Juan Pierre(notes) deal, the unheralded prospect has
blown into Los Angeles
with the strength of the Santa Anas. Over 25.2 innings, he’s surrendered a
respectable 10 runs (3.51 ERA) with, get this, a 25:3 K:BB split. Amazingly, Ross Grimsley in 1971 is the only other pitcher since 1952 who has
pitched at least six innings without walking a batter three times in his first
four games.

Naturally, hyperbole has replaced smog over the LA skyline…

Exaggeration No. 1:
Ely was spawned from a chance encounter between Greg Maddux(notes) and Zeus.

For decades Maddux was Picasso with a glove. Despite a pedestrian
fastball, his ability to alter speeds, generate movement and paint corners made
him arguably the greatest pitcher of the 90s. Often it seemed he could hurl a
gerbil into an empty beer bottle from 60 feet away.

Though not nearly as talented, Ely evokes a similar style.
His mid-to-high 80s fastball is often deceptive, especially when combined with
offspeed junk. Many times this young season, he’s humiliated opponents mixing
fastballs with changeups – his best offering (highlights here).

On the farm,
the rookie’s command wasn’t nearly as sharp (4.02 BB/9). Still, many scouts
widely believed he would develop into a control freak. Most probably never figured it would come this quickly.

Exaggeration No. 2:
Not even "The Big One" could rattle Ely’s confidence.

Poised on the mound, the 24-year-old believes he can
dominate anyone. Despite being more of a finesse pitcher, he attacks hitters
aggressively, coaxing abundant weak contact (1.16 GB/FB). From ESPN Los Angeles:

"I’m just out here doing what I have always done,"
Ely said. "I just have complete confidence in what I bring to the table
and the fact that if I execute my pitches the way I want to, I feel like I have
the advantage. That is the way you have to feel every time out. If you doubt
yourself, you’re going to give up hits…"

"We knew what we were getting in Ely, but we never
expected to see him here this quickly," Dodgers general manager Ned
Colletti said. "He knows how to pitch. This is the way he has pitched his
whole life. From my first conversation with him the night we acquired him [on
Dec. 17], you could tell there was a specialness about him."

As a result of his blue collar approach and intense
attitude, Ely simply wins, which he’s done often since his high school days in
suburban Chicago.
Double-digit Ws at the big league level could become routine. 

Exaggeration No. 3:
Ely is so fantastically attractive Alyssa Milano is contemplating divorce.

The smokin’ Dodgers fanatic may not be the only one. Mixed
leaguers who’ve suffered through horrific starts by Josh Beckett(notes), Javier
Vazquez(notes) and Jake Peavy(notes) have understandably sought legal counsel. Because of his
plentiful offensive support, division and pitcher friendly surroundings, there’s
plenty to like. After another mesmerizing start or two, Wooderson wigs (Sans
‘stache, Ely bears a remarkable resemblance) might soon replace Manny dreads in
leftfield. "All right" feelings will surely follow.

However, in this day and age of advanced scouting, opponents
can masterfully outmaneuver even the super, let alone the marginally, talented.
As with any inexperienced player, it’s important to keep in mind turbulence should be expected. But if he continues to exhibit Nolasco-esque accuracy,
banner back of the rotation numbers could be achieved in 12-team mixed leagues.
Right now, he’s slightly more rosterable than fellow NL rookie Mike Leake(notes).

Buying into hype can often lead owners down Disappointment Street.
But Ely’s strong peripherals, above average pedigree and ideal pitching
environment make the eight-percent owned starter well worth the risk.

Fearless Forecast
(rest of season): 131 IP, 7 W, 3.58 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 116 K

—

Discount Den
Quality commodity owned
in fewer than 20 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Corey Patterson(notes), Bal,
OF (one-percent owned): It seems laughable writing anything positive about Peppermint Patterson. After all, the only accolade he’s recently earned was an All-Handsome Man nomination in 2006. But Seattle’s discarded trash – Patterson failed
to make the team this spring – is treasure for the flightless Orioles.
Baltimore’s latest leadoff man has scorched since his promotion on May 12
going 8-for-26 with two homers, two RBI, eight runs and two steals. Despite a
woeful .291 OBP, Patterson, at 30, still boasts NASCAR wheels. In his last
season with the O’s in ’07, he swiped 37 bags. Owners with a need for speed
should invest, but keep in mind a BA freefall is likely.

Ooh Stream Weaver…
Widely available plug
n’ play starter heading into the weekend.

Jason Vargas(notes), Sea
(5/20 vs. Tor, 21-percent owned): Quietly the Seattle southpaw has amassed sensational
numbers. In seven starts, he’s accumulated a 2.93 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with three
wins. An increased reliance on changeups has led to a spike in K/9 and
groundball percentage. However, his 13.2 line-drive rate and .231 BABIP suggest
an ERA correction will be coming soon. However, don’t expect a regression against the
free-swinging Jays. Collectively, the Canadian Birds are batting .244. Vargas’
stellar stretch of quality starts at Safeco (2.00 ERA, .163 BAA) should
continue.

Middle Relief Magic
ERA/WHIP savior,
potential saves/wins vulture.

Clay Hensley(notes), Fla (three-percent
owned): Playing in front of mosquito hoards instead of fans, the converted starter
has pitched brilliantly in middle relief. Over 21.2 IP, he’s notched an
uncharacteristic 12.05 K/9 (career 6.12). Looking under the hood, his heavy
change/curve use is responsible for the strikeouts jump. Hitters have nibbled
at his offspeed offerings, especially outside, with minimal success. Because
he misses bats and induces numerous groundball outs, spotless performances
could easily continue. He’s the super absorbent Band-Aid to apply to a bleeding staff.  

—

Images courtesy of US Presswire/MLB.com

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has filed a lawsuit against SmartBuy and a group of related companies that allegedly “scammed members of the military” by selling them electronics and other products at markups of up to 325% of the original retail prices, and then “financed the sales” illegally through undisclosed credit lines linked to the soldiers’ bank accounts. According to the AG, the company aggressively targeted members of the military, and “salespeople were trained to specifically seek out people in uniform and people with military-style haircuts.”

“SmartBuy is part of a national network of companies and individuals that seek to profit by defrauding members of the military,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “Our lawsuit not only seeks to bar them from ever doing business again in the state, but also to vindicate the countless soldiers who were preyed upon and defrauded by SmartBuy and its affiliated companies.”

Cuomo’s investigation found that SmartBuy peddled products that were marked up 225 to 325 percent above the original retail price and financed the sales illegally. The sales were made only to members of the military through monthly direct withdrawals from payroll, known as “allotments,” and backed up with agreements giving the company access to the soldiers’ bank accounts. The soldiers were rarely told the final price of the product up front, nor was it explained that they were really opening a line of credit. If a soldier defaulted, SmartBuy and its affiliates illegally contacted the soldiers’ commanding officers. The tactic put service members in an untenable situation because Army regulations forbid soldiers from putting themselves in a financially precarious situation.

Examples cited by the AG’s office included a soldier getting ready to go to Afghanistan who was “told he could get a ‘really good deal’ by ‘bundling’ a purchase including a laptop, iPod, camcorder, and PSP for a monthly $90 direct withdrawal (allotment) from his paycheck. In reality, the final price SmartBuy charged was at least double the normal retail price for the items. Two days later, he attempted to return the unopened items, but he was told by the manager he could not return them without paying a $400 restocking fee in cash.”

The companies named in the lawsuit are Frisco Marketing of N.Y., LLC, doing business as SmartBuy and SmartBuy Computers and Electronics; Integrity Financial of North Carolina, Inc.; Britlee, Inc., doing business as MilitaryZone; GJS Management, Inc. and Rome Finance Company, Inc. and Rome Finance Co. LLC, all owned and/or operated by Fayetteville, N.C.-based John Paul Jordan, Stuart Jordan, and Rebecca Wirt, and Concord, California-based William Collins and Ronald Wilson.

Attorney General Cuomo Sues Nationwide Network That Scammed Members Of The Military [Press Release]

Scientists for years have warned about the irreversible damage to Appalachian ecosystems caused by mountaintop removal coal mining (which makes sense, considering that the nation’s oldest mountains can’t grow back once they’ve been topped). But don’t tell that to the coal industry.

At a West Virginia hearing yesterday on the EPA’s controversial proposal to veto the permit for the largest mountaintop removal mine in the state’s history, hundreds of industry supporters — including Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) — blasted the agency for threatening jobs in the region. They’re claiming that the proposal to veto Arch Coal’s Spruce Mine puts politics above science — an ironic argument considering that there are clear signs that evidence-based decision-making is returning to the EPA after eight years in the wilderness of the Bush administration.

The Charleston Gazette’s Ken Ward Jr. reports:

Supporters of the permit complained that EPA was wrong to step in after a mining permit was already issued, and that such an unusual step means no permit ever issued is safe from being later rescinded.

“EPA wants to take the permit away for what seem like political reasons, not scientific reasons,” said John McDaniel, a top Arch Coal engineer who worked on the Spruce Mine permit for more than a decade.

Rahall weighed in at the gathering as well. “Pursuing this course will have a chilling effect on the coal industry in West Virginia and the Appalachian region,” Rahall said, according to Ward.

“It sends a message to investors that no permit is ever assured and that money they might be willing to put into similar coal mining operations and coal jobs is nothing more than a high-risk bet,” Rahall said.

Spike Maynard, a former state Supreme Court Justice (and close friend of the industry) who’s challenging Rahall in November, was also on hand to rip the EPA’s veto proposal.

“The EPA has changed the rules mid-stream on our miners, and I don’t see how anyone could think that is fair.”

Funny that there were no similar complaints from industry supporters when the Bush White House changed the rules mid-stream on coal miners (see here and here).

Of course, those changes made it easier to blow up the mountains.