Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[SeattleLionsFan]

I agree, we should definitely follow the Israeli's lead on fighting terrorism. They've got the problem licked now!

[lineygoblue]

For the record, El Al, the Israeli airline, is one of the safest (no hijackings, terror attacks) in the world. They must be doing something right.

[Tony G]

By that same standard Delta is tied with them. El Al's last high jacking was what? Entebbe in '76? I think Delta has a clearer record than that.

Editedto add: FTR it was an Air France flight.

[Optimus Prime]

For the record, El Al, the Israeli airline, is one of the safest (no hijackings, terror attacks) in the world. They must be doing something right.

Yes, Israel is nation of 8 million, very small nation with only a few airports.

There are more US flights in a single day than the entire year for El Al, it's much easier to protect.

[lineygoblue]

All true, but Israel is recognized world wide for how they handle airport security. In spite of being surrounded by enemies, and even having enemies living within their borders, they run a very secure airline system.

Israel hasn't "won" the war on terror, but in many ways, they've pointed out the path that is needed to get the win.

[Optimus Prime]

Sure Liney, but the scale.

There are 15 000+ airports in the US.

As for Israel, there are 2 International and 8 municipal airports.

[hack]

Truly true. If every passenger entering an airport got the inspection/interrogation that people do entering Ben Gurion, air travel in the U.S. would hardly be viable.

Nor should that be necessary. Israel is surrounded by enemies and shitting on them at an alarming rate. No matter your side of that debate, you can understand why both sides are at each other's throats.

[Tony G]

All true, but Israel is recognized world wide for how they handle airport security. In spite of being surrounded by enemies, and even having enemies living within their borders, they run a very secure airline system.

Israel hasn't "won" the war on terror, but in many ways, they've pointed out the path that is needed to get the win.

I've read quite a few articles about Tel Aviv having a huge party atmosphere based on a "who knows if we'll be alive tomorrow" attitude.

[Tony G]

Speaking of OSHA, Michigan has had 12 worker deaths this year. Here are the summaries

Employee was run over by a tractor while trying to remove a railroad timber using a tractor loader with a front bucket.

Employee was operating a crane and was crushed by beams that fell out of the sling being carried by the crane.

Employee fell approximately 19’ from a high-pitch residential roof while installing shingles.

Employee was working in a 12’ deep excavation to repair a leaking water main when a section of the side collapsed, completely burying him. Coworkers uncovered him and he was taken to medical facilities, where he later expired.

Employee dropped off last fare and stepped out of bus. Bus began to roll. She attempted to re-enter the bus and was run over by the rear tires.

Employee was installing insulation material on a low-pitch roof for a new commercial building. He was working between the warning line system and the edge of the roof when he fell 25 feet to the ground.

Employee was struck in the eye by nail from pneumatic nail gun while rough framing a house. Nail entered through eye socket into the brain.

Employee fell 22 feet through a deteriorated roof while in the process of replacing the metal decking.

Employee was welding a piece of equipment over a pulper and fell into the pulper. The pulper is an open top vat with a spinning rotor blade at the bottom.

Employee fell 35 feet when a gust of wind pushed the employee and a window he was installing off the platform of a forklift.

Employee had a mold hooked on a crane when the bolt gave way causing the mold to fall, bounce and hit another mold. The employee was between the two molds and struck.

The co-owner was trying to re-stake a large spruce tree that had fallen over. He used the bucket on his skidster to help. He was standing on the ground beside his cab at the time of the accident. He apparently leaned into the cab and accidently activated the bucket controls. His head was crushed between the bucket lifting arms and the cab.

[Ghengis Jon]

DAMN !!!

From the Freep:

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon quickly said today he won?t be running for the open U.S. Senate seat next year.

At a chamber of commerce event in Livonia with Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis. Brandon was asked directly about whether he will run for the Senate or any other political office.
?No,? he said. ?I?m thinking about beating Michigan State.?
Hollis responded by jabbing that Brandon would have a better chance running for Senate. There?s an open Senate seat with Carl Levin retiring.

When asked in more depth later, Brandon didn?t address it further.


Maybe someone should point out that he could legislate that ALL bottled water in the state of Michigan have a $6 price tag or institute a PSL for every chair, seat or bench in the state or ban bags and purses at every public event or not allow food into any facility where people gather or...

[entropy]

by Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY Sports

Published: 04/28/2013 07:48pm

Saturation TV coverage – as seen with the Olympics and NCAA men's basketball tournament – can greatly raise the visibility of big events.

So here's the question: Can TV lead to everybody eventually filling out office brackets for the NCAA baseball tournament?

ESPN, in a plan that will be formally announced today, is trying to make that happen with its College World Series coverage. Consider that during first-round coverage starting May 31, ESPN will carry every game from all 16 game sites – up from games at six sites last year, four in 2011 and just two in previous years.

Meaning, ESPN is going all-in on college baseball tournament tonnage. Its coverage of the first round – the Regionals – could include as many as 112 games over four days.

Last year, ESPN's game plan was only meant to cover as many as 83 games in the entire tournament, which uses a double-elimination format. This year, depending on play, ESPN could end up with 153 games – meaning every game in the tournament.

Why bother? Partly, the idea is to create a version of a whip-around channel, such as the NFL Network's RedZone channel for Sunday NFL action and ESPN's Goal Line channel for Saturday college football and Buzzer Beater channel for college basketball, which is offered on busy weekends and weeknights.

The idea behind those channels: Swing viewers among games where scoring – or something big – seems imminent. For the college baseball tournament, ESPN will debut a Bases Loaded channel, not just for when the bases are loaded but signaling any situation where action is bound to be exciting: a possible no-hitter, a player going for the cycle, an umpire's call leading to a manager going beserk.

But to be able to swing among games, obviously, they have to be covered.

"Viewers love the format of RedZone, Goal Line and Buzzer Beater," says ESPN senior coordinating producer Mike Moore. "If you don't have a particular rooting interest, it's a great way to watch sports. The TV crew becomes your remote for you." (Memo to NBC: You really need a RedZone-like channel to swing viewers among the many simultaneous live events in Olympic action.)

And in a good example of how digital platforms can be integrated with TV channels, ESPN will put most of its expanded CWS coverage on its ESPN3 digital channel, which ESPN says is in about 85 million households. The new Bases Loaded channel will air continuously on ESPN3 – for about 37 hours during the four-day first round – and will show up often on ESPN channels as handy filler during rainouts or between games. ESPN lead CWS analyst Kyle Peterson will be the host of the whip-around show before joining analysts such as Nomar Garciaparra on game action in later rounds.

CWS games already have a toehold on viewers nationally. ESPN's 11 CWS games last year averaged 1% of cable/satellite TV households and ESPN2's four games averaged 0.8%. But even if the expanded coverage doesn't build overall interest, suggests ESPN's Moore, it still serves a function during down time among TV games: "Instead of having a couple guys sitting in a studio talking, we can show games."

[entropy]

KU reviewing report that McLemore's AAU coach accepted cash payments


May 4

By RUSTIN DODD

The Kansas City Star


Kansas officials confirmed Saturday that they were reviewing a report that Ben McLemore?s former AAU coach accepted cash payments from a middleman who was attempting to attract the KU freshman on behalf of sports agents and financial advisers in Los Angeles.

Rich SuggKansas freshman Ben McLemore is expected to be a top-five pick in the NBA Draft on June 27.

The payments, which were detailed in a report by USA Today, were made from Rodney Blackstock, the founder of a sports mentoring organization based in Greensboro, N.C., to Darius Cobb, the St. Louis-based AAU coach who served as a coach and mentor to McLemore during his childhood in St. Louis.

Cobb told USA Today that he accepted two payments of $5,000 each and twice traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Blackstock, sports agents and financial advisers who wanted to represent McLemore in the NBA. On the second trip, which came at the end of January, Cobb was reportedly accompanied by Richard Boyd, a cousin of McLemore's who lives in the St. Louis area. Boyd has denied taking the trip.

The cash and trips could have potentially put McLemore?s eligibility and amateur status in question, because of NCAA rules that prohibit sports agents from providing gifts or money to family members, friends and coaches.

"Late this afternoon we received an inquiry regarding the relationship between the family of Ben McLemore and a third party, Rodney Blackstock,? KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger said in a news release. ?This was the first time this inquiry had been presented to us.

?In accordance with the conditions and obligations of its membership in the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference, the University of Kansas will review the information and process it with both of those entities if necessary. We are not in a position to comment further at this time."

Cobb did not respond to calls and texts from The Kansas City Star. Attempts to reach Boyd were unsuccessful.

The relationship between Cobb and Blackstock, who founded Hooplife Academy, a nonprofit organization in Greensboro, appeared to build as McLemore played his freshman season at Kansas. On the court, McLemore transformed into one of the top players in the country after overcoming a tragic childhood backstory of poverty in the crime-ridden St. Louis neighborhood of Wellston.

He helped the Jayhawks to a 31-6 record, their ninth straight Big 12 title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament?s Sweet 16. McLemore declared for the NBA Draft in April and is a potential top-five pick.

Cobb told USA Today that McLemore did not know about the payments he had accepted from Blackstock.

However, if Cobb and Boyd received ?transportation or other benefits? from Blackstock, those benefits would have been in breach of NCAA Bylaw 12.3.1.3.

The bylaw states that ?an individual shall be ineligible ? if he or she (or his or her relatives or friends) accepts transportation or other benefits from:

(a) Any person who represents any individual in the marketing of his or her athletics ability. The receipt of such expenses constitutes compensation based on athletics skill and is an extra benefit not available to the student body in general; or

(b) An agent, even if the agent has indicated that he or she has no interest in representing the student-athlete in the marketing of his or her athletics ability or reputation and does not represent individuals in the student-athlete?s sport.?

According to documents obtained by USA Today, Blackstock also attended three KU games this season, gaining free admission as a guest of McLemore?s. Cobb said he also paid a bill for McLemore?s birthday party, which included family members, at Wayne & Larry?s, a restaurant in Lawrence. According to Cobb, the bill was between ?$400 or $500? and Blackstock also assisted in ordering a ?custom? cake for McLemore?s party, which came a day before McLemore scored 30 points in a victory over K-State.

Earlier this year, Cobb told The Star that he regularly organized KU watch parties for McLemore's family at a St. Louis sports bar. Cobb also regularly attended KU home games.

The NCAA has ruled on similar cases on a case-by-case basis. But if McLemore?s amateur status was in question, KU could risk forfeiting games in which he participated.

Cobb told USA Today he was telling his side of the story because he wanted to expose people who use money to court individuals and their families while they still have their amateur status.

"I don't want to hurt the family, I want to protect the family," Cobb said. "If there had to be a bad guy, if there had to be a fall guy, let it be me, as opposed to ruining a great kid who has busted his butt to get where he is.?










Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/04...#storylink=cpy

[entropy]

http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/p/41582664/Transformers-tank-packing-serious-heat.aspx

transformers farks..

[*JD*]

Nike shows Adidas that they are still the champs for ugliest jersey designs:

[Jeff Buchanan]

These guys look like 8 year olds in pajamas. Got to wonder if they know stupid they look.

Nike is king ...... Of ugly.