The distance between Asuncion, Paraguay and Fort Reliance, Nt, Canada is approximately 10,020 km or 6,227 mi.
To reach Asuncion in this distance one would set out from Fort Reliance, Nt bearing 132.1° or SE and follow the great circles arc to approach Asuncion bearing 148.6° or SSE .
Asuncion has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) whereas Fort Reliance, Nt has a boreal subarctic climate with no dry season (Dfc).
Asuncion is in or near the subtropical moist forest biome whereas Fort Reliance, Nt is in or near the boreal moist forest biome.
The annual average temperature is 29.5 °C (53.1°F) warmer.
Total annual precipitation averages 1060.2 mm (41.7 in) more which is equivalent to 1060.2 l/m² (26.02 US gal/ft²) or 10,602,000 l/ha (1,133,424 US gal/ac) more. About 4 8/9 as much.
The altitude of the sun at midday is overall 24.5° higher in Asuncion than in Fort Reliance, Nt.
The table shows values for Asuncion relative to Fort Reliance, Nt. You can also view this comparison the other way around from the perspective of Fort Reliance, Nt vs Asuncion.


Cryptocurrency trading pairs – Cryptocurrency may be the entry point into the world of trading for many enterprising newcomers. This is by no means a bad thing, but it does raise two obstacles. The first is that they have to get to grips with the world of cryptocurrency. The second is that they have to get to grips with the art of trading.
Because we believe that cryptocurrency is going to change the world, and when it comes to the exchanges, many of the most important concepts carry straight over from conventional stock or forex investment communities. 'Cryptocurrency trading pairs' is just one example.
Pairs trading is what happens when you take a 'long' position in one stock – and a 'short' position in another. These stocks can be positively correlated and moving in broadly the same direction, which can mean investing in relatively similar companies: going long on Coke (KO) and going short on Pepsi (PEP); going short on Ford (F), go long on General Motors (GM), or vice versa. However, trading pairs can also be negatively or non-correlated – it really depends on the assets you are interested in.
You may have come across the terms 'bull', 'bear' and 'whale' - but what do they mean in the world of trading?


Lives Changed and We're Breaking Attendance & Giving Records!
This Sunday is our church's 3rd birthday as Church of the Highlands. Isn't it amazing to see what God has done and is doing at our church? Last night, a teenager in our student ministry told me he has been inviting one of his friends to church for several years, and she finally came last night, and she received Christ! This is what it is all about.
This past Sunday, we had our best offering we've ever had for a non-emphasis Sunday. Our attendance was the highest it has been in the last six months. I had lunch with a man yesterday who told me his family is joining this Sunday.
We have a lot of momentum right now, and I am so grateful. This Sunday we will continue to build on that momentum as we celebrate the church's third birthday, continue our "40 Days of Family" series, and I will make an historical announcement for the life of our church.


The government raked in over over £11bn Stamp Duty in 2016 as receipts of the tax hit record highs.
Latest figures from HM Revenue and Customs showed the government received £11.7bn last year in Stamp Duty, up from £10.7bn in 2015 and £9.6bn 10 years ago.
The increase is being attributed to the Stamp Duty surcharge on buy to let properties and second homes introduced in 2016 and the reform which came into effect in 2014 that saw properties at the higher end of the market charged more.
HMRC said receipts for April 2016 to March 2017 were 10.5% higher than last year with the largest increase in April receipts.
Earlier this month Landbay CEO and founder John Goodall said that one year on, it was unclear whether hiking Stamp Duty had had the desired effect.
Jane Simpson (pictured), managing director at TBMC said: "It is no surprise that Stamp Duty receipts have reached such high levels, given the 3% increase to the amount paid by landlords on buy-to-let properties.
"Although the increased surcharge may have deterred some landlords from expanding their portfolios, there is still appetite among many professionals to grow their rental property businesses.
Shaun Church, director at Private Finance, said: "The top end of the housing market has certainly borne the brunt of successive Stamp Duty reforms in 2014 and 2016, with last year's surcharge for landlords and second homebuyers instrumental in rising tax receipts. Despite having populist appeal by boosting government revenues and helping buyers lower down the property ladder, this unfortunately doesn't mean we've ended up with a better balanced market as a result.
"A healthy housing market needs a consistent flow of transactions, from top to bottom, without the need for artificial barriers or incentives to correct underlying flaws. The one silver lining at the top of the market is that slower house price growth has cancelled out some of the extra stamp duty costs for buyers of high-value properties.
"But there is no doubt that further, bolder reform is needed before the Stamp Duty system in England and Wales works effectively for all buyers and sellers of property," he added.
Mark Harris, chief executive of SPF Private Clients, said: "Tax receipts from Stamp Duty have risen despite the falling number of property sales. This reflects the two big changes to stamp duty in recent years (firstly away from the slab system and secondly the additional SDLT for additional properties).
"Higher receipts, combined with the political agenda, make reform unlikely in the short term.
Kensington Mortgages has slashed rates across 70% of its residential mortgages, with cuts of up to 0.75%.


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Ducks NCAA prospects update
By Kevin Forbes
Through the tireless efforts of longtime Assistant GM David McNab, the Anaheim Ducks have made a habit of unearthing gems in the NCAA ranks like Dustin Penner, Andy MacDonald and Chris Kunitz and turning them into NHL players. Although these players were signed as undrafted free agents, the Ducks have also looked to the college ranks during the entry draft as well. With five NCAA players selected in the last five years, along with four additional college-bound players, the Ducks currently have three players in the college ranks, after starting the season with four at that level.
Matt Christie, LW, Miami (Ohio)
Drafted 236th overall (8th round) in the 2004 Entry Draft
One would expect a senior like Matt Christie to be one of the scoring leaders for the RedHawks, one of the top teams in the CCHA, but that simply isn't the case. Christie finds himself eighth in team scoring with five goals and 17 points in 25 games played. Some might view these numbers (as well as last season's seven goals and 24 points in 39 games) as a bit of a regression. During his first two seasons with Miami, he scored 35 and 36 points respectively, leading the team in scoring in his sophomore year. But his drop in production isn't a sign of his play.
Christie is Miami's top defensive forward and one of the best in the CCHA. He excels on penalty killing and is often the first man back to cover for defensemen jumping into the play. A quiet leader for the RedHawks, Christie may not always be noticeable, but that's more of an indication of how well he fills his role.
He missed five games at the beginning of the year after breaking his hand in the season opener.
Kyle Klubertanz, D, Wisconsin
Drafted 74th overall (3rd round) in the 2004 Entry Draft
In his junior year with the Wisconsin Badgers, Kyle Klubertanz is going through a season rife with adversity. Coming off a national championship, the Badgers are sixth in the WCHA with a record of 11-13-2. Klubertanz himself was expected to replace star defenseman Tom Gilbert (EDM), who graduated. Unfortunately, he has not been able to meet those expectations, nor has he been able to duplicate his own results from last year. In 23 games so far, Klubertanz has just six points, all of them assists, after garnering four goals and 21 points in 43 games last season.
Klubertanz was hampered by a leg injury earlier in the season, and also had some off-ice issues that may have affected his play, but by and large, both he and the Badgers have been unable to consistently produce any sort of offense. Their power play, which Klubertanz was expected to quarterback, is currently tied for 37th in the NCAA. Klubertanz recorded a three-assist game earlier in January, which prompted some to hope this was an indication of him turning his season around, but unfortunately hasn't recorded a point in the past four games. He has all the skills to be a top offensive defenseman, but he just has not been able to get it done this season.
Mark Mitera, D, Michigan
Drafted 19th overall (1st round) in the 2006 Entry Draft
Entering the 2006-07 season, a lot was expected out of Mark Mitera. He was returning to a loaded Michigan Wolverine blue line featuring players such as Jack Johnson (LA), Chris Summers (PHX) and Matt Hunwick (BOS). However, he hasn't exactly lived up to those expectations to date. His one goal and 13 points in 28 games are an improvement over last season's 10 assists in 39 games, but his defensive game hasn't come as advertised.
Although third in the CCHA with a record of 19-9-0, the Wolverines have allowed 89 goals against this year, fourth most in the league. Mitera in particular has been inconsistent in his own end and tentative in his play. Although he's played with more confidence lately, his problems earlier in the season no doubt had a lot to do with his exclusion from the American World Junior squad. He still needs to refocus his attention in his own zone, but all the reasons why the Ducks drafted him in the first round — physical play, hard work and decision making — are still there.
Jason Bailey, RW, Ottawa 67's (OHL), formerly Michigan
Drafted 63rd overall (3rd round) in the 2005 Entry Draft
Jason Bailey started his season with the Michigan Wolverines, skating in 19 games without a point and a -11 to go along with 28 penalty minutes. He then left the team to join the Ottawa 67's in the Ontario Hockey League, where he's had a bit more success. In 15 games with Ottawa, Bailey has scored six goals and has 11 points, with a -2 and 29 penalty minutes.
Bailey's reasons for leaving were due to his dissatisfaction with his role with the Wolverines. Unable to crack the top two lines in Michigan, Bailey was relegated to a checking line role, where he filled his role well, but felt he was being misused. He was originally scheduled to play on a scoring line, but could not find chemistry with any of the Wolverines top forwards during the preseason and dropped in the lineup chart. Bailey has been used in a larger role with Ottawa, and two of his goals have come on the power play.
D.J. Powers contributed to this article. Copyright 2007 Hockey's Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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However, on classical concrete or asphalt surface, it is possible to apply the COURTSOL STANDING system on urban cycling or jogging tracks for a higher quality finish.


We conduct this special programme exclusively for research/PhD students. PhD students proposing to conduct or currently conducting relevant research in food science including processing, technology, legislation and characterisation are eligible to participate in the programme. The unique aspect of the programme is that it encourages interdisciplinary research, thus encouraging revolutionary and innovative findings.
F1rst received 28 applications for the Group 1 Best Final PhD Thesis award, with 25 theses submitted. We are pleased to inform you that Prof. Usha Antony has nominated Dr. Mahesh Kumar, student of Dr. Rekha Ravindra Menon, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Bengaluru Campus) as this year's laureate.
The adjudicator commended Mahesh Kumar's research entitled 'Design and Development of Microcontroller based sub-baric thermal processor for manufacture of fried and soaked dairy products' as: "The presented work aligns with the objectives of the Processed Indian Traditional Foods PhD research programme and fulfills the selection criteria laid down earlier namely – design and development of a process modification for a traditional Indian sweet Gulab Jamun; demonstrated an improved process and product with health value, While addressing problems related to the traditional process; which also has potential for scale up in the industry. Further, it expands the scope for application of the technology to other Traditional Indian Foods".
As Best PhD Thesis winner, Mahesh Kumar, will be invited to the Award Ceremony to be held at 13h30 at the Vivanta by Taj-Dwarka in Delhi on March 8th, 2017, where he will give a short presentation of his thesis to the representatives of the sponsoring companies – Nestlé and TATA Trusts and receive his award from Prof. Usha Antony.
Five laureates who have won the Group 2 PhD Indian Foods Research bursaries of INR 50 000 intended for first year PhD students are: Ms. Chellam Murugendar (Avinashilingam Institute of Home Science and higher education for Women, Coimbatore), Mr. Gajanan Deshmukh (National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru), Ms. Manimegalai S (Periyar University, Salem), Ms. Shweta Madhukar Deotale (Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology, Thanjavur) and Ms. Uma Maheshwari S (The Home Science College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai). The Group 2 category attracted a total of 20 applications.
The 'Best PhD Thesis' and bursary awards gives the students an extra incentive and also increases the visibility of their research within the Indian food industry. F1rst is appreciative of the sponsors, Nestlé and TATA Trusts and would like to thank them on behalf of the researchers also.
We extend our thanks to all the applicants for their efforts and wish them the very best in their research and career endeavours.
The award ceremony for the 'Processed Indian Traditional Foods' PhD Research Promotion programme was successfully hosted by F1rst on 8th March, 2017 at the Vivanta-Taj, New Delhi. The ceremony was graced by the sponsors, Nestlé Research and TATA Trusts.
The ceremony started with an opening toast by Dr. Kaushik Shankar, Director-Research, F1rst on how the programme was started and the need for encouraging research and innovations in the arena of Indian traditional foods. He emphasised that active understanding of food market requirements, reaching out to the low hanging fruit, integrating health and wellness right at the concept stage are all necessary for sustaining growth for the Indian food industry.
Dr. Srinivasan Vedantham, Disease program lead – Diabetes from Medgenome presented a key note paper on Nutrigenomics and its implications to improve dietary habits and nutrition. Dr. Vedantham highlighted how the innovations and infrastructure in the genomics research can lead to a better understanding of food materials and the consequences on diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, which may be further utilised in designing food products and even personalised nutrition. While introducing the topic of genomics, Dr. Shankar mentioned that even the west is still only "thinking" about this but India will soon outpace other countries and regions in the demand for data leading to personalised nutrition solutions. Genomic data has to be interpreted in the context of eating occasions and habits to derive greater understanding; it is not ideal to fit genomic data into existing food habits, but rather to take into account the food consumption habits of the population at the experimental design stage itself.
Dr. Usha Antony, Professor from Anna University, Chennai and programme co-ordinator, then described how the programme was conducted, her experience in the evaluation of applications and the highlights of the work presented by the winning students. She commented that all the research applications were of high quality. Alongside, she also mentioned the areas of improvement for the PhD students including excellence in communication and technical writing skills to add value to and to present their research in the best manner possible.
Mrs. Dhanupriya Souresh Coumar, academic outreach manager from F1rst shared her experiences during the conduct of the first edition of this programme including the challenges faced and plans for improvement of the second edition by reaching out to rural universities and institutes and sensitizing the Masters and PhD students through seminars and lectures.
'Best PhD Thesis' winner, Dr. Mahesh Kumar G, student of Dr. Rekha Ravindra Menon, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Bengaluru Campus) presented his research findings on designing and developing a microcontroller based sub-baric thermal processor for manufacture of fried and soaked dairy products. The laureate was honoured by Dr. Usha Antony. First year PhD bursary winners, Mrs. Chellam Murugendar, Ms. Uma Maheshwari, Mr. Gajanan Deshkmukh received their awards from the dignitaries, Mr. Viral Brahmbhatt (Nestlé Research), Mr. Vivek Arora (TATA Trusts) and Badrinath Raghavendran (Director of F1rst) respectively.
All the award winners were congratulated for their initiatives and received best wishes for their research.


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Devils & Realist (jap. , Makai Ōji) ist eine Mangaserie von Autor Madoka Takadono und Zeichnerin Utako Yukihiro, die 2009 bis 2018 in Japan erschien. Sie ist in die Genres Comedy und Abenteuer einzuordnen und wurde 2013 als Anime-Fernsehserie umgesetzt.

Inhalt
Der junge Adelige William Twining geht auf das renommierte Internat von Stratfort und strebt eine Karriere als Jurist oder Politiker an. Doch im Urlaub erfährt der 17-jährige, dass seine Verwandtschaft das Vermögen der Familie aufgebraucht hat und nun auch er bankrott ist. Im verbliebenen Anwesen durchsucht William mit seinem treuen Butler Kevin die Räume, um etwas von Wert zu finden, das noch nicht verkauft worden ist.  Dabei stößt er auf einen verschlossenen Raum und als William ihn öffnet, beschwört er den Dämonenherzog Dantalion. Der fordert ihn auf, einen Interimsherrscher für die Hölle zu bestimmen, während dessen Herr Luzifer ruht. William sei der Nachfahre Salomons und daher der Auserwählte für diese Aufgabe. Doch der Adelige ist ein Mensch der Wissenschaft und glaubt nicht an Dämonen. Den Eindringling lässt er vor die Tür setzen.

Bald aber wird William in eine fremde Dämonenwelt gezogen. Weitere Dämonen buhlen um seine Gunst, damit er sie als Herrscher wählt. Und so muss William einsehen, dass es auf der Welt mehr gibt als in seinen Schulbüchern. Dantalion begleitet ihn sogar bis ans Internat, um den Jugendlichen zu überzeugen.

Veröffentlichungen

Manga
Die Serie erschien von 2009 bis 2018 im Magazin Gekkan Comic Zero Sum beim Verlag Ichijinsha. Dieser brachte die Kapitel auch in 15 Sammelbänden heraus. Zum Manga erschien 2013 auch ein Artbook, Makai Ōji: Devils and Realist Introduction Guide, sowie zwei Fanbooks unter den Titeln Utako Yukihiro's Artworks: Makai Ōji: Devils and Realist und Makai Ōji: Devils and Realist - Animation Fanbook.

Eine deutsche Übersetzung der Serie erscheint seit Mai 2020 bei Carlsen Manga. Ever Glory Publishing bringt eine chinesische Fassung heraus, Seven Seas Entertainment eine englische und Editions Tonkam eine französische. Auf Italienisch erscheint der Manga bei Goen, auf Polnisch bei Studio JG.

Anime
Das Studio Doga Kobo produzierte unter der Regie von Chiaki Kon eine Adaption der Mangaserie als Anime. Die Drehbücher schrieb Michiko Yokote, an den Episodendrehbüchern war auch Chiaki Kon beteiligt. Das Charakterdesign stammt von Kikuko Sadakata und die künstlerische Leitung lag bei Eiji Iwase. Die Tonregie führte Hajime Takakuwa.

Die Serie mit 12 Folgen wurde vom 7. Juli bis 22. September 2013 bei den Sendern TV Tokyo, AT-X, TV Aichi und TV Osaka gezeigt. Eine Englisch untertitelte Fassung wurde von den Plattformen Crunchyroll, Hidive und The Anime Network veröffentlicht.

Synchronisation

Musik
Die Musik der Serie wurde komponiert von Hiroshi Takaki. Das Vorspannlied ist Believe My Dice, der Abspann der Serie wurde mit dem Lied a shadow's love song unterlegt. Beide Lieder stammen von Takuya Eguchi, Takuma Terashima, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka und Tetsuya Kakihara.

Hörspiel
Zwei limitierte Ausgaben von Hörspielen erschienen zum Manga: 「realist and companion」 wurde auf dem 84. Comic Market angeboten und 「realist and steward」 wurde als Special beim Händler Animate angeboten.

Videospiel
Am 26. September 2013 erschien in Japan ein Videospiel zum Manga. Das von Namco Bandai Games entwickelte Spiel wurde für den Nintendo 3DS herausgebracht.

Musical
Im Juni 2016 wurde im Zenrōsai Hall Space Zero in Tokio ein Musical zum Manga aufgeführt. Eine Fortsetzung folgte im November 2017. Die Aufnahmen des Stücks wurden auch auf DVD vermarktet.

Weblinks
 Offizielle Website zum Anime (japanisch)
 Offizielle Website zum Anime von TV Tokyo (japanisch)
 Eintrag beim Incomplete Manga Guide
 Manga und Anime bei Anime News Network (englisch)

Einzelnachweise

Manga (Werk)
Anime-Fernsehserie
Fernsehserie der 2010er Jahre
Zeichentrickserie
Comedy-Fernsehserie
Abenteuer-Fernsehserie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Axios Generate
Ben Geman
Good morning and welcome back! Today's Smart Brevity count: 1,166 words, 4 min read.
And happy birthday (a day late) to Mark Knopfler, whose killer work with Dire Straits opens today's edition...
1 big thing: How renewables can boost Rust Belt health
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
A new peer-reviewed study finds substantial health benefits in Rust Belt states when utilities are required to supply escalating amounts of renewable power. The researchers modeled existing mandates and what happens if they're made more stringent.
Why it matters: The paper in Environmental Research Letters explores the regional effects of energy policies that reduce fine particulates — which cause cardiovascular ailments — in the air by displacing coal-fired power.
It arrives amid focus on state-level policy at a time when the Trump administration is rolling back Obama-era federal initiatives.
It also comes just weeks after Ohio's GOP Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation that weakens the state's renewables requirements.
What they did: MIT researchers compared costs and benefits of state policies called renewable portfolio standards (RPS) in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states — and the effects of making them tougher.
They modeled maintaining renewables policies in the 10-state Rust Belt region, which creates an average renewables requirement of 13% of generation in 2030.
They then modeled two other scenarios; one would boost that overall share to 20% and another would double it to 26%.
What they found: Maintaining the requirements would bring health benefits of $4.7 billion in 2030 compared to costs of $3.5 billion in their central scenario.
Strengthening mandates to 20% provides estimated health benefits of $13.5 billion against $5.8 billion in costs.
Doubling the average required renewables share of the power mix to 26% brings health benefits of $20 billion against $9 billion in costs.
The intrigue: The study also provides new comparisons to carbon pricing.
Even very low CO2 prices would provide greater health gains than the RPS requirements by prompting aggressive displacement of coal with gas.
On the climate side, avoided CO2 emissions in 2030 are the same as doubling the average RPS requirement.
But, but, but: That comparison to CO2 pricing has big caveats. Among them...
Looking further ahead, the paper notes that increased gas reliance is not a pathway for deeply decarbonizing electricity.
Climate and health estimates from CO2 pricing don't weigh the "full environmental externalities" of gas extraction.
Renewables mandates, now in place in 29 states, have proven more politically viable than CO2 pricing.
Bonus: What they're saying about the MIT paper
Leah Stokes of the University of California, Santa Barbara called the linkage of economic modeling with atmospheric chemistry an important contribution.
Why it matters: "That allows for a much richer understanding of how energy decisions affect public health," said Stokes, an expert in state-level renewables policies.
The bottom line: She noted that the paper models increases in renewables requirements in a region where the existing mandates are not aggressive.
"The targets that they are shooting for in this paper are not overly ambitious," she told Axios.
"They are showing that even doing these piecemeal things would be an improvement for the Rust Belt."
2. The Aramco IPO mystery persists
If you went into yesterday's Saudi Aramco earnings webcast hoping for more insight into its long-planned, repeatedly delayed IPO, you left with as many questions as answers.
The big picture: Khalid H. Al-Dabbagh, Aramco's senior VP of finance, told analysts that "the company is ready for the IPO."
"The timing of the IPO itself — this is a shareholder issue. They will announce it depending on their perception of what will be the optimal market conditions," he said.
But, but, but: That "shareholder," of course, is the Saudi government. Aramco is saying, in so many words, "it's not our call."
Nonetheless, the decision to hold its first-ever earnings call can be seen as a test run of sorts for the greater transparency that would come with being a public company.
The intrigue: Oil analyst Ellen Wald writes in Forbes, "big questions concerning the strength of the company as a possible investment for outsiders remains unaddressed."
She notes the $46 billion in combined "ordinary" and "special" dividends paid to the sole shareholder in the first half of the year.
The bottom line: "If Aramco makes its lucrative dividend available to shareholders other than the Saudi government, then Aramco shares could prove highly valuable," she writes.
"On the other hand, if Aramco continues to fund the Saudi government through a dividend that is unavailable to other shareholders, then the public could very well find Aramco shares a highly unattractive prospect."
3. How Uber and Lyft add to congestion
Data: Fehr & Peers for Uber and Lyft; Chart: Harry Stevens/Axios
During our break last week, Uber and Lyft released a consultant's study they commissioned on how much their services are adding to vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in several major metro areas.
Why it matters: The analysis arrives amid wider research showing how the growth of ride-hailing is adding to congestion.
That's important, because more VMT makes it harder to cut carbon emissions from transportation.
What they found: Check out the chart above, which shows the study's conclusions about Uber and Lyft's combined contributions to VMT.
Uber and Lyft officials, in blog posts (here and here) alongside the study's release, said they're committed to working with cities on the topic. But they also argued that they're a small part of the problem.
The big picture: "This study found that overall VMT share at the metropolitan level and at the core county level consists overwhelmingly of non-Transportation Network Company (TNC, shorthand for Uber and Lyft) traffic — that is, personal and commercial vehicles for the six regions studied," writes Uber's Chris Pangilinan.
But, but, but: Populus CEO Regina Clewlow, whose company provides a transportation data analytics platform for local governments, tells me that increased VMT doesn't tell the whole story about ride-hailing's effect on congestion.
"[T]he other important element (which requires coordination with cities), is that they stop wherever they want to, which disrupts the flow of traffic. This type of driving behavior is substantially different from the driving behavior of personally owned vehicles," she said via email.
Go deeper: How much traffic do Uber and Lyft cause? (CityLab)
4. Catch up fast: regs, cars, oil
Endangered species: Via the New York Times, "The Trump administration on Monday announced that it would change the way the Endangered Species Act is applied, significantly weakening the nation's bedrock conservation law and making it harder to protect wildlife from the multiple threats posed by climate change."
Electric vehicles: The Wall Street Journal reports that two giant automakers "see no future for hybrids in their U.S. lineups."
"General Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG are concentrating their investment on fully electric cars, viewing hybrids—which save fuel by combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor—as only a bridge to meeting tougher tailpipe-emissions requirements, particularly in China and Europe," they report.
Oil-and-gas: The Houston Chronicle reports on the unusual story of an oil company that made quite a pivot.
"In 2016, Black Ridge Oil & Gas was struggling during the last oil bust and teetering on the verge of bankruptcy."
"Three years later — and made official on Monday — Black Ridge has made the highly unusual conversion from oil and gas into esports video gaming, becoming the parent company of the renamed Allied Esports Entertainment, and trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the 'AESE' ticker."


Northern Region high school football scores for Oct. 20.
Both Reno and Damonte Ranch scored convincing wins Friday night to move to 8-0 on the season and come closer to clinching league titles.
Elsewhere, Bishop Manogue ran away from Galena to win their south Reno rivalry.
A full night in the 3A division finished with Fernley clinching the league title and five of the league's six playoff spots wrapped up.


Bioxydyn will be present at ERS 2017 in Milan 10-13 September. Drop by Booth H.11 for the latest on Pulmolux and our imaging services. Bioxydyn's collaboration with the University of Leicester will be presented in poster number PA801, "The impact of a high fine particle fraction inhaled long acting 2 agonist (Formoterol) on airway function in asthma: evaluation with oxygen enhanced MRI and multiple breath washout." Join the authors in Hall 4 on Sunday 10 September between 12:50-14:40 or visit the Bioxydyn booth to find out more.
To arrange a meeting with Bioxydyn at the ERS meeting please follow this link to access our ERS meetings calendar.


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Jean-Francois Jacques Jersey
The fire department responded to a 911 call season medical
This week, former Blackhawks forward, 2010 Stanley Cup champion and Blackhawks TV contributor Adam Burish discusses his favorite goal and his musical talents.Judging by Lemieux's Youth Jean-Francois Jacques Jersey first impression of his new team – and coupled with the way the Rangers practiced, played and treated every day of the season, seemingly from Day 1 – the message certainly permeated.Alas, Bovada has come http://www.cardinalsofficialonlinestores.com/Christian_Kirk_Jersey up with a prop regarding that opening.
He went in my gap and I went in his gap.Sure enough, defensive end Johnny Green hurt his knee and Skladany was on the next train to Philadelphia.going forward, not just in terms of his health.I know we have other pass catchers, but with his salary and skills, I don't understand.
There are five games to go and we are still in the mix.the Saints.He's still locked in for two more years at a $5 million AAV, so the will hope that age doesn't start to take effect on the veteran pivot, who http://www.authenticoilersshoponline.com/authentic-22-jeanfrancois-jacques-jersey.html will be 34 years old by the time the puck drops on the 2019 campaign.At least Iverson goes out and tries to win for you every night.?
Officials with the Alachua Kids Christian Kirk Jersey County Sheriff's Office said the restaurant's surveillance camera captured an altercation between the two on video.Both goals are OK, as long as all parties act in an ethical and legal manner.And anyone who brings that unadulterated joy onto the field has more than a little Griffey in him.7 marks the first weekend home game of the season.Robert Zangrillo, 52, center, departs the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston on March 29.Once the dust settled from the 2008 crash, the financial industry shifted its gaze to low-credit buyers, and in turn, car sales picked up.
Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Army Achievement Medal , Army Commendation Medal, NATO medal.


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April 24, 2020	News Release
Poll: Just Over Half of the Nation's Workforce Have Lost a Job or Income Due to Coronavirus, though Most of Them Believe They Will Get Their Job and Income Back Within Six Months
With many businesses shut down and job losses mounting nationwide, just over half of the nation's workers (55%) now say they have lost a job or had their incomes reduced as a result of the health and economic crises sparked by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the latest KFF Health Tracking…
April 24, 2020	Issue Brief
KFF Health Tracking Poll – Late April 2020: Coronavirus, Social Distancing, and Contact Tracing
This poll examines the public's stance on the coronavirus outbreak and the social distancing and shelter-in-place restrictions as well as the public's willingness to download apps to their phones to help public health officials with contact tracing,.
Poll: 8 in 10 Americans Favor Strict Shelter-in-Place Orders To Limit Coronavirus' Spread, and Most Say They Could Continue to Obey Such Orders for Another Month or Longer
With President Trump and some Republican governors pushing to restart the nation's economy, most of the public (80%) supports strict shelter-in-place policies to limit the coronavirus' spread compared to just one in five (19%) who say these measures pose unnecessary burdens and cause more harm than good, the latest KFF…
April 13, 2020	Perspective
Most Americans are Practicing Social Distancing
Drew Altman analyzes data showing surprising numbers of Americans of all ages are sheltering in place and reporting social distancing, and discusses the implications in an Axios column.
April 7, 2020	Perspective
The Public Wants the Federal Government, Not States, in Charge On Coronavirus
In Drew Altman's Axios column, he analyzes new polling showing that rather than serving as backup to the states, the public wants the federal government to lead the nation's coronavirus response.
April 2, 2020	Report
KFF Health Tracking Poll – Early April 2020: The Impact Of Coronavirus On Life In America
Fielded from March 25-30, this poll tracks how the rapidly unfolding coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic is affecting Americans, including health and economic impacts to date and worries about the future. This poll also examines the implications of the pandemic on the 2020 presidential election, including favorability of the ACA, Medicare-for-all and a public option.
April 2, 2020	News Release
Poll: 4 in 10 Americans Report Losing Their Jobs or Work-Related Income Due to the Coronavirus Crisis, Including More Than Half of Part-Time Workers
Americans, Regardless of Partisan Identity, Prioritize Slowing Coronavirus' Spread over Restarting the Economy With coronavirus cases rising and businesses shutting down, four in 10 (39%) U.S. residents say they already have lost a job or income due to the crisis, the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. This includes most…
March 17, 2020	News Release
Poll: Americans Most at Risk for Coronavirus Complications Are No More Likely than Others to Report Taking Precautions or Making Preparations in Response to Pandemic
In the midst of a sweeping national health and economic crisis sparked by the novel coronavirus pandemic, a new KFF coronavirus poll finds two thirds of the public (67%) say they are taking precautions as a result, and large shares worry about its impact on their family's health and finances.…
March 17, 2020	Poll Finding
KFF Coronavirus Poll: March 2020
Fielded from March 11-15, this KFF Coronavirus poll provides a snapshot of the public's experience, knowledge and views about the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, during the rapidly unfolding crisis. A majority of Americans say they are taking precautions to protect themselves by the novel coronavirus pandemic but the public worries about the health and economic consequences as the situation evolves in the coming months.
February 25, 2020	Issue Brief
The Public's Awareness Of and Concerns About Coronavirus
The February 2020 KFF Health Tracking Poll examines the public's awareness of and concerns about the Coronavirus, following its spread across China and around the globe. The public is concerned about the potential economic and health impacts of the virus on the U.S. and on them and their families. A majority of the public and majorities across partisans say the U.S. is currently doing enough to prevent the spread of the virus.


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Barack Obama: Un Dieu Du Stade
The French call their sports superstars "les dieux du stade," gods of the stadium. By delivering his acceptance speech at Invesco Field, home of the NFL Denver Broncos, amid a crowd of 60,000 adoring fans, Barack Obama became a god of the stadium in his own right.
Many commentators referred to the symbolism of Obama speaking on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. But Obama added another layer of symbolism by appropriating the luster of a major sports hero.
This is nothing new. Politicians have frequently tapped into the world of sport in an effort to enhance their popularity or strengthen their political capital. French prime minister Lionel Jospin pointed to the 1998 World Cup champion French team as proof that the French model of immigration worked (the team was made up of a number of black and north African players). U.S. presidents frequently throw out the first pitch at important baseball games. And politicians clearly use the Olympics as a means to demonstrate national strength. Etc., etc....
So let's give Obama and McCain sports scores for their national conventions.
Doing the math, the NFL is by far the most popular sport in the U.S. (2 points for speaking at Invesco Field). Obama also appeared and spoke at the Pepsi Center where the Nuggets and Avalanche play. The NBA is one of the big three (1 pt.) and the NHL is usually considered the one-half in America's "big three and a half," but we are talking about the home of the famed Denver Avalanche so I'll give him another 1 pt.
McCain will be speaking at the Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis... home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. I think I've heard of them: 1/2 pt.
Final sports symbolism tally for the political conventions: Obama 4, McCain 1/2.
Wow... our political analysis is as insightful as CNN's...
Labels: McCain, Obama, Politics, Symbolism
Beijing Best & Worst
Best moment: women's marathon, won by 38 year-old mom Constantina Tomescu. I'm 38 and I can barely walk up my stairs.
Worst moment: opening ceremonies when 2008 drummers taught the U.S. a lesson in demography.
Worst commercial: Of course there were the nationalistic McDonalds commercials and the schmaltsy Coca-Cola spots, but the worst goes to GE for the Chinese man who finds true love with his doctor after he injures his foot while destroying a village. Ahhh, those cute Chinese lovers! Makes me want to run out and buy a toaster.
Worst uniforms: All the gymnasts "in the whole world" (to quote esquelito from Nacho Libre).
Most Inspirational: Ara Abrahamian throwing his medal on the mat. An example to us all...
Least Inspirational: Of all the cheesy spots NBC had to do, the worst I saw was Mary Carillo's adventures with Chinese food. With an apparent gift for precise, descriptive vocabulary, after tasting every dish she would open her eyes wide, nod her head and repeatedly say, "That's great. That's great." That's bad. That's bad.
Most Annoying Commentator: Bela Karolyi had a coronary every time a gymnast even came close to "sticking" a landing. Plus, when I see him I can only think of the time he encouraged Kerri Strug to do one more vault on her broken ankle: "You can do it!" he kept shrieking to her. "That's child abuse!" I kept screaming at my TV.
Labels: Beijing, Olympics
Olympics Post Mortem
So did the Olympics help China's global reputation?
Probably on some levels. But...
If you had asked people a month ago what they thought of China, many would have said, "Ummm... they make a lot of cheap stuff."
Ask most people what they think of China today and you'll hear them complain about lip synced anthems and underage gymnasts.
And the media have told as many stories of censorship, human rights abuses, Chinese arms sales to Sudan, and China's official misinformation campaigns as they did stories on the Great Wall or local cuisine.
If the former kind of media heat continues, the Olympics certainly will have helped China's global reputation--by weakening it.
Labels: Beijing, Olympics, Politics
Jacques Rogge To Usain Bolt: "Stay Proper Old Chap"
Jacques Rogge, chairman of the International Olympic Committee, recently told reporters that he did not approve of Usain Bolt's behavior after winning the 100-meter sprint (1). Bolt thumped his chest and looked over at the camera and broke into a dance... then he crossed the finish line in world record time.
Rogge said of Bolt, "I think he should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100 meters."
I have argued before that Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympics) wanted to keep sports a domain for the elite and wanted the athletes to adopt the aristocratic values of "honor, chivalry, and detachment" (2). I have also suggested that the pressures of professionalization have turned sport more into a money making spectacle, creating an inherent tension between Old Regime and commercial values. Zidane, Abrahamian, and now Bolt, have, in a sense, stood up for (arguably brutish) professional spectacle and pushed back against the (arguably hypocritical) mores of coubertinian elitism.
Rogge's advice is straight out of the play book for aristocratic detachment. "Congratulate your opponents, shake their hands." He could have added, "Invite them for brandy and to visit your private art collection at your home in the Alps." It is easy to be detached if you come from wealth and if winning is about as important as getting into an exclusive country club. Detachment, however, is not a virtue if your future professional life and your ability to afford a house is on the line. When winning means going from rags to riches, a little chest pumping is justified.
(1) AP reported the story. ESPN picked it up here.
(2) From Coubertin's Mémoires olympiques. For more listen to the interview I gave on KBYU's "Thinking Aloud" or read the last chapter of Playing at Monarchy (forthcoming).
Labels: Olympics, Social Class
Doping In The Olympics: The Early Years
Jean-Pierre de Mondenard's history of doping in the Olympics unsurprisingly points to the marathon as the first event with confirmed cases of doping.
In 1896 in Greece, Spiridon Louys stopped after 30 km and drank a big glass of wine. It either numbed the pain or gave him the necessary energy to dash to the finish line and become the first gold medalist in marathon history. Mondenard reports that as a reward, Louys was given 123 kg of wine. To your health!
But leave it to Americans to introduce the hard stuff. In St. Louis (1904), marathon gold medalist Thomas Hicks received strychnine and cognac from trainers in order to make it to the finish. Instead of expressing outrage, journalists were amazed that drugs could have such a beneficial effect on athletes. That's American know-how at work.
In London (1908), Dorando Pietri took strychnine and atropine to help him cross the line first. But the Italian was later disqualified--not for doping, but for receiving "physical assistance." Onlookers actually propped him up and helped him across the line.
In 1920 the first official marathon anti-doping rules went into the books.
P.S. Isn't strychnine used to kill rodents? Who knew....
Source: Mondenard, Jean-Pierre. Le dopage aux Jeux olympiques: La triche récompensée. Amphora, 1996.
Labels: Doping, History, Olympics
Olympic Soap Operas
The blogosphere (of which I am now a recalcitrant part) was incensed that Natasia Liukin received the silver while He Kexin of China won the gold, despite their identical scores on the uneven bars. But sports are about determining differences between almost equal competitors, and many times the outcomes are more arbitrary/subjective than not. Take a 7 game playoff series in baseball: there is enough subjective judging of the strike zone to change the result of the series. And in basketball, many players make it a point to try and trick the refs in order to earn foul shots. The difference is that gymnastics events, like figure skating, tend to wear their subjectivity more openly. And the rants against this subjectivity are misplaced.
Why? Because the judging and potential back-room deals make gymnastics more like a soap opera than a sport thereby bringing in viewers who are not sports fans, viewers who are more interested in the drama of the competition (and even the outrage over the results) than the actual events themselves.
If gymnastics officials know what's good for them, they'll make it even more subjective and, like figure skating used to do, include scores for costume and music selection (the old "presentation" score). Let the soap opera continue.
Posted by Corry Cropper at 10:26 AM 3 comments:
Labels: Chance, Gymnastics, Olympics
Interview With A Boycotter
Sven Wilson is a professor of political science and director of the graduate program of public policy at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He received his PhD in economics from the University of Chicago. He is also a sports fan who decided to boycott these Olympics. I talked to him about it this week.
Sports Academic: How are you boycotting the Olympics?
Professor Wilson: We're not watching any of the coverage. I've read some tidbits about it in the press since I read a lot of the news anyway so it's kind of hard to avoid.
SA: So this is a TV boycott, you're boycotting NBC... why?
PW: In a sense the Western institutions that allowed this to go to China are responsible. And it's not so much that I thought about who I wanted to target--it's the idea that way back eight or ten years ago when this decision was made I was so appalled that I decided not to participate. And I wanted to do a larger protest. I wanted to get more people involved, start a website, I had some good T-shirt designs--Olympic rings dripping with blood--things like that, but I was really sick in July for most of the month so the media coverage didn't happen.
SA: What does your family think of the boycott?
PW: That's one of the main reasons I decided to go through with it. In fifteen years my children probably wouldn't remember any events... they might remember Michael Phelps winning but they're more likely to remember taking a stand against oppression and victimization of the human spirit.
SA: What particularly upsets you about the authoritarian regime in China.
PW: Well, the list is so long it's really hard to start. I'm particularly sensitive to basic civil liberties like freedom of speech and assembly and the press and those kind of things. I think it goes back to 1989 when I was a new college graduate living by myself in New Jersey and I was getting caught up in the student protests there in China. You remember there was a lot of media coverage and the big networks were there. So when the tanks moved in I really took it personally. The world is full of human rights violations but that one affected me more on a personal level. You know, China hasn't changed much. The only thing they would do differently today is they would do a better job hiding it from the world. They would still move the tanks in.
SA: There are a lot of multinational and American corporations that do business in China. How is the International Olympic Committee's agreement with China different from these other corporate ventures?
PW: I don't know. I'm pretty upset about these companies that help China restrict access to information as well. I'm not into boycotting everybody that facilitates the Chinese regime. It would be pretty hard to function and the only one who would suffer would be me (laugh).
SA: Do you think it's possible the Olympics could move China in the right direction?
PW: Yes, I think that's conceivable. But in most cases I think that argument is an argument of convenience in order to ignore human rights violations. In other words, giving us a market for our products isn't justification for ignoring human rights violations. That seems to have been the driving force behind a lot of U.S. policy towards China: we benefit economically by having good trade relations with China. Personally, I'm willing to pay higher prices at Wal-Mart and have trade relations suffer. [...]
SA: Have the Olympics been positive in that they have opened peoples' eyes in the West to some abuses in China?
PW: If they move toward thinking China has a horrendous record on human rights, then that would be nice. Most people still think China makes cheap stuff and now they think the Chinese are petty cheaters. The Chinese are a lot more than petty cheaters.
Update: Sven sent me a link to this NY Times article that exposes the way China has cracked down on even benign dissenting voices during the Olympics.
Labels: Beijing, Boycott, Human Rights, Olympics
"Did You Hear?" Why The IOC Selected China
You have probably heard a conversation like this one at least once since the beginning of the Beijing Olympics:
"Can you believe those Chinese gymnasts are 16? I can't"
"Well, they have passports that say they're 16."
"That just means the government is involved. They fudge on athletes' ages just like they fudged on the identity of the singer and the phony fireworks. And did you hear they [insert offensive authoritarian move here]. Everyone's afraid to call them on it because they're the host country."
"You're right. The real mistake was that they agreed to let China host in the first place."
I've not only heard that conversation, I've initiated it once or twice.
So is the International Olympic Committee to blame? Or is it solely China's fault since they did not respect all of their commitments?
Why did the IOC choose China? The IOC is an autonomous body and its voting members are free to vote for the host city they feel will best serve their cause. But one number, more significant than any of Michael Phelps' world records, stands above the rest. The number is 62. At least 62% of the IOC's total revenue comes from the United States. More than three fifths. Sesenta y dos por ciento. Soixante-deux. In other words, a truckload of Olympic cash is American. Three out of every five truck loads to be precise (1).
No international corporation would vote against its biggest client's interests. The IOC, a large international corporation itself, out of simple self preservation, would never vote in such a manner as to alienate its golden goose, the good ol' U.S. of A. (2). So why would the IOC have selected China, home to an authoritarian regime, a communist country that violates international human rights, a country whose values stand in apparent opposition to those of the U.S.?
62% says it is because the U.S. wanted China to host the games.
Politically and economically the U.S. had a lot to gain. In fact, the U.S. has probably benefited more than China itself. The Olympics act as an international moral cleansing agent. If the IOC can do business with the Chinese, then global corporations, many based in the United States, can justify doing business with the Chinese (despite their human rights record and unfair market practices). In addition, western consumers can continue to buy $4 shirts and $7 watches made in China without feeling that nagging guilt about sweatshop labor or low environmental standards in Chinese manufacturing.
The U.S. political class can also point to the Olympics as proof that the Chinese are opening up to western ideas of democracy (even though the opposite is true). A huge sporting spectacle covers a multitude of diplomatic sins.
And this may be why the international community, including the U.S., will not protest too much if (alleged) thirteen year-old Chinese gymnasts continue winning gold.
(1) From The Chicago Tribune.
(2) It could be argued that the IOC did alienate the U.S. in 1980 when the Olympics were awarded to the USSR. However, this was before the huge TV money started pouring in. The 1984 Olympics in L.A. mark the beginning of the modern corporate ($) era for the Olympics.
Posted by Corry Cropper at 5:31 AM 4 comments:
Labels: Beijing, Economics, Olympics, Politics
Olympic "Injustice"?
Well played China...
The Chinese government refuses to recognize the genocide taking place in Darfur and Americans are angry... angry that Chinese gymnasts appear under age.
The Chinese authorities won't allow even peaceful protests of their ruling party and America is outraged... outraged that Nastia Liukin took silver even though she tied for first.
The Chinese are the biggest suppliers of arms to the Sudanese government and Americans are standing up to say "Stop!"... stop lip syncing national anthems like we do every year at the Super Bowl.
In China many news websites are censored or entirely blocked by government authorities. As defenders of free speech, we've had enough!... enough free speech, that is. Will someone shut those gymnastics judges up, please? Or at least tell them what to say.
Labels: Beijing, Censorship, Olympics
Coubertin And Olympic Revival--Interview
The interview I did for KBYU's program Thinking Aloud is now available online (mp3):
http://byubmp3.byu.edu/fmarchive/thinkingaloud/ta080818.mp3
Labels: Coubertin, Olympics
Sports Academic On The Air
Mon. (Aug. 18) at 11 AM I'll be interviewed on a half hour KBYU radio program called Thinking Aloud, hosted by Marcus Smith and produced by Wes Sims. The topic is Pierre de Coubertin and the Olympics. If you'd like, you can listen to FM 89 in Utah (rebroadcast at 8 PM) or tune in online here. If you miss the broadcast Monday you can find the program in their online archives or download a podcast from itunes (search for "Thinking Aloud").
Thanks to everyone who has been checking this blog during the Olympics. We're approaching 40 visitors a day.
Tour of Utah photos
The Tour of Utah sped past this morning. A few photos to mark the event taken from Sundance:
The Sports Academic (left) can't believe he made it up the hill on a bike... Scott (right) was not surprised to make it, even though he had to drag me along.
The lead group.
The front of the peloton.
Labels: Cycling
Book Review: The Naked Olympics
Tony Perrottet's book (The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games, Random House, 2004) is a fun, almost novel-like description of the ancient Olympics, held in Olympia (not to be confused with Olympus) from around 776 B.C. until A.D. 393.
The book's unstated thesis may be that those ancient games had as much ego, politics, and corruption as our modern Olympics have. Perrottet describes a Greek world positively sports "crazed," and claims that our current sporting events "hark back to those energetic pagans--as does our correlating obsession with youth and the body beautiful."
Perrottet outlines gymnasium culture in ancient Greece as well as spectator culture and the accompanying difficulties in traveling to and enduring the Olympic spectacle. Fans routinely dealt with poor accommodations, lack of clean water, and disease that ripped through the isolated Olympia.
He then describes the games themselves. The original ceremony had a single event: a sprint of some 210 yards (a distance marked out by Hercules himself). Other events were later added: a longer sprint (2 x 210 yards) and a distance race; wrestling, boxing, and a no-holds-barred fight called the pankration; a four-horse chariot-race; and the pentathlon, where athletes competed at javelin, discus, standing long-jump (with weights), a foot-race, and wrestling (apparently as a tie-breaker).
The book is filled with interesting anecdotes: references to ancient Greek graffiti; details about disruptions of the ancient games; stories of cheaters; a discussion of the role of women in Olympic culture; and depictions of victory celebrations and banquets.
The book's biggest weakness may be that in his mad dash to show the modernity of those ancient games, Perrottet does not sufficiently explain the specificity of their antiquity. While he refers to the "sacred track," the "ritual importance" of oil, the shrines and sacrifices at Olympia and the "holy pilgrims" who attended the games, he calls all of this merely a "divine sideshow" and fails to completely make the connections between sports and religion in the ancient world.
When he describes wondrous sculpture of Zeus as being continuously massaged with oil, he does not link this to the athletes and their well oiled bodies (a link that would make the athletes avatars of the gods). Nor does he give much weight to the fact that the athletes performed the same feats as gods did before them, or that the games began in response to an order from the oracle at Delphi.
Seen in this light, what we might view as the ancient games' excesses, could be seen as forms of extreme devotion, a devotion different from ours to be sure, but devotion none the less. "Fans" attended the games to see the exploits of the gods reenacted. The thrill of spectatorship--the "sports craze"--could be interpreted as a sort of spiritual communion with the supernal forces--fans act as if possessed when their team or athlete wins. The nudity can be seen as a way for the athlete to offer his mortal body up for sacrifice to the gods. Even the partying (imbibing large quantities of wine) can be seen as a form of divine communion, drunkeness being an altered state that imitates the ecstasy of heavenly inspiration. Some of those who leered at the young athletes were certainly, as Perrottet claims, lecherous old men, but some were perhaps attempting to be intimate with the gods, represented by the victorious athletes.
Despite this omission, Perrottets book is compelling and enlightening; a good read to supplement the twelve hours a day spent in front of the TV watching the modern Olympics.
A final word on the book's title: I have read elsewhere that ancient Olympians weren't entirely naked: Olympians apparently tied their foreskins shut. What prudes!
Labels: Book Review, Olympics
Medal Charts (presented by ExxonMobil)
Here is the medal chart from NBC.com:
2008 Medals
And here's a chart from a Chinese website:
Gold Silver Bronze
Hmmm... Which is it. China or U.S. #1?
My students tell me Wikipedia is the most reliable resource on the web. Here's Wikipedia's table:
So it must be true. China really is the best country in the world, apparently... but NBC knows Exxon Mobil does most of its business in the U.S. so... "USA! USA! USA!"
Labels: Nationalism, Olympics
Monsieur Coubertin, Meet Ara Abrahamian
I wonder if Ara Abrahamian would agree to be the spokesman for this blog?
Abrahamian is the Swedish wrestler who, upset with officials who penalized him during his semi-final match, dropped his bronze medal on the mat before storming out of the venue in protest. It was all or nothing for Mr. Abrahamian, so when he ended up third he threw what the Telegraph called an "Olympic hissy fit." And on his way out of the building he "whacked an aluminum barricade with his fist." Nice.
Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, stressed three values he hoped would be transmitted via his international games: honor, chivalry, and detachment. Abrahamian pretty much rejected all three. But in Abrahamian's defense, the values Coubertin hoped to propagate were values of an aristocracy struggling to maintain relevance in the late nineteenth century, not values of working class professionalism.
Detachment, in particular, is a virtue only accessible to those whose livelihood does not depend on the outcome of a match. If I live off of money built up in my family over centuries or money produced via my vast land holdings, it is easy for me to say, "nice game old chap" to the person who just defeated me in the fencing finals. But if I work for years and need to win my next fight in order to pay rent, "winning-at-all-costs" is an attitude I am forced to adopt. And if I feel cheated out of an opportunity for success, I'm going to complain about it.
Since sports were once the exclusive domain of the nobility, it is not surprising that the ethos of detachment and chivalry live on in sports while they have died out (if they existed) elsewhere.
Imagine that a corporation loses out to a rival company on a huge contract. And imagine the losing corporation feels it has been wronged and that proper procedures were not followed. Would anyone (except the other company) accuse them of a lack of decorum for suing or filing a complaint with the S.E.C. or another regulatory agency? Probably not. Business is business and companies do everything they can to come out on top.
Consider Abrahamian a corporation and his actions become less reprehensible. They can even be seen as a clear rejection of Coubertinian ideals and as a defense of working class rights. Like Zidane's head butt, Abrahamian's "hissy fit" can be interpreted as the act of a behemoth juiced up on 'roids or it can be viewed as a symbol of defiance, a repudiation of Olympic elitism, and a validation of an individual athlete's independence.
Labels: Abrahamian, Coubertin, Olympics
Gross Domestic Gold
Earlier we mused about the connection between national strength and Olympic success. I suggested that Olympic success may, in fact, be little more than a distraction from domestic troubles. It does turn out, however, that there is a connection between national wealth and Olympic gold medals. The top 10 countries in GDP are similar to the top 10 in Olympic gold.
Gross Domestic Product rank, 2004:
Gold medal count rank, Athens 2004
Australia (gdp rank #17)
South Korea (gdp rank #15)
Another question is who is squeezing the most medals out of their national economic resources. Among the top 10 gold medal winners, Australia fares the best. Here are the numbers.
World average = 166 billion in gross domestic product per gold medal.
Australia 34 b/gm
Russia 48 b/gm
South Korea 95 b/gm
Italy 105 b/gm
France 150 b/gm
Germany 175 b/gm
U.K. 185 b/gm
China 202 b/gm
Japan 223 b/gm
U.S. 305 b/gm
It could be equally interesting to look at population as a factor. China wins one gold for every 36.8 million inhabitants. The U.S. one gold medal for every 8.4 million. France, one for every 5.8 million. And Australia, one for every 1.25 million.
If anyone out there knows an economist, it would be interesting to see what spending where results in more athletic success. Does spending in health care have a direct influence? What about spending on athletic programs or facilities? Is there an inverse correlation between obesity and Olympic success? Does the existence of major professional sports leagues increase medal counts for a country? P.E. classes in elementary school? Presidential fitness programs? Regular church attendance (proving once and for all that, as in ancient Greece, the gods do determine outcomes)? etc.
As usual, what the numbers don't show could probably be the most interesting. Why is India not on the list of medal winners (in 2004 they won a single silver medal)? Is their sports program not developed? Are they primarily interested in sports, like cricket, that aren't included in the Olympics? Is their media infrastructure underdeveloped to the point that people just don't care since they can't watch the Olympics? Or (more likely) is it that their economic strength has come about suddenly and it will take a generation for their athletic might and infrastructure to catch up?
And what about doping? Are some countries further ahead of the anti-drug agencies (with genetic treatments, for example) than others?
Labels: Economics, Olympics
Opening Ceremonies in 2012
After the opening ceremonies last weekend, many journalists remarked that the organizers of the London games in 2012 will have a difficult time competing with Beijing's spectacular show.
What London should do, I think, is reject the very notion of the outlandish spectacle. Perhaps they should simply stage a minimalist Beckett play with a single spotlight in the center of a huge, dark stadium. The plays Play (with three characters stuck in funerary urns) or Breath (a play that lasts 25 seconds and centers on trash blowing across the stage) would be perfect.
Take that China!
Update (8/17): The Economist reports that London 2012 is encountering all sorts of financial problems and is going way over budget. Maybe now they will take the Beckett idea seriously. Think of all the cash they could save. I'll even volunteer my time to stage the play.
Labels: London 2012, Olympics
The "Amateur Sometimes" Rule
In his very interesting article in the NY Times ("Let The Games Be Doped"), John Tierny begins, "Once upon a time, the lords of the Olympic Games believed that the only true champion was an amateur, a gentleman hobbyist untainted by commerce." This statement (which admittedly has little to do with Tierny's argument) is only partly true warrants a closer look.
In the early days of the Olympics, amateur rules were primarily enforced in events with participants from lower classes. Sports such as yachting and fencing, seen to be exclusively aristocratic, were exempt from the rule. The cost of a yacht limited participation to society's upper echelon and membership in fencing clubs was expensive and meant being socially connected. But in track events, expensive trophies and excessive travel allowances were banned to limit participation to those with means.
As architect of the modern Olympics, the Baron Pierre de Coubertin's primary interest was using the Olympics as a means to reinvigorate Europe's aristocracy and return them to political and cultural prominence. Consequently, the "amateur only" rule was really an "amateur sometimes" rule, applied when the sport in question did not present natural barriers to working class participants.
Innate Fist-Pumping
A recent report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (via NPR) suggests that victory celebrations (head back, chest out, arms raised) are more biological than cultural. Researchers say these behaviors reflect pride and are evolutionarily triggered to make the victor appear larger to potential enemies.
Maybe. But I'll really believe it when I see a chimp disco after spiking a football in the endzone or a gorilla pull his jersey over his head after scoring a goal.
TVs On The Juice: Doping Olympic Coverage
Derek sent me this link to an article claiming the Chinese animators spent a year creating digital fireworks to broadcast worldwide. Some of the fireworks were real, but some of them were, well, about as real as Peter Jackson's Gollum.
So, to summarize, the Olympics offer us fake fireworks, fake crowds, and fake athletes.
But world-class entertainment.
Labels: Doping, Olympics, propaganda
Chinese Officials To Crowd: "Applaud Or Else..."
The NY Times reports that Chinese authorities are herding fans to certain contests in order to make it seem like they care about foreign athletes: "Many of the spectators were from China and wore matching shirts. They were brought in by Olympics organizers to help fill the venues and add to the atmosphere with choreographed cheers."
Like the cheerleaders who clapped wildly for over two hours as athletes marched in during the opening ceremonies (creepy), fans, too, must be told where to sit and when to applaud.
And a note on Podium Café indicated that, despite promises to the contrary, many fans were not allowed along the route of the men's cycling road race. Maybe they couldn't read the cue cards written in Mandarin telling them when to cheer and so were kept away from the cameras.
There is nothing like fake spontaneity and choreographed cheers to get my Olympic fever spiked... (the ellipsis = irony). While I despise the overly enthusiastic flag wavers, too much crowd control and forced enthusiasm may be even worse.
Note to Chinese organizers: half empty stadiums would be better than cheers from the Stepford Wives.
Labels: Censorship, China, Olympics
Nationalism As A Means To Attract Non Fans
The last post was written tongue (keyboard?) in cheek, but I really do think minimizing nationalism--even if this means a broader role for corporate sponsors--would be a good idea (see the last post and Scott's comment).
Not because nationalism in sporting events leads to violence (or, because as Scott suggests, it minimizes it by channeling violence ritualistically into sport), but because defining national superiority by sports victories can mask much more serious problems. It is the old bread and circus problem of ancient Rome.
Too many Americans think "WE'RE NUMBER ONE" and "These colors don't run" because we won the gold medal in hockey at the 1980 Olympics, or because we won more gold medals than China in 2004. China is certainly hoping to prove their superiority by winning more medals than any other nation this year.
I, for one, would rather see our nation do better in education, health care, or environmental leadership, than to beat Lithuania at basketball.
Nationalism, though, is the primary way of bringing in viewers who otherwise would never watch a two-man scull race or the 200-meter breaststroke. Non-fans want to see the home nation athlete win, even if they only watch downhill skiing once every four years.
Energy crisis? Sorry, I didn't notice; the glint of a gold medal was in my eye...
Labels: Commercialism, Nationalism, Olympics
Of Opening Ceremonies and Nationalism
How stunning! The fireworks! The drums! Those Chinese can really put on a show!
The problem, though, is that the opening ceremonies serve to reinforce the worst of the Olympics: nationalistic fervor.
Grouping athletes by country and showcasing the host nation's prowess is a spectacle that coincides more with the era of the two world wars, but that in the age of globalization rings anachronistic.
For an Olympics that is primarily in the service of global corporations (and that justifies their business ties with China), it would be better to group athletes by their sponsors. "Go team Nike!" and "Go Speedo!" would replace the oh-so-obnoxious chants of "USA! USA!" that make me wish I were Canadian.
The best athletes would be on Team Pepsi or Team Adidas, the less gifted on Team Enron or Team Chuck-a-rama.
And instead of the traditional playing of national anthems, winners could be serenaded by their sponsor's corporate jingle. "Please rise for the playing of McDonald's theme song, 'I'm Lovin' It.'"
It already can't get much more corporate... and it would be a little more honest than the current system. But since nationalism sells better than any jingle, I better get my earplugs dusted off to muffle the chants of "USA! USA! USA! USA!" etc.
Posted by Corry Cropper at 10:02 PM 2 comments:
Cheatalia
A survey published in Le Figaro (8 July) reveals that Europeans think Italians are the biggest cheaters when it comes to both sports and business.
When asked "Who cheats the most in sports?" 39% of French respondents said "Les Italiens," as did 17% of all European respondents (tops on both lists). What makes this survey's results the most convincing, however, is that when asked the same question, Italians answered, "que cosi, it's us." 32% of Italian respondents (again, tops on the list) said Italians are the biggest cheaters.
True, the Italians may be the best at flopping in soccer, and yes, the French have lost to the Italians in the last two major international tournaments (World Cup 2006 and Euro 2008), perhaps explaining why the French ranked them #1 . But the Italian survey results suggests that they truly are European champions--at cheating. I guess Berlusconi really is the man for the job...
Labels: Cheating
"Cleaning Up" Before The Olympics
In yesterday's post, I wrote about China's censorship of some websites in the lead up to the Olympics. If I joked about it, it is because, as far as these things go, blocking the BBC remains pretty mild, especially for a country where free speech is far from a given.
In addition to the website closures, the Chinese have launched a campaign to curb spitting in the street's of Beijing and they have limited driving to clean up the air (they are calling these the "green Olympics," but a report on NPR suggested they are "green" not because they are ecologically responsible but because a lot of the color green is being used to decorate the city) . More disquietingly the Chinese have displaced many poor to make the city more presentable and have used police/military to repress pro-Tibetan and anti-Chinese protesters.
Similar things have happened before during the lead up to the Olympics. Atlanta tore down homes to gentrify their downtown before the Summer Games of 1996. In the run up to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, when workers refused to work on construction of Olympic venues, Quebec's government abolished their right to strike in order to assure the games would go on.
But the worst may have been in Mexico in 1968. Nine days before the opening ceremonies, students protested in Mexico City. To maintain Olympic "peace," the government shut down the university and brutally repressed the protest, killing some 300 and attempting to cover it up.
The problem is that local organizers know the International Olympic Committee cannot change venues days before the start of the Games so they get away with murder. Literally. The IOC should have a backup venue in Switzerland, ready to go at a moment's notice (even if this means postponing the games by several weeks). This way, when "cleaning up" becomes "covering up," the IOC can pull the games away from host countries that do not respect Olympic values.
Labels: Beijing, Censorship, Mexico 1968, Olympics
China Reopens Website Under Pressure From IOC
Journalists in China covering the Olympics were surprised to see the BBC's web site shut down by Chinese censors. Shocking! Improper! Highly irregular, Jeeves! How in the world would journalists find out the latest updates on cricket matches? And more importantly, why would the Chinese government be afraid of the BBC? They are clearly afraid rice farmers will start drinking afternoon tea: the gateway drug to bourgeois feelings of superiority. How disturbingly subversive!
Censors had also blocked Amnesty International's site, the site of Reporters Without Borders (a group opposed to China serving as Olympic host), and (gasp...) Wikipedia!
IOC leaders met with Chinese officials and got the BBC back online. Jacques Rogge explained that he was idealistic in assuming that China would keep its end of the bargain by granting journalists full access to information.
Now if they can just get Wikipedia back up, the journalists will be able to go ahead with their source checking...
A final thought, I wonder if I could get this site banned in China during the Olympics? That would truly be an honor.
Full story in Le Monde.
This Year The Winner Of The Tour Will Be Clean
From Charlie Hebdo via Scott.
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3071/charliehebdon840230708dmr9.jpg
Biggest Cheats?
I recently ran across a survey about cheating. Pollsters asked people from all over Europe which country had the biggest cheats in sports.
Before I reveal the results, I'll ask for your guesses here. The first person to post a correct answer (in other words, which nation, according to other Europeans, has the most cheaters) will earn a place on the Sports Academics Honor Roll.


Abbott: Removing Confederate monuments "won't erase our nation's past"
Jennifer Lawrence Needs a Wine Drinking Partner to Hang Out & Talk Politics!
'America's Got Talent': Will Angelica Hale win season 12 of 'AGT'?
Riya Sen to tie the knot with beau Shivam Tewari!


Octobre 2005: Un silure de 215cm capturé dans la rivière Ebro en Espagne.
Octubre de 2005: un siluro de 215cm capturado en el río Ebro en España.
In October, 2005: a wels catfish of 215cm caught in the river Ebro in Spain.
Ottobre 2005: Un silure di 215cm catturati nel fiume Ebro in Spagna.
Oktober 2005: ein Wels 215cm, im Fluß Ebro in Spanien gefangen.
Wels catfish not having right moustache.
Nicola and Andrea (GSI) in Lyon.
My personal best double in 15 minutes: 200 and 201 cm.
2nd fish of 1,44m caught by Pierre during our organized fishing day.
3rd fish of 1,51m caught by Philippe during our organized fishing day.
And finally the last one and the biggest of the fishing day. The fish was caught by Michel (not on the photo) and presented by Charly and François. The Wels measured 1,93m.


text:
El Rasillo de Cameros – gmina w Hiszpanii, w prowincji La Rioja, w La Rioja, o powierzchni 15,85 km². W 2011 roku gmina liczyła 145 mieszkańców.

Przypisy

Gminy w La Rioja


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text:
Donatas Motiejunas
Reports: Ty Lawson, Donatas Motiejunas sign with same team in China
By Kurt HelinAug 9, 2017, 2:41 PM EDT
Used to be, some fading NBA players would head to Europe for a couple more nice paydays — not NBA money, but good money nonetheless.
Now those guys are heading to China — that's where the money is.
Enter Ty Lawson and Donatas Motiejunas, who are heading to the same team in China.
Source: Ty Lawson and Donatas Motiejunas have left the NBA and are signing as teammates in China with the Shandong Golden Stars.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) August 8, 2017
ESPN confirmed that Lawson, who played last season in Sacramento, is heading to China. Sportando reports that Motiejunas is headed there on a $3 million deal (more than he would have made on an NBA minimum contract).
Lawson's quickness and scoring ability are going to see him put up big numbers in a Chinese league where defense borders on optional. That could catch the eye of NBA teams looking for veteran point guard depth headed into the playoffs — remember the Chinese season ends in February or March (depending on how deep a team goes in the playoffs) so both Lawson and Motiejunas could get picked up by an NBA team for the postseason.
Tags: Donatas Motiejunas, Ty Lawson
Report: Pelicans trying to trade Terrence Jones
By Dan FeldmanFeb 20, 2017, 10:00 PM EST
After their trade today, the Pelicans have the NBA's most dynamic big-man tandem: Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.
Davis and Cousins are tall, athletic and skilled in a combination we might have never seen from any power forward-center duo since Charles Barkley-Hakeem Olajuwon. New Orleans' two could thrive together, and while they develop chemistry, they'll each likely get minutes without the other.
That doesn't leave much playing time for someone like Terrence Jones.
Chris Haynes of ESPN:
New Orleans now seeking trade partner for forward Terrence Jones, league sources tell ESPN. Mutual decision on behalf of team, Jones' camp.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 20, 2017
Jones settled for a one-year minimum contract after an injury-plagued and inconsistent tenure with the Rockets. His inconsistency remains, but considering his salary, his highs more than justify dealing with the lows. At just 25, Jones could still figure out how to reliably contribute.
Jones' contract dictates he be rental, which will lower his trade value. But he could help teams trying to win down the stretch — including New Orleans.
Dante Cunningham seems more favored at power forward, and Donatas Motiejunas can fill in. But the Pelicans could still use Jones.
Shopping him might be a favor to the player, but we'll see whether an actual trade is part of the gesture.
Tags: Anthony Davis, Dante Cunningham, DeMarcus Cousins, Donatas Motiejunas, Terrence Jones
Report: Rockets make push to sign Donatas Motiejunas, see Thanksgiving as deadline
By Kurt HelinNov 23, 2016, 11:42 AM EST
Donatas Motiejunas, on paper, should be the kind of big man who thrives in Mike D'Antoni's offense. Two seasons ago he shot 36.8 percent from three and you have to respect him from the midrange, if teams scramble in transition and he is guarded by a much smaller guy he can make them pay in the post, and defense isn't a huge focus. He could be a nice reserve big in Houston.
He's also a restricted free agent coming off a season where he played in just 37 games due to back issues that led to surgery. How much do you pay a man like that?
The Rockets have their number, and it's around the league average at $7 million (more with incentives). Other teams with cap space have not even stepped in with an offer sheet to force the Rockets to choose. Motiejunas and his agent think he deserves much more, let the Rockets $4.4 million qualifying offer expire, and are sitting out the season to this point. The Rockets have made a push to sign him this month, but see today (Nov. 23) as the deadline due to the trade deadline, something Marc Stein of ESPN reported on a while ago.
Nov. 23 is the date of particular significance, sparked by the fact Motiejunas can't be traded this season if he's signed after that date, which could possibly lower his value with potential outside suitors as well….
Sources told ESPN on Friday that the Rockets' latest offer is a multiyear deal that starts at $7 million annually, with attainable incentives that could take it to $8 million.
The Rockets are presently unwilling to fully guarantee more than the first season in a new contract, sources say, in a nod to the back injury that scuttled Houston's trade with Detroit in February that briefly made Motiejunas a Piston until the deal was voided due to a failed physical.
For the record, there are teams out there with the cap space to come in and make a larger offer that would force Houston to match or let Motiejunas walk — Philadelphia, Denver, Brooklyn, Utah, Phoenix and Minnesota. However, none of those landing spots make much sense (for example, the Sixers and Nuggets don't need another big to cram into their already crowded frontcourt rotations). If it's about the money, Motiejunas isn't going to play overseas where he would get less than a third of what Houston already has on the table.
Restricted free agency can suck for players who feel undervalued. Motiejunas clearly believes he is worth more. But he's also a guy in a profession where he has a limited number of years he can earn ridiculously large paychecks, and right now he is missing those checks on this principle. We'll see if that changes by the end of the day.
Tags: Donatas Motiejunas
Report: Rockets offering Donatas Motiejunas $7 million guaranteed this season
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
By Dan FeldmanNov 4, 2016, 4:00 PM EDT
Donatas Motiejunas let his $4,433,683 qualifying offer from the Rockets expire, leaving him a restricted free agent with no unilateral path to joining the team.
Bust Houston has thrown him a lifeline.
ESPN sources say Houston's latest offer to Donatas Motiejunas is a multiyear deal that starts at a fully guaranteed $7 million in Year 1.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 4, 2016
Motiejunas is still a restricted FA after letting his $4.4M qualifying offer expire. Incentives can take latest Houston offer into $8M range
We don't know enough about that offer to judge it.
If the contract comes with multiple unguaranteed seasons and a deescalating salary, that's probably a bad deal for Motiejunas. If he plays well and stays healthy, he'd be locked in at a submarket rate. If he struggles or gets hurt (an enhanced possibility with him), Houston could cut him loose without additional payments.
If it's a one-year deal, Motiejunas should probably take it.
Both sides have some leverage.
The Rockets' ability to match any NBA offer has cooled outside interest. Other teams now have full rosters. As Motiejunas sits out, he's not earning any money.
But Houston also isn't getting his production, which is his major source of leverage. The Rockets could use the talented big man. Another bit of leverage for Motiejunas: the threat of playing overseas.
Calvin Watkins of ESPN:
Donatas Motiejunas to ESPN on playing overseas: "It's always good to have a Plan B." Playing overseas has always been in the cards for him.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) November 4, 2016
Spending the season in another league wouldn't end Motiejunas' restricted status. Houston would maintain matching rights.
So, if Motiejunas is going to play in the NBA again, Daryl Morey and B.J. Armstrong must find common ground. As of last check, that's not going so hot.
Donatas Motiejunas' agent, B.J. Armstrong: 'When analytics can measure human behavior, then and only then will I find them useful'
Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images
By Dan FeldmanOct 4, 2016, 6:41 PM EDT
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has cultivated a reputation as the NBA's most statistically inclined front-office chief.
So, it's impossible to read this tweet from B.J. Armstrong – the former Chicago Bull and current agent of Donatas Motiejunas, who's in a contract quarrel with Houston – as anything but a shot at Morey and the Rockets.
Armstrong:
When analytics can measure human behavior, then and only then will I find them useful
— BJ Armstrong (@bjarmstrong) October 1, 2016
Of course analytics can measure human behavior. Taking a basketball and putting it through a hoop is a behavior done by humans. Points is a statistic that measures how many times someone has done that from varying distances.
Obviously, analytics get far more complex, but they're still measuring human behavior.
If Armstrong meant analytics don't measure the totality of a human, well, I'd like to see a method for evaluating players that does.
Reports: Ty Lawson, Donatas Motiejunas sign with same team in China August 9, 2017 2:41 pm EDT Report: Pelicans trying to trade Terrence Jones February 20, 2017 10:00 pm EST Report: Rockets make push to sign Donatas Motiejunas, see Thanksgiving as deadline November 23, 2016 11:42 am EST Report: Rockets offering Donatas Motiejunas $7 million guaranteed this season November 4, 2016 4:00 pm EDT Donatas Motiejunas' agent, B.J. Armstrong: 'When analytics can measure human behavior, then and only then will I find them useful' October 4, 2016 6:41 pm EDT Another report Donatas Motiejunas, Rockets nowhere near deal as deadline approaches October 1, 2016 1:45 am EDT Report: Rockets, Donatas Motiejunas not negotiating contract extension at deadline September 30, 2016 8:00 pm EDT Report: Rockets trade Michael Beasley to Bucks for Tyler Ennis September 22, 2016 4:42 pm EDT Agent: Rockets haven't made Donatas Motiejunas a serious offer September 14, 2016 9:05 pm EDT Pistons agree to sign forward Jon Leuer to four-year, $42 million deal July 2, 2016 2:08 pm EDT Report: Rockets extend qualifying offer to Donatas Motiejunas, not Terrence Jones June 30, 2016 12:46 pm EDT NBA Free Agency Preview: Top five centers June 29, 2016 2:00 pm EDT Report: Mike D'Antoni gets second interview with Houston Rockets May 17, 2016 9:51 pm EDT Rockets finally bring effort, James Harden drops 35, Rockets beat Warriors 97-96 April 22, 2016 2:26 am EDT Derrick Favors' dunk lifts Jazz over Rockets 89-87 March 24, 2016 12:05 am EDT Report: Michael Beasley to sign with Houston Rockets for rest of season March 2, 2016 6:02 pm EST Marcus Thornton's agent: Rockets will waive guard February 26, 2016 4:04 pm EST PBT's NBA Power Rankings: Warriors remain on top, Cavaliers climb to third February 22, 2016 4:15 pm EST Report: Pistons voiding Donatas Motiejunas trade with Rockets, 76ers February 22, 2016 2:52 pm EST Report: Nuggets signing JaKarr Sampson to two-year contract February 22, 2016 2:06 pm EST Channing Frye trade still not complete, as Cavaliers continue to test former(?) Magic player February 22, 2016 12:25 pm EST Davis scores 59, grabs 20 rebounds as Pelicans top Pistons February 21, 2016 7:19 pm EST Daryl Morey on Rockets: "We feel good about our roster" February 19, 2016 4:58 pm EST Five Takeaways from NBA Thursday: Trade deadline version (plus Clippers beat Spurs) February 19, 2016 8:50 am EST NBA Trade Deadline Winners/Losers: Detroit should celebrate, Houston not so much February 18, 2016 10:00 pm EST Report: Rockets trade Joel Anthony, second-rounder to 76ers February 18, 2016 4:18 pm EST Follow Live: Latest NBA trades, rumors all in one place as deadline nears February 18, 2016 1:24 pm EST Report: Rockets trade Donatas Motiejunas, Marcus Thornton to Pistons for first-rounder February 18, 2016 12:53 pm EST Report: Pistons interested in Al Horford in free agency next summer February 5, 2016 12:54 pm EST Report: Clippers trade Josh Smith to Rockets January 22, 2016 11:09 am EST Pistons' reported targets in free agency: Ryan Anderson and Donatas Motiejunas January 20, 2016 4:22 pm EST Trevor Ariza scores 24, Rockets rally to beat Pacers 107-103 in OT January 11, 2016 12:50 am EST Will Barton throws Trevor Ariza's shoe, gets technical (VIDEO) December 15, 2015 8:02 am EST Denver's Will Barton throws down fierce dunk on Rockets (VIDEO) December 14, 2015 11:37 pm EST Clint Capela providing Rockets with much-needed hope December 14, 2015 2:11 pm EST PBT's NBA Power rankings: Cavaliers slide to five, Pacers up to three December 7, 2015 2:04 pm EST Report: Rockets interested in trade for Suns' Markieff Morris December 7, 2015 12:33 am EST Five Takeaways from an NBA Monday: Houston is just plain bad November 17, 2015 8:11 am EST Curry has 25, Warriors rout Rockets in West finals rematch October 31, 2015 1:43 am EDT Report: Rockets won't extend Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas October 29, 2015 10:40 am EDT